I have the following variables set in my org-mode file:
* conf
# local variables:
# org-agenda-start-on-weekday: 1
# org-clock-report-include-clocking-task: t
# org-duration-format: (quote h:mm) #fails
# end:
They all work great, except for org-duration-format. What am I doing wrong?
(I say it doesn't work because I have to run (setq org-duration-format 'h:mm) to get my preferred format.
The file-local-variables section of the emacs manual (C-h i g (emacs) specifying file variables RET) says:
the variables in a local variables list are used literally, and are not evaluated first.
So just use h:mm literally:
...
# org-duration-format: h:mm
...
You can also do something like this:
...
# eval: (setq-local org-duration-format 'h:mmm)
...
but there is really no need to do that.
This has nothing to do with Org mode BTW. Try
# Local Variables:
# bar: 3
# foo: bar
# End:
The file-local value of bar is 3; the file local value of foo is bar: bar is NOT evaluated, so foo does NOT end up with the value 3.