Merging org files for Hugo static site generation

I have just started the process of reducing the number of org files I maintain for my web site. I now have a greater understanding of how Hugo handles these files and I think can both simplify and make them more flexible.

Hugo is my static site generator of choice and although it supports org files directly I prefer to generate to a markdown file as an intermediate step using a file by file evaluation of org-hugo-auto-export-mode. This means that each org subtree I modify automatically generates an md file to a defined folder dictated by #+hugo_section in the org header.

For example, I have a few org files that generate my art blog; one for videos, finished art, galleries and now AI. Each org file has a single header #+hugo_section defining the destination export folder. I think now I would like a bit more flexibility with the ability to push a subtree to a folder of my choosing so any extra sections can more easily be added. Plus, if I merge I would only have to maintain a single org file (although a larger one!).

To achieve this I will have to add an extra property to the existing org drawer for each subtree using :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: and then to adapt my org-capture templates.

Now of course to add the subtree property emacs can certainly help me out.

I would like to insert typically a drawer property line for each subtree such as:

:EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: art--all

However of course things are not quite so simple. It seems that some subtrees already have such property lines even though the destination folder is ultimately the same as #+hugo_section in the header (another good reason to tidy up)

So rather than a simple isearch to an ever present subtree anchor point (for example :EXPORT_FILE_NAME:) and then the insertion of the new line I will need to take into account those subtrees that already have :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: and not insert a line.

I considered edit mode in multi-occur but as far as I can tell it doesn’t work too well when new lines are inserted.

deadgrep (ripgrep) also has similar functionality and will also show context around the search point which can be also edited in a similar manner to multi-occur but all this is starting to feel too fiddly and I am starting to spend too much time investigating this!

The grep/occur to edit buffer approach can work well in certain situations but this is a little more complex involving a small amount of logic. At this stage the same thought always occurs to me and I really wish it would occur to me earlier.

what about macros?

The isearch technique won’t quite work (as explained above), but what about isearch-regexp?

As the properties are always in the same order I could just insert the :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: line if I find the following regex:

:EXPORT_FILE_NAME:.*
:EXPORT_HUGO_LASTMOD:

Note that the carriage return is achieved by C-q C-j

Incorporate this into a macro and the cursor will only move to a point that doesn’t have a :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: line and hence I can then insert and then repeat until my org file is suitable amended!