dadiOH:

Thanks for your information. I am becoming convinced that a pocket
door installation is not the way to go.

That leaves: Changing an inside swinging door to an outside swinging
door !

Ugh !

Dual-track sliding doors in two peices.
Use batwing doors, that swing both ways.
Or a bifold (or trifold) accordian door.
Build one of those things for a roll-top
desk, opening either upward, or sideways.