Fix some more typos.
[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / misc / org.texi
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1\input texinfo
2@c %**start of header
db78a8cb 3@setfilename ../../info/org
a7808fba 4@settitle The Org Manual
4009494e 5
b6cb4cd5 6@set VERSION 6.16
96c8522a 7@set DATE December 2008
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8
9@dircategory Emacs
10@direntry
11* Org Mode: (org). Outline-based notes management and organizer
12@end direntry
13
14@c Version and Contact Info
dbc28aaa 15@set MAINTAINERSITE @uref{http://orgmode.org,maintainers webpage}
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16@set AUTHOR Carsten Dominik
17@set MAINTAINER Carsten Dominik
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18@set MAINTAINEREMAIL @email{carsten at orgmode dot org}
19@set MAINTAINERCONTACT @uref{mailto:carsten at orgmode dot org,contact the maintainer}
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20@c %**end of header
21@finalout
22
23@c Macro definitions
24
25@c Subheadings inside a table.
26@macro tsubheading{text}
27@ifinfo
28@subsubheading \text\
29@end ifinfo
30@ifnotinfo
31@item @b{\text\}
32@end ifnotinfo
33@end macro
34
35@copying
a7808fba 36This manual is for Org (version @value{VERSION}).
4009494e 37
6ed161e1 38Copyright @copyright{} 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Free Software Foundation
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39
40@quotation
41Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
d60b1ba1 42under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
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43any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
44Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
47271179
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45and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
46is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License.''
4009494e 47
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48(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
49modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
50developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
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51
52This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
53Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
54separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
55license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
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56@end quotation
57@end copying
58
59@titlepage
a7808fba 60@title The Org Manual
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61
62@subtitle Release @value{VERSION}
63@author by Carsten Dominik
64
65@c The following two commands start the copyright page.
66@page
67@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
68@insertcopying
69@end titlepage
70
71@c Output the table of contents at the beginning.
72@contents
73
74@ifnottex
75@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
76@top Org Mode Manual
77
78@insertcopying
79@end ifnottex
80
81@menu
82* Introduction:: Getting started
a7808fba 83* Document Structure:: A tree works like your brain
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84* Tables:: Pure magic for quick formatting
85* Hyperlinks:: Notes in context
a7808fba 86* TODO Items:: Every tree branch can be a TODO item
4009494e 87* Tags:: Tagging headlines and matching sets of tags
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88* Properties and Columns:: Storing information about an entry
89* Dates and Times:: Making items useful for planning
864c9740 90* Capture:: Creating tasks and attaching files
a7808fba 91* Agenda Views:: Collecting information into views
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92* Embedded LaTeX:: LaTeX fragments and formulas
93* Exporting:: Sharing and publishing of notes
a7808fba 94* Publishing:: Create a web site of linked Org files
4009494e 95* Miscellaneous:: All the rest which did not fit elsewhere
44ce9197 96* Extensions:: Add-ons for Org mode
a50253cc 97* Hacking:: How to hack your way around
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98* History and Acknowledgments:: How Org came into being
99* Main Index:: An index of Org's concepts and features
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100* Key Index:: Key bindings and where they are described
101
102@detailmenu
103 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
104
105Introduction
106
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107* Summary:: Brief summary of what Org does
108* Installation:: How to install a downloaded version of Org
109* Activation:: How to activate Org for certain buffers
4009494e 110* Feedback:: Bug reports, ideas, patches etc.
dbc28aaa 111* Conventions:: Type-setting conventions in the manual
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112
113Document Structure
114
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115* Outlines:: Org is based on Outline mode
116* Headlines:: How to typeset Org tree headlines
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117* Visibility cycling:: Show and hide, much simplified
118* Motion:: Jumping to other headlines
119* Structure editing:: Changing sequence and level of headlines
120* Archiving:: Move done task trees to a different place
121* Sparse trees:: Matches embedded in context
122* Plain lists:: Additional structure within an entry
123* Drawers:: Tucking stuff away
a7808fba 124* Orgstruct mode:: Structure editing outside Org
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125
126Archiving
127
128* ARCHIVE tag:: Marking a tree as inactive
129* Moving subtrees:: Moving a tree to an archive file
130
131Tables
132
133* Built-in table editor:: Simple tables
28a16a1b 134* Narrow columns:: Stop wasting space in tables
4009494e 135* Column groups:: Grouping to trigger vertical lines
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136* Orgtbl mode:: The table editor as minor mode
137* The spreadsheet:: The table editor has spreadsheet capabilities
864c9740 138* Org Plot:: Plotting from org tables
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139
140The spreadsheet
141
142* References:: How to refer to another field or range
143* Formula syntax for Calc:: Using Calc to compute stuff
144* Formula syntax for Lisp:: Writing formulas in Emacs Lisp
145* Field formulas:: Formulas valid for a single field
146* Column formulas:: Formulas valid for an entire column
147* Editing and debugging formulas:: Fixing formulas
148* Updating the table:: Recomputing all dependent fields
149* Advanced features:: Field names, parameters and automatic recalc
150
151Hyperlinks
152
a7808fba 153* Link format:: How links in Org are formatted
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154* Internal links:: Links to other places in the current file
155* External links:: URL-like links to the world
156* Handling links:: Creating, inserting and following
a7808fba 157* Using links outside Org:: Linking from my C source code?
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158* Link abbreviations:: Shortcuts for writing complex links
159* Search options:: Linking to a specific location
160* Custom searches:: When the default search is not enough
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161
162Internal links
163
a7808fba 164* Radio targets:: Make targets trigger links in plain text
4009494e 165
a7808fba 166TODO Items
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167
168* TODO basics:: Marking and displaying TODO entries
169* TODO extensions:: Workflow and assignments
dbc28aaa 170* Progress logging:: Dates and notes for progress
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171* Priorities:: Some things are more important than others
172* Breaking down tasks:: Splitting a task into manageable pieces
173* Checkboxes:: Tick-off lists
174
175Extended use of TODO keywords
176
177* Workflow states:: From TODO to DONE in steps
dbc28aaa 178* TODO types:: I do this, Fred does the rest
4009494e 179* Multiple sets in one file:: Mixing it all, and still finding your way
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180* Fast access to TODO states:: Single letter selection of a state
181* Per-file keywords:: Different files, different requirements
182* Faces for TODO keywords:: Highlighting states
183
a7808fba 184Progress logging
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185
186* Closing items:: When was this entry marked DONE?
187* Tracking TODO state changes:: When did the status change?
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188
189Tags
190
191* Tag inheritance:: Tags use the tree structure of the outline
192* Setting tags:: How to assign tags to a headline
193* Tag searches:: Searching for combinations of tags
194
195Properties and Columns
196
197* Property syntax:: How properties are spelled out
a7808fba 198* Special properties:: Access to other Org mode features
4009494e 199* Property searches:: Matching property values
dbc28aaa 200* Property inheritance:: Passing values down the tree
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201* Column view:: Tabular viewing and editing
202* Property API:: Properties for Lisp programmers
203
a7808fba 204Column view
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205
206* Defining columns:: The COLUMNS format property
207* Using column view:: How to create and use column view
a7808fba 208* Capturing column view:: A dynamic block for column view
4009494e 209
a7808fba 210Defining columns
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211
212* Scope of column definitions:: Where defined, where valid?
213* Column attributes:: Appearance and content of a column
214
dbc28aaa 215Dates and Times
4009494e 216
a7808fba 217* Timestamps:: Assigning a time to a tree entry
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218* Creating timestamps:: Commands which insert timestamps
219* Deadlines and scheduling:: Planning your work
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220* Clocking work time:: Tracking how long you spend on a task
221* Effort estimates:: Planning work effort in advance
96c8522a 222* Relative timer:: Notes with a running timer
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223
224Creating timestamps
225
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226* The date/time prompt:: How Org mode helps you entering date and time
227* Custom time format:: Making dates look different
4009494e 228
a7808fba 229Deadlines and scheduling
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230
231* Inserting deadline/schedule:: Planning items
232* Repeated tasks:: Items that show up again and again
233
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234Capture
235
236* Remember:: Capture new tasks/ideas with little interruption
237* Attachments:: Add files to tasks.
238
dbc28aaa 239Remember
4009494e 240
a7808fba 241* Setting up Remember:: Some code for .emacs to get things going
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242* Remember templates:: Define the outline of different note types
243* Storing notes:: Directly get the note to where it belongs
244* Refiling notes:: Moving a note or task to a project
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245
246Agenda Views
247
248* Agenda files:: Files being searched for agenda information
249* Agenda dispatcher:: Keyboard access to agenda views
250* Built-in agenda views:: What is available out of the box?
251* Presentation and sorting:: How agenda items are prepared for display
a7808fba 252* Agenda commands:: Remote editing of Org trees
4009494e 253* Custom agenda views:: Defining special searches and views
a7808fba 254* Agenda column view:: Using column view for collected entries
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255
256The built-in agenda views
257
a7808fba 258* Weekly/daily agenda:: The calendar page with current tasks
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259* Global TODO list:: All unfinished action items
260* Matching tags and properties:: Structured information with fine-tuned search
261* Timeline:: Time-sorted view for single file
28a16a1b 262* Keyword search:: Finding entries by keyword
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263* Stuck projects:: Find projects you need to review
264
265Presentation and sorting
266
267* Categories:: Not all tasks are equal
268* Time-of-day specifications:: How the agenda knows the time
269* Sorting of agenda items:: The order of things
270
271Custom agenda views
272
273* Storing searches:: Type once, use often
274* Block agenda:: All the stuff you need in a single buffer
275* Setting Options:: Changing the rules
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276* Exporting Agenda Views:: Writing agendas to files
277* Using the agenda elsewhere:: Using agenda information in other programs
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278
279Embedded LaTeX
280
281* Math symbols:: TeX macros for symbols and Greek letters
a7808fba 282* Subscripts and superscripts:: Simple syntax for raising/lowering text
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283* LaTeX fragments:: Complex formulas made easy
284* Processing LaTeX fragments:: Previewing LaTeX processing
285* CDLaTeX mode:: Speed up entering of formulas
286
287Exporting
288
b349f79f 289* Markup rules:: Which structures are recognized?
864c9740 290* Selective export:: Using tags to select and exclude trees
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291* Export options:: Per-file export settings
292* The export dispatcher:: How to access exporter commands
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293* ASCII export:: Exporting to plain ASCII
294* HTML export:: Exporting to HTML
71d35b24 295* LaTeX and PDF export:: Exporting to LaTeX, and processing to PDF
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296* XOXO export:: Exporting to XOXO
297* iCalendar export:: Exporting in iCalendar format
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298
299Markup rules
300
301* Document title:: How the document title is determined
302* Headings and sections:: The main structure of the exported document
303* Table of contents:: If, where, how to create a table of contents
304* Initial text:: Text before the first headline
305* Lists:: Plain lists are exported
306* Paragraphs:: What determines beginning and ending
307* Literal examples:: Source code and other examples
308* Include files:: Include the contents of a file during export
309* Tables exported:: Tables are exported richly
67df9cfb 310* Inlined images:: How to inline images during export
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311* Footnotes:: Numbers like [1]
312* Emphasis and monospace:: To bold or not to bold
313* TeX macros and LaTeX fragments:: Create special, rich export.
314* Horizontal rules:: A line across the page
315* Comment lines:: Some lines will not be exported
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316
317HTML export
318
b349f79f 319* HTML Export commands:: How to invoke HTML export
a7808fba 320* Quoting HTML tags:: Using direct HTML in Org mode
4009494e 321* Links:: Transformation of links for HTML
67df9cfb 322* Images in HTML export::
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323* CSS support:: Changing the appearance of the output
324* Javascript support:: Info and Folding in a web browser
4009494e 325
71d35b24 326LaTeX and PDF export
4009494e 327
a50253cc 328* LaTeX/PDF export commands:: Which key invokes which commands
4009494e 329* Quoting LaTeX code:: Incorporating literal LaTeX code
a7808fba 330* Sectioning structure:: Changing sectioning in LaTeX output
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331* Tables in LaTeX export:: Options for exporting tables to LaTeX
332* Images in LaTeX export:: How to insert figures into LaTeX output
4009494e 333
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334Publishing
335
336* Configuration:: Defining projects
337* Sample configuration:: Example projects
338* Triggering publication:: Publication commands
339
340Configuration
341
342* Project alist:: The central configuration variable
343* Sources and destinations:: From here to there
344* Selecting files:: What files are part of the project?
345* Publishing action:: Setting the function doing the publishing
346* Publishing options:: Tweaking HTML export
347* Publishing links:: Which links keep working after publishing?
348* Project page index:: Publishing a list of project files
349
350Sample configuration
351
352* Simple example:: One-component publishing
353* Complex example:: A multi-component publishing example
354
355Miscellaneous
356
357* Completion:: M-TAB knows what you need
a7808fba 358* Customization:: Adapting Org to your taste
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359* In-buffer settings:: Overview of the #+KEYWORDS
360* The very busy C-c C-c key:: When in doubt, press C-c C-c
361* Clean view:: Getting rid of leading stars in the outline
a7808fba 362* TTY keys:: Using Org on a tty
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363* Interaction:: Other Emacs packages
364* Bugs:: Things which do not work perfectly
365
366Interaction with other packages
367
a7808fba 368* Cooperation:: Packages Org cooperates with
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369* Conflicts:: Packages that lead to conflicts
370
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371Extensions
372
373* Extensions in the contrib directory:: These come with the Org distro
374* Other extensions:: These you have to find on the web.
375
376Hacking
4009494e 377
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378* Adding hyperlink types:: New custom link types
379* Tables in arbitrary syntax:: Orgtbl for LaTeX and other programs
380* Dynamic blocks:: Automatically filled blocks
381* Special agenda views:: Customized views
382* Using the property API:: Writing programs that use entry properties
b349f79f 383* Using the mapping API:: Mapping over all or selected entries
4009494e 384
a7808fba 385Tables and lists in arbitrary syntax
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386
387* Radio tables:: Sending and receiving
388* A LaTeX example:: Step by step, almost a tutorial
389* Translator functions:: Copy and modify
a7808fba 390* Radio lists:: Doing the same for lists
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391
392@end detailmenu
393@end menu
394
a7808fba 395@node Introduction, Document Structure, Top, Top
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396@chapter Introduction
397@cindex introduction
398
399@menu
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400* Summary:: Brief summary of what Org does
401* Installation:: How to install a downloaded version of Org
402* Activation:: How to activate Org for certain buffers
4009494e 403* Feedback:: Bug reports, ideas, patches etc.
dbc28aaa 404* Conventions:: Type-setting conventions in the manual
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405@end menu
406
407@node Summary, Installation, Introduction, Introduction
408@section Summary
409@cindex summary
410
a7808fba 411Org is a mode for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, and doing
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412project planning with a fast and effective plain-text system.
413
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414Org develops organizational tasks around NOTES files that contain
415lists or information about projects as plain text. Org is
416implemented on top of Outline mode, which makes it possible to keep the
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417content of large files well structured. Visibility cycling and
418structure editing help to work with the tree. Tables are easily created
a7808fba 419with a built-in table editor. Org supports TODO items, deadlines,
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420time stamps, and scheduling. It dynamically compiles entries into an
421agenda that utilizes and smoothly integrates much of the Emacs calendar
422and diary. Plain text URL-like links connect to websites, emails,
423Usenet messages, BBDB entries, and any files related to the projects.
a7808fba 424For printing and sharing of notes, an Org file can be exported as a
dbc28aaa 425structured ASCII file, as HTML, or (TODO and agenda items only) as an
4009494e 426iCalendar file. It can also serve as a publishing tool for a set of
a7808fba 427linked web pages.
4009494e 428
a7808fba 429An important design aspect that distinguishes Org from for example
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430Planner/Muse is that it encourages to store every piece of information
431only once. In Planner, you have project pages, day pages and possibly
a7808fba 432other files, duplicating some information such as tasks. In Org,
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433you only have notes files. In your notes you mark entries as tasks,
434label them with tags and timestamps. All necessary lists like a
435schedule for the day, the agenda for a meeting, tasks lists selected by
436tags etc are created dynamically when you need them.
437
a7808fba 438Org keeps simple things simple. When first fired up, it should
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439feel like a straightforward, easy to use outliner. Complexity is not
440imposed, but a large amount of functionality is available when you need
a7808fba 441it. Org is a toolbox and can be used in different ways, for
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442example as:
443
444@example
445@r{@bullet{} outline extension with visibility cycling and structure editing}
446@r{@bullet{} ASCII system and table editor for taking structured notes}
447@r{@bullet{} ASCII table editor with spreadsheet-like capabilities}
448@r{@bullet{} TODO list editor}
449@r{@bullet{} full agenda and planner with deadlines and work scheduling}
450@r{@bullet{} environment to implement David Allen's GTD system}
451@r{@bullet{} a basic database application}
dbc28aaa 452@r{@bullet{} simple hypertext system, with HTML and LaTeX export}
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453@r{@bullet{} publishing tool to create a set of interlinked webpages}
454@end example
455
a7808fba 456Org's automatic, context sensitive table editor with spreadsheet
4009494e 457capabilities can be integrated into any major mode by activating the
a7808fba 458minor Orgtbl mode. Using a translation step, it can be used to maintain
4009494e 459tables in arbitrary file types, for example in La@TeX{}. The structure
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460editing and list creation capabilities can be used outside Org with
461the minor Orgstruct mode.
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462
463@cindex FAQ
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464There is a website for Org which provides links to the newest
465version of Org, as well as additional information, frequently asked
4009494e 466questions (FAQ), links to tutorials etc. This page is located at
dbc28aaa 467@uref{http://orgmode.org}.
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468
469@page
470
471
472@node Installation, Activation, Summary, Introduction
473@section Installation
474@cindex installation
475@cindex XEmacs
476
a7808fba 477@b{Important:} @i{If Org is part of the Emacs distribution or an
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478XEmacs package, please skip this section and go directly to
479@ref{Activation}.}
480
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481If you have downloaded Org from the Web, either as a distribution @file{.zip}
482or @file{.tar} file, or as a GIT archive, you must take the following steps
483to install it: Go into the unpacked Org distribution directory and edit the
484top section of the file @file{Makefile}. You must set the name of the Emacs
485binary (likely either @file{emacs} or @file{xemacs}), and the paths to the
486directories where local Lisp and Info files are kept. If you don't have
487access to the system-wide directories, you can simply run Org directly from
488the distribution directory by adding the @file{lisp} subdirectory to the
489Emacs load path. To do this, add the following line to @file{.emacs}:
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490
491@example
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492(setq load-path (cons "~/path/to/orgdir/lisp" load-path))
493@end example
494
495@noindent
496If you plan to use code from the @file{contrib} subdirectory, do a similar
497step for this directory:
498
499@example
500(setq load-path (cons "~/path/to/orgdir/contrib/lisp" load-path))
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501@end example
502
503@b{XEmacs users now need to install the file @file{noutline.el} from
a7808fba 504the @file{xemacs} sub-directory of the Org distribution. Use the
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505command:}
506
507@example
508@b{make install-noutline}
509@end example
510
a7808fba 511@noindent Now byte-compile the Lisp files with the shell command:
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512
513@example
514make
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515@end example
516
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517@noindent If you are running Org from the distribution directory, this is
518all. If you want to install into the system directories, use
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519
520@example
a7808fba 521make install
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522make install-info
523@end example
524
525@noindent Then add to @file{.emacs}:
526
527@lisp
a7808fba 528;; This line only if Org is not part of the X/Emacs distribution.
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529(require 'org-install)
530@end lisp
531
a7808fba 532
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533@node Activation, Feedback, Installation, Introduction
534@section Activation
535@cindex activation
536@cindex autoload
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537@cindex global key bindings
538@cindex key bindings, global
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539
540@iftex
541@b{Important:} @i{If you use copy-and-paste to copy lisp code from the
44ce9197 542PDF documentation as viewed by some PDF viewers to your .emacs file, the
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543single quote character comes out incorrectly and the code will not work.
544You need to fix the single quotes by hand, or copy from Info
545documentation.}
546@end iftex
547
71d35b24 548Add the following lines to your @file{.emacs} file. The last three lines
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549define @emph{global} keys for the commands @command{org-store-link},
550@command{org-agenda}, and @command{org-iswitchb} - please choose suitable
551keys yourself.
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552
553@lisp
554;; The following lines are always needed. Choose your own keys.
555(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.org\\'" . org-mode))
556(global-set-key "\C-cl" 'org-store-link)
557(global-set-key "\C-ca" 'org-agenda)
a7808fba 558(global-set-key "\C-cb" 'org-iswitchb)
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559@end lisp
560
a7808fba 561Furthermore, you must activate @code{font-lock-mode} in Org
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562buffers, because significant functionality depends on font-locking being
563active. You can do this with either one of the following two lines
564(XEmacs user must use the second option):
565@lisp
566(global-font-lock-mode 1) ; for all buffers
a7808fba 567(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'turn-on-font-lock) ; Org buffers only
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568@end lisp
569
a7808fba 570@cindex Org mode, turning on
4009494e 571With this setup, all files with extension @samp{.org} will be put
a7808fba 572into Org mode. As an alternative, make the first line of a file look
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573like this:
574
575@example
576MY PROJECTS -*- mode: org; -*-
577@end example
578
a7808fba 579@noindent which will select Org mode for this buffer no matter what
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580the file's name is. See also the variable
581@code{org-insert-mode-line-in-empty-file}.
582
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583Many commands in Org work on the region is the region is active. To make use
584of this, you need to have @code{transient-mark-mode} (@code{zmacs-regions} in
585XEmacs) turned on. In Emacs 23 this is the default, in Emacs 22 you need to
586do this yourself with
587
588@lisp
589(transient-mark-mode 1)
590@end lisp
591
dbc28aaa 592@node Feedback, Conventions, Activation, Introduction
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593@section Feedback
594@cindex feedback
595@cindex bug reports
596@cindex maintainer
597@cindex author
598
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599If you find problems with Org, or if you have questions, remarks, or ideas
600about it, please mail to the Org mailing list @code{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org}.
601If you are not a member of the mailing list, your mail will be reviewed by a
602moderator and then passed through to the list.
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603
604For bug reports, please provide as much information as possible,
605including the version information of Emacs (@kbd{C-h v emacs-version
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606@key{RET}}) and Org (@kbd{C-h v org-version @key{RET}}), as well as
607the Org related setup in @file{.emacs}. If an error occurs, a
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608backtrace can be very useful (see below on how to create one). Often a
609small example file helps, along with clear information about:
610
611@enumerate
612@item What exactly did you do?
613@item What did you expect to happen?
614@item What happened instead?
615@end enumerate
616@noindent Thank you for helping to improve this mode.
617
618@subsubheading How to create a useful backtrace
619
620@cindex backtrace of an error
a7808fba 621If working with Org produces an error with a message you don't
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622understand, you may have hit a bug. The best way to report this is by
623providing, in addition to what was mentioned above, a @emph{Backtrace}.
624This is information from the built-in debugger about where and how the
625error occurred. Here is how to produce a useful backtrace:
626
627@enumerate
628@item
629Start a fresh Emacs or XEmacs, and make sure that it will load the
630original Lisp code in @file{org.el} instead of the compiled version in
631@file{org.elc}. The backtrace contains much more information if it is
632produced with uncompiled code. To do this, either rename @file{org.elc}
633to something else before starting Emacs, or ask Emacs explicitly to load
634@file{org.el} by using the command line
635@example
636emacs -l /path/to/org.el
637@end example
638@item
639Go to the @code{Options} menu and select @code{Enter Debugger on Error}
640(XEmacs has this option in the @code{Troubleshooting} sub-menu).
641@item
642Do whatever you have to do to hit the error. Don't forget to
643document the steps you take.
644@item
645When you hit the error, a @file{*Backtrace*} buffer will appear on the
646screen. Save this buffer to a file (for example using @kbd{C-x C-w}) and
647attach it to your bug report.
648@end enumerate
649
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650@node Conventions, , Feedback, Introduction
651@section Typesetting conventions used in this manual
652
a7808fba 653Org uses three types of keywords: TODO keywords, tags, and property
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654names. In this manual we use the following conventions:
655
656@table @code
657@item TODO
658@itemx WAITING
659TODO keywords are written with all capitals, even if they are
660user-defined.
661@item boss
662@itemx ARCHIVE
663User-defined tags are written in lowercase; built-in tags with special
664meaning are written with all capitals.
665@item Release
666@itemx PRIORITY
667User-defined properties are capitalized; built-in properties with
668special meaning are written with all capitals.
669@end table
670
a7808fba 671@node Document Structure, Tables, Introduction, Top
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672@chapter Document Structure
673@cindex document structure
674@cindex structure of document
675
a7808fba 676Org is based on outline mode and provides flexible commands to
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677edit the structure of the document.
678
679@menu
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680* Outlines:: Org is based on Outline mode
681* Headlines:: How to typeset Org tree headlines
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682* Visibility cycling:: Show and hide, much simplified
683* Motion:: Jumping to other headlines
684* Structure editing:: Changing sequence and level of headlines
685* Archiving:: Move done task trees to a different place
686* Sparse trees:: Matches embedded in context
687* Plain lists:: Additional structure within an entry
688* Drawers:: Tucking stuff away
a7808fba 689* Orgstruct mode:: Structure editing outside Org
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690@end menu
691
a7808fba 692@node Outlines, Headlines, Document Structure, Document Structure
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693@section Outlines
694@cindex outlines
a7808fba 695@cindex Outline mode
4009494e 696
a7808fba 697Org is implemented on top of Outline mode. Outlines allow a
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698document to be organized in a hierarchical structure, which (at least
699for me) is the best representation of notes and thoughts. An overview
700of this structure is achieved by folding (hiding) large parts of the
701document to show only the general document structure and the parts
a7808fba 702currently being worked on. Org greatly simplifies the use of
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703outlines by compressing the entire show/hide functionality into a single
704command @command{org-cycle}, which is bound to the @key{TAB} key.
705
a7808fba 706@node Headlines, Visibility cycling, Outlines, Document Structure
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707@section Headlines
708@cindex headlines
709@cindex outline tree
710
711Headlines define the structure of an outline tree. The headlines in
a7808fba 712Org start with one or more stars, on the left margin@footnote{See
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713the variable @code{org-special-ctrl-a/e} to configure special behavior
714of @kbd{C-a} and @kbd{C-e} in headlines.}. For example:
715
716@example
717* Top level headline
718** Second level
719*** 3rd level
720 some text
721*** 3rd level
722 more text
723
724* Another top level headline
725@end example
726
727@noindent Some people find the many stars too noisy and would prefer an
728outline that has whitespace followed by a single star as headline
729starters. @ref{Clean view} describes a setup to realize this.
730
731An empty line after the end of a subtree is considered part of it and
732will be hidden when the subtree is folded. However, if you leave at
733least two empty lines, one empty line will remain visible after folding
734the subtree, in order to structure the collapsed view. See the
735variable @code{org-cycle-separator-lines} to modify this behavior.
736
a7808fba 737@node Visibility cycling, Motion, Headlines, Document Structure
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738@section Visibility cycling
739@cindex cycling, visibility
740@cindex visibility cycling
741@cindex trees, visibility
742@cindex show hidden text
743@cindex hide text
744
745Outlines make it possible to hide parts of the text in the buffer.
a7808fba 746Org uses just two commands, bound to @key{TAB} and
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747@kbd{S-@key{TAB}} to change the visibility in the buffer.
748
749@cindex subtree visibility states
750@cindex subtree cycling
751@cindex folded, subtree visibility state
752@cindex children, subtree visibility state
753@cindex subtree, subtree visibility state
754@table @kbd
755@kindex @key{TAB}
756@item @key{TAB}
757@emph{Subtree cycling}: Rotate current subtree among the states
758
759@example
760,-> FOLDED -> CHILDREN -> SUBTREE --.
761'-----------------------------------'
762@end example
763
764The cursor must be on a headline for this to work@footnote{see, however,
765the option @code{org-cycle-emulate-tab}.}. When the cursor is at the
766beginning of the buffer and the first line is not a headline, then
767@key{TAB} actually runs global cycling (see below)@footnote{see the
768option @code{org-cycle-global-at-bob}.}. Also when called with a prefix
769argument (@kbd{C-u @key{TAB}}), global cycling is invoked.
770
771@cindex global visibility states
772@cindex global cycling
773@cindex overview, global visibility state
774@cindex contents, global visibility state
775@cindex show all, global visibility state
776@kindex S-@key{TAB}
777@item S-@key{TAB}
778@itemx C-u @key{TAB}
779@emph{Global cycling}: Rotate the entire buffer among the states
780
781@example
782,-> OVERVIEW -> CONTENTS -> SHOW ALL --.
783'--------------------------------------'
784@end example
785
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786When @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} is called with a numeric prefix argument N, the
787CONTENTS view up to headlines of level N will be shown. Note that inside
788tables, @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} jumps to the previous field.
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789
790@cindex show all, command
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791@kindex C-u C-u C-u @key{TAB}
792@item C-u C-u C-u @key{TAB}
793Show all, including drawers.
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794@kindex C-c C-r
795@item C-c C-r
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796Reveal context around point, showing the current entry, the following heading
797and the hierarchy above. Useful for working near a location that has been
798exposed by a sparse tree command (@pxref{Sparse trees}) or an agenda command
799(@pxref{Agenda commands}). With a prefix argument show, on each
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800level, all sibling headings.
801@kindex C-c C-x b
802@item C-c C-x b
803Show the current subtree in an indirect buffer@footnote{The indirect
804buffer
805@ifinfo
806(@pxref{Indirect Buffers,,,emacs,GNU Emacs Manual})
807@end ifinfo
808@ifnotinfo
809(see the Emacs manual for more information about indirect buffers)
810@end ifnotinfo
811will contain the entire buffer, but will be narrowed to the current
812tree. Editing the indirect buffer will also change the original buffer,
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813but without affecting visibility in that buffer.}. With a numeric
814prefix argument N, go up to level N and then take that tree. If N is
815negative then go up that many levels. With a @kbd{C-u} prefix, do not remove
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816the previously used indirect buffer.
817@end table
818
a7808fba 819When Emacs first visits an Org file, the global state is set to
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820OVERVIEW, i.e. only the top level headlines are visible. This can be
821configured through the variable @code{org-startup-folded}, or on a
822per-file basis by adding one of the following lines anywhere in the
823buffer:
824
825@example
826#+STARTUP: overview
827#+STARTUP: content
828#+STARTUP: showall
829@end example
830
b349f79f 831@noindent
a50253cc 832Furthermore, any entries with a @samp{VISIBILITY} property (@pxref{Properties
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833and Columns}) will get their visibility adapted accordingly. Allowed values
834for this property are @code{folded}, @code{children}, @code{content}, and
835@code{all}.
836@table @kbd
837@kindex C-u C-u @key{TAB}
838@item C-u C-u @key{TAB}
839Switch back to the startup visibility of the buffer, i.e. whatever is
840requested by startup options and @samp{VISIBILITY} properties in individual
841entries.
842@end table
843
a7808fba 844@node Motion, Structure editing, Visibility cycling, Document Structure
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845@section Motion
846@cindex motion, between headlines
847@cindex jumping, to headlines
848@cindex headline navigation
849The following commands jump to other headlines in the buffer.
850
851@table @kbd
852@kindex C-c C-n
853@item C-c C-n
854Next heading.
855@kindex C-c C-p
856@item C-c C-p
857Previous heading.
858@kindex C-c C-f
859@item C-c C-f
860Next heading same level.
861@kindex C-c C-b
862@item C-c C-b
863Previous heading same level.
864@kindex C-c C-u
865@item C-c C-u
866Backward to higher level heading.
867@kindex C-c C-j
868@item C-c C-j
869Jump to a different place without changing the current outline
870visibility. Shows the document structure in a temporary buffer, where
871you can use the following keys to find your destination:
872@example
873@key{TAB} @r{Cycle visibility.}
874@key{down} / @key{up} @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
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875@key{RET} @r{Select this location.}
876@kbd{/} @r{Do a Sparse-tree search}
877@r{The following keys work if you turn off @code{org-goto-auto-isearch}}
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878n / p @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
879f / b @r{Next/previous headline same level.}
880u @r{One level up.}
8810-9 @r{Digit argument.}
71d35b24 882q @r{Quit}
4009494e 883@end example
d60b1ba1 884See also the variable@code{org-goto-interface}.
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885@end table
886
a7808fba 887@node Structure editing, Archiving, Motion, Document Structure
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888@section Structure editing
889@cindex structure editing
890@cindex headline, promotion and demotion
891@cindex promotion, of subtrees
892@cindex demotion, of subtrees
893@cindex subtree, cut and paste
894@cindex pasting, of subtrees
895@cindex cutting, of subtrees
896@cindex copying, of subtrees
897@cindex subtrees, cut and paste
898
899@table @kbd
900@kindex M-@key{RET}
901@item M-@key{RET}
902Insert new heading with same level as current. If the cursor is in a
903plain list item, a new item is created (@pxref{Plain lists}). To force
a7808fba 904creation of a new headline, use a prefix argument, or first press @key{RET}
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905to get to the beginning of the next line. When this command is used in
906the middle of a line, the line is split and the rest of the line becomes
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907the new headline@footnote{If you do not want the line to be split,
908customize the variable @code{org-M-RET-may-split-line}.}. If the
909command is used at the beginning of a headline, the new headline is
910created before the current line. If at the beginning of any other line,
911the content of that line is made the new heading. If the command is
912used at the end of a folded subtree (i.e. behind the ellipses at the end
913of a headline), then a headline like the current one will be inserted
914after the end of the subtree.
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915@kindex C-@key{RET}
916@item C-@key{RET}
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917Just like @kbd{M-@key{RET}}, except when adding a new heading below the
918current heading, the new heading is placed after the body instead of before
919it. This command works from anywhere in the entry.
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920@kindex M-S-@key{RET}
921@item M-S-@key{RET}
922Insert new TODO entry with same level as current heading.
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923@kindex C-S-@key{RET}
924@item C-S-@key{RET}
925Insert new TODO entry with same level as current heading. Like
926@kbd{C-@key{RET}}, the new headline will be inserted after the current
927subtree.
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928@kindex M-@key{left}
929@item M-@key{left}
930Promote current heading by one level.
931@kindex M-@key{right}
932@item M-@key{right}
933Demote current heading by one level.
934@kindex M-S-@key{left}
935@item M-S-@key{left}
936Promote the current subtree by one level.
937@kindex M-S-@key{right}
938@item M-S-@key{right}
939Demote the current subtree by one level.
940@kindex M-S-@key{up}
941@item M-S-@key{up}
942Move subtree up (swap with previous subtree of same
943level).
944@kindex M-S-@key{down}
945@item M-S-@key{down}
946Move subtree down (swap with next subtree of same level).
947@kindex C-c C-x C-w
4009494e 948@item C-c C-x C-w
4009494e 949Kill subtree, i.e. remove it from buffer but save in kill ring.
a7808fba 950With a numeric prefix argument N, kill N sequential subtrees.
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951@kindex C-c C-x M-w
952@item C-c C-x M-w
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953Copy subtree to kill ring. With a numeric prefix argument N, copy the N
954sequential subtrees.
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955@kindex C-c C-x C-y
956@item C-c C-x C-y
957Yank subtree from kill ring. This does modify the level of the subtree to
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958make sure the tree fits in nicely at the yank position. The yank level can
959also be specified with a numeric prefix argument, or by yanking after a
4009494e 960headline marker like @samp{****}.
96c8522a 961@kindex C-y
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962@item C-y
963Depending on the variables @code{org-yank-adjusted-subtrees} and
964@code{org-yank-folded-subtrees}, Org's internal @code{yank} command will
965paste subtrees folded and in a clever way, using the same command as @kbd{C-c
966C-x C-y}. With the default settings, level adjustment will take place and
967yanked trees will be folded unless doing so would swallow text previously
968visible. Any prefix argument to this command will force a normal @code{yank}
969to be executed, with the prefix passed along. A good way to force a normal
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970yank is @kbd{C-u C-y}. If you use @code{yank-pop} after a yank, it will yank
971previous kill items plainly, without adjustment and folding.
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972@kindex C-c C-w
973@item C-c C-w
e45e3595 974Refile entry or region to a different location. @xref{Refiling notes}.
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975@kindex C-c ^
976@item C-c ^
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977Sort same-level entries. When there is an active region, all entries in the
978region will be sorted. Otherwise the children of the current headline are
979sorted. The command prompts for the sorting method, which can be
980alphabetically, numerically, by time (using the first time stamp in each
981entry), by priority, or by TODO keyword (in the sequence the keywords have
982been defined in the setup). Reverse sorting is possible as well. You can
983also supply your own function to extract the sorting key. With a @kbd{C-u}
984prefix, sorting will be case-sensitive. With two @kbd{C-u C-u} prefixes,
985duplicate entries will also be removed.
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986@kindex C-x n s
987@item C-x n s
988Narrow buffer to current subtree.
989@kindex C-x n w
990@item C-x n w
991Widen buffer to remove a narrowing.
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992@kindex C-c *
993@item C-c *
994Turn a normal line or plain list item into a headline (so that it
995becomes a subheading at its location). Also turn a headline into a
996normal line by removing the stars. If there is an active region, turn
997all lines in the region into headlines. Or, if the first line is a
998headline, remove the stars from all headlines in the region.
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999@end table
1000
1001@cindex region, active
1002@cindex active region
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1003@cindex Transient mark mode
1004When there is an active region (Transient mark mode), promotion and
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1005demotion work on all headlines in the region. To select a region of
1006headlines, it is best to place both point and mark at the beginning of a
1007line, mark at the beginning of the first headline, and point at the line
1008just after the last headline to change. Note that when the cursor is
1009inside a table (@pxref{Tables}), the Meta-Cursor keys have different
1010functionality.
1011
a7808fba 1012@node Archiving, Sparse trees, Structure editing, Document Structure
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1013@section Archiving
1014@cindex archiving
1015
1016When a project represented by a (sub)tree is finished, you may want
1017to move the tree out of the way and to stop it from contributing to the
a7808fba 1018agenda. Org mode knows two ways of archiving. You can mark a tree with
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1019the ARCHIVE tag, or you can move an entire (sub)tree to a different
1020location.
1021
1022@menu
1023* ARCHIVE tag:: Marking a tree as inactive
1024* Moving subtrees:: Moving a tree to an archive file
1025@end menu
1026
1027@node ARCHIVE tag, Moving subtrees, Archiving, Archiving
1028@subsection The ARCHIVE tag
1029@cindex internal archiving
1030
1031A headline that is marked with the ARCHIVE tag (@pxref{Tags}) stays at
1032its location in the outline tree, but behaves in the following way:
1033@itemize @minus
1034@item
1035It does not open when you attempt to do so with a visibility cycling
1036command (@pxref{Visibility cycling}). You can force cycling archived
1037subtrees with @kbd{C-@key{TAB}}, or by setting the option
1038@code{org-cycle-open-archived-trees}. Also normal outline commands like
1039@code{show-all} will open archived subtrees.
1040@item
1041During sparse tree construction (@pxref{Sparse trees}), matches in
1042archived subtrees are not exposed, unless you configure the option
1043@code{org-sparse-tree-open-archived-trees}.
1044@item
a7808fba 1045During agenda view construction (@pxref{Agenda Views}), the content of
4009494e 1046archived trees is ignored unless you configure the option
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1047@code{org-agenda-skip-archived-trees}, in which case these trees will always
1048be included. In the agenda you can press the @kbd{v} key to get archives
1049temporarily included.
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1050@item
1051Archived trees are not exported (@pxref{Exporting}), only the headline
1052is. Configure the details using the variable
1053@code{org-export-with-archived-trees}.
1054@end itemize
1055
1056The following commands help managing the ARCHIVE tag:
1057
1058@table @kbd
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1059@kindex C-c C-x a
1060@item C-c C-x a
4009494e 1061Toggle the ARCHIVE tag for the current headline. When the tag is set,
a7808fba 1062the headline changes to a shadowed face, and the subtree below it is
4009494e 1063hidden.
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1064@kindex C-u C-c C-x a
1065@item C-u C-c C-x a
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1066Check if any direct children of the current headline should be archived.
1067To do this, each subtree is checked for open TODO entries. If none are
1068found, the command offers to set the ARCHIVE tag for the child. If the
1069cursor is @emph{not} on a headline when this command is invoked, the
1070level 1 trees will be checked.
1071@kindex C-@kbd{TAB}
1072@item C-@kbd{TAB}
1073Cycle a tree even if it is tagged with ARCHIVE.
1074@end table
1075
1076@node Moving subtrees, , ARCHIVE tag, Archiving
1077@subsection Moving subtrees
1078@cindex external archiving
1079
a7808fba 1080Once an entire project is finished, you may want to move it to a different
44ce9197 1081location. Org can move it to an @emph{Archive Sibling} in the same tree, to a
a7808fba 1082different tree in the current file, or to a different file, the archive file.
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1083
1084@table @kbd
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1085@kindex C-c C-x A
1086@item C-c C-x A
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1087Move the current entry to the @emph{Archive Sibling}. This is a sibling of
1088the entry with the heading @samp{Archive} and the tag @samp{ARCHIVE}
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1089(@pxref{ARCHIVE tag}). The entry becomes a child of that sibling and in this
1090way retains a lot of its original context, including inherited tags and
1091approximate position in the outline.
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1092@kindex C-c C-x C-s
1093@item C-c C-x C-s
1094Archive the subtree starting at the cursor position to the location
1095given by @code{org-archive-location}. Context information that could be
a7808fba 1096lost like the file name, the category, inherited tags, and the TODO
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1097state will be store as properties in the entry.
1098@kindex C-u C-c C-x C-s
1099@item C-u C-c C-x C-s
1100Check if any direct children of the current headline could be moved to
1101the archive. To do this, each subtree is checked for open TODO entries.
1102If none are found, the command offers to move it to the archive
1103location. If the cursor is @emph{not} on a headline when this command
1104is invoked, the level 1 trees will be checked.
1105@end table
1106
1107@cindex archive locations
1108The default archive location is a file in the same directory as the
1109current file, with the name derived by appending @file{_archive} to the
1110current file name. For information and examples on how to change this,
1111see the documentation string of the variable
1112@code{org-archive-location}. There is also an in-buffer option for
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1113setting this variable, for example@footnote{For backward compatibility,
1114the following also works: If there are several such lines in a file,
1115each specifies the archive location for the text below it. The first
1116such line also applies to any text before its definition. However,
1117using this method is @emph{strongly} deprecated as it is incompatible
1118with the outline structure of the document. The correct method for
1119setting multiple archive locations in a buffer is using a property.}:
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1120
1121@example
1122#+ARCHIVE: %s_done::
1123@end example
1124
1125@noindent
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1126If you would like to have a special ARCHIVE location for a single entry
1127or a (sub)tree, give the entry an @code{:ARCHIVE:} property with the
a7808fba 1128location as the value (@pxref{Properties and Columns}).
4009494e 1129
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1130When a subtree is moved, it receives a number of special properties that
1131record context information like the file from where the entry came, it's
1132outline path the archiving time etc. Configure the variable
1133@code{org-archive-save-context-info} to adjust the amount of information
1134added.
1135
a7808fba 1136@node Sparse trees, Plain lists, Archiving, Document Structure
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1137@section Sparse trees
1138@cindex sparse trees
1139@cindex trees, sparse
1140@cindex folding, sparse trees
1141@cindex occur, command
1142
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1143An important feature of Org mode is the ability to construct @emph{sparse
1144trees} for selected information in an outline tree, so that the entire
1145document is folded as much as possible, but the selected information is made
1146visible along with the headline structure above it@footnote{See also the
1147variables @code{org-show-hierarchy-above}, @code{org-show-following-heading},
1148@code{org-show-siblings}, and @code{org-show-entry-below} for detailed
1149control on how much context is shown around each match.}. Just try it out
1150and you will see immediately how it works.
dbc28aaa 1151
a7808fba 1152Org mode contains several commands creating such trees, all these
dbc28aaa 1153commands can be accessed through a dispatcher:
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1154
1155@table @kbd
1156@kindex C-c /
1157@item C-c /
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1158This prompts for an extra key to select a sparse-tree creating command.
1159@kindex C-c / r
1160@item C-c / r
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1161Occur. Prompts for a regexp and shows a sparse tree with all matches. If
1162the match is in a headline, the headline is made visible. If the match is in
1163the body of an entry, headline and body are made visible. In order to
1164provide minimal context, also the full hierarchy of headlines above the match
1165is shown, as well as the headline following the match. Each match is also
1166highlighted; the highlights disappear when the buffer is changed by an
1167editing command@footnote{depending on the option
1168@code{org-remove-highlights-with-change}}, or by pressing @kbd{C-c C-c}.
1169When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, previous highlights are kept,
1170so several calls to this command can be stacked.
4009494e 1171@end table
dbc28aaa 1172
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1173@noindent
1174For frequently used sparse trees of specific search strings, you can
1175use the variable @code{org-agenda-custom-commands} to define fast
1176keyboard access to specific sparse trees. These commands will then be
1177accessible through the agenda dispatcher (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).
1178For example:
1179
1180@lisp
1181(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
1182 '(("f" occur-tree "FIXME")))
1183@end lisp
1184
1185@noindent will define the key @kbd{C-c a f} as a shortcut for creating
1186a sparse tree matching the string @samp{FIXME}.
1187
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1188The other sparse tree commands select headings based on TODO keywords,
1189tags, or properties and will be discussed later in this manual.
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1190
1191@kindex C-c C-e v
1192@cindex printing sparse trees
1193@cindex visible text, printing
1194To print a sparse tree, you can use the Emacs command
1195@code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} which does not print invisible parts
1196of the document @footnote{This does not work under XEmacs, because
1197XEmacs uses selective display for outlining, not text properties.}.
1198Or you can use the command @kbd{C-c C-e v} to export only the visible
1199part of the document and print the resulting file.
1200
a7808fba 1201@node Plain lists, Drawers, Sparse trees, Document Structure
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1202@section Plain lists
1203@cindex plain lists
1204@cindex lists, plain
1205@cindex lists, ordered
1206@cindex ordered lists
1207
1208Within an entry of the outline tree, hand-formatted lists can provide
1209additional structure. They also provide a way to create lists of
a7808fba 1210checkboxes (@pxref{Checkboxes}). Org supports editing such lists,
dbc28aaa 1211and the HTML exporter (@pxref{Exporting}) parses and formats them.
4009494e 1212
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1213Org knows ordered lists, unordered lists, and description lists.
1214@itemize @bullet
1215@item
1216@emph{Unordered} list items start with @samp{-}, @samp{+}, or
1217@samp{*}@footnote{When using @samp{*} as a bullet, lines must be indented or
1218they will be seen as top-level headlines. Also, when you are hiding leading
1219stars to get a clean outline view, plain list items starting with a star are
1220visually indistinguishable from true headlines. In short: even though
1221@samp{*} is supported, it may be better to not use it for plain list items.}
1222as bullets.
1223@item
1224@emph{Ordered} list items start with a numeral followed by either a period or
1225a right parenthesis, such as @samp{1.} or @samp{1)}.
1226@item
1227@emph{Description} list items are like unordered list items, but contain the
1228separator @samp{ :: } to separate the description @emph{term} from the
a50253cc 1229description.
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1230@end itemize
1231
1232Items belonging to the same list must have the same indentation on the first
1233line. In particular, if an ordered list reaches number @samp{10.}, then the
12342--digit numbers must be written left-aligned with the other numbers in the
1235list. Indentation also determines the end of a list item. It ends before
1236the next line that is indented like the bullet/number, or less. Empty lines
1237are part of the previous item, so you can have several paragraphs in one
1238item. If you would like an empty line to terminate all currently open plain
1239lists, configure the variable @code{org-empty-line-terminates-plain-lists}.
1240Here is an example:
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1241
1242@example
1243@group
1244** Lord of the Rings
1245 My favorite scenes are (in this order)
1246 1. The attack of the Rohirrim
a50253cc 1247 2. Eowyn's fight with the witch king
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GM
1248 + this was already my favorite scene in the book
1249 + I really like Miranda Otto.
1250 3. Peter Jackson being shot by Legolas
1251 - on DVD only
1252 He makes a really funny face when it happens.
a50253cc 1253 But in the end, no individual scenes matter but the film as a whole.
b349f79f 1254 Important actors in this film are:
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GM
1255 - @b{Elijah Wood} :: He plays Frodo
1256 - @b{Sean Austin} :: He plays Sam, Frodos friend. I still remember
1257 him very well from his role as Mikey Walsh in the Goonies.
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1258@end group
1259@end example
1260
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1261Org supports these lists by tuning filling and wrapping commands to
1262deal with them correctly@footnote{Org only changes the filling
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1263settings for Emacs. For XEmacs, you should use Kyle E. Jones'
1264@file{filladapt.el}. To turn this on, put into @file{.emacs}:
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1265@code{(require 'filladapt)}}, and by exporting them properly
1266(@pxref{Exporting}).
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1267
1268The following commands act on items when the cursor is in the first line
1269of an item (the line with the bullet or number).
1270
1271@table @kbd
1272@kindex @key{TAB}
1273@item @key{TAB}
1274Items can be folded just like headline levels if you set the variable
1275@code{org-cycle-include-plain-lists}. The level of an item is then
1276given by the indentation of the bullet/number. Items are always
1277subordinate to real headlines, however; the hierarchies remain
1278completely separated.
1279
1280If @code{org-cycle-include-plain-lists} has not been set, @key{TAB}
a7808fba 1281fixes the indentation of the current line in a heuristic way.
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1282@kindex M-@key{RET}
1283@item M-@key{RET}
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CD
1284Insert new item at current level. With a prefix argument, force a new
1285heading (@pxref{Structure editing}). If this command is used in the middle
1286of a line, the line is @emph{split} and the rest of the line becomes the new
1287item@footnote{If you do not want the line to be split, customize the variable
1288@code{org-M-RET-may-split-line}.}. If this command is executed in the
1289@emph{whitespace before a bullet or number}, the new item is created
1290@emph{before} the current item. If the command is executed in the white
1291space before the text that is part of an item but does not contain the
1292bullet, a bullet is added to the current line.
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1293@kindex M-S-@key{RET}
1294@item M-S-@key{RET}
1295Insert a new item with a checkbox (@pxref{Checkboxes}).
1296@kindex S-@key{up}
1297@kindex S-@key{down}
1298@item S-@key{up}
1299@itemx S-@key{down}
1300Jump to the previous/next item in the current list.
1301@kindex M-S-@key{up}
1302@kindex M-S-@key{down}
1303@item M-S-@key{up}
1304@itemx M-S-@key{down}
1305Move the item including subitems up/down (swap with previous/next item
1306of same indentation). If the list is ordered, renumbering is
1307automatic.
1308@kindex M-S-@key{left}
1309@kindex M-S-@key{right}
1310@item M-S-@key{left}
1311@itemx M-S-@key{right}
1312Decrease/increase the indentation of the item, including subitems.
1313Initially, the item tree is selected based on current indentation.
1314When these commands are executed several times in direct succession,
1315the initially selected region is used, even if the new indentation
1316would imply a different hierarchy. To use the new hierarchy, break
1317the command chain with a cursor motion or so.
1318@kindex C-c C-c
1319@item C-c C-c
1320If there is a checkbox (@pxref{Checkboxes}) in the item line, toggle the
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CD
1321state of the checkbox. If not, this command makes sure that all the
1322items on this list level use the same bullet. Furthermore, if this is
a7808fba 1323an ordered list, make sure the numbering is OK.
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1324@kindex C-c -
1325@item C-c -
a7808fba
CD
1326Cycle the entire list level through the different itemize/enumerate bullets
1327(@samp{-}, @samp{+}, @samp{*}, @samp{1.}, @samp{1)}). With a numeric prefix
1328argument N, select the Nth bullet from this list. If there is an active
1329region when calling this, all lines will be converted to list items. If the
1330first line already was a list item, any item markers will be removed from the
1331list. Finally, even without an active region, a normal line will be
1332converted into a list item.
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1333@kindex S-@key{left}
1334@kindex S-@key{right}
1335@item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
1336Also cycle bullet styles when in the first line of an item.
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1337@end table
1338
a7808fba 1339@node Drawers, Orgstruct mode, Plain lists, Document Structure
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1340@section Drawers
1341@cindex drawers
1342@cindex visibility cycling, drawers
1343
1344Sometimes you want to keep information associated with an entry, but you
a7808fba 1345normally don't want to see it. For this, Org mode has @emph{drawers}.
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CD
1346Drawers need to be configured with the variable
1347@code{org-drawers}@footnote{You can define drawers on a per-file basis
1348with a line like @code{#+DRAWERS: HIDDEN PROPERTIES STATE}}. Drawers
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1349look like this:
1350
1351@example
1352** This is a headline
1353 Still outside the drawer
1354 :DRAWERNAME:
1355 This is inside the drawer.
1356 :END:
1357 After the drawer.
1358@end example
1359
1360Visibility cycling (@pxref{Visibility cycling}) on the headline will
1361hide and show the entry, but keep the drawer collapsed to a single line.
1362In order to look inside the drawer, you need to move the cursor to the
a7808fba 1363drawer line and press @key{TAB} there. Org mode uses a drawer for
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1364storing properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}), and another one for
1365storing clock times (@pxref{Clocking work time}).
4009494e 1366
a7808fba 1367@node Orgstruct mode, , Drawers, Document Structure
4009494e 1368@section The Orgstruct minor mode
a7808fba 1369@cindex Orgstruct mode
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1370@cindex minor mode for structure editing
1371
a7808fba 1372If you like the intuitive way the Org mode structure editing and list
4009494e 1373formatting works, you might want to use these commands in other modes
a7808fba 1374like Text mode or Mail mode as well. The minor mode Orgstruct mode
4009494e 1375makes this possible. You can always toggle the mode with @kbd{M-x
a7808fba 1376orgstruct-mode}. To turn it on by default, for example in Mail mode,
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1377use
1378
1379@lisp
1380(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgstruct)
1381@end lisp
1382
1383When this mode is active and the cursor is on a line that looks to
a7808fba 1384Org like a headline of the first line of a list item, most
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1385structure editing commands will work, even if the same keys normally
1386have different functionality in the major mode you are using. If the
a7808fba 1387cursor is not in one of those special lines, Orgstruct mode lurks
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1388silently in the shadow.
1389
a7808fba 1390@node Tables, Hyperlinks, Document Structure, Top
4009494e
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1391@chapter Tables
1392@cindex tables
1393@cindex editing tables
1394
a7808fba 1395Org comes with a fast and intuitive table editor. Spreadsheet-like
dbc28aaa 1396calculations are supported in connection with the Emacs @file{calc}
28a16a1b 1397package
dbc28aaa 1398@ifinfo
a7808fba 1399(@pxref{Top,Calc,,Calc,Gnu Emacs Calculator Manual}).
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1400@end ifinfo
1401@ifnotinfo
1402(see the Emacs Calculator manual for more information about the Emacs
1403calculator).
1404@end ifnotinfo
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1405
1406@menu
1407* Built-in table editor:: Simple tables
28a16a1b 1408* Narrow columns:: Stop wasting space in tables
4009494e 1409* Column groups:: Grouping to trigger vertical lines
a7808fba
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1410* Orgtbl mode:: The table editor as minor mode
1411* The spreadsheet:: The table editor has spreadsheet capabilities
864c9740 1412* Org Plot:: Plotting from org tables
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1413@end menu
1414
1415@node Built-in table editor, Narrow columns, Tables, Tables
1416@section The built-in table editor
1417@cindex table editor, built-in
1418
a7808fba 1419Org makes it easy to format tables in plain ASCII. Any line with
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1420@samp{|} as the first non-whitespace character is considered part of a
1421table. @samp{|} is also the column separator. A table might look like
1422this:
1423
1424@example
1425| Name | Phone | Age |
1426|-------+-------+-----|
1427| Peter | 1234 | 17 |
1428| Anna | 4321 | 25 |
1429@end example
1430
1431A table is re-aligned automatically each time you press @key{TAB} or
1432@key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} inside the table. @key{TAB} also moves to
1433the next field (@key{RET} to the next row) and creates new table rows
1434at the end of the table or before horizontal lines. The indentation
1435of the table is set by the first line. Any line starting with
1436@samp{|-} is considered as a horizontal separator line and will be
1437expanded on the next re-align to span the whole table width. So, to
1438create the above table, you would only type
1439
1440@example
1441|Name|Phone|Age|
1442|-
1443@end example
1444
1445@noindent and then press @key{TAB} to align the table and start filling in
1446fields.
1447
a7808fba 1448When typing text into a field, Org treats @key{DEL},
4009494e
GM
1449@key{Backspace}, and all character keys in a special way, so that
1450inserting and deleting avoids shifting other fields. Also, when
1451typing @emph{immediately after the cursor was moved into a new field
1452with @kbd{@key{TAB}}, @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} or @kbd{@key{RET}}}, the
1453field is automatically made blank. If this behavior is too
1454unpredictable for you, configure the variables
1455@code{org-enable-table-editor} and @code{org-table-auto-blank-field}.
1456
1457@table @kbd
1458@tsubheading{Creation and conversion}
1459@kindex C-c |
1460@item C-c |
1461Convert the active region to table. If every line contains at least one
1462TAB character, the function assumes that the material is tab separated.
dbc28aaa 1463If every line contains a comma, comma-separated values (CSV) are assumed.
4009494e 1464If not, lines are split at whitespace into fields. You can use a prefix
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CD
1465argument to force a specific separator: @kbd{C-u} forces CSV, @kbd{C-u
1466C-u} forces TAB, and a numeric argument N indicates that at least N
a7808fba 1467consecutive spaces, or alternatively a TAB will be the separator.
28a16a1b 1468@*
a7808fba 1469If there is no active region, this command creates an empty Org
4009494e
GM
1470table. But it's easier just to start typing, like
1471@kbd{|Name|Phone|Age @key{RET} |- @key{TAB}}.
1472
1473@tsubheading{Re-aligning and field motion}
1474@kindex C-c C-c
1475@item C-c C-c
1476Re-align the table without moving the cursor.
1477@c
1478@kindex @key{TAB}
1479@item @key{TAB}
1480Re-align the table, move to the next field. Creates a new row if
1481necessary.
1482@c
1483@kindex S-@key{TAB}
1484@item S-@key{TAB}
1485Re-align, move to previous field.
1486@c
1487@kindex @key{RET}
1488@item @key{RET}
1489Re-align the table and move down to next row. Creates a new row if
1490necessary. At the beginning or end of a line, @key{RET} still does
1491NEWLINE, so it can be used to split a table.
1492
1493@tsubheading{Column and row editing}
1494@kindex M-@key{left}
1495@kindex M-@key{right}
1496@item M-@key{left}
1497@itemx M-@key{right}
1498Move the current column left/right.
1499@c
1500@kindex M-S-@key{left}
1501@item M-S-@key{left}
1502Kill the current column.
1503@c
1504@kindex M-S-@key{right}
1505@item M-S-@key{right}
1506Insert a new column to the left of the cursor position.
1507@c
1508@kindex M-@key{up}
1509@kindex M-@key{down}
1510@item M-@key{up}
1511@itemx M-@key{down}
1512Move the current row up/down.
1513@c
1514@kindex M-S-@key{up}
1515@item M-S-@key{up}
1516Kill the current row or horizontal line.
1517@c
1518@kindex M-S-@key{down}
1519@item M-S-@key{down}
a7808fba
CD
1520Insert a new row above the current row. With a prefix argument, the line is
1521created below the current one.
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1522@c
1523@kindex C-c -
1524@item C-c -
a7808fba 1525Insert a horizontal line below current row. With a prefix argument, the line
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1526is created above the current line.
1527@c
1528@kindex C-c ^
1529@item C-c ^
1530Sort the table lines in the region. The position of point indicates the
1531column to be used for sorting, and the range of lines is the range
1532between the nearest horizontal separator lines, or the entire table. If
1533point is before the first column, you will be prompted for the sorting
1534column. If there is an active region, the mark specifies the first line
1535and the sorting column, while point should be in the last line to be
1536included into the sorting. The command prompts for the sorting type
1537(alphabetically, numerically, or by time). When called with a prefix
1538argument, alphabetic sorting will be case-sensitive.
1539
1540@tsubheading{Regions}
1541@kindex C-c C-x M-w
1542@item C-c C-x M-w
1543Copy a rectangular region from a table to a special clipboard. Point
1544and mark determine edge fields of the rectangle. The process ignores
1545horizontal separator lines.
1546@c
1547@kindex C-c C-x C-w
1548@item C-c C-x C-w
1549Copy a rectangular region from a table to a special clipboard, and
1550blank all fields in the rectangle. So this is the ``cut'' operation.
1551@c
1552@kindex C-c C-x C-y
1553@item C-c C-x C-y
1554Paste a rectangular region into a table.
864c9740 1555The upper left corner ends up in the current field. All involved fields
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GM
1556will be overwritten. If the rectangle does not fit into the present table,
1557the table is enlarged as needed. The process ignores horizontal separator
1558lines.
1559@c
1560@kindex C-c C-q
28a16a1b 1561@kindex M-@key{RET}
4009494e 1562@item C-c C-q
28a16a1b 1563@itemx M-@kbd{RET}
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1564Wrap several fields in a column like a paragraph. If there is an active
1565region, and both point and mark are in the same column, the text in the
a7808fba
CD
1566column is wrapped to minimum width for the given number of lines. A numeric
1567prefix argument may be used to change the number of desired lines. If there
1568is no region, the current field is split at the cursor position and the text
1569fragment to the right of the cursor is prepended to the field one line
1570down. If there is no region, but you specify a prefix argument, the current
1571field is made blank, and the content is appended to the field above.
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1572
1573@tsubheading{Calculations}
1574@cindex formula, in tables
1575@cindex calculations, in tables
1576@cindex region, active
1577@cindex active region
a7808fba 1578@cindex Transient mark mode
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1579@kindex C-c +
1580@item C-c +
1581Sum the numbers in the current column, or in the rectangle defined by
1582the active region. The result is shown in the echo area and can
1583be inserted with @kbd{C-y}.
1584@c
1585@kindex S-@key{RET}
1586@item S-@key{RET}
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CD
1587When current field is empty, copy from first non-empty field above. When not
1588empty, copy current field down to next row and move cursor along with it.
1589Depending on the variable @code{org-table-copy-increment}, integer field
1590values will be incremented during copy. Integers that are too large will not
a50253cc 1591be incremented. Also, a @code{0} prefix argument temporarily disables the
864c9740 1592increment. This key is also used by CUA mode (@pxref{Cooperation}).
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1593
1594@tsubheading{Miscellaneous}
1595@kindex C-c `
1596@item C-c `
1597Edit the current field in a separate window. This is useful for fields
1598that are not fully visible (@pxref{Narrow columns}). When called with a
1599@kbd{C-u} prefix, just make the full field visible, so that it can be
1600edited in place.
1601@c
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1602@item M-x org-table-import
1603Import a file as a table. The table should be TAB- or whitespace
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1604separated. Useful, for example, to import a spreadsheet table or data
1605from a database, because these programs generally can write
1606TAB-separated text files. This command works by inserting the file into
1607the buffer and then converting the region to a table. Any prefix
1608argument is passed on to the converter, which uses it to determine the
1609separator.
4009494e 1610@item C-c |
a7808fba 1611Tables can also be imported by pasting tabular text into the Org
4009494e 1612buffer, selecting the pasted text with @kbd{C-x C-x} and then using the
44ce9197 1613@kbd{C-c |} command (see above under @i{Creation and conversion}).
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1614@c
1615@item M-x org-table-export
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CD
1616Export the table, by default as a TAB-separated file. Useful for data
1617exchange with, for example, spreadsheet or database programs. The format
1618used to export the file can be configured in the variable
1619@code{org-table-export-default-format}. You may also use properties
1620@code{TABLE_EXPORT_FILE} and @code{TABLE_EXPORT_FORMAT} to specify the file
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CD
1621name and the format for table export in a subtree. Org supports quite
1622general formats for exported tables. The exporter format is the same as the
1623format used by Orgtbl radio tables, see @ref{Translator functions} for a
1624detailed description.
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1625@end table
1626
1627If you don't like the automatic table editor because it gets in your
1628way on lines which you would like to start with @samp{|}, you can turn
1629it off with
1630
1631@lisp
1632(setq org-enable-table-editor nil)
1633@end lisp
1634
1635@noindent Then the only table command that still works is
1636@kbd{C-c C-c} to do a manual re-align.
1637
1638@node Narrow columns, Column groups, Built-in table editor, Tables
1639@section Narrow columns
1640@cindex narrow columns in tables
1641
1642The width of columns is automatically determined by the table editor.
1643Sometimes a single field or a few fields need to carry more text,
1644leading to inconveniently wide columns. To limit@footnote{This feature
1645does not work on XEmacs.} the width of a column, one field anywhere in
1646the column may contain just the string @samp{<N>} where @samp{N} is an
1647integer specifying the width of the column in characters. The next
1648re-align will then set the width of this column to no more than this
1649value.
1650
1651@example
1652@group
1653|---+------------------------------| |---+--------|
1654| | | | | <6> |
1655| 1 | one | | 1 | one |
1656| 2 | two | ----\ | 2 | two |
1657| 3 | This is a long chunk of text | ----/ | 3 | This=> |
1658| 4 | four | | 4 | four |
1659|---+------------------------------| |---+--------|
1660@end group
1661@end example
1662
1663@noindent
1664Fields that are wider become clipped and end in the string @samp{=>}.
1665Note that the full text is still in the buffer, it is only invisible.
1666To see the full text, hold the mouse over the field - a tool-tip window
1667will show the full content. To edit such a field, use the command
1668@kbd{C-c `} (that is @kbd{C-c} followed by the backquote). This will
1669open a new window with the full field. Edit it and finish with @kbd{C-c
1670C-c}.
1671
1672When visiting a file containing a table with narrowed columns, the
1673necessary character hiding has not yet happened, and the table needs to
1674be aligned before it looks nice. Setting the option
1675@code{org-startup-align-all-tables} will realign all tables in a file
1676upon visiting, but also slow down startup. You can also set this option
1677on a per-file basis with:
1678
1679@example
1680#+STARTUP: align
1681#+STARTUP: noalign
1682@end example
1683
a7808fba 1684@node Column groups, Orgtbl mode, Narrow columns, Tables
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1685@section Column groups
1686@cindex grouping columns in tables
1687
a7808fba 1688When Org exports tables, it does so by default without vertical
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1689lines because that is visually more satisfying in general. Occasionally
1690however, vertical lines can be useful to structure a table into groups
1691of columns, much like horizontal lines can do for groups of rows. In
1692order to specify column groups, you can use a special row where the
1693first field contains only @samp{/}. The further fields can either
1694contain @samp{<} to indicate that this column should start a group,
1695@samp{>} to indicate the end of a column, or @samp{<>} to make a column
a7808fba 1696a group of its own. Boundaries between column groups will upon export be
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1697marked with vertical lines. Here is an example:
1698
1699@example
1700| | N | N^2 | N^3 | N^4 | sqrt(n) | sqrt[4](N) |
1701|---+----+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
1702| / | <> | < | | > | < | > |
1703| # | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
1704| # | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 1.4142 | 1.1892 |
1705| # | 3 | 9 | 27 | 81 | 1.7321 | 1.3161 |
1706|---+----+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
44ce9197 1707#+TBLFM: $3=$2^2::$4=$2^3::$5=$2^4::$6=sqrt($2)::$7=sqrt(sqrt(($2)))
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1708@end example
1709
a7808fba 1710It is also sufficient to just insert the column group starters after
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1711every vertical line you'd like to have:
1712
1713@example
1714| N | N^2 | N^3 | N^4 | sqrt(n) | sqrt[4](N) |
1715|----+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
1716| / | < | | | < | |
1717@end example
1718
a7808fba 1719@node Orgtbl mode, The spreadsheet, Column groups, Tables
4009494e 1720@section The Orgtbl minor mode
a7808fba 1721@cindex Orgtbl mode
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1722@cindex minor mode for tables
1723
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1724If you like the intuitive way the Org table editor works, you
1725might also want to use it in other modes like Text mode or Mail mode.
1726The minor mode Orgtbl mode makes this possible. You can always toggle
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1727the mode with @kbd{M-x orgtbl-mode}. To turn it on by default, for
1728example in mail mode, use
1729
1730@lisp
1731(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgtbl)
1732@end lisp
1733
1734Furthermore, with some special setup, it is possible to maintain tables
a7808fba 1735in arbitrary syntax with Orgtbl mode. For example, it is possible to
4009494e 1736construct La@TeX{} tables with the underlying ease and power of
a7808fba 1737Orgtbl mode, including spreadsheet capabilities. For details, see
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1738@ref{Tables in arbitrary syntax}.
1739
864c9740 1740@node The spreadsheet, Org Plot, Orgtbl mode, Tables
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1741@section The spreadsheet
1742@cindex calculations, in tables
1743@cindex spreadsheet capabilities
1744@cindex @file{calc} package
1745
1746The table editor makes use of the Emacs @file{calc} package to implement
1747spreadsheet-like capabilities. It can also evaluate Emacs Lisp forms to
a7808fba 1748derive fields from other fields. While fully featured, Org's
4009494e 1749implementation is not identical to other spreadsheets. For example,
a7808fba 1750Org knows the concept of a @emph{column formula} that will be
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1751applied to all non-header fields in a column without having to copy the
1752formula to each relevant field.
1753
1754@menu
1755* References:: How to refer to another field or range
1756* Formula syntax for Calc:: Using Calc to compute stuff
1757* Formula syntax for Lisp:: Writing formulas in Emacs Lisp
1758* Field formulas:: Formulas valid for a single field
1759* Column formulas:: Formulas valid for an entire column
1760* Editing and debugging formulas:: Fixing formulas
1761* Updating the table:: Recomputing all dependent fields
1762* Advanced features:: Field names, parameters and automatic recalc
1763@end menu
1764
1765@node References, Formula syntax for Calc, The spreadsheet, The spreadsheet
1766@subsection References
1767@cindex references
1768
1769To compute fields in the table from other fields, formulas must
a7808fba 1770reference other fields or ranges. In Org, fields can be referenced
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1771by name, by absolute coordinates, and by relative coordinates. To find
1772out what the coordinates of a field are, press @kbd{C-c ?} in that
1773field, or press @kbd{C-c @}} to toggle the display of a grid.
1774
1775@subsubheading Field references
1776@cindex field references
1777@cindex references, to fields
1778
1779Formulas can reference the value of another field in two ways. Like in
1780any other spreadsheet, you may reference fields with a letter/number
1781combination like @code{B3}, meaning the 2nd field in the 3rd row.
1782@c Such references are always fixed to that field, they don't change
1783@c when you copy and paste a formula to a different field. So
a7808fba 1784@c Org's @code{B3} behaves like @code{$B$3} in other spreadsheets.
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1785
1786@noindent
a7808fba 1787Org also uses another, more general operator that looks like this:
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1788@example
1789@@row$column
1790@end example
1791
1792@noindent
1793Column references can be absolute like @samp{1}, @samp{2},...@samp{N},
73ef3bde 1794or relative to the current column like @samp{+1} or @samp{-2}.
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1795
1796The row specification only counts data lines and ignores horizontal
1797separator lines (hlines). You can use absolute row numbers
1798@samp{1}...@samp{N}, and row numbers relative to the current row like
1799@samp{+3} or @samp{-1}. Or specify the row relative to one of the
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1800hlines: @samp{I} refers to the first hline@footnote{Note that only
1801hlines are counted that @emph{separate} table lines. If the table
1802starts with a hline above the header, it does not count.}, @samp{II} to
1803the second etc. @samp{-I} refers to the first such line above the
1804current line, @samp{+I} to the first such line below the current line.
1805You can also write @samp{III+2} which is the second data line after the
1806third hline in the table. Relative row numbers like @samp{-3} will not
1807cross hlines if the current line is too close to the hline. Instead,
1808the value directly at the hline is used.
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1809
1810@samp{0} refers to the current row and column. Also, if you omit
1811either the column or the row part of the reference, the current
28a16a1b 1812row/column is implied.
4009494e 1813
a7808fba 1814Org's references with @emph{unsigned} numbers are fixed references
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1815in the sense that if you use the same reference in the formula for two
1816different fields, the same field will be referenced each time.
a7808fba 1817Org's references with @emph{signed} numbers are floating
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1818references because the same reference operator can reference different
1819fields depending on the field being calculated by the formula.
1820
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1821As a special case references like @samp{$LR5} and @samp{$LR12} can be used to
1822refer in a stable way to the 5th and 12th field in the last row of the table.
1823
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1824Here are a few examples:
1825
1826@example
1827@@2$3 @r{2nd row, 3rd column}
1828C2 @r{same as previous}
1829$5 @r{column 5 in the current row}
1830E& @r{same as previous}
1831@@2 @r{current column, row 2}
1832@@-1$-3 @r{the field one row up, three columns to the left}
1833@@-I$2 @r{field just under hline above current row, column 2}
1834@end example
1835
1836@subsubheading Range references
1837@cindex range references
1838@cindex references, to ranges
1839
1840You may reference a rectangular range of fields by specifying two field
1841references connected by two dots @samp{..}. If both fields are in the
1842current row, you may simply use @samp{$2..$7}, but if at least one field
1843is in a different row, you need to use the general @code{@@row$column}
1844format at least for the first field (i.e the reference must start with
1845@samp{@@} in order to be interpreted correctly). Examples:
1846
1847@example
1848$1..$3 @r{First three fields in the current row.}
1849$P..$Q @r{Range, using column names (see under Advanced)}
1850@@2$1..@@4$3 @r{6 fields between these two fields.}
1851A2..C4 @r{Same as above.}
1852@@-1$-2..@@-1 @r{3 numbers from the column to the left, 2 up to current row}
1853@end example
1854
1855@noindent Range references return a vector of values that can be fed
1856into Calc vector functions. Empty fields in ranges are normally
1857suppressed, so that the vector contains only the non-empty fields (but
1858see the @samp{E} mode switch below). If there are no non-empty fields,
1859@samp{[0]} is returned to avoid syntax errors in formulas.
1860
1861@subsubheading Named references
1862@cindex named references
1863@cindex references, named
1864@cindex name, of column or field
1865@cindex constants, in calculations
1866
1867@samp{$name} is interpreted as the name of a column, parameter or
1868constant. Constants are defined globally through the variable
1869@code{org-table-formula-constants}, and locally (for the file) through a
1870line like
1871
1872@example
1873#+CONSTANTS: c=299792458. pi=3.14 eps=2.4e-6
1874@end example
1875
1876@noindent
a7808fba 1877Also properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}) can be used as
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1878constants in table formulas: For a property @samp{:Xyz:} use the name
1879@samp{$PROP_Xyz}, and the property will be searched in the current
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1880outline entry and in the hierarchy above it. If you have the
1881@file{constants.el} package, it will also be used to resolve constants,
1882including natural constants like @samp{$h} for Planck's constant, and
1883units like @samp{$km} for kilometers@footnote{@file{Constant.el} can
1884supply the values of constants in two different unit systems, @code{SI}
1885and @code{cgs}. Which one is used depends on the value of the variable
1886@code{constants-unit-system}. You can use the @code{#+STARTUP} options
1887@code{constSI} and @code{constcgs} to set this value for the current
1888buffer.}. Column names and parameters can be specified in special table
1889lines. These are described below, see @ref{Advanced features}. All
1890names must start with a letter, and further consist of letters and
1891numbers.
1892
1893@node Formula syntax for Calc, Formula syntax for Lisp, References, The spreadsheet
1894@subsection Formula syntax for Calc
1895@cindex formula syntax, Calc
1896@cindex syntax, of formulas
1897
1898A formula can be any algebraic expression understood by the Emacs
1899@file{Calc} package. @b{Note that @file{calc} has the
1900non-standard convention that @samp{/} has lower precedence than
1901@samp{*}, so that @samp{a/b*c} is interpreted as @samp{a/(b*c)}.} Before
1902evaluation by @code{calc-eval} (@pxref{Calling Calc from
a7808fba 1903Your Programs,calc-eval,Calling Calc from Your Lisp Programs,Calc,GNU
4009494e 1904Emacs Calc Manual}),
a7808fba 1905@c FIXME: The link to the Calc manual in HTML does not work.
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1906variable substitution takes place according to the rules described above.
1907@cindex vectors, in table calculations
a7808fba 1908The range vectors can be directly fed into the Calc vector functions
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1909like @samp{vmean} and @samp{vsum}.
1910
1911@cindex format specifier
1912@cindex mode, for @file{calc}
1913A formula can contain an optional mode string after a semicolon. This
1914string consists of flags to influence Calc and other modes during
a7808fba 1915execution. By default, Org uses the standard Calc modes (precision
44ce9197 191612, angular units degrees, fraction and symbolic modes off). The display
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1917format, however, has been changed to @code{(float 5)} to keep tables
1918compact. The default settings can be configured using the variable
1919@code{org-calc-default-modes}.
1920
1921@example
1922p20 @r{switch the internal precision to 20 digits}
1923n3 s3 e2 f4 @r{normal, scientific, engineering, or fixed display format}
1924D R @r{angle modes: degrees, radians}
1925F S @r{fraction and symbolic modes}
1926N @r{interpret all fields as numbers, use 0 for non-numbers}
1927T @r{force text interpretation}
1928E @r{keep empty fields in ranges}
1929@end example
1930
1931@noindent
1932In addition, you may provide a @code{printf} format specifier to
1933reformat the final result. A few examples:
1934
1935@example
1936$1+$2 @r{Sum of first and second field}
1937$1+$2;%.2f @r{Same, format result to two decimals}
1938exp($2)+exp($1) @r{Math functions can be used}
1939$0;%.1f @r{Reformat current cell to 1 decimal}
1940($3-32)*5/9 @r{Degrees F -> C conversion}
1941$c/$1/$cm @r{Hz -> cm conversion, using @file{constants.el}}
1942tan($1);Dp3s1 @r{Compute in degrees, precision 3, display SCI 1}
1943sin($1);Dp3%.1e @r{Same, but use printf specifier for display}
1944vmean($2..$7) @r{Compute column range mean, using vector function}
1945vmean($2..$7);EN @r{Same, but treat empty fields as 0}
1946taylor($3,x=7,2) @r{taylor series of $3, at x=7, second degree}
1947@end example
1948
1949Calc also contains a complete set of logical operations. For example
1950
1951@example
1952if($1<20,teen,string("")) @r{``teen'' if age $1 less than 20, else empty}
1953@end example
1954
1955@node Formula syntax for Lisp, Field formulas, Formula syntax for Calc, The spreadsheet
1956@subsection Emacs Lisp forms as formulas
1957@cindex Lisp forms, as table formulas
1958
1959It is also possible to write a formula in Emacs Lisp; this can be useful
a50253cc 1960for string manipulation and control structures, if Calc's
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1961functionality is not enough. If a formula starts with a single quote
1962followed by an opening parenthesis, then it is evaluated as a lisp form.
1963The evaluation should return either a string or a number. Just as with
1964@file{calc} formulas, you can specify modes and a printf format after a
a7808fba 1965semicolon. With Emacs Lisp forms, you need to be conscious about the way
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1966field references are interpolated into the form. By default, a
1967reference will be interpolated as a Lisp string (in double quotes)
1968containing the field. If you provide the @samp{N} mode switch, all
1969referenced elements will be numbers (non-number fields will be zero) and
1970interpolated as Lisp numbers, without quotes. If you provide the
1971@samp{L} flag, all fields will be interpolated literally, without quotes.
1972I.e., if you want a reference to be interpreted as a string by the Lisp
a7808fba 1973form, enclose the reference operator itself in double quotes, like
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1974@code{"$3"}. Ranges are inserted as space-separated fields, so you can
1975embed them in list or vector syntax. A few examples, note how the
1976@samp{N} mode is used when we do computations in lisp.
1977
1978@example
1979@r{Swap the first two characters of the content of column 1}
1980 '(concat (substring $1 1 2) (substring $1 0 1) (substring $1 2))
1981@r{Add columns 1 and 2, equivalent to the Calc's @code{$1+$2}}
1982 '(+ $1 $2);N
1983@r{Compute the sum of columns 1-4, like Calc's @code{vsum($1..$4)}}
1984 '(apply '+ '($1..$4));N
1985@end example
1986
1987@node Field formulas, Column formulas, Formula syntax for Lisp, The spreadsheet
1988@subsection Field formulas
1989@cindex field formula
1990@cindex formula, for individual table field
1991
1992To assign a formula to a particular field, type it directly into the
1993field, preceded by @samp{:=}, for example @samp{:=$1+$2}. When you
1994press @key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in
1995the field, the formula will be stored as the formula for this field,
1996evaluated, and the current field replaced with the result.
1997
1998Formulas are stored in a special line starting with @samp{#+TBLFM:}
1999directly below the table. If you typed the equation in the 4th field of
2000the 3rd data line in the table, the formula will look like
2001@samp{@@3$4=$1+$2}. When inserting/deleting/swapping column and rows
2002with the appropriate commands, @i{absolute references} (but not relative
2003ones) in stored formulas are modified in order to still reference the
2004same field. Of cause this is not true if you edit the table structure
2005with normal editing commands - then you must fix the equations yourself.
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2006The left hand side of a formula may also be a named field (@pxref{Advanced
2007features}), or a last-row reference like @samp{$LR3}.
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2008
2009Instead of typing an equation into the field, you may also use the
2010following command
2011
2012@table @kbd
2013@kindex C-u C-c =
2014@item C-u C-c =
2015Install a new formula for the current field. The command prompts for a
2016formula, with default taken from the @samp{#+TBLFM:} line, applies
2017it to the current field and stores it.
2018@end table
2019
2020@node Column formulas, Editing and debugging formulas, Field formulas, The spreadsheet
2021@subsection Column formulas
2022@cindex column formula
2023@cindex formula, for table column
2024
2025Often in a table, the same formula should be used for all fields in a
2026particular column. Instead of having to copy the formula to all fields
a7808fba 2027in that column, Org allows to assign a single formula to an entire
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2028column. If the table contains horizontal separator hlines, everything
2029before the first such line is considered part of the table @emph{header}
2030and will not be modified by column formulas.
2031
2032To assign a formula to a column, type it directly into any field in the
2033column, preceded by an equal sign, like @samp{=$1+$2}. When you press
2034@key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the
2035field, the formula will be stored as the formula for the current column,
2036evaluated and the current field replaced with the result. If the field
2037contains only @samp{=}, the previously stored formula for this column is
a7808fba 2038used. For each column, Org will only remember the most recently
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2039used formula. In the @samp{TBLFM:} line, column formulas will look like
2040@samp{$4=$1+$2}.
2041
2042Instead of typing an equation into the field, you may also use the
2043following command:
2044
2045@table @kbd
2046@kindex C-c =
2047@item C-c =
a7808fba
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2048Install a new formula for the current column and replace current field with
2049the result of the formula. The command prompts for a formula, with default
2050taken from the @samp{#+TBLFM} line, applies it to the current field and
2051stores it. With a numeric prefix argument(e.g. @kbd{C-5 C-c =}) the command
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2052will apply it to that many consecutive fields in the current column.
2053@end table
2054
4009494e 2055@node Editing and debugging formulas, Updating the table, Column formulas, The spreadsheet
a7808fba 2056@subsection Editing and debugging formulas
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2057@cindex formula editing
2058@cindex editing, of table formulas
2059
2060You can edit individual formulas in the minibuffer or directly in the
a7808fba
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2061field. Org can also prepare a special buffer with all active
2062formulas of a table. When offering a formula for editing, Org
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2063converts references to the standard format (like @code{B3} or @code{D&})
2064if possible. If you prefer to only work with the internal format (like
2065@code{@@3$2} or @code{$4}), configure the variable
2066@code{org-table-use-standard-references}.
2067
2068@table @kbd
2069@kindex C-c =
2070@kindex C-u C-c =
2071@item C-c =
2072@itemx C-u C-c =
2073Edit the formula associated with the current column/field in the
2074minibuffer. See @ref{Column formulas} and @ref{Field formulas}.
2075@kindex C-u C-u C-c =
2076@item C-u C-u C-c =
2077Re-insert the active formula (either a
2078field formula, or a column formula) into the current field, so that you
2079can edit it directly in the field. The advantage over editing in the
2080minibuffer is that you can use the command @kbd{C-c ?}.
2081@kindex C-c ?
2082@item C-c ?
2083While editing a formula in a table field, highlight the field(s)
2084referenced by the reference at the cursor position in the formula.
2085@kindex C-c @}
2086@item C-c @}
2087Toggle the display of row and column numbers for a table, using
2088overlays. These are updated each time the table is aligned, you can
2089force it with @kbd{C-c C-c}.
2090@kindex C-c @{
2091@item C-c @{
2092Toggle the formula debugger on and off. See below.
2093@kindex C-c '
2094@item C-c '
2095Edit all formulas for the current table in a special buffer, where the
2096formulas will be displayed one per line. If the current field has an
2097active formula, the cursor in the formula editor will mark it.
a7808fba 2098While inside the special buffer, Org will automatically highlight
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2099any field or range reference at the cursor position. You may edit,
2100remove and add formulas, and use the following commands:
2101@table @kbd
2102@kindex C-c C-c
2103@kindex C-x C-s
2104@item C-c C-c
2105@itemx C-x C-s
2106Exit the formula editor and store the modified formulas. With @kbd{C-u}
2107prefix, also apply the new formulas to the entire table.
2108@kindex C-c C-q
2109@item C-c C-q
2110Exit the formula editor without installing changes.
2111@kindex C-c C-r
2112@item C-c C-r
2113Toggle all references in the formula editor between standard (like
2114@code{B3}) and internal (like @code{@@3$2}).
2115@kindex @key{TAB}
2116@item @key{TAB}
2117Pretty-print or indent lisp formula at point. When in a line containing
2118a lisp formula, format the formula according to Emacs Lisp rules.
2119Another @key{TAB} collapses the formula back again. In the open
a7808fba 2120formula, @key{TAB} re-indents just like in Emacs lisp mode.
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2121@kindex M-@key{TAB}
2122@item M-@key{TAB}
a7808fba 2123Complete Lisp symbols, just like in Emacs lisp mode.
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2124@kindex S-@key{up}
2125@kindex S-@key{down}
2126@kindex S-@key{left}
2127@kindex S-@key{right}
2128@item S-@key{up}/@key{down}/@key{left}/@key{right}
2129Shift the reference at point. For example, if the reference is
2130@code{B3} and you press @kbd{S-@key{right}}, it will become @code{C3}.
2131This also works for relative references, and for hline references.
2132@kindex M-S-@key{up}
2133@kindex M-S-@key{down}
2134@item M-S-@key{up}/@key{down}
a7808fba 2135Move the test line for column formulas in the Org buffer up and
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2136down.
2137@kindex M-@key{up}
2138@kindex M-@key{down}
2139@item M-@key{up}/@key{down}
2140Scroll the window displaying the table.
2141@kindex C-c @}
2142@item C-c @}
2143Turn the coordinate grid in the table on and off.
2144@end table
2145@end table
2146
2147Making a table field blank does not remove the formula associated with
2148the field, because that is stored in a different line (the @samp{TBLFM}
2149line) - during the next recalculation the field will be filled again.
2150To remove a formula from a field, you have to give an empty reply when
2151prompted for the formula, or to edit the @samp{#+TBLFM} line.
2152
2153@kindex C-c C-c
2154You may edit the @samp{#+TBLFM} directly and re-apply the changed
2155equations with @kbd{C-c C-c} in that line, or with the normal
2156recalculation commands in the table.
2157
2158@subsubheading Debugging formulas
2159@cindex formula debugging
2160@cindex debugging, of table formulas
2161When the evaluation of a formula leads to an error, the field content
2162becomes the string @samp{#ERROR}. If you would like see what is going
2163on during variable substitution and calculation in order to find a bug,
2164turn on formula debugging in the @code{Tbl} menu and repeat the
2165calculation, for example by pressing @kbd{C-u C-u C-c = @key{RET}} in a
2166field. Detailed information will be displayed.
2167
2168@node Updating the table, Advanced features, Editing and debugging formulas, The spreadsheet
a7808fba 2169@subsection Updating the table
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GM
2170@cindex recomputing table fields
2171@cindex updating, table
2172
2173Recalculation of a table is normally not automatic, but needs to be
2174triggered by a command. See @ref{Advanced features} for a way to make
2175recalculation at least semi-automatically.
2176
2177In order to recalculate a line of a table or the entire table, use the
2178following commands:
2179
2180@table @kbd
2181@kindex C-c *
2182@item C-c *
2183Recalculate the current row by first applying the stored column formulas
2184from left to right, and all field formulas in the current row.
2185@c
2186@kindex C-u C-c *
2187@item C-u C-c *
2188@kindex C-u C-c C-c
2189@itemx C-u C-c C-c
2190Recompute the entire table, line by line. Any lines before the first
2191hline are left alone, assuming that these are part of the table header.
2192@c
2193@kindex C-u C-u C-c *
2194@kindex C-u C-u C-c C-c
2195@item C-u C-u C-c *
2196@itemx C-u C-u C-c C-c
2197Iterate the table by recomputing it until no further changes occur.
2198This may be necessary if some computed fields use the value of other
2199fields that are computed @i{later} in the calculation sequence.
2200@end table
2201
2202@node Advanced features, , Updating the table, The spreadsheet
2203@subsection Advanced features
2204
2205If you want the recalculation of fields to happen automatically, or if
2206you want to be able to assign @i{names} to fields and columns, you need
2207to reserve the first column of the table for special marking characters.
2208@table @kbd
2209@kindex C-#
2210@item C-#
2211Rotate the calculation mark in first column through the states @samp{},
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CD
2212@samp{#}, @samp{*}, @samp{!}, @samp{$}. When there is an active region,
2213change all marks in the region.
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GM
2214@end table
2215
2216Here is an example of a table that collects exam results of students and
2217makes use of these features:
2218
2219@example
2220@group
2221|---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2222| | Student | Prob 1 | Prob 2 | Prob 3 | Total | Note |
2223|---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2224| ! | | P1 | P2 | P3 | Tot | |
2225| # | Maximum | 10 | 15 | 25 | 50 | 10.0 |
2226| ^ | | m1 | m2 | m3 | mt | |
2227|---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2228| # | Peter | 10 | 8 | 23 | 41 | 8.2 |
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2229| # | Sam | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1.8 |
2230|---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2231| | Average | | | | 29.7 | |
2232| ^ | | | | | at | |
2233| $ | max=50 | | | | | |
2234|---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2235#+TBLFM: $6=vsum($P1..$P3)::$7=10*$Tot/$max;%.1f::$at=vmean(@@-II..@@-I);%.1f
2236@end group
2237@end example
2238
2239@noindent @b{Important}: Please note that for these special tables,
2240recalculating the table with @kbd{C-u C-c *} will only affect rows that
2241are marked @samp{#} or @samp{*}, and fields that have a formula assigned
2242to the field itself. The column formulas are not applied in rows with
2243empty first field.
2244
2245@cindex marking characters, tables
2246The marking characters have the following meaning:
2247@table @samp
2248@item !
2249The fields in this line define names for the columns, so that you may
2250refer to a column as @samp{$Tot} instead of @samp{$6}.
2251@item ^
2252This row defines names for the fields @emph{above} the row. With such
2253a definition, any formula in the table may use @samp{$m1} to refer to
2254the value @samp{10}. Also, if you assign a formula to a names field, it
2255will be stored as @samp{$name=...}.
2256@item _
2257Similar to @samp{^}, but defines names for the fields in the row
2258@emph{below}.
2259@item $
2260Fields in this row can define @emph{parameters} for formulas. For
2261example, if a field in a @samp{$} row contains @samp{max=50}, then
2262formulas in this table can refer to the value 50 using @samp{$max}.
2263Parameters work exactly like constants, only that they can be defined on
2264a per-table basis.
2265@item #
2266Fields in this row are automatically recalculated when pressing
2267@key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} in this row. Also, this row
2268is selected for a global recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}. Unmarked
2269lines will be left alone by this command.
2270@item *
2271Selects this line for global recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}, but
2272not for automatic recalculation. Use this when automatic
2273recalculation slows down editing too much.
2274@item
2275Unmarked lines are exempt from recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}.
2276All lines that should be recalculated should be marked with @samp{#}
2277or @samp{*}.
2278@item /
2279Do not export this line. Useful for lines that contain the narrowing
2280@samp{<N>} markers.
2281@end table
2282
2283Finally, just to whet your appetite on what can be done with the
2284fantastic @file{calc} package, here is a table that computes the Taylor
28a16a1b
CD
2285series of degree @code{n} at location @code{x} for a couple of
2286functions.
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GM
2287
2288@example
2289@group
2290|---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2291| | Func | n | x | Result |
2292|---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2293| # | exp(x) | 1 | x | 1 + x |
2294| # | exp(x) | 2 | x | 1 + x + x^2 / 2 |
2295| # | exp(x) | 3 | x | 1 + x + x^2 / 2 + x^3 / 6 |
2296| # | x^2+sqrt(x) | 2 | x=0 | x*(0.5 / 0) + x^2 (2 - 0.25 / 0) / 2 |
2297| # | x^2+sqrt(x) | 2 | x=1 | 2 + 2.5 x - 2.5 + 0.875 (x - 1)^2 |
2298| * | tan(x) | 3 | x | 0.0175 x + 1.77e-6 x^3 |
2299|---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2300#+TBLFM: $5=taylor($2,$4,$3);n3
2301@end group
2302@end example
2303
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2304@page
2305@node Org Plot, , The spreadsheet, Tables
2306@section Org Plot
2307@cindex graph, in tables
2308@cindex plot tables using gnuplot
2309
2310Org Plot can produce 2D and 3D graphs of information stored in org tables
71d35b24
CD
2311using @file{Gnuplot} @uref{http://www.gnuplot.info/} and @file{gnuplot-mode}
2312@uref{http://cars9.uchicago.edu/~ravel/software/gnuplot-mode.html}. To see
2313this in action ensure that you have both Gnuplot and Gnuplot-mode installed
2314on your system, then call @code{org-plot/gnuplot} on the following table.
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CD
2315
2316@example
2317@group
2318#+PLOT: title:"Citas" ind:1 deps:(3) type:2d with:histograms set:"yrange [0:]"
2319| Sede | Max cites | H-index |
2320|-----------+-----------+---------|
2321| Chile | 257.72 | 21.39 |
2322| Leeds | 165.77 | 19.68 |
2323| Sao Paolo | 71.00 | 11.50 |
2324| Stockholm | 134.19 | 14.33 |
2325| Morelia | 257.56 | 17.67 |
2326@end group
2327@end example
2328
2329Notice that Org Plot is smart enough to apply the tables headers as labels.
2330Further control over the labels, type, content, and appearance of plots can
2331be exercised through the @code{#+Plot:} lines preceding a table. See below
2332for a complete list of Org plot options. For more information and examples
71d35b24
CD
2333see the org-plot tutorial at
2334@uref{http://legito.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-plot.php}.
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CD
2335
2336@subsubheading Plot Options
2337
2338@table @code
2339@item set
2340Specify any @file{gnuplot} option to be set when graphing.
2341
2342@item title
2343Specify the title of the plot.
2344
2345@item ind
2346Specify which column of the table to use as the @code{x} axis.
2347
2348@item deps
71d35b24
CD
2349Specify the columns to graph as a lisp style list, surrounded by parenthesis
2350and separated by spaces for example @code{dep:(3 4)} to graph the third and
2351fourth columns (defaults to graphing all other columns aside from the ind
2352column).
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CD
2353
2354@item type
2355Specify whether the plot will be @code{2d}, @code{3d}, or @code{grid}.
2356
2357@item with
2358Specify a @code{with} option to be inserted for every col being plotted
2359(e.g. @code{lines}, @code{points}, @code{boxes}, @code{impulses}, etc...).
2360Defaults to 'lines'.
2361
2362@item file
2363If you want to plot to a file specify the @code{"path/to/desired/output-file"}.
2364
2365@item labels
2366List of labels to be used for the deps (defaults to column headers if they
2367exist).
2368
2369@item line
2370Specify an entire line to be inserted in the gnuplot script.
2371
2372@item map
2373When plotting @code{3d} or @code{grid} types, set this to @code{t} to graph a
2374flat mapping rather than a @code{3d} slope.
2375
e45e3595
CD
2376@item timefmt
2377Specify format of org-mode timestamps as they will be parsed by gnuplot.
2378Defaults to '%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S'.
2379
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CD
2380@item script
2381If you want total control you can specify a script file (place the file name
2382between double quotes) which will be used to plot. Before plotting, every
2383instance of @code{$datafile} in the specified script will be replaced with
2384the path to the generated data file. Note even if you set this option you
2385may still want to specify the plot type, as that can impact the content of
2386the data file.
2387@end table
2388
a7808fba 2389@node Hyperlinks, TODO Items, Tables, Top
4009494e
GM
2390@chapter Hyperlinks
2391@cindex hyperlinks
2392
a7808fba 2393Like HTML, Org provides links inside a file, external links to
dbc28aaa 2394other files, Usenet articles, emails, and much more.
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GM
2395
2396@menu
a7808fba 2397* Link format:: How links in Org are formatted
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GM
2398* Internal links:: Links to other places in the current file
2399* External links:: URL-like links to the world
2400* Handling links:: Creating, inserting and following
a7808fba 2401* Using links outside Org:: Linking from my C source code?
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GM
2402* Link abbreviations:: Shortcuts for writing complex links
2403* Search options:: Linking to a specific location
2404* Custom searches:: When the default search is not enough
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GM
2405@end menu
2406
2407@node Link format, Internal links, Hyperlinks, Hyperlinks
2408@section Link format
2409@cindex link format
2410@cindex format, of links
2411
a7808fba 2412Org will recognize plain URL-like links and activate them as
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2413clickable links. The general link format, however, looks like this:
2414
2415@example
28a16a1b 2416[[link][description]] @r{or alternatively} [[link]]
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GM
2417@end example
2418
a7808fba 2419Once a link in the buffer is complete (all brackets present), Org
4009494e
GM
2420will change the display so that @samp{description} is displayed instead
2421of @samp{[[link][description]]} and @samp{link} is displayed instead of
2422@samp{[[link]]}. Links will be highlighted in the face @code{org-link},
2423which by default is an underlined face. You can directly edit the
2424visible part of a link. Note that this can be either the @samp{link}
2425part (if there is no description) or the @samp{description} part. To
2426edit also the invisible @samp{link} part, use @kbd{C-c C-l} with the
2427cursor on the link.
2428
2429If you place the cursor at the beginning or just behind the end of the
2430displayed text and press @key{BACKSPACE}, you will remove the
2431(invisible) bracket at that location. This makes the link incomplete
2432and the internals are again displayed as plain text. Inserting the
2433missing bracket hides the link internals again. To show the
2434internal structure of all links, use the menu entry
2435@code{Org->Hyperlinks->Literal links}.
2436
2437@node Internal links, External links, Link format, Hyperlinks
2438@section Internal links
2439@cindex internal links
2440@cindex links, internal
2441@cindex targets, for links
2442
2443If the link does not look like a URL, it is considered to be internal in
2444the current file. Links such as @samp{[[My Target]]} or @samp{[[My
2445Target][Find my target]]} lead to a text search in the current file.
2446The link can be followed with @kbd{C-c C-o} when the cursor is on the
2447link, or with a mouse click (@pxref{Handling links}). The preferred
2448match for such a link is a dedicated target: the same string in double
2449angular brackets. Targets may be located anywhere; sometimes it is
2450convenient to put them into a comment line. For example
2451
2452@example
2453# <<My Target>>
2454@end example
2455
2456@noindent In HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), such targets will become
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CD
2457named anchors for direct access through @samp{http} links@footnote{Note that
2458text before the first headline is usually not exported, so the first such
2459target should be after the first headline, or in the line directly before the
2460first headline.}.
4009494e 2461
a7808fba 2462If no dedicated target exists, Org will search for the words in the
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GM
2463link. In the above example the search would be for @samp{my target}.
2464Links starting with a star like @samp{*My Target} restrict the search to
a7808fba 2465headlines. When searching, Org mode will first try an exact match, but
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GM
2466then move on to more and more lenient searches. For example, the link
2467@samp{[[*My Targets]]} will find any of the following:
2468
2469@example
2470** My targets
2471** TODO my targets are bright
2472** my 20 targets are
2473@end example
2474
2475To insert a link targeting a headline, in-buffer completion can be used.
2476Just type a star followed by a few optional letters into the buffer and
2477press @kbd{M-@key{TAB}}. All headlines in the current buffer will be
2478offered as completions. @xref{Handling links}, for more commands
2479creating links.
2480
a7808fba 2481Following a link pushes a mark onto Org's own mark ring. You can
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GM
2482return to the previous position with @kbd{C-c &}. Using this command
2483several times in direct succession goes back to positions recorded
2484earlier.
2485
2486@menu
a7808fba 2487* Radio targets:: Make targets trigger links in plain text
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GM
2488@end menu
2489
2490@node Radio targets, , Internal links, Internal links
2491@subsection Radio targets
2492@cindex radio targets
2493@cindex targets, radio
2494@cindex links, radio targets
2495
a7808fba 2496Org can automatically turn any occurrences of certain target names
4009494e
GM
2497in normal text into a link. So without explicitly creating a link, the
2498text connects to the target radioing its position. Radio targets are
2499enclosed by triple angular brackets. For example, a target @samp{<<<My
2500Target>>>} causes each occurrence of @samp{my target} in normal text to
a7808fba 2501become activated as a link. The Org file is scanned automatically
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2502for radio targets only when the file is first loaded into Emacs. To
2503update the target list during editing, press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the
2504cursor on or at a target.
2505
2506@node External links, Handling links, Internal links, Hyperlinks
2507@section External links
2508@cindex links, external
2509@cindex external links
2510@cindex links, external
a7808fba 2511@cindex Gnus links
4009494e 2512@cindex BBDB links
28a16a1b 2513@cindex IRC links
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GM
2514@cindex URL links
2515@cindex file links
2516@cindex VM links
2517@cindex RMAIL links
2518@cindex WANDERLUST links
2519@cindex MH-E links
2520@cindex USENET links
2521@cindex SHELL links
2522@cindex Info links
2523@cindex elisp links
2524
a7808fba 2525Org supports links to files, websites, Usenet and email messages,
28a16a1b
CD
2526BBDB database entries and links to both IRC conversations and their
2527logs. External links are URL-like locators. They start with a short
2528identifying string followed by a colon. There can be no space after
2529the colon. The following list shows examples for each link type.
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GM
2530
2531@example
a7808fba 2532http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik @r{on the web}
4009494e 2533file:/home/dominik/images/jupiter.jpg @r{file, absolute path}
44ce9197 2534/home/dominik/images/jupiter.jpg @r{same as above}
4009494e 2535file:papers/last.pdf @r{file, relative path}
44ce9197 2536./papers/last.pdf @r{same as above}
4009494e 2537news:comp.emacs @r{Usenet link}
44ce9197 2538mailto:adent@@galaxy.net @r{Mail link}
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GM
2539vm:folder @r{VM folder link}
2540vm:folder#id @r{VM message link}
44ce9197 2541vm://myself@@some.where.org/folder#id @r{VM on remote machine}
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GM
2542wl:folder @r{WANDERLUST folder link}
2543wl:folder#id @r{WANDERLUST message link}
2544mhe:folder @r{MH-E folder link}
2545mhe:folder#id @r{MH-E message link}
2546rmail:folder @r{RMAIL folder link}
2547rmail:folder#id @r{RMAIL message link}
a7808fba
CD
2548gnus:group @r{Gnus group link}
2549gnus:group#id @r{Gnus article link}
64fb801f 2550bbdb:R.*Stallman @r{BBDB link (with regexp)}
28a16a1b 2551irc:/irc.com/#emacs/bob @r{IRC link}
4009494e 2552shell:ls *.org @r{A shell command}
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CD
2553elisp:org-agenda @r{Interactive elisp command}
2554elisp:(find-file-other-frame "Elisp.org") @r{Elisp form to evaluate}
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2555@end example
2556
2557A link should be enclosed in double brackets and may contain a
a7808fba 2558descriptive text to be displayed instead of the URL (@pxref{Link
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GM
2559format}), for example:
2560
2561@example
2562[[http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][GNU Emacs]]
2563@end example
2564
2565@noindent
2566If the description is a file name or URL that points to an image, HTML
2567export (@pxref{HTML export}) will inline the image as a clickable
2568button. If there is no description at all and the link points to an
2569image,
2570that image will be inlined into the exported HTML file.
2571
2572@cindex angular brackets, around links
2573@cindex plain text external links
a7808fba 2574Org also finds external links in the normal text and activates them
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GM
2575as links. If spaces must be part of the link (for example in
2576@samp{bbdb:Richard Stallman}), or if you need to remove ambiguities
2577about the end of the link, enclose them in angular brackets.
2578
a7808fba 2579@node Handling links, Using links outside Org, External links, Hyperlinks
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GM
2580@section Handling links
2581@cindex links, handling
2582
a7808fba
CD
2583Org provides methods to create a link in the correct syntax, to
2584insert it into an Org file, and to follow the link.
4009494e
GM
2585
2586@table @kbd
2587@kindex C-c l
2588@cindex storing links
2589@item C-c l
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CD
2590Store a link to the current location. This is a @emph{global} command which
2591can be used in any buffer to create a link. The link will be stored for
2592later insertion into an Org buffer (see below). For Org files, if there is a
2593@samp{<<target>>} at the cursor, the link points to the target. Otherwise it
2594points to the current headline, either by text, or, if @file{org-id.el} is
2595loaded, by ID property. For VM, Rmail, Wanderlust, MH-E, Gnus and BBDB
2596buffers, the link will indicate the current article/entry. For W3 and W3M
2597buffers, the link goes to the current URL. For IRC links, if you set the
2598variable @code{org-irc-link-to-logs} to non-nil then @kbd{C-c l} will store a
2599@samp{file:/} style link to the relevant point in the logs for the current
2600conversation. Otherwise an @samp{irc:/} style link to the user/channel/server
2601under the point will be stored. For any other files, the link will point to
2602the file, with a search string (@pxref{Search options}) pointing to the
2603contents of the current line. If there is an active region, the selected
2604words will form the basis of the search string. If the automatically created
2605link is not working correctly or accurately enough, you can write custom
2606functions to select the search string and to do the search for particular
2607file types - see @ref{Custom searches}. The key binding @kbd{C-c l} is only
2608a suggestion - see @ref{Installation}.
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2609@c
2610@kindex C-c C-l
2611@cindex link completion
2612@cindex completion, of links
2613@cindex inserting links
2614@item C-c C-l
a7808fba
CD
2615Insert a link. This prompts for a link to be inserted into the buffer. You
2616can just type a link, using text for an internal link, or one of the link
2617type prefixes mentioned in the examples above. All links stored during the
2618current session are part of the history for this prompt, so you can access
2619them with @key{up} and @key{down} (or @kbd{M-p/n}). Completion, on the other
2620hand, will help you to insert valid link prefixes like @samp{http:} or
2621@samp{ftp:}, including the prefixes defined through link abbreviations
2622(@pxref{Link abbreviations}). The link will be inserted into the
2623buffer@footnote{After insertion of a stored link, the link will be removed
2624from the list of stored links. To keep it in the list later use, use a
2625triple @kbd{C-u} prefix argument to @kbd{C-c C-l}, or configure the option
2626@code{org-keep-stored-link-after-insertion}.}, along with a descriptive text.
2627If some text was selected when this command is called, the selected text
2628becomes the default description.@* Note that you don't have to use this
2629command to insert a link. Links in Org are plain text, and you can type
2630or paste them straight into the buffer. By using this command, the links are
2631automatically enclosed in double brackets, and you will be asked for the
2632optional descriptive text.
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2633@c
2634@c If the link is a @samp{file:} link and
2635@c the linked file is located in the same directory as the current file or
2636@c a subdirectory of it, the path of the file will be inserted relative to
2637@c the current directory.
2638@c
2639@kindex C-u C-c C-l
2640@cindex file name completion
2641@cindex completion, of file names
2642@item C-u C-c C-l
2643When @kbd{C-c C-l} is called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, a link to
2644a file will be inserted and you may use file name completion to select
2645the name of the file. The path to the file is inserted relative to the
2646directory of the current org file, if the linked file is in the current
a7808fba 2647directory or in a sub-directory of it, or if the path is written relative
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GM
2648to the current directory using @samp{../}. Otherwise an absolute path
2649is used, if possible with @samp{~/} for your home directory. You can
2650force an absolute path with two @kbd{C-u} prefixes.
2651@c
2652@item C-c C-l @r{(with cursor on existing link)}
2653When the cursor is on an existing link, @kbd{C-c C-l} allows you to edit the
2654link and description parts of the link.
2655@c
2656@cindex following links
2657@kindex C-c C-o
2658@item C-c C-o
2659Open link at point. This will launch a web browser for URLs (using
864c9740
CD
2660@command{browse-url-at-point}), run VM/MH-E/Wanderlust/Rmail/Gnus/BBDB for
2661the corresponding links, and execute the command in a shell link. When the
2662cursor is on an internal link, this commands runs the corresponding search.
2663When the cursor is on a TAG list in a headline, it creates the corresponding
2664TAGS view. If the cursor is on a time stamp, it compiles the agenda for that
2665date. Furthermore, it will visit text and remote files in @samp{file:} links
2666with Emacs and select a suitable application for local non-text files.
2667Classification of files is based on file extension only. See option
2668@code{org-file-apps}. If you want to override the default application and
e45e3595
CD
2669visit the file with Emacs, use a @kbd{C-u} prefix. If you want to avoid
2670opening in Emacs, use a @kbd{C-u C-u} prefix.
4009494e
GM
2671@c
2672@kindex mouse-2
2673@kindex mouse-1
2674@item mouse-2
2675@itemx mouse-1
2676On links, @kbd{mouse-2} will open the link just as @kbd{C-c C-o}
2677would. Under Emacs 22, also @kbd{mouse-1} will follow a link.
2678@c
2679@kindex mouse-3
2680@item mouse-3
2681Like @kbd{mouse-2}, but force file links to be opened with Emacs, and
2682internal links to be displayed in another window@footnote{See the
2683variable @code{org-display-internal-link-with-indirect-buffer}}.
2684@c
2685@cindex mark ring
2686@kindex C-c %
2687@item C-c %
2688Push the current position onto the mark ring, to be able to return
2689easily. Commands following an internal link do this automatically.
2690@c
2691@cindex links, returning to
2692@kindex C-c &
2693@item C-c &
2694Jump back to a recorded position. A position is recorded by the
2695commands following internal links, and by @kbd{C-c %}. Using this
2696command several times in direct succession moves through a ring of
2697previously recorded positions.
2698@c
2699@kindex C-c C-x C-n
2700@kindex C-c C-x C-p
2701@cindex links, finding next/previous
2702@item C-c C-x C-n
2703@itemx C-c C-x C-p
2704Move forward/backward to the next link in the buffer. At the limit of
2705the buffer, the search fails once, and then wraps around. The key
2706bindings for this are really too long, you might want to bind this also
2707to @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}
2708@lisp
2709(add-hook 'org-load-hook
2710 (lambda ()
2711 (define-key 'org-mode-map "\C-n" 'org-next-link)
2712 (define-key 'org-mode-map "\C-p" 'org-previous-link)))
2713@end lisp
2714@end table
2715
a7808fba
CD
2716@node Using links outside Org, Link abbreviations, Handling links, Hyperlinks
2717@section Using links outside Org
4009494e 2718
a7808fba
CD
2719You can insert and follow links that have Org syntax not only in
2720Org, but in any Emacs buffer. For this, you should create two
4009494e
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2721global commands, like this (please select suitable global keys
2722yourself):
2723
2724@lisp
2725(global-set-key "\C-c L" 'org-insert-link-global)
2726(global-set-key "\C-c o" 'org-open-at-point-global)
2727@end lisp
2728
a7808fba 2729@node Link abbreviations, Search options, Using links outside Org, Hyperlinks
4009494e
GM
2730@section Link abbreviations
2731@cindex link abbreviations
2732@cindex abbreviation, links
2733
2734Long URLs can be cumbersome to type, and often many similar links are
2735needed in a document. For this you can use link abbreviations. An
2736abbreviated link looks like this
2737
2738@example
2739[[linkword:tag][description]]
2740@end example
2741
2742@noindent
2743where the tag is optional. Such abbreviations are resolved according to
2744the information in the variable @code{org-link-abbrev-alist} that
2745relates the linkwords to replacement text. Here is an example:
2746
2747@lisp
2748@group
2749(setq org-link-abbrev-alist
2750 '(("bugzilla" . "http://10.1.2.9/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=")
2751 ("google" . "http://www.google.com/search?q=")
2752 ("ads" . "http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/
2753 nph-abs_connect?author=%s&db_key=AST")))
2754@end group
2755@end lisp
2756
2757If the replacement text contains the string @samp{%s}, it will be
2758replaced with the tag. Otherwise the tag will be appended to the string
2759in order to create the link. You may also specify a function that will
2760be called with the tag as the only argument to create the link.
2761
2762With the above setting, you could link to a specific bug with
2763@code{[[bugzilla:129]]}, search the web for @samp{OrgMode} with
a7808fba 2764@code{[[google:OrgMode]]} and find out what the Org author is
4009494e
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2765doing besides Emacs hacking with @code{[[ads:Dominik,C]]}.
2766
a7808fba 2767If you need special abbreviations just for a single Org buffer, you
4009494e
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2768can define them in the file with
2769
2770@example
2771#+LINK: bugzilla http://10.1.2.9/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=
2772#+LINK: google http://www.google.com/search?q=%s
2773@end example
2774
2775@noindent
2776In-buffer completion @pxref{Completion} can be used after @samp{[} to
2777complete link abbreviations.
2778
2779@node Search options, Custom searches, Link abbreviations, Hyperlinks
2780@section Search options in file links
2781@cindex search option in file links
2782@cindex file links, searching
2783
2784File links can contain additional information to make Emacs jump to a
2785particular location in the file when following a link. This can be a
2786line number or a search option after a double@footnote{For backward
2787compatibility, line numbers can also follow a single colon.} colon. For
2788example, when the command @kbd{C-c l} creates a link (@pxref{Handling
2789links}) to a file, it encodes the words in the current line as a search
2790string that can be used to find this line back later when following the
28a16a1b 2791link with @kbd{C-c C-o}.
4009494e
GM
2792
2793Here is the syntax of the different ways to attach a search to a file
2794link, together with an explanation:
2795
2796@example
2797[[file:~/code/main.c::255]]
2798[[file:~/xx.org::My Target]]
2799[[file:~/xx.org::*My Target]]
2800[[file:~/xx.org::/regexp/]]
2801@end example
2802
2803@table @code
2804@item 255
2805Jump to line 255.
2806@item My Target
2807Search for a link target @samp{<<My Target>>}, or do a text search for
2808@samp{my target}, similar to the search in internal links, see
2809@ref{Internal links}. In HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), such a file
2810link will become an HTML reference to the corresponding named anchor in
2811the linked file.
2812@item *My Target
a7808fba 2813In an Org file, restrict search to headlines.
4009494e
GM
2814@item /regexp/
2815Do a regular expression search for @code{regexp}. This uses the Emacs
2816command @code{occur} to list all matches in a separate window. If the
a7808fba 2817target file is in Org mode, @code{org-occur} is used to create a
4009494e
GM
2818sparse tree with the matches.
2819@c If the target file is a directory,
2820@c @code{grep} will be used to search all files in the directory.
2821@end table
2822
2823As a degenerate case, a file link with an empty file name can be used
2824to search the current file. For example, @code{[[file:::find me]]} does
2825a search for @samp{find me} in the current file, just as
2826@samp{[[find me]]} would.
2827
dbc28aaa 2828@node Custom searches, , Search options, Hyperlinks
4009494e
GM
2829@section Custom Searches
2830@cindex custom search strings
2831@cindex search strings, custom
2832
2833The default mechanism for creating search strings and for doing the
2834actual search related to a file link may not work correctly in all
2835cases. For example, BibTeX database files have many entries like
2836@samp{year="1993"} which would not result in good search strings,
2837because the only unique identification for a BibTeX entry is the
2838citation key.
2839
2840If you come across such a problem, you can write custom functions to set
2841the right search string for a particular file type, and to do the search
2842for the string in the file. Using @code{add-hook}, these functions need
2843to be added to the hook variables
2844@code{org-create-file-search-functions} and
2845@code{org-execute-file-search-functions}. See the docstring for these
a7808fba 2846variables for more information. Org actually uses this mechanism
4009494e 2847for Bib@TeX{} database files, and you can use the corresponding code as
44ce9197 2848an implementation example. See the file @file{org-bibtex.el}.
4009494e 2849
a7808fba
CD
2850@node TODO Items, Tags, Hyperlinks, Top
2851@chapter TODO Items
4009494e
GM
2852@cindex TODO items
2853
44ce9197 2854Org mode does not maintain TODO lists as separate documents@footnote{Of
a50253cc 2855course, you can make a document that contains only long lists of TODO items,
44ce9197
CD
2856but this is not required.}. Instead, TODO items are an integral part of the
2857notes file, because TODO items usually come up while taking notes! With Org
2858mode, simply mark any entry in a tree as being a TODO item. In this way,
2859information is not duplicated, and the entire context from which the TODO
2860item emerged is always present.
4009494e 2861
dbc28aaa 2862Of course, this technique for managing TODO items scatters them
a7808fba 2863throughout your notes file. Org mode compensates for this by providing
dbc28aaa 2864methods to give you an overview of all the things that you have to do.
4009494e
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2865
2866@menu
2867* TODO basics:: Marking and displaying TODO entries
2868* TODO extensions:: Workflow and assignments
dbc28aaa 2869* Progress logging:: Dates and notes for progress
4009494e
GM
2870* Priorities:: Some things are more important than others
2871* Breaking down tasks:: Splitting a task into manageable pieces
2872* Checkboxes:: Tick-off lists
2873@end menu
2874
a7808fba 2875@node TODO basics, TODO extensions, TODO Items, TODO Items
4009494e
GM
2876@section Basic TODO functionality
2877
dbc28aaa
CD
2878Any headline becomes a TODO item when it starts with the word
2879@samp{TODO}, for example:
4009494e
GM
2880
2881@example
2882*** TODO Write letter to Sam Fortune
2883@end example
2884
2885@noindent
2886The most important commands to work with TODO entries are:
2887
2888@table @kbd
2889@kindex C-c C-t
2890@cindex cycling, of TODO states
2891@item C-c C-t
2892Rotate the TODO state of the current item among
2893
2894@example
2895,-> (unmarked) -> TODO -> DONE --.
2896'--------------------------------'
2897@end example
2898
2899The same rotation can also be done ``remotely'' from the timeline and
2900agenda buffers with the @kbd{t} command key (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
dbc28aaa
CD
2901
2902@kindex C-u C-c C-t
2903@item C-u C-c C-t
2904Select a specific keyword using completion or (if it has been set up)
28a16a1b
CD
2905the fast selection interface. For the latter, you need to assign keys
2906to TODO states, see @ref{Per-file keywords} and @ref{Setting tags} for
2907more information.
dbc28aaa 2908
4009494e
GM
2909@kindex S-@key{right}
2910@kindex S-@key{left}
2911@item S-@key{right}
2912@itemx S-@key{left}
dbc28aaa
CD
2913Select the following/preceding TODO state, similar to cycling. Useful
2914mostly if more than two TODO states are possible (@pxref{TODO
4009494e 2915extensions}).
4009494e 2916@kindex C-c C-v
dbc28aaa 2917@kindex C-c / t
4009494e
GM
2918@cindex sparse tree, for TODO
2919@item C-c C-v
dbc28aaa 2920@itemx C-c / t
4009494e
GM
2921View TODO items in a @emph{sparse tree} (@pxref{Sparse trees}). Folds
2922the entire buffer, but shows all TODO items and the headings hierarchy
a7808fba 2923above them. With a prefix argument, search for a specific TODO. You will be
4009494e 2924prompted for the keyword, and you can also give a list of keywords like
a7808fba 2925@code{KWD1|KWD2|...}. With numeric prefix argument N, show the tree for the
4009494e 2926Nth keyword in the variable @code{org-todo-keywords}. With two prefix
a7808fba 2927arguments, find all TODO and DONE entries.
4009494e
GM
2928@kindex C-c a t
2929@item C-c a t
dbc28aaa 2930Show the global TODO list. Collects the TODO items from all agenda
a7808fba 2931files (@pxref{Agenda Views}) into a single buffer. The new buffer will
dbc28aaa
CD
2932be in @code{agenda-mode}, which provides commands to examine and
2933manipulate the TODO entries from the new buffer (@pxref{Agenda
2934commands}). @xref{Global TODO list}, for more information.
4009494e
GM
2935@kindex S-M-@key{RET}
2936@item S-M-@key{RET}
2937Insert a new TODO entry below the current one.
2938@end table
2939
71d35b24
CD
2940@noindent
2941Changing a TODO state can also trigger tag changes. See the docstring of the
2942option @code{org-todo-state-tags-triggers} for details.
2943
a7808fba 2944@node TODO extensions, Progress logging, TODO basics, TODO Items
4009494e
GM
2945@section Extended use of TODO keywords
2946@cindex extended TODO keywords
2947
dbc28aaa 2948By default, marked TODO entries have one of only two states: TODO and
a7808fba 2949DONE. Org mode allows you to classify TODO items in more complex ways
dbc28aaa
CD
2950with @emph{TODO keywords} (stored in @code{org-todo-keywords}). With
2951special setup, the TODO keyword system can work differently in different
2952files.
4009494e
GM
2953
2954Note that @i{tags} are another way to classify headlines in general and
2955TODO items in particular (@pxref{Tags}).
2956
2957@menu
2958* Workflow states:: From TODO to DONE in steps
dbc28aaa 2959* TODO types:: I do this, Fred does the rest
4009494e 2960* Multiple sets in one file:: Mixing it all, and still finding your way
dbc28aaa
CD
2961* Fast access to TODO states:: Single letter selection of a state
2962* Per-file keywords:: Different files, different requirements
2963* Faces for TODO keywords:: Highlighting states
4009494e
GM
2964@end menu
2965
2966@node Workflow states, TODO types, TODO extensions, TODO extensions
2967@subsection TODO keywords as workflow states
2968@cindex TODO workflow
2969@cindex workflow states as TODO keywords
2970
2971You can use TODO keywords to indicate different @emph{sequential} states
2972in the process of working on an item, for example@footnote{Changing
a7808fba 2973this variable only becomes effective after restarting Org mode in a
4009494e
GM
2974buffer.}:
2975
2976@lisp
2977(setq org-todo-keywords
2978 '((sequence "TODO" "FEEDBACK" "VERIFY" "|" "DONE" "DELEGATED")))
2979@end lisp
2980
2981The vertical bar separates the TODO keywords (states that @emph{need
44ce9197 2982action}) from the DONE states (which need @emph{no further action}). If
4009494e
GM
2983you don't provide the separator bar, the last state is used as the DONE
2984state.
2985@cindex completion, of TODO keywords
2986With this setup, the command @kbd{C-c C-t} will cycle an entry from TODO
2987to FEEDBACK, then to VERIFY, and finally to DONE and DELEGATED. You may
a7808fba 2988also use a numeric prefix argument to quickly select a specific state. For
4009494e 2989example @kbd{C-3 C-c C-t} will change the state immediately to VERIFY.
28a16a1b
CD
2990Or you can use @kbd{S-left} to go backward through the sequence. If you
2991define many keywords, you can use in-buffer completion
2992(@pxref{Completion}) or even a special one-key selection scheme
2993(@pxref{Fast access to TODO states}) to insert these words into the
a7808fba 2994buffer. Changing a TODO state can be logged with a timestamp, see
28a16a1b 2995@ref{Tracking TODO state changes} for more information.
4009494e
GM
2996
2997@node TODO types, Multiple sets in one file, Workflow states, TODO extensions
2998@subsection TODO keywords as types
2999@cindex TODO types
3000@cindex names as TODO keywords
3001@cindex types as TODO keywords
3002
3003The second possibility is to use TODO keywords to indicate different
3004@emph{types} of action items. For example, you might want to indicate
3005that items are for ``work'' or ``home''. Or, when you work with several
3006people on a single project, you might want to assign action items
3007directly to persons, by using their names as TODO keywords. This would
3008be set up like this:
3009
3010@lisp
3011(setq org-todo-keywords '((type "Fred" "Sara" "Lucy" "|" "DONE")))
3012@end lisp
3013
3014In this case, different keywords do not indicate a sequence, but rather
3015different types. So the normal work flow would be to assign a task to a
a7808fba
CD
3016person, and later to mark it DONE. Org mode supports this style by adapting
3017the workings of the command @kbd{C-c C-t}@footnote{This is also true for the
3018@kbd{t} command in the timeline and agenda buffers.}. When used several
3019times in succession, it will still cycle through all names, in order to first
3020select the right type for a task. But when you return to the item after some
3021time and execute @kbd{C-c C-t} again, it will switch from any name directly
3022to DONE. Use prefix arguments or completion to quickly select a specific
3023name. You can also review the items of a specific TODO type in a sparse tree
3024by using a numeric prefix to @kbd{C-c C-v}. For example, to see all things
3025Lucy has to do, you would use @kbd{C-3 C-c C-v}. To collect Lucy's items
3026from all agenda files into a single buffer, you would use the numeric prefix
3027argument as well when creating the global TODO list: @kbd{C-3 C-c t}.
4009494e 3028
dbc28aaa 3029@node Multiple sets in one file, Fast access to TODO states, TODO types, TODO extensions
4009494e 3030@subsection Multiple keyword sets in one file
a7808fba 3031@cindex TODO keyword sets
4009494e
GM
3032
3033Sometimes you may want to use different sets of TODO keywords in
3034parallel. For example, you may want to have the basic
3035@code{TODO}/@code{DONE}, but also a workflow for bug fixing, and a
3036separate state indicating that an item has been canceled (so it is not
3037DONE, but also does not require action). Your setup would then look
3038like this:
3039
3040@lisp
3041(setq org-todo-keywords
3042 '((sequence "TODO" "|" "DONE")
3043 (sequence "REPORT" "BUG" "KNOWNCAUSE" "|" "FIXED")
3044 (sequence "|" "CANCELED")))
3045@end lisp
3046
a7808fba 3047The keywords should all be different, this helps Org mode to keep track
4009494e
GM
3048of which subsequence should be used for a given entry. In this setup,
3049@kbd{C-c C-t} only operates within a subsequence, so it switches from
3050@code{DONE} to (nothing) to @code{TODO}, and from @code{FIXED} to
3051(nothing) to @code{REPORT}. Therefore you need a mechanism to initially
3052select the correct sequence. Besides the obvious ways like typing a
3053keyword or using completion, you may also apply the following commands:
3054
3055@table @kbd
3056@kindex C-S-@key{right}
3057@kindex C-S-@key{left}
3058@item C-S-@key{right}
3059@itemx C-S-@key{left}
3060These keys jump from one TODO subset to the next. In the above example,
3061@kbd{C-S-@key{right}} would jump from @code{TODO} or @code{DONE} to
3062@code{REPORT}, and any of the words in the second row to @code{CANCELED}.
3063@kindex S-@key{right}
3064@kindex S-@key{left}
3065@item S-@key{right}
3066@itemx S-@key{left}
3067@kbd{S-@key{<left>}} and @kbd{S-@key{<right>}} and walk through
3068@emph{all} keywords from all sets, so for example @kbd{S-@key{<right>}}
3069would switch from @code{DONE} to @code{REPORT} in the example above.
3070@end table
3071
dbc28aaa
CD
3072@node Fast access to TODO states, Per-file keywords, Multiple sets in one file, TODO extensions
3073@subsection Fast access to TODO states
3074
3075If you would like to quickly change an entry to an arbitrary TODO state
3076instead of cycling through the states, you can set up keys for
3077single-letter access to the states. This is done by adding the section
3078key after each keyword, in parenthesis. For example:
3079
3080@lisp
3081(setq org-todo-keywords
3082 '((sequence "TODO(t)" "|" "DONE(d)")
3083 (sequence "REPORT(r)" "BUG(b)" "KNOWNCAUSE(k)" "|" "FIXED(f)")
3084 (sequence "|" "CANCELED(c)")))
3085@end lisp
3086
3087If you then press @code{C-u C-c C-t} followed by the selection key, the
3088entry will be switched to this state. @key{SPC} can be used to remove
3089any TODO keyword from an entry. Should you like this way of selecting
3090TODO states a lot, you might want to set the variable
3091@code{org-use-fast-todo-selection} to @code{t} and make this behavior
3092the default. Check also the variable
3093@code{org-fast-tag-selection-include-todo}, it allows to change the TODO
28a16a1b
CD
3094state through the tags interface (@pxref{Setting tags}), in case you
3095like to mingle the two concepts.
dbc28aaa
CD
3096
3097@node Per-file keywords, Faces for TODO keywords, Fast access to TODO states, TODO extensions
4009494e
GM
3098@subsection Setting up keywords for individual files
3099@cindex keyword options
dbc28aaa 3100@cindex per-file keywords
4009494e
GM
3101
3102It can be very useful to use different aspects of the TODO mechanism in
3103different files. For file-local settings, you need to add special lines
3104to the file which set the keywords and interpretation for that file
3105only. For example, to set one of the two examples discussed above, you
3106need one of the following lines, starting in column zero anywhere in the
3107file:
3108
3109@example
3110#+SEQ_TODO: TODO FEEDBACK VERIFY | DONE CANCELED
3111@end example
3112or
3113@example
3114#+TYP_TODO: Fred Sara Lucy Mike | DONE
3115@end example
3116
3117A setup for using several sets in parallel would be:
3118
3119@example
3120#+SEQ_TODO: TODO | DONE
3121#+SEQ_TODO: REPORT BUG KNOWNCAUSE | FIXED
3122#+SEQ_TODO: | CANCELED
3123@end example
3124
3125@cindex completion, of option keywords
3126@kindex M-@key{TAB}
3127@noindent To make sure you are using the correct keyword, type
3128@samp{#+} into the buffer and then use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} completion.
3129
3130@cindex DONE, final TODO keyword
3131Remember that the keywords after the vertical bar (or the last keyword
3132if no bar is there) must always mean that the item is DONE (although you
3133may use a different word). After changing one of these lines, use
3134@kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the line to make the changes
a7808fba
CD
3135known to Org mode@footnote{Org mode parses these lines only when
3136Org mode is activated after visiting a file. @kbd{C-c C-c} with the
3137cursor in a line starting with @samp{#+} is simply restarting Org mode
4009494e
GM
3138for the current buffer.}.
3139
dbc28aaa
CD
3140@node Faces for TODO keywords, , Per-file keywords, TODO extensions
3141@subsection Faces for TODO keywords
3142@cindex faces, for TODO keywords
3143
a7808fba 3144Org mode highlights TODO keywords with special faces: @code{org-todo}
dbc28aaa
CD
3145for keywords indicating that an item still has to be acted upon, and
3146@code{org-done} for keywords indicating that an item is finished. If
3147you are using more than 2 different states, you might want to use
3148special faces for some of them. This can be done using the variable
3149@code{org-todo-keyword-faces}. For example:
3150
3151@lisp
96c8522a 3152@group
dbc28aaa
CD
3153(setq org-todo-keyword-faces
3154 '(("TODO" . org-warning)
3155 ("DEFERRED" . shadow)
3156 ("CANCELED" . (:foreground "blue" :weight bold))))
96c8522a 3157@end group
dbc28aaa
CD
3158@end lisp
3159
28a16a1b
CD
3160While using a list with face properties as shown for CANCELED
3161@emph{should} work, this does not aways seem to be the case. If
3162necessary, define a special face and use that.
3163
dbc28aaa 3164@page
a7808fba
CD
3165@node Progress logging, Priorities, TODO extensions, TODO Items
3166@section Progress logging
dbc28aaa
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3167@cindex progress logging
3168@cindex logging, of progress
3169
a7808fba 3170Org mode can automatically record a time stamp and possibly a note when
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3171you mark a TODO item as DONE, or even each time you change the state of
3172a TODO item. This system is highly configurable, settings can be on a
3173per-keyword basis and can be localized to a file or even a subtree. For
3174information on how to clock working time for a task, see @ref{Clocking
3175work time}.
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3176
3177@menu
3178* Closing items:: When was this entry marked DONE?
3179* Tracking TODO state changes:: When did the status change?
3180@end menu
3181
3182@node Closing items, Tracking TODO state changes, Progress logging, Progress logging
3183@subsection Closing items
3184
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3185The most basic logging is to keep track of @emph{when} a certain TODO
3186item was finished. This is achieved with@footnote{The corresponding
3187in-buffer setting is: @code{#+STARTUP: logdone}}.
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3188
3189@lisp
28a16a1b 3190(setq org-log-done 'time)
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3191@end lisp
3192
3193@noindent
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3194Then each time you turn an entry from a TODO (not-done) state into any
3195of the DONE states, a line @samp{CLOSED: [timestamp]} will be inserted
3196just after the headline. If you turn the entry back into a TODO item
3197through further state cycling, that line will be removed again. If you
3198want to record a note along with the timestamp, use@footnote{The
3199corresponding in-buffer setting is: @code{#+STARTUP: lognotedone}}
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3200
3201@lisp
28a16a1b 3202(setq org-log-done 'note)
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3203@end lisp
3204
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3205@noindent
3206You will then be prompted for a note, and that note will be stored below
3207the entry with a @samp{Closing Note} heading.
3208
3209In the timeline (@pxref{Timeline}) and in the agenda
a7808fba 3210(@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}), you can then use the @kbd{l} key to
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3211display the TODO items with a @samp{CLOSED} timestamp on each day,
3212giving you an overview of what has been done.
3213
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3214@node Tracking TODO state changes, , Closing items, Progress logging
3215@subsection Tracking TODO state changes
3216
3217When TODO keywords are used as workflow states (@pxref{Workflow
3218states}), you might want to keep track of when a state change occurred
28a16a1b 3219and maybe take a note about this change. Since it is normally too much
a7808fba 3220to record a note for every state, Org mode expects configuration on a
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3221per-keyword basis for this. This is achieved by adding special markers
3222@samp{!} (for a time stamp) and @samp{@@} (for a note) in parenthesis
3223after each keyword. For example, with the setting
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3224
3225@lisp
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3226(setq org-todo-keywords
3227 '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)" "CANCELED(c@@)")))
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3228@end lisp
3229
3230@noindent
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3231you not only define global TODO keywords and fast access keys, but also
3232request that a time is recorded when the entry is turned into
a7808fba 3233DONE@footnote{It is possible that Org mode will record two time stamps
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3234when you are using both @code{org-log-done} and state change logging.
3235However, it will never prompt for two notes - if you have configured
3236both, the state change recording note will take precedence and cancel
3237the @samp{Closing Note}.}, and that a note is recorded when switching to
3238WAIT or CANCELED. The setting for WAIT is even more special: The
3239@samp{!} after the slash means that in addition to the note taken when
3240entering the state, a time stamp should be recorded when @i{leaving} the
3241WAIT state, if and only if the @i{target} state does not configure
3242logging for entering it. So it has no effect when switching from WAIT
3243to DONE, because DONE is configured to record a timestamp only. But
3244when switching from WAIT back to TODO, the @samp{/!} in the WAIT
3245setting now triggers a timestamp even though TODO has no logging
3246configured.
3247
3248You can use the exact same syntax for setting logging preferences local
3249to a buffer:
3250@example
3251#+SEQ_TODO: TODO(t) WAIT(w@@/!) | DONE(d!) CANCELED(c@@)
3252@end example
3253
3254In order to define logging settings that are local to a subtree or a
3255single item, define a LOGGING property in this entry. Any non-empty
3256LOGGING property resets all logging settings to nil. You may then turn
3257on logging for this specific tree using STARTUP keywords like
3258@code{lognotedone} or @code{logrepeat}, as well as adding state specific
3259settings like @code{TODO(!)}. For example
3260
3261@example
3262* TODO Log each state with only a time
3263 :PROPERTIES:
3264 :LOGGING: TODO(!) WAIT(!) DONE(!) CANCELED(!)
3265 :END:
3266* TODO Only log when switching to WAIT, and when repeating
3267 :PROPERTIES:
3268 :LOGGING: WAIT(@@) logrepeat
3269 :END:
3270* TODO No logging at all
3271 :PROPERTIES:
3272 :LOGGING: nil
3273 :END:
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3274@end example
3275
a7808fba 3276@node Priorities, Breaking down tasks, Progress logging, TODO Items
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3277@section Priorities
3278@cindex priorities
3279
a7808fba 3280If you use Org mode extensively, you may end up enough TODO items that
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3281it starts to make sense to prioritize them. Prioritizing can be done by
3282placing a @emph{priority cookie} into the headline of a TODO item, like
3283this
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3284
3285@example
3286*** TODO [#A] Write letter to Sam Fortune
3287@end example
3288
3289@noindent
a7808fba 3290By default, Org mode supports three priorities: @samp{A}, @samp{B}, and
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3291@samp{C}. @samp{A} is the highest priority. An entry without a cookie
3292is treated as priority @samp{B}. Priorities make a difference only in
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3293the agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}); outside the agenda, they have
3294no inherent meaning to Org mode.
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3295
3296Priorities can be attached to any outline tree entries; they do not need
3297to be TODO items.
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3298
3299@table @kbd
3300@kindex @kbd{C-c ,}
3301@item @kbd{C-c ,}
3302Set the priority of the current headline. The command prompts for a
3303priority character @samp{A}, @samp{B} or @samp{C}. When you press
3304@key{SPC} instead, the priority cookie is removed from the headline.
3305The priorities can also be changed ``remotely'' from the timeline and
3306agenda buffer with the @kbd{,} command (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
3307@c
3308@kindex S-@key{up}
3309@kindex S-@key{down}
3310@item S-@key{up}
3311@itemx S-@key{down}
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3312Increase/decrease priority of current headline@footnote{See also the
3313option @code{org-priority-start-cycle-with-default'}.}. Note that these
3314keys are also used to modify time stamps (@pxref{Creating timestamps}).
a7808fba 3315Furthermore, these keys are also used by CUA mode (@pxref{Conflicts}).
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3316@end table
3317
3318You can change the range of allowed priorities by setting the variables
3319@code{org-highest-priority}, @code{org-lowest-priority}, and
3320@code{org-default-priority}. For an individual buffer, you may set
3321these values (highest, lowest, default) like this (please make sure that
3322the highest priority is earlier in the alphabet than the lowest
3323priority):
3324
3325@example
3326#+PRIORITIES: A C B
3327@end example
3328
a7808fba 3329@node Breaking down tasks, Checkboxes, Priorities, TODO Items
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3330@section Breaking tasks down into subtasks
3331@cindex tasks, breaking down
3332
3333It is often advisable to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable
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3334subtasks. You can do this by creating an outline tree below a TODO item,
3335with detailed subtasks on the tree@footnote{To keep subtasks out of the
3336global TODO list, see the @code{org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels}.}. To keep
3337the overview over the fraction of subtasks that are already completed, insert
3338either @samp{[/]} or @samp{[%]} anywhere in the headline. These cookies will
3339be updates each time the todo status of a child changes. For example:
3340
3341@example
3342* Organize Party [33%]
3343** TODO Call people [1/2]
3344*** TODO Peter
3345*** DONE Sarah
3346** TODO Buy food
3347** DONE Talk to neighbor
3348@end example
3349
3350If you would like a TODO entry to automatically change to DONE when all
a50253cc 3351children are done, you can use the following setup:
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3352
3353@example
3354(defun org-summary-todo (n-done n-not-done)
3355 "Switch entry to DONE when all subentries are done, to TODO otherwise."
3356 (let (org-log-done org-log-states) ; turn off logging
3357 (org-todo (if (= n-not-done 0) "DONE" "TODO"))))
3358
3359(add-hook 'org-after-todo-statistics-hook 'org-summary-todo)
3360@end example
3361
3362
3363Another possibility is the use of checkboxes to identify (a hierarchy of) a
3364large number of subtasks (@pxref{Checkboxes}).
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3365
3366
a7808fba 3367@node Checkboxes, , Breaking down tasks, TODO Items
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3368@section Checkboxes
3369@cindex checkboxes
3370
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3371Every item in a plain list (@pxref{Plain lists}) can be made into a
3372checkbox by starting it with the string @samp{[ ]}. This feature is
a7808fba 3373similar to TODO items (@pxref{TODO Items}), but is more lightweight.
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3374Checkboxes are not included into the global TODO list, so they are often
3375great to split a task into a number of simple steps. Or you can use
3376them in a shopping list. To toggle a checkbox, use @kbd{C-c C-c}, or
3377use the mouse (thanks to Piotr Zielinski's @file{org-mouse.el}).
3378
3379Here is an example of a checkbox list.
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3380
3381@example
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3382* TODO Organize party [2/4]
3383 - [-] call people [1/3]
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3384 - [ ] Peter
3385 - [X] Sarah
3386 - [ ] Sam
3387 - [X] order food
3388 - [ ] think about what music to play
3389 - [X] talk to the neighbors
3390@end example
3391
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3392Checkboxes work hierarchically, so if a checkbox item has children that
3393are checkboxes, toggling one of the children checkboxes will make the
3394parent checkbox reflect if none, some, or all of the children are
3395checked.
3396
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3397@cindex statistics, for checkboxes
3398@cindex checkbox statistics
28a16a1b 3399The @samp{[2/4]} and @samp{[1/3]} in the first and second line are
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3400cookies indicating how many checkboxes present in this entry have been
3401checked off, and the total number of checkboxes are present. This can
3402give you an idea on how many checkboxes remain, even without opening a
3403folded entry. The cookies can be placed into a headline or into (the
3404first line of) a plain list item. Each cookie covers all checkboxes
3405structurally below the headline/item on which the cookie appear. You
3406have to insert the cookie yourself by typing either @samp{[/]} or
3407@samp{[%]}. With @samp{[/]} you get an @samp{n out of m} result, as in
3408the examples above. With @samp{[%]} you get information about the
4009494e 3409percentage of checkboxes checked (in the above example, this would be
dbc28aaa 3410@samp{[50%]} and @samp{[33%]}, respectively).
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3411
3412@noindent The following commands work with checkboxes:
3413
3414@table @kbd
3415@kindex C-c C-c
3416@item C-c C-c
a7808fba 3417Toggle checkbox at point. With a prefix argument, set it to @samp{[-]},
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3418which is considered to be an intermediate state.
3419@kindex C-c C-x C-b
3420@item C-c C-x C-b
3421Toggle checkbox at point.
3422@itemize @minus
3423@item
3424If there is an active region, toggle the first checkbox in the region
3425and set all remaining boxes to the same status as the first. If you
3426want to toggle all boxes in the region independently, use a prefix
3427argument.
3428@item
3429If the cursor is in a headline, toggle checkboxes in the region between
3430this headline and the next (so @emph{not} the entire subtree).
3431@item
3432If there is no active region, just toggle the checkbox at point.
3433@end itemize
3434@kindex M-S-@key{RET}
3435@item M-S-@key{RET}
3436Insert a new item with a checkbox.
3437This works only if the cursor is already in a plain list item
3438(@pxref{Plain lists}).
3439@kindex C-c #
3440@item C-c #
3441Update the checkbox statistics in the current outline entry. When
3442called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, update the entire file. Checkbox
3443statistic cookies are updated automatically if you toggle checkboxes
3444with @kbd{C-c C-c} and make new ones with @kbd{M-S-@key{RET}}. If you
3445delete boxes or add/change them by hand, use this command to get things
a50253cc 3446back into sync. Or simply toggle any checkbox twice with @kbd{C-c C-c}.
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3447@end table
3448
a7808fba 3449@node Tags, Properties and Columns, TODO Items, Top
4009494e
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3450@chapter Tags
3451@cindex tags
3452@cindex headline tagging
3453@cindex matching, tags
3454@cindex sparse tree, tag based
3455
dbc28aaa 3456An excellent way to implement labels and contexts for cross-correlating
a7808fba 3457information is to assign @i{tags} to headlines. Org mode has extensive
dbc28aaa 3458support for tags.
4009494e 3459
dbc28aaa 3460Every headline can contain a list of tags; they occur at the end of the
96c8522a
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3461headline. Tags are normal words containing letters, numbers, @samp{_}, and
3462@samp{@@}. Tags must be preceded and followed by a single colon, e.g.,
3463@samp{:work:}. Several tags can be specified, as in @samp{:work:urgent:}.
3464Tags will by default get a bold face with the same color as the headline.
3465You may specify special faces for specific tags using the variable
3466@code{org-tag-faces}, much in the same way as you can do for TODO keywords
3467(@pxref{Faces for TODO keywords}).
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3468
3469@menu
3470* Tag inheritance:: Tags use the tree structure of the outline
3471* Setting tags:: How to assign tags to a headline
3472* Tag searches:: Searching for combinations of tags
3473@end menu
3474
3475@node Tag inheritance, Setting tags, Tags, Tags
3476@section Tag inheritance
dbc28aaa 3477@cindex tag inheritance
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3478@cindex inheritance, of tags
3479@cindex sublevels, inclusion into tags match
3480
3481@i{Tags} make use of the hierarchical structure of outline trees. If a
3482heading has a certain tag, all subheadings will inherit the tag as
3483well. For example, in the list
3484
3485@example
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3486* Meeting with the French group :work:
3487** Summary by Frank :boss:notes:
3488*** TODO Prepare slides for him :action:
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3489@end example
3490
3491@noindent
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3492the final heading will have the tags @samp{:work:}, @samp{:boss:},
3493@samp{:notes:}, and @samp{:action:} even though the final heading is not
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3494explicitly marked with those tags. You can also set tags that all entries in
3495a file should inherit as if these tags would be defined in a hypothetical
a50253cc 3496level zero that surrounds the entire file.
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3497
3498@example
3499#+FILETAGS: :Peter:Boss:Secret:
3500@end example
3501
3502@noindent
3503To limit tag inheritance to specific tags, or to turn it off entirely, use
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3504the variables @code{org-use-tag-inheritance} and
3505@code{org-tags-exclude-from-inheritance}.
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3506
3507When a headline matches during a tags search while tag inheritance is turned
96c8522a 3508on, all the sublevels in the same tree will (for a simple match form) match
07450bee 3509as well@footnote{This is only true if the search does not involve more
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3510complex tests including properties (@pxref{Property searches}).}. The list
3511of matches may then become very long. If you only want to see the first tags
3512match in a subtree, configure the variable
3513@code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels} (not recommended).
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3514
3515@node Setting tags, Tag searches, Tag inheritance, Tags
3516@section Setting tags
3517@cindex setting tags
3518@cindex tags, setting
3519
3520@kindex M-@key{TAB}
3521Tags can simply be typed into the buffer at the end of a headline.
3522After a colon, @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} offers completion on tags. There is
3523also a special command for inserting tags:
3524
3525@table @kbd
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3526@kindex C-c C-q
3527@item C-c C-q
4009494e 3528@cindex completion, of tags
a7808fba 3529Enter new tags for the current headline. Org mode will either offer
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3530completion or a special single-key interface for setting tags, see
3531below. After pressing @key{RET}, the tags will be inserted and aligned
3532to @code{org-tags-column}. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, all
3533tags in the current buffer will be aligned to that column, just to make
3534things look nice. TAGS are automatically realigned after promotion,
3535demotion, and TODO state changes (@pxref{TODO basics}).
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3536@kindex C-c C-c
3537@item C-c C-c
3538When the cursor is in a headline, this does the same as @kbd{C-c C-q}.
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3539@end table
3540
3541Org will support tag insertion based on a @emph{list of tags}. By
3542default this list is constructed dynamically, containing all tags
3543currently used in the buffer. You may also globally specify a hard list
3544of tags with the variable @code{org-tag-alist}. Finally you can set
3545the default tags for a given file with lines like
3546
3547@example
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3548#+TAGS: @@work @@home @@tennisclub
3549#+TAGS: laptop car pc sailboat
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3550@end example
3551
3552If you have globally defined your preferred set of tags using the
3553variable @code{org-tag-alist}, but would like to use a dynamic tag list
dbc28aaa 3554in a specific file, add an empty TAGS option line to that file:
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3555
3556@example
3557#+TAGS:
3558@end example
3559
a7808fba
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3560By default Org mode uses the standard minibuffer completion facilities for
3561entering tags. However, it also implements another, quicker, tag selection
3562method called @emph{fast tag selection}. This allows you to select and
3563deselect tags with just a single key press. For this to work well you should
3564assign unique letters to most of your commonly used tags. You can do this
3565globally by configuring the variable @code{org-tag-alist} in your
3566@file{.emacs} file. For example, you may find the need to tag many items in
3567different files with @samp{:@@home:}. In this case you can set something
3568like:
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3569
3570@lisp
dbc28aaa 3571(setq org-tag-alist '(("@@work" . ?w) ("@@home" . ?h) ("laptop" . ?l)))
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3572@end lisp
3573
a7808fba
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3574@noindent If the tag is only relevant to the file you are working on then you
3575can, instead, set the TAGS option line as:
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3576
3577@example
dbc28aaa 3578#+TAGS: @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t) laptop(l) pc(p)
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3579@end example
3580
3581@noindent
a7808fba
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3582You can also group together tags that are mutually exclusive. By using
3583braces, as in:
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3584
3585@example
dbc28aaa 3586#+TAGS: @{ @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t) @} laptop(l) pc(p)
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3587@end example
3588
dbc28aaa 3589@noindent you indicate that at most one of @samp{@@work}, @samp{@@home},
a7808fba 3590and @samp{@@tennisclub} should be selected. Multiple such groups are allowed.
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3591
3592@noindent Don't forget to press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor in one of
3593these lines to activate any changes.
3594
a7808fba
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3595@noindent
3596To set these mutually exclusive groups in the variable @code{org-mode-alist}
3597you must use the dummy tags @code{:startgroup} and @code{:endgroup} instead
3598of the braces. The previous example would be set globally by the following
3599configuration:
3600
3601@lisp
3602(setq org-tag-alist '((:startgroup . nil)
3603 ("@@work" . ?w) ("@@home" . ?h)
3604 ("@@tennisclub" . ?t)
3605 (:endgroup . nil)
3606 ("laptop" . ?l) ("pc" . ?p)))
3607@end lisp
3608
3609If at least one tag has a selection key then pressing @kbd{C-c C-c} will
3610automatically present you with a special interface, listing inherited tags,
3611the tags of the current headline, and a list of all valid tags with
3612corresponding keys@footnote{Keys will automatically be assigned to tags which
3613have no configured keys.}. In this interface, you can use the following
3614keys:
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3615
3616@table @kbd
3617@item a-z...
3618Pressing keys assigned to tags will add or remove them from the list of
3619tags in the current line. Selecting a tag in a group of mutually
3620exclusive tags will turn off any other tags from that group.
3621@kindex @key{TAB}
3622@item @key{TAB}
3623Enter a tag in the minibuffer, even if the tag is not in the predefined
3624list. You will be able to complete on all tags present in the buffer.
3625@kindex @key{SPC}
3626@item @key{SPC}
3627Clear all tags for this line.
3628@kindex @key{RET}
3629@item @key{RET}
3630Accept the modified set.
3631@item C-g
3632Abort without installing changes.
3633@item q
3634If @kbd{q} is not assigned to a tag, it aborts like @kbd{C-g}.
3635@item !
3636Turn off groups of mutually exclusive tags. Use this to (as an
3637exception) assign several tags from such a group.
3638@item C-c
3639Toggle auto-exit after the next change (see below).
3640If you are using expert mode, the first @kbd{C-c} will display the
3641selection window.
3642@end table
3643
3644@noindent
3645This method lets you assign tags to a headline with very few keys. With
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3646the above setup, you could clear the current tags and set @samp{@@home},
3647@samp{laptop} and @samp{pc} tags with just the following keys: @kbd{C-c
3648C-c @key{SPC} h l p @key{RET}}. Switching from @samp{@@home} to
3649@samp{@@work} would be done with @kbd{C-c C-c w @key{RET}} or
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3650alternatively with @kbd{C-c C-c C-c w}. Adding the non-predefined tag
3651@samp{Sarah} could be done with @kbd{C-c C-c @key{TAB} S a r a h
3652@key{RET} @key{RET}}.
3653
a7808fba 3654If you find that most of the time, you need only a single key press to
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3655modify your list of tags, set the variable
3656@code{org-fast-tag-selection-single-key}. Then you no longer have to
3657press @key{RET} to exit fast tag selection - it will immediately exit
3658after the first change. If you then occasionally need more keys, press
3659@kbd{C-c} to turn off auto-exit for the current tag selection process
3660(in effect: start selection with @kbd{C-c C-c C-c} instead of @kbd{C-c
3661C-c}). If you set the variable to the value @code{expert}, the special
3662window is not even shown for single-key tag selection, it comes up only
3663when you press an extra @kbd{C-c}.
3664
3665@node Tag searches, , Setting tags, Tags
3666@section Tag searches
3667@cindex tag searches
3668@cindex searching for tags
3669
dbc28aaa 3670Once a system of tags has been set up, it can be used to collect related
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3671information into special lists.
3672
3673@table @kbd
3674@kindex C-c \
dbc28aaa 3675@kindex C-c / T
4009494e 3676@item C-c \
dbc28aaa 3677@itemx C-c / T
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3678Create a sparse tree with all headlines matching a tags search. With a
3679@kbd{C-u} prefix argument, ignore headlines that are not a TODO line.
3680@kindex C-c a m
3681@item C-c a m
3682Create a global list of tag matches from all agenda files.
3683@xref{Matching tags and properties}.
3684@kindex C-c a M
3685@item C-c a M
3686Create a global list of tag matches from all agenda files, but check
3687only TODO items and force checking subitems (see variable
3688@code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels}).
3689@end table
3690
3691@cindex Boolean logic, for tag searches
3692A @i{tags} search string can use Boolean operators @samp{&} for AND and
3693@samp{|} for OR. @samp{&} binds more strongly than @samp{|}.
3694Parenthesis are currently not implemented. A tag may also be preceded
3695by @samp{-}, to select against it, and @samp{+} is syntactic sugar for
3696positive selection. The AND operator @samp{&} is optional when @samp{+}
3697or @samp{-} is present. Examples:
3698
3699@table @samp
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3700@item +work-boss
3701Select headlines tagged @samp{:work:}, but discard those also tagged
3702@samp{:boss:}.
3703@item work|laptop
3704Selects lines tagged @samp{:work:} or @samp{:laptop:}.
3705@item work|laptop&night
3706Like before, but require the @samp{:laptop:} lines to be tagged also
3707@samp{:night:}.
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3708@end table
3709
3710@cindex TODO keyword matching, with tags search
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3711You may also test for TODO keywords (@pxref{TODO extensions}) and properties
3712(@pxref{Properties and Columns}) at the same time as matching tags. For a
3713guide on how to match properties, see @ref{Property searches}. To match a
3714specific TODO keyword, include an expression like @samp{+TODO="NEXT"} as one
3715of the terms in a tags search.
3716
3717There is also the possibility to end the tags part of the match (which may
3718include several terms connected with @samp{|}) with a @samp{/} and then
3719specify a Boolean expression just for TODO keywords. The syntax is then
3720similar to the tag matches, but should be applied with consideration: For
3721example, a positive selection on several TODO keywords can not meaningfully
3722be combined with boolean AND. However, @emph{negative selection} combined
3723with AND can be meaningful. To make sure that only lines are checked that
3724actually have any TODO keyword (resulting in a speed-up), use @kbd{C-c a M},
3725or equivalently start the TODO part after the slash with @samp{!}. Examples:
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3726
3727@table @samp
e45e3595 3728@item work+TODO="WAITING"
dbc28aaa 3729Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines with the specific TODO
4009494e 3730keyword @samp{WAITING}.
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3731@item work+TODO="WAITING"|home+TODO="WAITING"
3732Waiting tasks both at work and at home.
3733@item work/WAITING
3734Same as the first example.
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3735@item work/!-WAITING-NEXT
3736Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines that are neither @samp{WAITING}
4009494e 3737nor @samp{NEXT}
e45e3595 3738@item work/!+WAITING|+NEXT
dbc28aaa 3739Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines that are either @samp{WAITING} or
4009494e
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3740@samp{NEXT}.
3741@end table
3742
3743@cindex regular expressions, with tags search
3744Any element of the tag/todo match can be a regular expression - in this
3745case it must be enclosed in curly braces. For example,
dbc28aaa 3746@samp{work+@{^boss.*@}} matches headlines that contain the tag
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3747@samp{:work:} and any tag @i{starting} with @samp{boss}. You may also use a
3748regular expression in @samp{TODO=@{^W@}} which would match TODO keywords
3749starting with the letter @samp{W}.
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3750
3751@cindex level, require for tags/property match
3752@cindex category, require for tags/property match
3753You can also require a headline to be of a certain level or category, by
3754writing instead of any TAG an expression like @samp{LEVEL=3} or
3755@samp{CATEGORY="work"}, respectively. For example, a search
3756@samp{+LEVEL=3+boss/-DONE} lists all level three headlines that have the
a7808fba 3757tag @samp{boss} and are @emph{not} marked with the TODO keyword DONE.
dbc28aaa 3758
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3759Accessing TODO, LEVEL, and CATEGORY during a search is fast. Accessing any
3760other properties will slow down the search.
3761
a7808fba 3762@node Properties and Columns, Dates and Times, Tags, Top
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3763@chapter Properties and Columns
3764@cindex properties
3765
3766Properties are a set of key-value pairs associated with an entry. There
a7808fba 3767are two main applications for properties in Org mode. First, properties
dbc28aaa 3768are like tags, but with a value. Second, you can use properties to
a7808fba 3769implement (very basic) database capabilities in an Org buffer. For
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3770an example of the first application, imagine maintaining a file where
3771you document bugs and plan releases of a piece of software. Instead of
3772using tags like @code{:release_1:}, @code{:release_2:}, one can use a
3773property, say @code{:Release:}, that in different subtrees has different
3774values, such as @code{1.0} or @code{2.0}. For an example of the second
a50253cc 3775application of properties, imagine keeping track of your music CDs,
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3776where properties could be things such as the album artist, date of
3777release, number of tracks, and so on.
3778
28a16a1b 3779Properties can be conveniently edited and viewed in column view
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3780(@pxref{Column view}).
3781
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3782@menu
3783* Property syntax:: How properties are spelled out
a7808fba 3784* Special properties:: Access to other Org mode features
4009494e 3785* Property searches:: Matching property values
dbc28aaa 3786* Property inheritance:: Passing values down the tree
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3787* Column view:: Tabular viewing and editing
3788* Property API:: Properties for Lisp programmers
3789@end menu
3790
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3791@node Property syntax, Special properties, Properties and Columns, Properties and Columns
3792@section Property syntax
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3793@cindex property syntax
3794@cindex drawer, for properties
3795
3796Properties are key-value pairs. They need to be inserted into a special
3797drawer (@pxref{Drawers}) with the name @code{PROPERTIES}. Each property
3798is specified on a single line, with the key (surrounded by colons)
3799first, and the value after it. Here is an example:
3800
3801@example
3802* CD collection
3803** Classic
3804*** Goldberg Variations
3805 :PROPERTIES:
3806 :Title: Goldberg Variations
3807 :Composer: J.S. Bach
28a16a1b 3808 :Artist: Glen Gould
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3809 :Publisher: Deutsche Grammphon
3810 :NDisks: 1
28a16a1b 3811 :END:
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3812@end example
3813
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3814You may define the allowed values for a particular property @samp{:Xyz:}
3815by setting a property @samp{:Xyz_ALL:}. This special property is
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3816@emph{inherited}, so if you set it in a level 1 entry, it will apply to
3817the entire tree. When allowed values are defined, setting the
3818corresponding property becomes easier and is less prone to typing
3819errors. For the example with the CD collection, we can predefine
3820publishers and the number of disks in a box like this:
3821
3822@example
3823* CD collection
3824 :PROPERTIES:
3825 :NDisks_ALL: 1 2 3 4
64fb801f 3826 :Publisher_ALL: "Deutsche Grammophon" Philips EMI
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3827 :END:
3828@end example
3829
3830If you want to set properties that can be inherited by any entry in a
3831file, use a line like
3832
3833@example
3834#+PROPERTY: NDisks_ALL 1 2 3 4
3835@end example
3836
3837Property values set with the global variable
3838@code{org-global-properties} can be inherited by all entries in all
a7808fba 3839Org files.
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3840
3841@noindent
3842The following commands help to work with properties:
3843
3844@table @kbd
3845@kindex M-@key{TAB}
3846@item M-@key{TAB}
3847After an initial colon in a line, complete property keys. All keys used
3848in the current file will be offered as possible completions.
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3849@kindex C-c C-x p
3850@item C-c C-x p
3851Set a property. This prompts for a property name and a value. If
3852necessary, the property drawer is created as well.
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3853@item M-x org-insert-property-drawer
3854Insert a property drawer into the current entry. The drawer will be
3855inserted early in the entry, but after the lines with planning
3856information like deadlines.
3857@kindex C-c C-c
3858@item C-c C-c
3859With the cursor in a property drawer, this executes property commands.
3860@item C-c C-c s
3861Set a property in the current entry. Both the property and the value
3862can be inserted using completion.
3863@kindex S-@key{right}
3864@kindex S-@key{left}
3865@item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
3866Switch property at point to the next/previous allowed value.
3867@item C-c C-c d
3868Remove a property from the current entry.
3869@item C-c C-c D
3870Globally remove a property, from all entries in the current file.
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3871@item C-c C-c c
3872Compute the property at point, using the operator and scope from the
3873nearest column format definition.
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3874@end table
3875
a7808fba
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3876@node Special properties, Property searches, Property syntax, Properties and Columns
3877@section Special properties
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3878@cindex properties, special
3879
a7808fba 3880Special properties provide alternative access method to Org mode
4009494e
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3881features discussed in the previous chapters, like the TODO state or the
3882priority of an entry. This interface exists so that you can include
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3883these states into columns view (@pxref{Column view}), or to use them in
3884queries. The following property names are special and should not be
3885used as keys in the properties drawer:
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3886
3887@example
3888TODO @r{The TODO keyword of the entry.}
3889TAGS @r{The tags defined directly in the headline.}
3890ALLTAGS @r{All tags, including inherited ones.}
3891PRIORITY @r{The priority of the entry, a string with a single letter.}
3892DEADLINE @r{The deadline time string, without the angular brackets.}
3893SCHEDULED @r{The scheduling time stamp, without the angular brackets.}
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3894TIMESTAMP @r{The first keyword-less time stamp in the entry.}
3895TIMESTAMP_IA @r{The first inactive time stamp in the entry.}
3896CLOCKSUM @r{The sum of CLOCK intervals in the subtree. @code{org-clock-sum}}
3897 @r{must be run first to compute the values.}
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3898@end example
3899
a7808fba 3900@node Property searches, Property inheritance, Special properties, Properties and Columns
4009494e
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3901@section Property searches
3902@cindex properties, searching
dbc28aaa 3903@cindex searching, of properties
4009494e 3904
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3905To create sparse trees and special lists with selection based on properties,
3906the same commands are used as for tag searches (@pxref{Tag searches}), and
3907the same logic applies. For example, here is a search string:
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3908
3909@example
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3910+work-boss+PRIORITY="A"+Coffee="unlimited"+Effort<2 \
3911 +With=@{Sarah\|Denny@}+SCHEDULED>="<2008-10-11>"
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3912@end example
3913
3914@noindent
44ce9197
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3915The type of comparison will depend on how the comparison value is written:
3916@itemize @minus
3917@item
a7808fba
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3918If the comparison value is a plain number, a numerical comparison is done,
3919and the allowed operators are @samp{<}, @samp{=}, @samp{>}, @samp{<=},
44ce9197
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3920@samp{>=}, and @samp{<>}.
3921@item
3922If the comparison value is enclosed in double
96c8522a 3923quotes, a string comparison is done, and the same operators are allowed.
44ce9197
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3924@item
3925If the comparison value is enclosed in double quotes @emph{and} angular
3926brackets (like @samp{DEADLINE<="<2008-12-24 18:30>"}), both values are
96c8522a
CD
3927assumed to be date/time specifications in the standard Org way, and the
3928comparison will be done accordingly. Special values that will be recognized
3929are @code{"<now>"} for now (including time), and @code{"<today>"}, and
3930@code{"<tomorrow>"} for these days at 0:00 hours, i.e. without a time
3931specification. Also strings like @code{"<+5d>"} or @code{"<-2m>"} with units
3932@code{d}, @code{w}, @code{m}, and @code{y} for day, week, month, and year,
3933respectively, can be used.
44ce9197
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3934@item
3935If the comparison value is enclosed
3936in curly braces, a regexp match is performed, with @samp{=} meaning that the
3937regexp matches the property value, and @samp{<>} meaning that it does not
96c8522a 3938match.
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3939@end itemize
3940
3941So the search string in the example finds entries tagged @samp{:work:} but
3942not @samp{:boss:}, which also have a priority value @samp{A}, a
3943@samp{:Coffee:} property with the value @samp{unlimited}, an @samp{Effort}
3944property that is numerically smaller than 2, a @samp{:With:} property that is
3945matched by the regular expression @samp{Sarah\|Denny}, and that are scheduled
3946on or after October 11, 2008.
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3947
3948You can configure Org mode to use property inheritance during a search, but
3949beware that this can slow down searches considerably. See @ref{Property
3950inheritance} for details.
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3951
3952There is also a special command for creating sparse trees based on a
3953single property:
3954
3955@table @kbd
3956@kindex C-c / p
3957@item C-c / p
3958Create a sparse tree based on the value of a property. This first
3959prompts for the name of a property, and then for a value. A sparse tree
3960is created with all entries that define this property with the given
3961value. If you enclose the value into curly braces, it is interpreted as
3962a regular expression and matched against the property values.
3963@end table
3964
a7808fba 3965@node Property inheritance, Column view, Property searches, Properties and Columns
dbc28aaa 3966@section Property Inheritance
a7808fba
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3967@cindex properties, inheritance
3968@cindex inheritance, of properties
dbc28aaa 3969
a7808fba 3970The outline structure of Org mode documents lends itself for an
dbc28aaa 3971inheritance model of properties: If the parent in a tree has a certain
a7808fba 3972property, the children can inherit this property. Org mode does not
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3973turn this on by default, because it can slow down property searches
3974significantly and is often not needed. However, if you find inheritance
3975useful, you can turn it on by setting the variable
3976@code{org-use-property-inheritance}. It may be set to @code{t}, to make
a7808fba
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3977all properties inherited from the parent, to a list of properties
3978that should be inherited, or to a regular expression that matches
3979inherited properties.
dbc28aaa 3980
a7808fba 3981Org mode has a few properties for which inheritance is hard-coded, at
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3982least for the special applications for which they are used:
3983
3984@table @code
3985@item COLUMNS
3986The @code{:COLUMNS:} property defines the format of column view
3987(@pxref{Column view}). It is inherited in the sense that the level
3988where a @code{:COLUMNS:} property is defined is used as the starting
3989point for a column view table, independently of the location in the
3990subtree from where columns view is turned on.
3991@item CATEGORY
3992For agenda view, a category set through a @code{:CATEGORY:} property
3993applies to the entire subtree.
3994@item ARCHIVE
3995For archiving, the @code{:ARCHIVE:} property may define the archive
3996location for the entire subtree (@pxref{Moving subtrees}).
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3997@item LOGGING
3998The LOGGING property may define logging settings for an entry or a
3999subtree (@pxref{Tracking TODO state changes}).
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4000@end table
4001
a7808fba
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4002@node Column view, Property API, Property inheritance, Properties and Columns
4003@section Column view
4009494e
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4004
4005A great way to view and edit properties in an outline tree is
4006@emph{column view}. In column view, each outline item is turned into a
4007table row. Columns in this table provide access to properties of the
a7808fba 4008entries. Org mode implements columns by overlaying a tabular structure
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4009over the headline of each item. While the headlines have been turned
4010into a table row, you can still change the visibility of the outline
4011tree. For example, you get a compact table by switching to CONTENTS
4012view (@kbd{S-@key{TAB} S-@key{TAB}}, or simply @kbd{c} while column view
4013is active), but you can still open, read, and edit the entry below each
4014headline. Or, you can switch to column view after executing a sparse
4015tree command and in this way get a table only for the selected items.
a7808fba 4016Column view also works in agenda buffers (@pxref{Agenda Views}) where
4009494e
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4017queries have collected selected items, possibly from a number of files.
4018
4019@menu
4020* Defining columns:: The COLUMNS format property
4021* Using column view:: How to create and use column view
a7808fba 4022* Capturing column view:: A dynamic block for column view
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4023@end menu
4024
4025@node Defining columns, Using column view, Column view, Column view
a7808fba 4026@subsection Defining columns
4009494e
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4027@cindex column view, for properties
4028@cindex properties, column view
4029
4030Setting up a column view first requires defining the columns. This is
4031done by defining a column format line.
4032
4033@menu
4034* Scope of column definitions:: Where defined, where valid?
4035* Column attributes:: Appearance and content of a column
4036@end menu
4037
4038@node Scope of column definitions, Column attributes, Defining columns, Defining columns
4039@subsubsection Scope of column definitions
4040
4041To define a column format for an entire file, use a line like
4042
4043@example
4044#+COLUMNS: %25ITEM %TAGS %PRIORITY %TODO
4045@end example
4046
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4047To specify a format that only applies to a specific tree, add a
4048@code{:COLUMNS:} property to the top node of that tree, for example:
4049
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4050@example
4051** Top node for columns view
4052 :PROPERTIES:
4053 :COLUMNS: %25ITEM %TAGS %PRIORITY %TODO
4054 :END:
4055@end example
4056
dbc28aaa 4057If a @code{:COLUMNS:} property is present in an entry, it defines columns
4009494e
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4058for the entry itself, and for the entire subtree below it. Since the
4059column definition is part of the hierarchical structure of the document,
4060you can define columns on level 1 that are general enough for all
4061sublevels, and more specific columns further down, when you edit a
4062deeper part of the tree.
4063
4064@node Column attributes, , Scope of column definitions, Defining columns
4065@subsubsection Column attributes
4066A column definition sets the attributes of a column. The general
4067definition looks like this:
4068
4069@example
4070 %[width]property[(title)][@{summary-type@}]
4071@end example
4072
4073@noindent
4074Except for the percent sign and the property name, all items are
4075optional. The individual parts have the following meaning:
4076
4077@example
4078width @r{An integer specifying the width of the column in characters.}
4079 @r{If omitted, the width will be determined automatically.}
4080property @r{The property that should be edited in this column.}
4081(title) @r{The header text for the column. If omitted, the}
4082 @r{property name is used.}
4083@{summary-type@} @r{The summary type. If specified, the column values for}
4084 @r{parent nodes are computed from the children.}
4085 @r{Supported summary types are:}
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4086 @{+@} @r{Sum numbers in this column.}
4087 @{+;%.1f@} @r{Like @samp{+}, but format result with @samp{%.1f}.}
4088 @{$@} @r{Currency, short for @samp{+;%.2f}.}
4089 @{:@} @r{Sum times, HH:MM:SS, plain numbers are hours.}
4090 @{X@} @r{Checkbox status, [X] if all children are [X].}
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4091 @{X/@} @r{Checkbox status, [n/m].}
4092 @{X%@} @r{Checkbox status, [n%].}
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4093@end example
4094
4095@noindent
4096Here is an example for a complete columns definition, along with allowed
4097values.
4098
4099@example
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4100:COLUMNS: %20ITEM %9Approved(Approved?)@{X@} %Owner %11Status \@footnote{Please note that the COLUMNS definition must be on a single line - it is wrapped here only because of formatting constraints.}
4101 %10Time_Estimate@{:@} %CLOCKSUM
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4102:Owner_ALL: Tammy Mark Karl Lisa Don
4103:Status_ALL: "In progress" "Not started yet" "Finished" ""
4104:Approved_ALL: "[ ]" "[X]"
4105@end example
4106
4107The first column, @samp{%25ITEM}, means the first 25 characters of the
4108item itself, i.e. of the headline. You probably always should start the
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4109column definition with the @samp{ITEM} specifier. The other specifiers
4110create columns @samp{Owner} with a list of names as allowed values, for
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4111@samp{Status} with four different possible values, and for a checkbox
4112field @samp{Approved}. When no width is given after the @samp{%}
4113character, the column will be exactly as wide as it needs to be in order
4114to fully display all values. The @samp{Approved} column does have a
4115modified title (@samp{Approved?}, with a question mark). Summaries will
dbc28aaa 4116be created for the @samp{Time_Estimate} column by adding time duration
4009494e 4117expressions like HH:MM, and for the @samp{Approved} column, by providing
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4118an @samp{[X]} status if all children have been checked. The
4119@samp{CLOCKSUM} column is special, it lists the sum of CLOCK intervals
4120in the subtree.
4009494e 4121
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4122@node Using column view, Capturing column view, Defining columns, Column view
4123@subsection Using column view
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4124
4125@table @kbd
4126@tsubheading{Turning column view on and off}
4127@kindex C-c C-x C-c
4128@item C-c C-x C-c
4129Create the column view for the local environment. This command searches
dbc28aaa 4130the hierarchy, up from point, for a @code{:COLUMNS:} property that defines
4009494e 4131a format. When one is found, the column view table is established for
dbc28aaa 4132the entire tree, starting from the entry that contains the @code{:COLUMNS:}
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4133property. If none is found, the format is taken from the @code{#+COLUMNS}
4134line or from the variable @code{org-columns-default-format}, and column
4135view is established for the current entry and its subtree.
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4136@kindex r
4137@item r
a7808fba 4138Recreate the column view, to include recent changes made in the buffer.
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4139@kindex g
4140@item g
4141Same as @kbd{r}.
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4142@kindex q
4143@item q
4144Exit column view.
4145@tsubheading{Editing values}
4146@item @key{left} @key{right} @key{up} @key{down}
4147Move through the column view from field to field.
4148@kindex S-@key{left}
4149@kindex S-@key{right}
4150@item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
4151Switch to the next/previous allowed value of the field. For this, you
4152have to have specified allowed values for a property.
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4153@item 1..9,0
4154Directly select the nth allowed value, @kbd{0} selects the 10th value.
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4155@kindex n
4156@kindex p
4157@itemx n / p
4158Same as @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}}
4159@kindex e
4160@item e
4161Edit the property at point. For the special properties, this will
4162invoke the same interface that you normally use to change that
4163property. For example, when editing a TAGS property, the tag completion
4164or fast selection interface will pop up.
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4165@kindex C-c C-c
4166@item C-c C-c
4167When there is a checkbox at point, toggle it.
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4168@kindex v
4169@item v
4170View the full value of this property. This is useful if the width of
4171the column is smaller than that of the value.
4172@kindex a
4173@item a
4174Edit the list of allowed values for this property. If the list is found
4175in the hierarchy, the modified values is stored there. If no list is
4176found, the new value is stored in the first entry that is part of the
4177current column view.
4178@tsubheading{Modifying the table structure}
4179@kindex <
4180@kindex >
4181@item < / >
4182Make the column narrower/wider by one character.
4183@kindex S-M-@key{right}
4184@item S-M-@key{right}
864c9740 4185Insert a new column, to the left of the current column.
4009494e
GM
4186@kindex S-M-@key{left}
4187@item S-M-@key{left}
4188Delete the current column.
4189@end table
4190
a7808fba
CD
4191@node Capturing column view, , Using column view, Column view
4192@subsection Capturing column view
dbc28aaa
CD
4193
4194Since column view is just an overlay over a buffer, it cannot be
4195exported or printed directly. If you want to capture a column view, use
a7808fba 4196this @code{columnview} dynamic block (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). The frame
28a16a1b 4197of this block looks like this:
dbc28aaa 4198
b349f79f 4199@cindex #+BEGIN: columnview
dbc28aaa
CD
4200@example
4201* The column view
4202#+BEGIN: columnview :hlines 1 :id "label"
4203
4204#+END:
4205@end example
4206
4207@noindent This dynamic block has the following parameters:
4208
4209@table @code
4210@item :id
4211This is most important parameter. Column view is a feature that is
4212often localized to a certain (sub)tree, and the capture block might be
4213in a different location in the file. To identify the tree whose view to
4214capture, you can use 3 values:
4215@example
4216local @r{use the tree in which the capture block is located}
4217global @r{make a global view, including all headings in the file}
b349f79f
CD
4218"label" @r{call column view in the tree that has an @code{:ID:}}
4219 @r{property with the value @i{label}. You can use}
4220 @r{@kbd{M-x org-id-copy} to create a globally unique ID for}
4221 @r{the current entry and copy it to the kill-ring.}
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4222@end example
4223@item :hlines
4224When @code{t}, insert a hline after every line. When a number N, insert
4225a hline before each headline with level @code{<= N}.
4226@item :vlines
4227When set to @code{t}, enforce column groups to get vertical lines.
28a16a1b
CD
4228@item :maxlevel
4229When set to a number, don't capture entries below this level.
4230@item :skip-empty-rows
4231When set to @code{t}, skip row where the only non-empty specifier of the
4232column view is @code{ITEM}.
4233
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4234@end table
4235
4236@noindent
4237The following commands insert or update the dynamic block:
4238
4239@table @kbd
864c9740
CD
4240@kindex C-c C-x i
4241@item C-c C-x i
dbc28aaa
CD
4242Insert a dynamic block capturing a column view. You will be prompted
4243for the scope or id of the view.
4244@kindex C-c C-c
4245@item C-c C-c
4246@kindex C-c C-x C-u
4247@itemx C-c C-x C-u
4248Update dynamical block at point. The cursor needs to be in the
4249@code{#+BEGIN} line of the dynamic block.
4250@kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
4251@item C-u C-c C-x C-u
4252Update all dynamic blocks (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). This is useful if
a7808fba 4253you have several clock table blocks in a buffer.
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4254@end table
4255
864c9740
CD
4256You can add formulas to the column view table and you may add plotting
4257instructions in front of the table - these will survive an update of the
4258block. If there is a @code{#+TBLFM:} after the table, the table will
4259actually be recalculated automatically after an update.
4260
a7808fba 4261@node Property API, , Column view, Properties and Columns
4009494e
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4262@section The Property API
4263@cindex properties, API
4264@cindex API, for properties
4265
4266There is a full API for accessing and changing properties. This API can
4267be used by Emacs Lisp programs to work with properties and to implement
4268features based on them. For more information see @ref{Using the
4269property API}.
4270
864c9740 4271@node Dates and Times, Capture, Properties and Columns, Top
dbc28aaa
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4272@chapter Dates and Times
4273@cindex dates
4274@cindex times
4009494e
GM
4275@cindex time stamps
4276@cindex date stamps
4277
dbc28aaa
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4278To assist project planning, TODO items can be labeled with a date and/or
4279a time. The specially formatted string carrying the date and time
a7808fba 4280information is called a @emph{timestamp} in Org mode. This may be a
dbc28aaa 4281little confusing because timestamp is often used as indicating when
a7808fba 4282something was created or last changed. However, in Org mode this term
dbc28aaa 4283is used in a much wider sense.
4009494e
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4284
4285@menu
a7808fba 4286* Timestamps:: Assigning a time to a tree entry
4009494e
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4287* Creating timestamps:: Commands which insert timestamps
4288* Deadlines and scheduling:: Planning your work
a7808fba
CD
4289* Clocking work time:: Tracking how long you spend on a task
4290* Effort estimates:: Planning work effort in advance
96c8522a 4291* Relative timer:: Notes with a running timer
4009494e
GM
4292@end menu
4293
4294
a7808fba
CD
4295@node Timestamps, Creating timestamps, Dates and Times, Dates and Times
4296@section Timestamps, deadlines and scheduling
4009494e
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4297@cindex time stamps
4298@cindex ranges, time
4299@cindex date stamps
4300@cindex deadlines
4301@cindex scheduling
4302
4303A time stamp is a specification of a date (possibly with time or a range
4304of times) in a special format, either @samp{<2003-09-16 Tue>} or
4305@samp{<2003-09-16 Tue 09:39>} or @samp{<2003-09-16 Tue
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430612:00-12:30>}@footnote{This is the standard ISO date/time format. To
4307use an alternative format, see @ref{Custom time format}.}. A time stamp
a7808fba 4308can appear anywhere in the headline or body of an Org tree entry. Its
dbc28aaa 4309presence causes entries to be shown on specific dates in the agenda
a7808fba 4310(@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}). We distinguish:
4009494e
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4311
4312@table @var
dbc28aaa 4313@item Plain time stamp; Event; Appointment
4009494e
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4314@cindex timestamp
4315A simple time stamp just assigns a date/time to an item. This is just
dbc28aaa
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4316like writing down an appointment or event in a paper agenda. In the
4317timeline and agenda displays, the headline of an entry associated with a
4318plain time stamp will be shown exactly on that date.
4009494e
GM
4319
4320@example
4321* Meet Peter at the movies <2006-11-01 Wed 19:15>
4322* Discussion on climate change <2006-11-02 Thu 20:00-22:00>
4323@end example
4324
4325@item Time stamp with repeater interval
4326@cindex timestamp, with repeater interval
4327A time stamp may contain a @emph{repeater interval}, indicating that it
4328applies not only on the given date, but again and again after a certain
4329interval of N days (d), weeks (w), months(m), or years(y). The
4330following will show up in the agenda every Wednesday:
4331
4332@example
4333* Pick up Sam at school <2007-05-16 Wed 12:30 +1w>
4334@end example
4335
4336@item Diary-style sexp entries
a7808fba 4337For more complex date specifications, Org mode supports using the
4009494e
GM
4338special sexp diary entries implemented in the Emacs calendar/diary
4339package. For example
4340
4341@example
4342* The nerd meeting on every 2nd Thursday of the month
4343 <%%(diary-float t 4 2)>
4344@end example
4345
4346@item Time/Date range
4347@cindex timerange
4348@cindex date range
4349Two time stamps connected by @samp{--} denote a range. The headline
4350will be shown on the first and last day of the range, and on any dates
4351that are displayed and fall in the range. Here is an example:
4352
4353@example
4354** Meeting in Amsterdam
4355 <2004-08-23 Mon>--<2004-08-26 Thu>
4356@end example
4357
4358@item Inactive time stamp
4359@cindex timestamp, inactive
4360@cindex inactive timestamp
4361Just like a plain time stamp, but with square brackets instead of
4362angular ones. These time stamps are inactive in the sense that they do
4363@emph{not} trigger an entry to show up in the agenda.
4364
4365@example
4366* Gillian comes late for the fifth time [2006-11-01 Wed]
4367@end example
4368
4369@end table
4370
a7808fba 4371@node Creating timestamps, Deadlines and scheduling, Timestamps, Dates and Times
4009494e
GM
4372@section Creating timestamps
4373@cindex creating timestamps
4374@cindex timestamps, creating
4375
a7808fba 4376For Org mode to recognize time stamps, they need to be in the specific
4009494e
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4377format. All commands listed below produce time stamps in the correct
4378format.
4379
4380@table @kbd
4381@kindex C-c .
4382@item C-c .
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CD
4383Prompt for a date and insert a corresponding time stamp. When the cursor is
4384at an existing time stamp in the buffer, the command is used to modify this
4385timestamp instead of inserting a new one. When this command is used twice in
4386succession, a time range is inserted.
4009494e
GM
4387@c
4388@kindex C-u C-c .
4389@item C-u C-c .
4390Like @kbd{C-c .}, but use the alternative format which contains date
4391and time. The default time can be rounded to multiples of 5 minutes,
4392see the option @code{org-time-stamp-rounding-minutes}.
4393@c
4394@kindex C-c !
4395@item C-c !
4396Like @kbd{C-c .}, but insert an inactive time stamp that will not cause
4397an agenda entry.
4398@c
4399@kindex C-c <
4400@item C-c <
4401Insert a time stamp corresponding to the cursor date in the Calendar.
4402@c
4403@kindex C-c >
4404@item C-c >
4405Access the Emacs calendar for the current date. If there is a
a7808fba 4406timestamp in the current line, go to the corresponding date
4009494e
GM
4407instead.
4408@c
4409@kindex C-c C-o
4410@item C-c C-o
4411Access the agenda for the date given by the time stamp or -range at
a7808fba 4412point (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}).
4009494e
GM
4413@c
4414@kindex S-@key{left}
4415@kindex S-@key{right}
4416@item S-@key{left}
4417@itemx S-@key{right}
4418Change date at cursor by one day. These key bindings conflict with
a7808fba 4419CUA mode (@pxref{Conflicts}).
4009494e
GM
4420@c
4421@kindex S-@key{up}
4422@kindex S-@key{down}
4423@item S-@key{up}
4424@itemx S-@key{down}
4425Change the item under the cursor in a timestamp. The cursor can be on a
4426year, month, day, hour or minute. Note that if the cursor is in a
4427headline and not at a time stamp, these same keys modify the priority of
4428an item. (@pxref{Priorities}). The key bindings also conflict with
a7808fba 4429CUA mode (@pxref{Conflicts}).
4009494e
GM
4430@c
4431@kindex C-c C-y
4432@cindex evaluate time range
4433@item C-c C-y
a7808fba
CD
4434Evaluate a time range by computing the difference between start and end.
4435With a prefix argument, insert result after the time range (in a table: into
4436the following column).
4009494e
GM
4437@end table
4438
4439
4440@menu
a7808fba
CD
4441* The date/time prompt:: How Org mode helps you entering date and time
4442* Custom time format:: Making dates look different
4009494e
GM
4443@end menu
4444
4445@node The date/time prompt, Custom time format, Creating timestamps, Creating timestamps
4446@subsection The date/time prompt
4447@cindex date, reading in minibuffer
4448@cindex time, reading in minibuffer
4449
a7808fba 4450When Org mode prompts for a date/time, the default is shown as an ISO
dbc28aaa
CD
4451date, and the prompt therefore seems to ask for an ISO date. But it
4452will in fact accept any string containing some date and/or time
4453information, and it is really smart about interpreting your input. You
4454can, for example, use @kbd{C-y} to paste a (possibly multi-line) string
a7808fba 4455copied from an email message. Org mode will find whatever information
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CD
4456is in there and derive anything you have not specified from the
4457@emph{default date and time}. The default is usually the current date
4458and time, but when modifying an existing time stamp, or when entering
4459the second stamp of a range, it is taken from the stamp in the buffer.
a7808fba 4460When filling in information, Org mode assumes that most of the time you
dbc28aaa
CD
4461will want to enter a date in the future: If you omit the month/year and
4462the given day/month is @i{before} today, it will assume that you mean a
4463future date@footnote{See the variable
4464@code{org-read-date-prefer-future}.}.
4465
07450bee 4466For example, let's assume that today is @b{June 13, 2006}. Here is how
a7808fba 4467various inputs will be interpreted, the items filled in by Org mode are
dbc28aaa
CD
4468in @b{bold}.
4469
4470@example
44713-2-5 --> 2003-02-05
447214 --> @b{2006}-@b{06}-14
447312 --> @b{2006}-@b{07}-12
4474Fri --> nearest Friday (defaultdate or later)
07450bee 4475sep 15 --> @b{2006}-09-15
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CD
4476feb 15 --> @b{2007}-02-15
4477sep 12 9 --> 2009-09-12
447812:45 --> @b{2006}-@b{06}-@b{13} 12:45
447922 sept 0:34 --> @b{2006}-09-22 0:34
a7808fba
CD
4480w4 --> ISO week for of the current year @b{2006}
44812012 w4 fri --> Friday of ISO week 4 in 2012
44822012-w04-5 --> Same as above
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CD
4483@end example
4484
4485Furthermore you can specify a relative date by giving, as the
4486@emph{first} thing in the input: a plus/minus sign, a number and a
4487letter [dwmy] to indicate change in days weeks, months, years. With a
4488single plus or minus, the date is always relative to today. With a
4489double plus or minus, it is relative to the default date. If instead of
4490a single letter, you use the abbreviation of day name, the date will be
4491the nth such day. E.g.
4492
4493@example
b349f79f
CD
4494+0 --> today
4495. --> today
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CD
4496+4d --> four days from today
4497+4 --> same as above
4498+2w --> two weeks from today
4499++5 --> five days from default date
4500+2tue --> second tuesday from now.
4009494e
GM
4501@end example
4502
4503The function understands English month and weekday abbreviations. If
4504you want to use unabbreviated names and/or other languages, configure
4505the variables @code{parse-time-months} and @code{parse-time-weekdays}.
4506
4507@cindex calendar, for selecting date
4508Parallel to the minibuffer prompt, a calendar is popped up@footnote{If
4509you don't need/want the calendar, configure the variable
4510@code{org-popup-calendar-for-date-prompt}.}. When you exit the date
4511prompt, either by clicking on a date in the calendar, or by pressing
4512@key{RET}, the date selected in the calendar will be combined with the
4513information entered at the prompt. You can control the calendar fully
4514from the minibuffer:
4515
4009494e 4516@kindex <
4009494e 4517@kindex >
4009494e 4518@kindex mouse-1
4009494e 4519@kindex S-@key{right}
4009494e 4520@kindex S-@key{left}
4009494e 4521@kindex S-@key{down}
4009494e 4522@kindex S-@key{up}
4009494e 4523@kindex M-S-@key{right}
4009494e 4524@kindex M-S-@key{left}
4009494e 4525@kindex @key{RET}
dbc28aaa
CD
4526@example
4527> / < @r{Scroll calendar forward/backward by one month.}
4528mouse-1 @r{Select date by clicking on it.}
4529S-@key{right}/@key{left} @r{One day forward/backward.}
4530S-@key{down}/@key{up} @r{One week forward/backward.}
4531M-S-@key{right}/@key{left} @r{One month forward/backward.}
4532@key{RET} @r{Choose date in calendar.}
4533@end example
4534
a7808fba
CD
4535The actions of the date/time prompt may seem complex, but I assure you they
4536will grow on you, and you will start getting annoyed by pretty much any other
4537way of entering a date/time out there. To help you understand what is going
4538on, the current interpretation of your input will be displayed live in the
4539minibuffer@footnote{If you find this distracting, turn the display of with
4540@code{org-read-date-display-live}.}.
4009494e
GM
4541
4542@node Custom time format, , The date/time prompt, Creating timestamps
4543@subsection Custom time format
4544@cindex custom date/time format
4545@cindex time format, custom
4546@cindex date format, custom
4547
a7808fba 4548Org mode uses the standard ISO notation for dates and times as it is
4009494e
GM
4549defined in ISO 8601. If you cannot get used to this and require another
4550representation of date and time to keep you happy, you can get it by
4551customizing the variables @code{org-display-custom-times} and
4552@code{org-time-stamp-custom-formats}.
4553
4554@table @kbd
4555@kindex C-c C-x C-t
4556@item C-c C-x C-t
4557Toggle the display of custom formats for dates and times.
4558@end table
4559
4560@noindent
a7808fba 4561Org mode needs the default format for scanning, so the custom date/time
4009494e
GM
4562format does not @emph{replace} the default format - instead it is put
4563@emph{over} the default format using text properties. This has the
4564following consequences:
4565@itemize @bullet
28a16a1b 4566@item
4009494e
GM
4567You cannot place the cursor onto a time stamp anymore, only before or
4568after.
4569@item
4570The @kbd{S-@key{up}/@key{down}} keys can no longer be used to adjust
4571each component of a time stamp. If the cursor is at the beginning of
4572the stamp, @kbd{S-@key{up}/@key{down}} will change the stamp by one day,
4573just like @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}}. At the end of the stamp, the
4574time will be changed by one minute.
4575@item
4576If the time stamp contains a range of clock times or a repeater, these
4577will not be overlayed, but remain in the buffer as they were.
4578@item
4579When you delete a time stamp character-by-character, it will only
4580disappear from the buffer after @emph{all} (invisible) characters
4581belonging to the ISO timestamp have been removed.
4582@item
4583If the custom time stamp format is longer than the default and you are
4584using dates in tables, table alignment will be messed up. If the custom
4585format is shorter, things do work as expected.
4586@end itemize
4587
4588
a7808fba
CD
4589@node Deadlines and scheduling, Clocking work time, Creating timestamps, Dates and Times
4590@section Deadlines and scheduling
4009494e 4591
dbc28aaa 4592A time stamp may be preceded by special keywords to facilitate planning:
4009494e
GM
4593
4594@table @var
4595@item DEADLINE
4596@cindex DEADLINE keyword
dbc28aaa
CD
4597
4598Meaning: the task (most likely a TODO item, though not necessarily) is supposed
4599to be finished on that date.
4600
4601On the deadline date, the task will be listed in the agenda. In
4602addition, the agenda for @emph{today} will carry a warning about the
4603approaching or missed deadline, starting
4604@code{org-deadline-warning-days} before the due date, and continuing
4605until the entry is marked DONE. An example:
4009494e
GM
4606
4607@example
4608*** TODO write article about the Earth for the Guide
4609 The editor in charge is [[bbdb:Ford Prefect]]
4610 DEADLINE: <2004-02-29 Sun>
4611@end example
4612
4613You can specify a different lead time for warnings for a specific
4614deadlines using the following syntax. Here is an example with a warning
4615period of 5 days @code{DEADLINE: <2004-02-29 Sun -5d>}.
4616
4617@item SCHEDULED
4618@cindex SCHEDULED keyword
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CD
4619
4620Meaning: you are planning to start working on that task on the given
4621date.
4622
4623The headline will be listed under the given date@footnote{It will still
4624be listed on that date after it has been marked DONE. If you don't like
4009494e
GM
4625this, set the variable @code{org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done}.}. In
4626addition, a reminder that the scheduled date has passed will be present
4627in the compilation for @emph{today}, until the entry is marked DONE.
4628I.e., the task will automatically be forwarded until completed.
4629
4630@example
4631*** TODO Call Trillian for a date on New Years Eve.
4632 SCHEDULED: <2004-12-25 Sat>
4633@end example
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4634
4635@noindent
a7808fba 4636@b{Important:} Scheduling an item in Org mode should @i{not} be
dbc28aaa
CD
4637understood in the same way that we understand @i{scheduling a meeting}.
4638Setting a date for a meeting is just a simple appointment, you should
4639mark this entry with a simple plain time stamp, to get this item shown
4640on the date where it applies. This is a frequent mis-understanding from
a7808fba 4641Org-users. In Org mode, @i{scheduling} means setting a date when you
dbc28aaa 4642want to start working on an action item.
4009494e
GM
4643@end table
4644
dbc28aaa 4645You may use time stamps with repeaters in scheduling and deadline
a7808fba 4646entries. Org mode will issue early and late warnings based on the
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CD
4647assumption that the time stamp represents the @i{nearest instance} of
4648the repeater. However, the use of diary sexp entries like
4649@c
4650@code{<%%(diary-float t 42)>}
4651@c
a7808fba 4652in scheduling and deadline timestamps is limited. Org mode does not
dbc28aaa
CD
4653know enough about the internals of each sexp function to issue early and
4654late warnings. However, it will show the item on each day where the
4655sexp entry matches.
4656
4009494e
GM
4657@menu
4658* Inserting deadline/schedule:: Planning items
4659* Repeated tasks:: Items that show up again and again
4660@end menu
4661
4662@node Inserting deadline/schedule, Repeated tasks, Deadlines and scheduling, Deadlines and scheduling
a7808fba 4663@subsection Inserting deadlines or schedules
4009494e
GM
4664
4665The following commands allow to quickly insert a deadline or to schedule
4666an item:
4667
4668@table @kbd
4669@c
4670@kindex C-c C-d
4671@item C-c C-d
4672Insert @samp{DEADLINE} keyword along with a stamp. The insertion will
dbc28aaa
CD
4673happen in the line directly following the headline. When called with a
4674prefix arg, an existing deadline will be removed from the entry.
4009494e
GM
4675@c FIXME Any CLOSED timestamp will be removed.????????
4676@c
dbc28aaa 4677@kindex C-c / d
4009494e 4678@cindex sparse tree, for deadlines
dbc28aaa 4679@item C-c / d
4009494e
GM
4680Create a sparse tree with all deadlines that are either past-due, or
4681which will become due within @code{org-deadline-warning-days}.
4682With @kbd{C-u} prefix, show all deadlines in the file. With a numeric
dbc28aaa 4683prefix, check that many days. For example, @kbd{C-1 C-c / d} shows
4009494e
GM
4684all deadlines due tomorrow.
4685@c
4686@kindex C-c C-s
4687@item C-c C-s
4688Insert @samp{SCHEDULED} keyword along with a stamp. The insertion will
4689happen in the line directly following the headline. Any CLOSED
dbc28aaa
CD
4690timestamp will be removed. When called with a prefix argument, remove
4691the scheduling date from the entry.
b349f79f
CD
4692@c
4693@kindex C-c C-x C-k
4694@kindex k a
4695@kindex k s
4696@item C-c C-x C-k
4697Mark the current entry for agenda action. After you have marked the entry
4698like this, you can open the agenda or the calendar to find an appropriate
4699date. With the cursor on the selected date, press @kbd{k s} or @kbd{k d} to
4700schedule the marked item.
4009494e
GM
4701@end table
4702
4703@node Repeated tasks, , Inserting deadline/schedule, Deadlines and scheduling
a7808fba 4704@subsection Repeated tasks
4009494e 4705
a7808fba 4706Some tasks need to be repeated again and again. Org mode helps to
28a16a1b
CD
4707organize such tasks using a so-called repeater in a DEADLINE, SCHEDULED,
4708or plain time stamp. In the following example
4009494e
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4709@example
4710** TODO Pay the rent
4711 DEADLINE: <2005-10-01 Sat +1m>
4712@end example
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4713the @code{+1m} is a repeater; the intended interpretation is that the
4714task has a deadline on <2005-10-01> and repeats itself every (one) month
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4715starting from that time. If you need both a repeater and a special
4716warning period in a deadline entry, the repeater comes first and the
4717warning period last: @code{DEADLINE: <2005-10-01 Sat +1m -3d>}.
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4718
4719Deadlines and scheduled items produce entries in the agenda when they
4720are over-due, so it is important to be able to mark such an entry as
4721completed once you have done so. When you mark a DEADLINE or a SCHEDULE
a7808fba 4722with the TODO keyword DONE, it will no longer produce entries in the
28a16a1b 4723agenda. The problem with this is, however, that then also the
a7808fba 4724@emph{next} instance of the repeated entry will not be active. Org mode
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4725deals with this in the following way: When you try to mark such an entry
4726DONE (using @kbd{C-c C-t}), it will shift the base date of the repeating
4727time stamp by the repeater interval, and immediately set the entry state
4728back to TODO. In the example above, setting the state to DONE would
4729actually switch the date like this:
4730
4731@example
4732** TODO Pay the rent
4733 DEADLINE: <2005-11-01 Tue +1m>
4734@end example
4735
a7808fba
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4736A timestamp@footnote{You can change this using the option
4737@code{org-log-repeat}, or the @code{#+STARTUP} options @code{logrepeat},
4738@code{lognoterepeat}, and @code{nologrepeat}. With @code{lognoterepeat}, you
a50253cc 4739will also be prompted for a note.} will be added under the deadline, to keep
a7808fba 4740a record that you actually acted on the previous instance of this deadline.
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4741
4742As a consequence of shifting the base date, this entry will no longer be
4743visible in the agenda when checking past dates, but all future instances
4744will be visible.
4745
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4746With the @samp{+1m} cookie, the date shift will always be exactly one
4747month. So if you have not payed the rent for three months, marking this
4748entry DONE will still keep it as an overdue deadline. Depending on the
4749task, this may not be the best way to handle it. For example, if you
4750forgot to call you father for 3 weeks, it does not make sense to call
a7808fba 4751him 3 times in a single day to make up for it. Finally, there are tasks
28a16a1b 4752like changing batteries which should always repeat a certain time
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4753@i{after} the last time you did it. For these tasks, Org mode has
4754special repeaters markers with @samp{++} and @samp{.+}. For example:
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4755
4756@example
4757** TODO Call Father
4758 DEADLINE: <2008-02-10 Sun ++1w>
4759 Marking this DONE will shift the date by at least one week,
4760 but also by as many weeks as it takes to get this date into
4761 the future. However, it stays on a Sunday, even if you called
4762 and marked it done on Saturday.
4763** TODO Check the batteries in the smoke detectors
4764 DEADLINE: <2005-11-01 Tue .+1m>
4765 Marking this DONE will shift the date to one month after
4766 today.
4767@end example
4768
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4769You may have both scheduling and deadline information for a specific
4770task - just make sure that the repeater intervals on both are the same.
4771
a7808fba 4772@node Clocking work time, Effort estimates, Deadlines and scheduling, Dates and Times
dbc28aaa 4773@section Clocking work time
4009494e 4774
a7808fba 4775Org mode allows you to clock the time you spent on specific tasks in a
4009494e
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4776project. When you start working on an item, you can start the clock.
4777When you stop working on that task, or when you mark the task done, the
4778clock is stopped and the corresponding time interval is recorded. It
4779also computes the total time spent on each subtree of a project.
4780
4781@table @kbd
4782@kindex C-c C-x C-i
4783@item C-c C-x C-i
4784Start the clock on the current item (clock-in). This inserts the CLOCK
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4785keyword together with a timestamp. If this is not the first clocking of
4786this item, the multiple CLOCK lines will be wrapped into a
4787@code{:CLOCK:} drawer (see also the variable
a7808fba
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4788@code{org-clock-into-drawer}). When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument,
4789select the task from a list of recently clocked tasks. With two @kbd{C-u
4790C-u} prefixes, clock into the task at point and mark it as the default task.
4791The default task will always be available when selecting a clocking task,
4792with letter @kbd{d}.
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4793@kindex C-c C-x C-o
4794@item C-c C-x C-o
4795Stop the clock (clock-out). The inserts another timestamp at the same
4796location where the clock was last started. It also directly computes
4797the resulting time in inserts it after the time range as @samp{=>
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4798HH:MM}. See the variable @code{org-log-note-clock-out} for the
4799possibility to record an additional note together with the clock-out
4800time stamp@footnote{The corresponding in-buffer setting is:
4801@code{#+STARTUP: lognoteclock-out}}.
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4802@kindex C-c C-y
4803@item C-c C-y
4804Recompute the time interval after changing one of the time stamps. This
4805is only necessary if you edit the time stamps directly. If you change
4806them with @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} keys, the update is automatic.
4807@kindex C-c C-t
4808@item C-c C-t
4809Changing the TODO state of an item to DONE automatically stops the clock
4810if it is running in this same item.
4811@kindex C-c C-x C-x
4812@item C-c C-x C-x
4813Cancel the current clock. This is useful if a clock was started by
4814mistake, or if you ended up working on something else.
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4815@kindex C-c C-x C-j
4816@item C-c C-x C-j
a7808fba
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4817Jump to the entry that contains the currently running clock. With a
4818@kbd{C-u} prefix arg, select the target task from a list of recently clocked
4819tasks.
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4820@kindex C-c C-x C-d
4821@item C-c C-x C-d
4822Display time summaries for each subtree in the current buffer. This
4823puts overlays at the end of each headline, showing the total time
4824recorded under that heading, including the time of any subheadings. You
4825can use visibility cycling to study the tree, but the overlays disappear
4826when you change the buffer (see variable
4827@code{org-remove-highlights-with-change}) or press @kbd{C-c C-c}.
4828@kindex C-c C-x C-r
4829@item C-c C-x C-r
4830Insert a dynamic block (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}) containing a clock
a7808fba 4831report as an Org mode table into the current file. When the cursor is
dbc28aaa
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4832at an existing clock table, just update it. When called with a prefix
4833argument, jump to the first clock report in the current document and
4834update it.
b349f79f 4835@cindex #+BEGIN: clocktable
4009494e 4836@example
dbc28aaa 4837#+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 2 :emphasize nil :scope file
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4838#+END: clocktable
4839@end example
4840@noindent
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4841If such a block already exists at point, its content is replaced by the
4842new table. The @samp{BEGIN} line can specify options:
4009494e 4843@example
dbc28aaa 4844:maxlevel @r{Maximum level depth to which times are listed in the table.}
4009494e 4845:emphasize @r{When @code{t}, emphasize level one and level two items}
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4846:scope @r{The scope to consider. This can be any of the following:}
4847 nil @r{the current buffer or narrowed region}
4848 file @r{the full current buffer}
4849 subtree @r{the subtree where the clocktable is located}
4850 treeN @r{the surrounding level N tree, for example @code{tree3}}
4851 tree @r{the surrounding level 1 tree}
4852 agenda @r{all agenda files}
4853 ("file"..) @r{scan these files}
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4854 file-with-archives @r{current file and its archives}
4855 agenda-with-archives @r{all agenda files, including archives}
4856:block @r{The time block to consider. This block is specified either}
4857 @r{absolute, or relative to the current time and may be any of}
4858 @r{these formats:}
4859 2007-12-31 @r{New year eve 2007}
4860 2007-12 @r{December 2007}
4861 2007-W50 @r{ISO-week 50 in 2007}
4862 2007 @r{the year 2007}
4863 today, yesterday, today-N @r{a relative day}
4864 thisweek, lastweek, thisweek-N @r{a relative week}
4865 thismonth, lastmonth, thismonth-N @r{a relative month}
4866 thisyear, lastyear, thisyear-N @r{a relative year}
4867 @r{Use @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}} keys to shift the time interval.}
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4868:tstart @r{A time string specifying when to start considering times}
4869:tend @r{A time string specifying when to stop considering times}
a7808fba
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4870:step @r{@code{week} or @code{day}, to split the table into chunks.}
4871 @r{To use this, @code{:block} or @code{:tstart}, @code{:tend} are needed.}
28a16a1b 4872:link @r{Link the item headlines in the table to their origins}
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4873:formula @r{Content of a @code{#+TBLFM} line to be added and evaluated.}
4874 @r{As a special case, @samp{:formula %} adds column with % time.}
4875 @r{If you do not specify a formula here, any existing formula}
4876 @r{below the clock table will survive updates and be evaluated.}
4009494e 4877@end example
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4878So to get a clock summary of the current level 1 tree, for the current
4879day, you could write
4009494e 4880@example
a7808fba 4881#+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 2 :block today :scope tree1 :link t
4009494e
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4882#+END: clocktable
4883@end example
4884and to use a specific time range you could write@footnote{Note that all
4885parameters must be specified in a single line - the line is broken here
4886only to fit it onto the manual.}
4887@example
28a16a1b 4888#+BEGIN: clocktable :tstart "<2006-08-10 Thu 10:00>"
4009494e 4889 :tend "<2006-08-10 Thu 12:00>"
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4890#+END: clocktable
4891@end example
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4892A summary of the current subtree with % times would be
4893@example
4894#+BEGIN: clocktable :scope subtree :link t :formula %
4895#+END: clocktable
4896@end example
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4897@kindex C-c C-c
4898@item C-c C-c
4899@kindex C-c C-x C-u
4900@itemx C-c C-x C-u
4901Update dynamical block at point. The cursor needs to be in the
4902@code{#+BEGIN} line of the dynamic block.
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4903@kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
4904@item C-u C-c C-x C-u
4905Update all dynamic blocks (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). This is useful if
a7808fba
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4906you have several clock table blocks in a buffer.
4907@kindex S-@key{left}
4908@kindex S-@key{right}
4909@item S-@key{left}
4910@itemx S-@key{right}
4911Shift the current @code{:block} interval and update the table. The cursor
4912needs to be in the @code{#+BEGIN: clocktable} line for this command. If
4913@code{:block} is @code{today}, it will be shifted to @code{today-1} etc.
4009494e
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4914@end table
4915
4916The @kbd{l} key may be used in the timeline (@pxref{Timeline}) and in
a7808fba 4917the agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}) to show which tasks have been
4009494e
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4918worked on or closed during a day.
4919
96c8522a 4920@node Effort estimates, Relative timer, Clocking work time, Dates and Times
a7808fba 4921@section Effort estimates
96c8522a 4922@cindex effort estimates
a7808fba
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4923
4924If you want to plan your work in a very detailed way, or if you need to
4925produce offers with quotations of the estimated work effort, you may want to
4926assign effort estimates to entries. If you are also clocking your work, you
4927may later want to compare the planned effort with the actual working time, a
4928great way to improve planning estimates. Effort estimates are stored in a
4929special property @samp{Effort}@footnote{You may change the property being
4930used with the variable @code{org-effort-property}.}. Clearly the best way to
4931work with effort estimates is through column view (@pxref{Column view}). You
4932should start by setting up discrete values for effort estimates, and a
4933@code{COLUMNS} format that displays these values together with clock sums (if
4934you want to clock your time). For a specific buffer you can use
4935
4936@example
4937#+PROPERTY: Effort_ALL 0 0:10 0:30 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00
4938#+COLUMNS: %40ITEM(Task) %17Effort(Estimated Effort)@{:@} %CLOCKSUM
4939@end example
4940
4941@noindent
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4942or, even better, you can set up these values globally by customizing the
4943variables @code{org-global-properties} and @code{org-columns-default-format}.
4944In particular if you want to use this setup also in the agenda, a global
4945setup may be advised.
a7808fba
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4946
4947The way to assign estimates to individual items is then to switch to column
4948mode, and to use @kbd{S-@key{right}} and @kbd{S-@key{left}} to change the
4949value. The values you enter will immediately be summed up in the hierarchy.
4950In the column next to it, any clocked time will be displayed.
4951
4952If you switch to column view in the daily/weekly agenda, the effort column
4953will summarize the estimated work effort for each day@footnote{Please note
4954the pitfalls of summing hierarchical data in a flat list (@pxref{Agenda
b349f79f 4955column view}).}, and you can use this to find space in your schedule. To get
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4956an overview of the entire part of the day that is committed, you can set the
4957option @code{org-agenda-columns-add-appointments-to-effort-sum}. The
4958appointments on a day that take place over a specified time interval will
4959then also be added to the load estimate of the day.
4960
71d35b24
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4961Effort estimates can be used in secondary agenda filtering that is triggered
4962with the @kbd{/} key in the agenda (@pxref{Agenda commands}). If you have
4963these estimates defined consistently, two or three key presses will narrow
4964down the list to stuff that fits into an available time slot.
864c9740 4965
96c8522a
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4966@node Relative timer, , Effort estimates, Dates and Times
4967@section Taking notes with a relative timer
4968@cindex relative timer
4969
4970When taking notes during, for example, a meeting or a video viewing, it can
4971be useful to have access to times relative to a starting time. Org provides
4972such a relative timer and make it easy to create timed notes.
4973
4974@table @kbd
4975@kindex C-c C-x .
4976@item C-c C-x .
4977Insert a relative time into the buffer. The first time you use this, the
4978timer will be started. When called with a prefix argument, the timer is
4979restarted.
4980@kindex C-c C-x -
4981@item C-c C-x -
4982Insert a description list item with the current relative time. With a prefix
4983argument, first reset the timer to 0.
4984@kindex M-@key{RET}
4985@item M-@key{RET}
4986One the timer list is started, you can also use @kbd{M-@key{RET}} to insert
4987new timer items.
4988@kindex C-c C-x 0
4989@item C-c C-x 0
4990Reset the timer without inserting anything into the buffer. By default, the
4991timer is reset to 0. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, reset the timer to
4992specific starting offset. The user is prompted for the offset, with a
4993default taken from a timer string at point, if any, So this can be used to
4994restart taking notes after a break in the process. When called with a double
4995prefix argument @kbd{C-c C-u}, change all timer strings in the active region
4996by a certain amount. This can be used to fix timer strings if the timer was
4997not started at exactly the right moment.
4998@end table
4999
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5000@node Capture, Agenda Views, Dates and Times, Top
5001@chapter Capture
5002@cindex capture
5003
5004An important part of any organization system is the ability to quickly
5005capture new ideas and tasks, and to associate reference material with them.
5006Org uses the @file{remember} package to create tasks, and stores files
5007related to a task (@i{attachments}) in a special directory.
5008
5009@menu
5010* Remember:: Capture new tasks/ideas with little interruption
5011* Attachments:: Add files to tasks.
5012@end menu
5013
5014@node Remember, Attachments, Capture, Capture
5015@section Remember
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5016@cindex @file{remember.el}
5017
5018The @i{Remember} package by John Wiegley lets you store quick notes with
5019little interruption of your work flow. See
5020@uref{http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/RememberMode} for more
5021information. It is an excellent way to add new notes and tasks to
a7808fba 5022Org files. Org significantly expands the possibilities of
dbc28aaa
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5023@i{remember}: You may define templates for different note types, and
5024associate target files and headlines with specific templates. It also
5025allows you to select the location where a note should be stored
5026interactively, on the fly.
5027
5028@menu
a7808fba 5029* Setting up Remember:: Some code for .emacs to get things going
dbc28aaa
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5030* Remember templates:: Define the outline of different note types
5031* Storing notes:: Directly get the note to where it belongs
5032* Refiling notes:: Moving a note or task to a project
5033@end menu
5034
a7808fba 5035@node Setting up Remember, Remember templates, Remember, Remember
864c9740 5036@subsection Setting up Remember
dbc28aaa
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5037
5038The following customization will tell @i{remember} to use org files as
a7808fba 5039target, and to create annotations compatible with Org links.
dbc28aaa
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5040
5041@example
5042(org-remember-insinuate)
5043(setq org-directory "~/path/to/my/orgfiles/")
5044(setq org-default-notes-file (concat org-directory "/notes.org"))
5045(define-key global-map "\C-cr" 'org-remember)
5046@end example
5047
5048The last line binds the command @code{org-remember} to a global
5049key@footnote{Please select your own key, @kbd{C-c r} is only a
5050suggestion.}. @code{org-remember} basically just calls @code{remember},
5051but it makes a few things easier: If there is an active region, it will
5052automatically copy the region into the remember buffer. It also allows
5053to jump to the buffer and location where remember notes are being
28a16a1b 5054stored: Just call @code{org-remember} with a prefix argument. If you
a7808fba 5055use two prefix arguments, Org jumps to the location where the last
28a16a1b 5056remember note was stored.
dbc28aaa 5057
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5058The remember buffer will actually use @code{org-mode} as its major mode, so
5059that all editing features of Org-mode are available. In addition to this, a
5060minor mode @code{org-remember-mode} is turned on, for the single purpose that
5061you can use its keymap @code{org-remember-mode-map} to overwrite some of
5062Org-mode's key bindings.
5063
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5064You can also call @code{org-remember} in a special way from the agenda,
5065using the @kbd{k r} key combination. With this access, any time stamps
5066inserted by the selected remember template (see below) will default to
5067the cursor date in the agenda, rather than to the current date.
5068
a7808fba 5069@node Remember templates, Storing notes, Setting up Remember, Remember
864c9740 5070@subsection Remember templates
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5071@cindex templates, for remember
5072
a7808fba 5073In combination with Org, you can use templates to generate
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5074different types of @i{remember} notes. For example, if you would like
5075to use one template to create general TODO entries, another one for
5076journal entries, and a third one for collecting random ideas, you could
5077use:
5078
5079@example
5080(setq org-remember-templates
5081 '(("Todo" ?t "* TODO %?\n %i\n %a" "~/org/TODO.org" "Tasks")
5082 ("Journal" ?j "* %U %?\n\n %i\n %a" "~/org/JOURNAL.org")
5083 ("Idea" ?i "* %^@{Title@}\n %i\n %a" "~/org/JOURNAL.org" "New Ideas")))
5084@end example
5085
5086@noindent In these entries, the first string is just a name, and the
5087character specifies how to select the template. It is useful if the
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5088character is also the first letter of the name. The next string specifies
5089the template. Two more (optional) strings give the file in which, and the
5090headline under which the new note should be stored. The file (if not present
5091or @code{nil}) defaults to @code{org-default-notes-file}, the heading to
5092@code{org-remember-default-headline}. If the file name is not an absolute
5093path, it will be interpreted relative to @code{org-directory}. The heading
5094can also be the symbols @code{top} or @code{bottom} to send note as level 1
5095entries to the beginning or end of the file, respectively.
5096
5097An optional sixth element specifies the contexts in which the user can select
5098the template. This element can be a list of major modes or a function.
5099@code{org-remember} will first check whether the function returns @code{t} or
a50253cc 5100if we are in any of the listed major mode, and exclude templates for which
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5101this condition is not fulfilled. Templates that do not specify this element
5102at all, or that use @code{nil} or @code{t} as a value will always be
5103selectable.
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5104
5105So for example:
5106
5107@example
5108(setq org-remember-templates
5109 '(("Bug" ?b "* BUG %?\n %i\n %a" "~/org/BUGS.org" "Bugs" (emacs-lisp-mode))
b349f79f 5110 ("Journal" ?j "* %U %?\n\n %i\n %a" "~/org/JOURNAL.org" "X" my-check)
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5111 ("Idea" ?i "* %^@{Title@}\n %i\n %a" "~/org/JOURNAL.org" "New Ideas")))
5112@end example
5113
5114The first template will only be available when invoking @code{org-remember}
5115from an buffer in @code{emacs-lisp-mode}. The second template will only be
5116available when the function @code{my-check} returns @code{t}. The third
5117template will be proposed in any context.
5118
b349f79f
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5119When you call @kbd{M-x org-remember} (or @kbd{M-x remember}) to remember
5120something, Org will prompt for a key to select the template (if you have
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5121more than one template) and then prepare the buffer like
5122@example
5123* TODO
5124 [[file:link to where you called remember]]
5125@end example
5126
5127@noindent
5128During expansion of the template, special @kbd{%}-escapes allow dynamic
5129insertion of content:
5130@example
5131%^@{prompt@} @r{prompt the user for a string and replace this sequence with it.}
5132 @r{You may specify a default value and a completion table with}
5133 @r{%^@{prompt|default|completion2|completion3...@}}
5134 @r{The arrow keys access a prompt-specific history.}
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5135%a @r{annotation, normally the link created with @code{org-store-link}}
5136%A @r{like @code{%a}, but prompt for the description part}
5137%i @r{initial content, the region when remember is called with C-u.}
5138 @r{The entire text will be indented like @code{%i} itself.}
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5139%t @r{time stamp, date only}
5140%T @r{time stamp with date and time}
5141%u, %U @r{like the above, but inactive time stamps}
5142%^t @r{like @code{%t}, but prompt for date. Similarly @code{%^T}, @code{%^u}, @code{%^U}}
5143 @r{You may define a prompt like @code{%^@{Birthday@}t}}
5144%n @r{user name (taken from @code{user-full-name})}
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5145%c @r{Current kill ring head.}
5146%x @r{Content of the X clipboard.}
5147%^C @r{Interactive selection of which kill or clip to use.}
5148%^L @r{Like @code{%^C}, but insert as link.}
dbc28aaa 5149%^g @r{prompt for tags, with completion on tags in target file.}
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5150%k @r{title of currently clocked task}
5151%K @r{link to currently clocked task}
dbc28aaa 5152%^G @r{prompt for tags, with completion all tags in all agenda files.}
864c9740 5153%^@{prop@}p @r{Prompt the user for a value for property @code{prop}}
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5154%:keyword @r{specific information for certain link types, see below}
5155%[pathname] @r{insert the contents of the file given by @code{pathname}}
5156%(sexp) @r{evaluate elisp @code{(sexp)} and replace with the result}
5157%! @r{immediately store note after completing the template}
5158 @r{(skipping the @kbd{C-c C-c} that normally triggers storing)}
b349f79f 5159%& @r{jump to target location immediately after storing note}
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5160@end example
5161
5162@noindent
5163For specific link types, the following keywords will be
5164defined@footnote{If you define your own link types (@pxref{Adding
5165hyperlink types}), any property you store with
5166@code{org-store-link-props} can be accessed in remember templates in a
5167similar way.}:
5168
5169@example
5170Link type | Available keywords
5171-------------------+----------------------------------------------
5172bbdb | %:name %:company
28a16a1b 5173bbdb | %::server %:port %:nick
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5174vm, wl, mh, rmail | %:type %:subject %:message-id
5175 | %:from %:fromname %:fromaddress
5176 | %:to %:toname %:toaddress
28a16a1b 5177 | %:fromto @r{(either "to NAME" or "from NAME")@footnote{This will always be the other, not the user. See the variable @code{org-from-is-user-regexp}.}}
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5178gnus | %:group, @r{for messages also all email fields}
5179w3, w3m | %:url
5180info | %:file %:node
5181calendar | %:date"
5182@end example
5183
5184@noindent
5185To place the cursor after template expansion use:
5186
5187@example
5188%? @r{After completing the template, position cursor here.}
5189@end example
5190
5191@noindent
28a16a1b 5192If you change your mind about which template to use, call
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5193@code{org-remember} in the remember buffer. You may then select a new
5194template that will be filled with the previous context information.
5195
5196@node Storing notes, Refiling notes, Remember templates, Remember
864c9740 5197@subsection Storing notes
dbc28aaa 5198
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5199When you are finished preparing a note with @i{remember}, you have to press
5200@kbd{C-c C-c} to file the note away. If you have started the clock in the
5201remember buffer, you will first be asked if you want to clock out
5202now@footnote{To avoid this query, configure the variable
5203@code{org-remember-clock-out-on-exit}.}. If you answer @kbd{n}, the clock
44ce9197 5204will continue to run after the note was filed away.
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5205
5206The handler will then store the note in the file and under the headline
5207specified in the template, or it will use the default file and headlines.
5208The window configuration will be restored, sending you back to the working
5209context before the call to @code{remember}. To re-use the location found
5210during the last call to @code{remember}, exit the remember buffer with
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5211@kbd{C-0 C-c C-c}, i.e. specify a zero prefix argument to @kbd{C-c C-c}.
5212Another special case is @kbd{C-2 C-c C-c} which files the note as a child of
5213the currently clocked item.
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5214
5215If you want to store the note directly to a different place, use
864c9740 5216@kbd{C-1 C-c C-c} instead to exit remember@footnote{Configure the
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5217variable @code{org-remember-store-without-prompt} to make this behavior
5218the default.}. The handler will then first prompt for a target file -
5219if you press @key{RET}, the value specified for the template is used.
5220Then the command offers the headings tree of the selected file, with the
5221cursor position at the default headline (if you had specified one in the
5222template). You can either immediately press @key{RET} to get the note
5223placed there. Or you can use the following keys to find a different
5224location:
5225@example
5226@key{TAB} @r{Cycle visibility.}
5227@key{down} / @key{up} @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
5228n / p @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
5229f / b @r{Next/previous headline same level.}
5230u @r{One level up.}
5231@c 0-9 @r{Digit argument.}
5232@end example
5233@noindent
5234Pressing @key{RET} or @key{left} or @key{right}
5235then leads to the following result.
5236
5237@multitable @columnfractions 0.2 0.15 0.65
5238@item @b{Cursor position} @tab @b{Key} @tab @b{Note gets inserted}
5239@item on headline @tab @key{RET} @tab as sublevel of the heading at cursor, first or last
5240@item @tab @tab depending on @code{org-reverse-note-order}.
5241@item @tab @key{left}/@key{right} @tab as same level, before/after current heading
5242@item buffer-start @tab @key{RET} @tab as level 2 heading at end of file or level 1 at beginning
5243@item @tab @tab depending on @code{org-reverse-note-order}.
5244@item not on headline @tab @key{RET}
5245 @tab at cursor position, level taken from context.
5246@end multitable
5247
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5248Before inserting the text into a tree, the function ensures that the text has
5249a headline, i.e. a first line that starts with a @samp{*}. If not, a
5250headline is constructed from the current date. If you have indented the text
5251of the note below the headline, the indentation will be adapted if inserting
5252the note into the tree requires demotion from level 1.
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5253
5254@node Refiling notes, , Storing notes, Remember
864c9740 5255@subsection Refiling notes
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5256@cindex refiling notes
5257
5258Remember is usually used to quickly capture notes and tasks into one or
5259a few capture lists. When reviewing the captured data, you may want to
5260refile some of the entries into a different list, for example into a
5261project. Cutting, finding the right location and then pasting the note
5262is cumbersome. To simplify this process, you can use the following
5263special command:
5264
5265@table @kbd
5266@kindex C-c C-w
5267@item C-c C-w
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5268Refile the entry or region at point. This command offers possible locations
5269for refiling the entry and lets you select one with completion. The item (or
5270all items in the region) is filed below the target heading as a subitem.
d60b1ba1 5271Depending on @code{org-reverse-note-order}, it will be either the first or
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5272last subitem.@*
5273By default, all level 1 headlines in the current buffer are considered to be
5274targets, but you can have more complex definitions across a number of files.
5275See the variable @code{org-refile-targets} for details. If you would like to
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5276select a location via a file-path-like completion along the outline path, see
5277the variables @code{org-refile-use-outline-path} and
5278@code{org-outline-path-complete-in-steps}.
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5279@kindex C-u C-c C-w
5280@item C-u C-c C-w
5281Use the refile interface to jump to a heading.
5282@kindex C-u C-u C-c C-w
a7808fba 5283@item C-u C-u C-c C-w
28a16a1b 5284Jump to the location where @code{org-refile} last moved a tree to.
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5285@end table
5286
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5287@node Attachments, , Remember, Capture
5288@section Attachments
5289@cindex attachments
5290
5291It is often useful to associate reference material with an outline node/task.
5292Small chunks of plain text can simply be stored in the subtree of a project.
5293Hyperlinks (@pxref{Hyperlinks}) can be used to establish associations with
5294files that live elsewhere on your computer or in the cloud, like emails or
5295source code files belonging to a project. Another method is @i{attachments},
5296which are files located in a directory belonging to an outline node. Org
5297uses directories named by the unique ID of each entry. These directories are
5298located in the @file{data} directory which lives in the same directory where
5299your org-file lives@footnote{If you move entries or Org-files from one
5300directory to the next, you may want to configure @code{org-attach-directory}
5301to contain an absolute path.}. If you initialize this directory with
5302@code{git-init}, Org will automatically commit changes when it sees them.
5303The attachment system has been contributed to Org by John Wiegley.
5304
5305@noindent The following commands deal with attachments.
5306
5307@table @kbd
5308
5309@kindex C-c C-a
5310@item C-c C-a
5311The dispatcher for commands related to the attachment system. After these
5312keys, a list of commands is displayed and you need to press an additional key
5313to select a command:
5314
5315@table @kbd
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5316@kindex C-c C-a a
5317@item a
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5318Select a file and move it into the task's attachment directory. The file
5319will be copied, moved, or linked, depending on @code{org-attach-method}.
5320Note that hard links are not supported on all systems.
5321
5322@kindex C-c C-a c
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5323@kindex C-c C-a m
5324@kindex C-c C-a l
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5325@item c/m/l
5326Attach a file using the copy/move/link method.
5327Note that hard links are not supported on all systems.
5328
5329@kindex C-c C-a n
5330@item n
5331Create a new attachment as an Emacs buffer.
5332
5333@kindex C-c C-a z
5334@item z
5335Synchronize the current task with its attachment directory, in case you added
5336attachments yourself.
5337
5338@kindex C-c C-a o
5339@item o
5340Open current task's attachment. If there are more than one, prompt for a
5341file name first. Opening will follow the rules set by @code{org-file-apps}.
a50253cc 5342For more details, see the information on following hyperlinks
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5343(@pxref{Handling links}).
5344
5345@kindex C-c C-a O
5346@item O
5347Also open the attachment, but force opening the file in Emacs.
5348
5349@kindex C-c C-a f
5350@item f
5351Open the current task's attachment directory.
5352
5353@kindex C-c C-a F
5354@item F
5355Also open the directory, but force using @code{dired} in Emacs.
5356
5357@kindex C-c C-a d
5358@item d
5359Select and delete a single attachment.
5360
5361@kindex C-c C-a D
5362@item D
5363Delete all of a task's attachments. A safer way is to open the directory in
5364dired and delete from there.
5365@end table
5366@end table
5367
5368@node Agenda Views, Embedded LaTeX, Capture, Top
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5369@chapter Agenda Views
5370@cindex agenda views
5371
a7808fba 5372Due to the way Org works, TODO items, time-stamped items, and
4009494e 5373tagged headlines can be scattered throughout a file or even a number of
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5374files. To get an overview of open action items, or of events that are
5375important for a particular date, this information must be collected,
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5376sorted and displayed in an organized way.
5377
a7808fba 5378Org can select items based on various criteria, and display them
28a16a1b 5379in a separate buffer. Seven different view types are provided:
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5380
5381@itemize @bullet
5382@item
5383an @emph{agenda} that is like a calendar and shows information
5384for specific dates,
5385@item
5386a @emph{TODO list} that covers all unfinished
5387action items,
5388@item
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5389a @emph{match view}, showings headlines based on the tags, properties and
5390TODO state associated with them,
4009494e 5391@item
a7808fba 5392a @emph{timeline view} that shows all events in a single Org file,
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5393in time-sorted view,
5394@item
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5395a @emph{keyword search view} that shows all entries from multiple files
5396that contain specified keywords.
5397@item
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5398a @emph{stuck projects view} showing projects that currently don't move
5399along, and
5400@item
5401@emph{custom views} that are special tag/keyword searches and
5402combinations of different views.
5403@end itemize
5404
5405@noindent
5406The extracted information is displayed in a special @emph{agenda
5407buffer}. This buffer is read-only, but provides commands to visit the
a7808fba 5408corresponding locations in the original Org files, and even to
28a16a1b 5409edit these files remotely.
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5410
5411Two variables control how the agenda buffer is displayed and whether the
5412window configuration is restored when the agenda exits:
5413@code{org-agenda-window-setup} and
5414@code{org-agenda-restore-windows-after-quit}.
5415
5416@menu
5417* Agenda files:: Files being searched for agenda information
5418* Agenda dispatcher:: Keyboard access to agenda views
5419* Built-in agenda views:: What is available out of the box?
5420* Presentation and sorting:: How agenda items are prepared for display
a7808fba 5421* Agenda commands:: Remote editing of Org trees
4009494e 5422* Custom agenda views:: Defining special searches and views
a7808fba 5423* Agenda column view:: Using column view for collected entries
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5424@end menu
5425
a7808fba 5426@node Agenda files, Agenda dispatcher, Agenda Views, Agenda Views
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5427@section Agenda files
5428@cindex agenda files
5429@cindex files for agenda
5430
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5431The information to be shown is normally collected from all @emph{agenda
5432files}, the files listed in the variable
5433@code{org-agenda-files}@footnote{If the value of that variable is not a
5434list, but a single file name, then the list of agenda files will be
5435maintained in that external file.}. If a directory is part of this list,
5436all files with the extension @file{.org} in this directory will be part
5437of the list.
5438
a7808fba 5439Thus even if you only work with a single Org file, this file should
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5440be put into that list@footnote{When using the dispatcher, pressing
5441@kbd{<} before selecting a command will actually limit the command to
5442the current file, and ignore @code{org-agenda-files} until the next
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5443dispatcher command.}. You can customize @code{org-agenda-files}, but
5444the easiest way to maintain it is through the following commands
5445
5446@cindex files, adding to agenda list
5447@table @kbd
5448@kindex C-c [
5449@item C-c [
5450Add current file to the list of agenda files. The file is added to
5451the front of the list. If it was already in the list, it is moved to
a7808fba 5452the front. With a prefix argument, file is added/moved to the end.
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5453@kindex C-c ]
5454@item C-c ]
5455Remove current file from the list of agenda files.
5456@kindex C-,
5457@kindex C-'
5458@item C-,
5459@itemx C-'
5460Cycle through agenda file list, visiting one file after the other.
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5461@kindex M-x org-iswitchb
5462@item M-x org-iswitchb
5463Command to use an @code{iswitchb}-like interface to switch to and between Org
5464buffers.
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5465@end table
5466
5467@noindent
5468The Org menu contains the current list of files and can be used
5469to visit any of them.
5470
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5471If you would like to focus the agenda temporarily onto a file not in
5472this list, or onto just one file in the list or even only a subtree in a
5473file, this can be done in different ways. For a single agenda command,
5474you may press @kbd{<} once or several times in the dispatcher
5475(@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}). To restrict the agenda scope for an
5476extended period, use the following commands:
5477
5478@table @kbd
5479@kindex C-c C-x <
5480@item C-c C-x <
5481Permanently restrict the agenda to the current subtree. When with a
5482prefix argument, or with the cursor before the first headline in a file,
5483the agenda scope is set to the entire file. This restriction remains in
5484effect until removed with @kbd{C-c C-x >}, or by typing either @kbd{<}
5485or @kbd{>} in the agenda dispatcher. If there is a window displaying an
5486agenda view, the new restriction takes effect immediately.
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5487@kindex C-c C-x >
5488@item C-c C-x >
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5489Remove the permanent restriction created by @kbd{C-c C-x <}.
5490@end table
5491
5492@noindent
5493When working with @file{Speedbar}, you can use the following commands in
a7808fba 5494the Speedbar frame:
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5495@table @kbd
5496@kindex <
5497@item < @r{in the speedbar frame}
5498Permanently restrict the agenda to the item at the cursor in the
a7808fba 5499Speedbar frame, either an Org file or a subtree in such a file.
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5500If there is a window displaying an agenda view, the new restriction takes
5501effect immediately.
67df9cfb 5502@kindex >
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5503@item > @r{in the speedbar frame}
5504Lift the restriction again.
5505@end table
5506
a7808fba 5507@node Agenda dispatcher, Built-in agenda views, Agenda files, Agenda Views
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5508@section The agenda dispatcher
5509@cindex agenda dispatcher
5510@cindex dispatching agenda commands
5511The views are created through a dispatcher that should be bound to a
5512global key, for example @kbd{C-c a} (@pxref{Installation}). In the
5513following we will assume that @kbd{C-c a} is indeed how the dispatcher
5514is accessed and list keyboard access to commands accordingly. After
5515pressing @kbd{C-c a}, an additional letter is required to execute a
5516command. The dispatcher offers the following default commands:
5517@table @kbd
5518@item a
a7808fba 5519Create the calendar-like agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}).
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5520@item t @r{/} T
5521Create a list of all TODO items (@pxref{Global TODO list}).
5522@item m @r{/} M
5523Create a list of headlines matching a TAGS expression (@pxref{Matching
5524tags and properties}).
5525@item L
5526Create the timeline view for the current buffer (@pxref{Timeline}).
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5527@item s
5528Create a list of entries selected by a boolean expression of keywords
5529and/or regular expressions that must or must not occur in the entry.
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5530@item /
5531Search for a regular expression in all agenda files and additionally in
5532the files listed in @code{org-agenda-multi-occur-extra-files}. This
5533uses the Emacs command @code{multi-occur}. A prefix argument can be
5534used to specify the number of context lines for each match, default is
55351.
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5536@item # @r{/} !
5537Create a list of stuck projects (@pxref{Stuck projects}).
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5538@item <
5539Restrict an agenda command to the current buffer@footnote{For backward
5540compatibility, you can also press @kbd{1} to restrict to the current
5541buffer.}. After pressing @kbd{<}, you still need to press the character
5542selecting the command.
5543@item < <
4009494e 5544If there is an active region, restrict the following agenda command to
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5545the region. Otherwise, restrict it to the current subtree@footnote{For
5546backward compatibility, you can also press @kbd{0} to restrict to the
5547current buffer.}. After pressing @kbd{< <}, you still need to press the
5548character selecting the command.
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5549@end table
5550
5551You can also define custom commands that will be accessible through the
5552dispatcher, just like the default commands. This includes the
5553possibility to create extended agenda buffers that contain several
5554blocks together, for example the weekly agenda, the global TODO list and
5555a number of special tags matches. @xref{Custom agenda views}.
5556
a7808fba 5557@node Built-in agenda views, Presentation and sorting, Agenda dispatcher, Agenda Views
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5558@section The built-in agenda views
5559
5560In this section we describe the built-in views.
5561
5562@menu
a7808fba 5563* Weekly/daily agenda:: The calendar page with current tasks
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5564* Global TODO list:: All unfinished action items
5565* Matching tags and properties:: Structured information with fine-tuned search
5566* Timeline:: Time-sorted view for single file
28a16a1b 5567* Keyword search:: Finding entries by keyword
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5568* Stuck projects:: Find projects you need to review
5569@end menu
5570
a7808fba 5571@node Weekly/daily agenda, Global TODO list, Built-in agenda views, Built-in agenda views
4009494e
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5572@subsection The weekly/daily agenda
5573@cindex agenda
5574@cindex weekly agenda
5575@cindex daily agenda
5576
5577The purpose of the weekly/daily @emph{agenda} is to act like a page of a
5578paper agenda, showing all the tasks for the current week or day.
5579
5580@table @kbd
5581@cindex org-agenda, command
5582@kindex C-c a a
5583@item C-c a a
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5584Compile an agenda for the current week from a list of org files. The agenda
5585shows the entries for each day. With a numeric prefix@footnote{For backward
5586compatibility, the universal prefix @kbd{C-u} causes all TODO entries to be
5587listed before the agenda. This feature is deprecated, use the dedicated TODO
5588list, or a block agenda instead (@pxref{Block agenda}).} (like @kbd{C-u 2 1
5589C-c a a}) you may set the number of days to be displayed (see also the
5590variable @code{org-agenda-ndays})
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5591@end table
5592
5593Remote editing from the agenda buffer means, for example, that you can
5594change the dates of deadlines and appointments from the agenda buffer.
5595The commands available in the Agenda buffer are listed in @ref{Agenda
5596commands}.
5597
5598@subsubheading Calendar/Diary integration
5599@cindex calendar integration
5600@cindex diary integration
5601
5602Emacs contains the calendar and diary by Edward M. Reingold. The
5603calendar displays a three-month calendar with holidays from different
5604countries and cultures. The diary allows you to keep track of
5605anniversaries, lunar phases, sunrise/set, recurrent appointments
5606(weekly, monthly) and more. In this way, it is quite complementary to
a7808fba 5607Org. It can be very useful to combine output from Org with
4009494e
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5608the diary.
5609
a7808fba 5610In order to include entries from the Emacs diary into Org mode's
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5611agenda, you only need to customize the variable
5612
5613@lisp
5614(setq org-agenda-include-diary t)
5615@end lisp
5616
5617@noindent After that, everything will happen automatically. All diary
5618entries including holidays, anniversaries etc will be included in the
a7808fba 5619agenda buffer created by Org mode. @key{SPC}, @key{TAB}, and
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5620@key{RET} can be used from the agenda buffer to jump to the diary
5621file in order to edit existing diary entries. The @kbd{i} command to
5622insert new entries for the current date works in the agenda buffer, as
5623well as the commands @kbd{S}, @kbd{M}, and @kbd{C} to display
5624Sunrise/Sunset times, show lunar phases and to convert to other
5625calendars, respectively. @kbd{c} can be used to switch back and forth
5626between calendar and agenda.
5627
5628If you are using the diary only for sexp entries and holidays, it is
5629faster to not use the above setting, but instead to copy or even move
a7808fba 5630the entries into an Org file. Org mode evaluates diary-style sexp
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5631entries, and does it faster because there is no overhead for first
5632creating the diary display. Note that the sexp entries must start at
5633the left margin, no white space is allowed before them. For example,
a7808fba 5634the following segment of an Org file will be processed and entries
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5635will be made in the agenda:
5636
5637@example
5638* Birthdays and similar stuff
5639#+CATEGORY: Holiday
5640%%(org-calendar-holiday) ; special function for holiday names
5641#+CATEGORY: Ann
5642%%(diary-anniversary 14 5 1956) Arthur Dent is %d years old
5643%%(diary-anniversary 2 10 1869) Mahatma Gandhi would be %d years old
5644@end example
5645
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5646@subsubheading Appointment reminders
5647@cindex @file{appt.el}
5648@cindex appointment reminders
5649
5650Org can interact with Emacs appointments notification facility.
5651
5652To add all the appointments of your agenda files, use the command
5653@code{org-agenda-to-appt}. This commands also lets you filter through
5654the list of your appointments and add only those belonging to a specific
5655category or matching a regular expression. See the docstring for
5656details.
5657
a7808fba 5658@node Global TODO list, Matching tags and properties, Weekly/daily agenda, Built-in agenda views
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5659@subsection The global TODO list
5660@cindex global TODO list
5661@cindex TODO list, global
5662
5663The global TODO list contains all unfinished TODO items, formatted and
5664collected into a single place.
5665
5666@table @kbd
5667@kindex C-c a t
5668@item C-c a t
5669Show the global TODO list. This collects the TODO items from all
a7808fba 5670agenda files (@pxref{Agenda Views}) into a single buffer. The buffer is in
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5671@code{agenda-mode}, so there are commands to examine and manipulate
5672the TODO entries directly from that buffer (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
5673@kindex C-c a T
5674@item C-c a T
5675@cindex TODO keyword matching
5676Like the above, but allows selection of a specific TODO keyword. You
5677can also do this by specifying a prefix argument to @kbd{C-c a t}. With
5678a @kbd{C-u} prefix you are prompted for a keyword, and you may also
5679specify several keywords by separating them with @samp{|} as boolean OR
5680operator. With a numeric prefix, the Nth keyword in
5681@code{org-todo-keywords} is selected.
5682@kindex r
5683The @kbd{r} key in the agenda buffer regenerates it, and you can give
5684a prefix argument to this command to change the selected TODO keyword,
5685for example @kbd{3 r}. If you often need a search for a specific
5686keyword, define a custom command for it (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).@*
5687Matching specific TODO keywords can also be done as part of a tags
5688search (@pxref{Tag searches}).
5689@end table
5690
5691Remote editing of TODO items means that you can change the state of a
5692TODO entry with a single key press. The commands available in the
5693TODO list are described in @ref{Agenda commands}.
5694
a7808fba
CD
5695@cindex sublevels, inclusion into TODO list
5696Normally the global TODO list simply shows all headlines with TODO
4009494e
GM
5697keywords. This list can become very long. There are two ways to keep
5698it more compact:
5699@itemize @minus
5700@item
5701Some people view a TODO item that has been @emph{scheduled} for
a7808fba 5702execution (@pxref{Timestamps}) as no longer @emph{open}. Configure the
4009494e
GM
5703variable @code{org-agenda-todo-ignore-scheduled} to exclude scheduled
5704items from the global TODO list.
5705@item
5706TODO items may have sublevels to break up the task into subtasks. In
5707such cases it may be enough to list only the highest level TODO headline
5708and omit the sublevels from the global list. Configure the variable
5709@code{org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels} to get this behavior.
5710@end itemize
5711
5712@node Matching tags and properties, Timeline, Global TODO list, Built-in agenda views
a7808fba 5713@subsection Matching tags and properties
4009494e
GM
5714@cindex matching, of tags
5715@cindex matching, of properties
5716@cindex tags view
864c9740 5717@cindex match view
4009494e
GM
5718
5719If headlines in the agenda files are marked with @emph{tags}
5720(@pxref{Tags}), you can select headlines based on the tags that apply
5721to them and collect them into an agenda buffer.
5722
5723@table @kbd
5724@kindex C-c a m
5725@item C-c a m
5726Produce a list of all headlines that match a given set of tags. The
5727command prompts for a selection criterion, which is a boolean logic
dbc28aaa
CD
5728expression with tags, like @samp{+work+urgent-withboss} or
5729@samp{work|home} (@pxref{Tags}). If you often need a specific search,
4009494e
GM
5730define a custom command for it (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).
5731@kindex C-c a M
5732@item C-c a M
5733Like @kbd{C-c a m}, but only select headlines that are also TODO items
5734and force checking subitems (see variable
a7808fba 5735@code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels}). Matching specific TODO keywords
4009494e
GM
5736together with a tags match is also possible, see @ref{Tag searches}.
5737@end table
5738
5739The commands available in the tags list are described in @ref{Agenda
5740commands}.
5741
28a16a1b 5742@node Timeline, Keyword search, Matching tags and properties, Built-in agenda views
4009494e
GM
5743@subsection Timeline for a single file
5744@cindex timeline, single file
5745@cindex time-sorted view
5746
a7808fba 5747The timeline summarizes all time-stamped items from a single Org mode
4009494e
GM
5748file in a @emph{time-sorted view}. The main purpose of this command is
5749to give an overview over events in a project.
5750
5751@table @kbd
5752@kindex C-c a L
5753@item C-c a L
5754Show a time-sorted view of the org file, with all time-stamped items.
5755When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, all unfinished TODO entries
5756(scheduled or not) are also listed under the current date.
5757@end table
5758
5759@noindent
5760The commands available in the timeline buffer are listed in
5761@ref{Agenda commands}.
5762
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CD
5763@node Keyword search, Stuck projects, Timeline, Built-in agenda views
5764@subsection Keyword search
5765@cindex keyword search
5766@cindex searching, for keywords
5767
a7808fba 5768This agenda view is a general text search facility for Org mode entries.
28a16a1b
CD
5769It is particularly useful to find notes.
5770
5771@table @kbd
5772@kindex C-c a s
5773@item C-c a s
5774This is a special search that lets you select entries by keywords or
5775regular expression, using a boolean logic. For example, the search
5776string
5777
5778@example
5779+computer +wifi -ethernet -@{8\.11[bg]@}
5780@end example
4009494e 5781
28a16a1b
CD
5782@noindent
5783will search for note entries that contain the keywords @code{computer}
5784and @code{wifi}, but not the keyword @code{ethernet}, and which are also
5785not matched by the regular expression @code{8\.11[bg]}, meaning to
5786exclude both 8.11b and 8.11g.
5787
5788Note that in addition to the agenda files, this command will also search
5789the files listed in @code{org-agenda-text-search-extra-files}.
5790@end table
5791
5792@node Stuck projects, , Keyword search, Built-in agenda views
4009494e
GM
5793@subsection Stuck projects
5794
5795If you are following a system like David Allen's GTD to organize your
5796work, one of the ``duties'' you have is a regular review to make sure
5797that all projects move along. A @emph{stuck} project is a project that
5798has no defined next actions, so it will never show up in the TODO lists
a7808fba 5799Org mode produces. During the review, you need to identify such
4009494e
GM
5800projects and define next actions for them.
5801
5802@table @kbd
5803@kindex C-c a #
5804@item C-c a #
5805List projects that are stuck.
5806@kindex C-c a !
5807@item C-c a !
5808Customize the variable @code{org-stuck-projects} to define what a stuck
5809project is and how to find it.
5810@end table
5811
5812You almost certainly will have to configure this view before it will
5813work for you. The built-in default assumes that all your projects are
5814level-2 headlines, and that a project is not stuck if it has at least
a7808fba 5815one entry marked with a TODO keyword TODO or NEXT or NEXTACTION.
4009494e 5816
864c9740 5817Let's assume that you, in your own way of using Org mode, identify
a7808fba 5818projects with a tag PROJECT, and that you use a TODO keyword MAYBE to
864c9740 5819indicate a project that should not be considered yet. Let's further
a7808fba 5820assume that the TODO keyword DONE marks finished projects, and that NEXT
4009494e
GM
5821and TODO indicate next actions. The tag @@SHOP indicates shopping and
5822is a next action even without the NEXT tag. Finally, if the project
5823contains the special word IGNORE anywhere, it should not be listed
5824either. In this case you would start by identifying eligible projects
5825with a tags/todo match @samp{+PROJECT/-MAYBE-DONE}, and then check for
5826TODO, NEXT, @@SHOP, and IGNORE in the subtree to identify projects that
5827are not stuck. The correct customization for this is
5828
5829@lisp
5830(setq org-stuck-projects
5831 '("+PROJECT/-MAYBE-DONE" ("NEXT" "TODO") ("@@SHOP")
5832 "\\<IGNORE\\>"))
5833@end lisp
5834
5835
a7808fba 5836@node Presentation and sorting, Agenda commands, Built-in agenda views, Agenda Views
4009494e
GM
5837@section Presentation and sorting
5838@cindex presentation, of agenda items
5839
a7808fba 5840Before displaying items in an agenda view, Org mode visually prepares
4009494e
GM
5841the items and sorts them. Each item occupies a single line. The line
5842starts with a @emph{prefix} that contains the @emph{category}
5843(@pxref{Categories}) of the item and other important information. You can
5844customize the prefix using the option @code{org-agenda-prefix-format}.
5845The prefix is followed by a cleaned-up version of the outline headline
5846associated with the item.
5847
5848@menu
5849* Categories:: Not all tasks are equal
5850* Time-of-day specifications:: How the agenda knows the time
5851* Sorting of agenda items:: The order of things
5852@end menu
5853
5854@node Categories, Time-of-day specifications, Presentation and sorting, Presentation and sorting
5855@subsection Categories
5856
5857@cindex category
5858The category is a broad label assigned to each agenda item. By default,
5859the category is simply derived from the file name, but you can also
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CD
5860specify it with a special line in the buffer, like this@footnote{For
5861backward compatibility, the following also works: If there are several
5862such lines in a file, each specifies the category for the text below it.
5863The first category also applies to any text before the first CATEGORY
5864line. However, using this method is @emph{strongly} deprecated as it is
5865incompatible with the outline structure of the document. The correct
5866method for setting multiple categories in a buffer is using a
5867property.}:
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5868
5869@example
5870#+CATEGORY: Thesis
5871@end example
5872
dbc28aaa
CD
5873@noindent
5874If you would like to have a special CATEGORY for a single entry or a
5875(sub)tree, give the entry a @code{:CATEGORY:} property with the location
a7808fba 5876as the value (@pxref{Properties and Columns}).
dbc28aaa
CD
5877
5878@noindent
5879The display in the agenda buffer looks best if the category is not
5880longer than 10 characters.
4009494e
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5881
5882@node Time-of-day specifications, Sorting of agenda items, Categories, Presentation and sorting
a7808fba 5883@subsection Time-of-day specifications
4009494e
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5884@cindex time-of-day specification
5885
a7808fba 5886Org mode checks each agenda item for a time-of-day specification. The
4009494e
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5887time can be part of the time stamp that triggered inclusion into the
5888agenda, for example as in @w{@samp{<2005-05-10 Tue 19:00>}}. Time
5889ranges can be specified with two time stamps, like
5890@c
5891@w{@samp{<2005-05-10 Tue 20:30>--<2005-05-10 Tue 22:15>}}.
5892
5893In the headline of the entry itself, a time(range) may also appear as
44ce9197 5894plain text (like @samp{12:45} or a @samp{8:30-1pm}). If the agenda
a7808fba 5895integrates the Emacs diary (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}), time
4009494e
GM
5896specifications in diary entries are recognized as well.
5897
a7808fba 5898For agenda display, Org mode extracts the time and displays it in a
4009494e
GM
5899standard 24 hour format as part of the prefix. The example times in
5900the previous paragraphs would end up in the agenda like this:
5901
5902@example
5903 8:30-13:00 Arthur Dent lies in front of the bulldozer
5904 12:45...... Ford Prefect arrives and takes Arthur to the pub
5905 19:00...... The Vogon reads his poem
a50253cc 5906 20:30-22:15 Marvin escorts the Hitchhikers to the bridge
4009494e
GM
5907@end example
5908
5909@cindex time grid
5910If the agenda is in single-day mode, or for the display of today, the
5911timed entries are embedded in a time grid, like
5912
5913@example
5914 8:00...... ------------------
5915 8:30-13:00 Arthur Dent lies in front of the bulldozer
5916 10:00...... ------------------
5917 12:00...... ------------------
5918 12:45...... Ford Prefect arrives and takes Arthur to the pub
5919 14:00...... ------------------
5920 16:00...... ------------------
5921 18:00...... ------------------
5922 19:00...... The Vogon reads his poem
5923 20:00...... ------------------
a50253cc 5924 20:30-22:15 Marvin escorts the Hitchhikers to the bridge
4009494e
GM
5925@end example
5926
5927The time grid can be turned on and off with the variable
5928@code{org-agenda-use-time-grid}, and can be configured with
5929@code{org-agenda-time-grid}.
5930
5931@node Sorting of agenda items, , Time-of-day specifications, Presentation and sorting
5932@subsection Sorting of agenda items
5933@cindex sorting, of agenda items
5934@cindex priorities, of agenda items
5935Before being inserted into a view, the items are sorted. How this is
5936done depends on the type of view.
5937@itemize @bullet
5938@item
5939For the daily/weekly agenda, the items for each day are sorted. The
5940default order is to first collect all items containing an explicit
5941time-of-day specification. These entries will be shown at the beginning
5942of the list, as a @emph{schedule} for the day. After that, items remain
5943grouped in categories, in the sequence given by @code{org-agenda-files}.
5944Within each category, items are sorted by priority (@pxref{Priorities}),
5945which is composed of the base priority (2000 for priority @samp{A}, 1000
5946for @samp{B}, and 0 for @samp{C}), plus additional increments for
5947overdue scheduled or deadline items.
28a16a1b 5948@item
4009494e
GM
5949For the TODO list, items remain in the order of categories, but within
5950each category, sorting takes place according to priority
5951(@pxref{Priorities}).
5952@item
5953For tags matches, items are not sorted at all, but just appear in the
5954sequence in which they are found in the agenda files.
5955@end itemize
5956
5957Sorting can be customized using the variable
a7808fba 5958@code{org-agenda-sorting-strategy}, and may also include criteria based on
71d35b24 5959the estimated effort of an entry (@pxref{Effort estimates}).
4009494e 5960
a7808fba 5961@node Agenda commands, Custom agenda views, Presentation and sorting, Agenda Views
4009494e
GM
5962@section Commands in the agenda buffer
5963@cindex commands, in agenda buffer
5964
5965Entries in the agenda buffer are linked back to the org file or diary
5966file where they originate. You are not allowed to edit the agenda
5967buffer itself, but commands are provided to show and jump to the
5968original entry location, and to edit the org-files ``remotely'' from
5969the agenda buffer. In this way, all information is stored only once,
5970removing the risk that your agenda and note files may diverge.
5971
5972Some commands can be executed with mouse clicks on agenda lines. For
5973the other commands, the cursor needs to be in the desired line.
5974
5975@table @kbd
5976@tsubheading{Motion}
5977@cindex motion commands in agenda
5978@kindex n
5979@item n
dbc28aaa 5980Next line (same as @key{up} and @kbd{C-p}).
4009494e
GM
5981@kindex p
5982@item p
dbc28aaa 5983Previous line (same as @key{down} and @kbd{C-n}).
a7808fba 5984@tsubheading{View/Go to org file}
4009494e
GM
5985@kindex mouse-3
5986@kindex @key{SPC}
5987@item mouse-3
5988@itemx @key{SPC}
5989Display the original location of the item in another window.
b6cb4cd5
CD
5990With prefix arg, make sure that the entire entry is made visible in the
5991outline, not only the heading.
4009494e
GM
5992@c
5993@kindex L
5994@item L
5995Display original location and recenter that window.
5996@c
5997@kindex mouse-2
5998@kindex mouse-1
5999@kindex @key{TAB}
6000@item mouse-2
6001@itemx mouse-1
6002@itemx @key{TAB}
6003Go to the original location of the item in another window. Under Emacs
600422, @kbd{mouse-1} will also works for this.
6005@c
6006@kindex @key{RET}
6007@itemx @key{RET}
6008Go to the original location of the item and delete other windows.
6009@c
6010@kindex f
6011@item f
6012Toggle Follow mode. In Follow mode, as you move the cursor through
6013the agenda buffer, the other window always shows the corresponding
6014location in the org file. The initial setting for this mode in new
6015agenda buffers can be set with the variable
6016@code{org-agenda-start-with-follow-mode}.
6017@c
6018@kindex b
6019@item b
a7808fba
CD
6020Display the entire subtree of the current item in an indirect buffer. With a
6021numeric prefix argument N, go up to level N and then take that tree. If N is
6022negative, go up that many levels. With a @kbd{C-u} prefix, do not remove the
6023previously used indirect buffer.
4009494e
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6024@c
6025@kindex l
6026@item l
44ce9197 6027Toggle Logbook mode. In Logbook mode, entries that where marked DONE while
e45e3595
CD
6028logging was on (variable @code{org-log-done}) are shown in the agenda, as are
6029entries that have been clocked on that day. You can configure the entry
6030types that should be included in log mode using the variable
6031@code{org-agenda-log-mode-items}. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, show
6032all possible logbook entries, including state changes. When called with two
6033prefix args @kbd{C-u C-u}, show only logging information, nothing else.
a7808fba 6034@c
44ce9197
CD
6035@kindex v
6036@item v
6037Toggle Archives mode. In archives mode, trees that are marked are also
6038scanned when producing the agenda. When you call this command with a
6039@kbd{C-u} prefix argument, even all archive files are included. To exit
6040archives mode, press @kbd{v} again.
6041@c
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CD
6042@kindex R
6043@item R
6044Toggle Clockreport mode. In clockreport mode, the daily/weekly agenda will
6045always show a table with the clocked times for the timespan and file scope
6046covered by the current agenda view. The initial setting for this mode in new
6047agenda buffers can be set with the variable
6048@code{org-agenda-start-with-clockreport-mode}.
4009494e
GM
6049
6050@tsubheading{Change display}
6051@cindex display changing, in agenda
6052@kindex o
6053@item o
6054Delete other windows.
6055@c
6056@kindex d
6057@kindex w
6058@kindex m
6059@kindex y
6060@item d w m y
6061Switch to day/week/month/year view. When switching to day or week view,
a7808fba
CD
6062this setting becomes the default for subsequent agenda commands. Since
6063month and year views are slow to create, they do not become the default.
6064A numeric prefix argument may be used to jump directly to a specific day
6065of the year, ISO week, month, or year, respectively. For example,
6066@kbd{32 d} jumps to February 1st, @kbd{9 w} to ISO week number 9. When
6067setting day, week, or month view, a year may be encoded in the prefix
6068argument as well. For example, @kbd{200712 w} will jump to week 12 in
60692007. If such a year specification has only one or two digits, it will
6070be mapped to the interval 1938-2037.
4009494e
GM
6071@c
6072@kindex D
6073@item D
a7808fba 6074Toggle the inclusion of diary entries. See @ref{Weekly/daily agenda}.
4009494e 6075@c
28a16a1b
CD
6076@kindex G
6077@item G
4009494e
GM
6078Toggle the time grid on and off. See also the variables
6079@code{org-agenda-use-time-grid} and @code{org-agenda-time-grid}.
6080@c
6081@kindex r
6082@item r
6083Recreate the agenda buffer, for example to reflect the changes
6084after modification of the time stamps of items with S-@key{left} and
a7808fba 6085S-@key{right}. When the buffer is the global TODO list, a prefix
4009494e
GM
6086argument is interpreted to create a selective list for a specific TODO
6087keyword.
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CD
6088@kindex g
6089@item g
6090Same as @kbd{r}.
4009494e
GM
6091@c
6092@kindex s
dbc28aaa 6093@kindex C-x C-s
4009494e 6094@item s
dbc28aaa 6095@itemx C-x C-s
a7808fba 6096Save all Org buffers in the current Emacs session.
4009494e
GM
6097@c
6098@kindex @key{right}
6099@item @key{right}
6100Display the following @code{org-agenda-ndays} days. For example, if
6101the display covers a week, switch to the following week. With prefix
6102arg, go forward that many times @code{org-agenda-ndays} days.
6103@c
6104@kindex @key{left}
6105@item @key{left}
6106Display the previous dates.
6107@c
6108@kindex .
6109@item .
a7808fba
CD
6110Go to today.
6111@c
6112@kindex C-c C-x C-c
6113@item C-c C-x C-c
6114Invoke column view (@pxref{Column view}) in the agenda buffer. The column
6115view format is taken from the entry at point, or (if there is no entry at
6116point), from the first entry in the agenda view. So whatever the format for
6117that entry would be in the original buffer (taken from a property, from a
6118@code{#+COLUMNS} line, or from the default variable
6119@code{org-columns-default-format}), will be used in the agenda.
4009494e 6120
864c9740 6121@tsubheading{Secondary filtering and query editing}
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CD
6122@cindex filtering, by tag and effort, in agenda
6123@cindex tag filtering, in agenda
6124@cindex effort filtering, in agenda
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CD
6125@cindex query editing, in agenda
6126
864c9740
CD
6127@kindex /
6128@item /
71d35b24
CD
6129Filter the current agenda view with respect to a tag and/or effort estimates.
6130The difference between this and a custom agenda commands is that filtering is
6131very fast, so that you can switch quickly between different filters without
6132having to recreate the agenda.
6133
6134You will be prompted for a tag selection letter. Pressing @key{TAB} at that
6135prompt will offer use completion to select a tag (including any tags that do
6136not have a selection character). The command then hides all entries that do
6137not contain or inherit this tag. When called with prefix arg, remove the
6138entries that @emph{do} have the tag. A second @kbd{/} at the prompt will
6139turn off the filter and unhide any hidden entries. If the first key you
6140press is either @kbd{+} or @kbd{-}, the previous filter will be narrowed by
6141requiring or forbidding the selected additional tag. Instead of pressing
64fb801f
CD
6142@kbd{+} or @kbd{-} after @kbd{/}, you can also immediately use the @kbd{\}
6143command.
71d35b24
CD
6144
6145In order to filter for effort estimates, you should set-up allowed
6146efforts globally, for example
6147@lisp
6148(setq org-global-properties
6149 '(("Effort_ALL". "0 0:10 0:30 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00")))
6150@end lisp
6151You can then filter for an effort by first typing an operator, one of @kbd{<},
6152@kbd{>}, and @kbd{=}, and then the one-digit index of an effort estimate in
6153your array of allowed values, where @kbd{0} means the 10th value. The filter
6154will then restrict to entries with effort smaller-or-equal, equal, or
6155larger-or-equal than the selected value. If the digits 0-9 are not used as
6156fast access keys to tags, you can also simply press the index digit directly
6157without an operator. In this case, @kbd{<} will be assumed.
6158
6159@kindex \
6160@item \
6161Narrow the current agenda filter by an additional condition. When called with
6162prefix arg, remove the entries that @emph{do} have the tag, or that do match
6163the effort criterion. You can achieve the same effect by pressing @kbd{+} or
6164@kbd{-} as the first key after the @kbd{/} command.
864c9740 6165
28a16a1b
CD
6166@kindex [
6167@kindex ]
6168@kindex @{
6169@kindex @}
6170@item [ ] @{ @}
864c9740
CD
6171In the @i{search view} (@pxref{Keyword search}), these keys add new search
6172words (@kbd{[} and @kbd{]}) or new regular expressions (@kbd{@{} and
6173@kbd{@}}) to the query string. The opening bracket/brace will add a positive
6174search term prefixed by @samp{+}, indicating that this search term @i{must}
6175occur/match in the entry. The closing bracket/brace will add a negative
6176search term which @i{must not} occur/match in the entry for it to be
6177selected.
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CD
6178
6179
4009494e
GM
6180@tsubheading{Remote editing}
6181@cindex remote editing, from agenda
6182
6183@item 0-9
6184Digit argument.
6185@c
6186@cindex undoing remote-editing events
6187@cindex remote editing, undo
6188@kindex C-_
6189@item C-_
6190Undo a change due to a remote editing command. The change is undone
6191both in the agenda buffer and in the remote buffer.
6192@c
6193@kindex t
6194@item t
6195Change the TODO state of the item, both in the agenda and in the
6196original org file.
6197@c
6198@kindex C-k
6199@item C-k
6200Delete the current agenda item along with the entire subtree belonging
a7808fba 6201to it in the original Org file. If the text to be deleted remotely
4009494e
GM
6202is longer than one line, the kill needs to be confirmed by the user. See
6203variable @code{org-agenda-confirm-kill}.
6204@c
a7808fba
CD
6205@kindex a
6206@item a
6207Toggle the ARCHIVE tag for the current headline.
6208@c
6209@kindex A
6210@item A
b349f79f 6211Move the subtree corresponding to the current entry to its @emph{Archive
a7808fba
CD
6212Sibling}.
6213@c
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GM
6214@kindex $
6215@item $
a7808fba 6216Archive the subtree corresponding to the current headline. This means the
b349f79f 6217entry will be moved to the configured archive location, most likely a
a7808fba 6218different file.
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GM
6219@c
6220@kindex T
6221@item T
96c8522a
CD
6222Show all tags associated with the current item. This is useful if you have
6223turned off @code{org-agenda-show-inherited-tags}, but still want to see all
6224tags of a headline occasionally.
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GM
6225@c
6226@kindex :
6227@item :
dbc28aaa
CD
6228Set tags for the current headline. If there is an active region in the
6229agenda, change a tag for all headings in the region.
4009494e 6230@c
4009494e
GM
6231@kindex ,
6232@item ,
a7808fba 6233Set the priority for the current item. Org mode prompts for the
4009494e
GM
6234priority character. If you reply with @key{SPC}, the priority cookie
6235is removed from the entry.
6236@c
6237@kindex P
6238@item P
6239Display weighted priority of current item.
6240@c
6241@kindex +
6242@kindex S-@key{up}
6243@item +
6244@itemx S-@key{up}
6245Increase the priority of the current item. The priority is changed in
6246the original buffer, but the agenda is not resorted. Use the @kbd{r}
6247key for this.
6248@c
6249@kindex -
6250@kindex S-@key{down}
6251@item -
6252@itemx S-@key{down}
6253Decrease the priority of the current item.
6254@c
864c9740
CD
6255@kindex C-c C-a
6256@item C-c C-a
6257Dispatcher for all command related to attachments.
6258@c
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GM
6259@kindex C-c C-s
6260@item C-c C-s
6261Schedule this item
6262@c
6263@kindex C-c C-d
6264@item C-c C-d
6265Set a deadline for this item.
6266@c
b349f79f
CD
6267@kindex k
6268@item k
6269Agenda actions, to set dates for selected items to the cursor date.
6270This command also works in the calendar! The command prompts for an
a50253cc 6271additional key:
b349f79f
CD
6272@example
6273m @r{Mark the entry at point for action. You can also make entries}
6274 @r{in Org files with @kbd{C-c C-x C-k}.}
6275d @r{Set the deadline of the marked entry to the date at point.}
6276s @r{Schedule the marked entry at the date at point.}
6277r @r{Call @code{org-remember} with the cursor date as default date.}
6278@end example
a50253cc 6279Press @kbd{r} afterward to refresh the agenda and see the effect of the
b349f79f
CD
6280command.
6281@c
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GM
6282@kindex S-@key{right}
6283@item S-@key{right}
a7808fba
CD
6284Change the time stamp associated with the current line by one day into the
6285future. With a numeric prefix argument, change it by that many days. For
6286example, @kbd{3 6 5 S-@key{right}} will change it by a year. The stamp is
6287changed in the original org file, but the change is not directly reflected in
6288the agenda buffer. Use the @kbd{r} key to update the buffer.
4009494e
GM
6289@c
6290@kindex S-@key{left}
6291@item S-@key{left}
6292Change the time stamp associated with the current line by one day
6293into the past.
6294@c
6295@kindex >
6296@item >
6297Change the time stamp associated with the current line to today.
6298The key @kbd{>} has been chosen, because it is the same as @kbd{S-.}
6299on my keyboard.
6300@c
6301@kindex I
6302@item I
6303Start the clock on the current item. If a clock is running already, it
6304is stopped first.
6305@c
6306@kindex O
6307@item O
6308Stop the previously started clock.
6309@c
6310@kindex X
6311@item X
6312Cancel the currently running clock.
6313
dbc28aaa
CD
6314@kindex J
6315@item J
6316Jump to the running clock in another window.
6317
4009494e
GM
6318@tsubheading{Calendar commands}
6319@cindex calendar commands, from agenda
6320@kindex c
6321@item c
6322Open the Emacs calendar and move to the date at the agenda cursor.
6323@c
6324@item c
a7808fba 6325When in the calendar, compute and show the Org mode agenda for the
4009494e
GM
6326date at the cursor.
6327@c
6328@cindex diary entries, creating from agenda
6329@kindex i
6330@item i
6331Insert a new entry into the diary. Prompts for the type of entry
6332(day, weekly, monthly, yearly, anniversary, cyclic) and creates a new
6333entry in the diary, just as @kbd{i d} etc. would do in the calendar.
6334The date is taken from the cursor position.
6335@c
6336@kindex M
6337@item M
6338Show the phases of the moon for the three months around current date.
6339@c
6340@kindex S
6341@item S
6342Show sunrise and sunset times. The geographical location must be set
6343with calendar variables, see documentation of the Emacs calendar.
6344@c
6345@kindex C
6346@item C
6347Convert the date at cursor into many other cultural and historic
6348calendars.
6349@c
6350@kindex H
6351@item H
6352Show holidays for three month around the cursor date.
a7808fba
CD
6353
6354@item M-x org-export-icalendar-combine-agenda-files
4009494e 6355Export a single iCalendar file containing entries from all agenda files.
a7808fba 6356This is a globally available command, and also available in the agenda menu.
4009494e
GM
6357
6358@tsubheading{Exporting to a file}
6359@kindex C-x C-w
6360@item C-x C-w
6361@cindex exporting agenda views
6362@cindex agenda views, exporting
6363Write the agenda view to a file. Depending on the extension of the
6364selected file name, the view will be exported as HTML (extension
6365@file{.html} or @file{.htm}), Postscript (extension @file{.ps}), or
6366plain text (any other extension). Use the variable
6367@code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} to set options for @file{ps-print}
6368and for @file{htmlize} to be used during export.
6369
6370@tsubheading{Quit and Exit}
6371@kindex q
6372@item q
6373Quit agenda, remove the agenda buffer.
6374@c
6375@kindex x
6376@cindex agenda files, removing buffers
6377@item x
6378Exit agenda, remove the agenda buffer and all buffers loaded by Emacs
6379for the compilation of the agenda. Buffers created by the user to
6380visit org files will not be removed.
6381@end table
6382
6383
a7808fba 6384@node Custom agenda views, Agenda column view, Agenda commands, Agenda Views
4009494e
GM
6385@section Custom agenda views
6386@cindex custom agenda views
6387@cindex agenda views, custom
6388
6389Custom agenda commands serve two purposes: to store and quickly access
6390frequently used TODO and tags searches, and to create special composite
6391agenda buffers. Custom agenda commands will be accessible through the
6392dispatcher (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}), just like the default commands.
6393
6394@menu
6395* Storing searches:: Type once, use often
6396* Block agenda:: All the stuff you need in a single buffer
6397* Setting Options:: Changing the rules
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CD
6398* Exporting Agenda Views:: Writing agendas to files
6399* Using the agenda elsewhere:: Using agenda information in other programs
4009494e
GM
6400@end menu
6401
6402@node Storing searches, Block agenda, Custom agenda views, Custom agenda views
6403@subsection Storing searches
6404
6405The first application of custom searches is the definition of keyboard
6406shortcuts for frequently used searches, either creating an agenda
6407buffer, or a sparse tree (the latter covering of course only the current
6408buffer).
6409@kindex C-c a C
6410Custom commands are configured in the variable
6411@code{org-agenda-custom-commands}. You can customize this variable, for
6412example by pressing @kbd{C-c a C}. You can also directly set it with
6413Emacs Lisp in @file{.emacs}. The following example contains all valid
6414search types:
6415
6416@lisp
6417@group
6418(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6419 '(("w" todo "WAITING")
6420 ("W" todo-tree "WAITING")
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CD
6421 ("u" tags "+boss-urgent")
6422 ("v" tags-todo "+boss-urgent")
6423 ("U" tags-tree "+boss-urgent")
6424 ("f" occur-tree "\\<FIXME\\>")
6425 ("h" . "HOME+Name tags searches") ; description for "h" prefix
6426 ("hl" tags "+home+Lisa")
6427 ("hp" tags "+home+Peter")
6428 ("hk" tags "+home+Kim")))
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GM
6429@end group
6430@end lisp
6431
6432@noindent
dbc28aaa
CD
6433The initial string in each entry defines the keys you have to press
6434after the dispatcher command @kbd{C-c a} in order to access the command.
6435Usually this will be just a single character, but if you have many
6436similar commands, you can also define two-letter combinations where the
6437first character is the same in several combinations and serves as a
6438prefix key@footnote{You can provide a description for a prefix key by
6439inserting a cons cell with the prefix and the description.}. The second
6440parameter is the search type, followed by the string or regular
6441expression to be used for the matching. The example above will
6442therefore define:
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GM
6443
6444@table @kbd
6445@item C-c a w
6446as a global search for TODO entries with @samp{WAITING} as the TODO
6447keyword
6448@item C-c a W
6449as the same search, but only in the current buffer and displaying the
6450results as a sparse tree
6451@item C-c a u
dbc28aaa
CD
6452as a global tags search for headlines marked @samp{:boss:} but not
6453@samp{:urgent:}
4009494e
GM
6454@item C-c a v
6455as the same search as @kbd{C-c a u}, but limiting the search to
6456headlines that are also TODO items
6457@item C-c a U
6458as the same search as @kbd{C-c a u}, but only in the current buffer and
6459displaying the result as a sparse tree
6460@item C-c a f
6461to create a sparse tree (again: current buffer only) with all entries
dbc28aaa
CD
6462containing the word @samp{FIXME}
6463@item C-c a h
6464as a prefix command for a HOME tags search where you have to press an
6465additional key (@kbd{l}, @kbd{p} or @kbd{k}) to select a name (Lisa,
6466Peter, or Kim) as additional tag to match.
4009494e
GM
6467@end table
6468
6469@node Block agenda, Setting Options, Storing searches, Custom agenda views
6470@subsection Block agenda
6471@cindex block agenda
6472@cindex agenda, with block views
6473
6474Another possibility is the construction of agenda views that comprise
6475the results of @emph{several} commands, each of which creates a block in
6476the agenda buffer. The available commands include @code{agenda} for the
6477daily or weekly agenda (as created with @kbd{C-c a a}), @code{alltodo}
a7808fba 6478for the global TODO list (as constructed with @kbd{C-c a t}), and the
4009494e
GM
6479matching commands discussed above: @code{todo}, @code{tags}, and
6480@code{tags-todo}. Here are two examples:
6481
6482@lisp
6483@group
6484(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6485 '(("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
28a16a1b 6486 ((agenda "")
dbc28aaa
CD
6487 (tags-todo "home")
6488 (tags "garden")))
4009494e 6489 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
28a16a1b 6490 ((agenda "")
dbc28aaa
CD
6491 (tags-todo "work")
6492 (tags "office")))))
4009494e
GM
6493@end group
6494@end lisp
6495
6496@noindent
6497This will define @kbd{C-c a h} to create a multi-block view for stuff
6498you need to attend to at home. The resulting agenda buffer will contain
6499your agenda for the current week, all TODO items that carry the tag
dbc28aaa 6500@samp{home}, and also all lines tagged with @samp{garden}. Finally the
4009494e
GM
6501command @kbd{C-c a o} provides a similar view for office tasks.
6502
4009494e 6503@node Setting Options, Exporting Agenda Views, Block agenda, Custom agenda views
a7808fba 6504@subsection Setting options for custom commands
4009494e
GM
6505@cindex options, for custom agenda views
6506
a7808fba 6507Org mode contains a number of variables regulating agenda construction
4009494e
GM
6508and display. The global variables define the behavior for all agenda
6509commands, including the custom commands. However, if you want to change
6510some settings just for a single custom view, you can do so. Setting
6511options requires inserting a list of variable names and values at the
6512right spot in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands}. For example:
6513
6514@lisp
6515@group
6516(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6517 '(("w" todo "WAITING"
6518 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-down))
6519 (org-agenda-prefix-format " Mixed: ")))
dbc28aaa 6520 ("U" tags-tree "+boss-urgent"
4009494e 6521 ((org-show-following-heading nil)
28a16a1b
CD
6522 (org-show-hierarchy-above nil)))
6523 ("N" search ""
6524 ((org-agenda-files '("~org/notes.org"))
6525 (org-agenda-text-search-extra-files nil)))))
4009494e
GM
6526@end group
6527@end lisp
6528
6529@noindent
6530Now the @kbd{C-c a w} command will sort the collected entries only by
dbc28aaa 6531priority, and the prefix format is modified to just say @samp{ Mixed: }
4009494e
GM
6532instead of giving the category of the entry. The sparse tags tree of
6533@kbd{C-c a U} will now turn out ultra-compact, because neither the
6534headline hierarchy above the match, nor the headline following the match
28a16a1b
CD
6535will be shown. The command @kbd{C-c a N} will do a text search limited
6536to only a single file.
4009494e
GM
6537
6538For command sets creating a block agenda,
6539@code{org-agenda-custom-commands} has two separate spots for setting
6540options. You can add options that should be valid for just a single
6541command in the set, and options that should be valid for all commands in
6542the set. The former are just added to the command entry, the latter
6543must come after the list of command entries. Going back to the block
6544agenda example (@pxref{Block agenda}), let's change the sorting strategy
6545for the @kbd{C-c a h} commands to @code{priority-down}, but let's sort
6546the results for GARDEN tags query in the opposite order,
6547@code{priority-up}. This would look like this:
6548
6549@lisp
6550@group
6551(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6552 '(("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
6553 ((agenda)
dbc28aaa
CD
6554 (tags-todo "home")
6555 (tags "garden"
4009494e
GM
6556 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-up)))))
6557 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-down))))
6558 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
6559 ((agenda)
dbc28aaa
CD
6560 (tags-todo "work")
6561 (tags "office")))))
4009494e
GM
6562@end group
6563@end lisp
6564
6565As you see, the values and parenthesis setting is a little complex.
6566When in doubt, use the customize interface to set this variable - it
6567fully supports its structure. Just one caveat: When setting options in
6568this interface, the @emph{values} are just lisp expressions. So if the
6569value is a string, you need to add the double quotes around the value
6570yourself.
6571
6572
a7808fba 6573@node Exporting Agenda Views, Using the agenda elsewhere, Setting Options, Custom agenda views
4009494e
GM
6574@subsection Exporting Agenda Views
6575@cindex agenda views, exporting
6576
6577If you are away from your computer, it can be very useful to have a
a7808fba 6578printed version of some agenda views to carry around. Org mode can
4009494e 6579export custom agenda views as plain text, HTML@footnote{You need to
a50253cc 6580install Hrvoje Niksic's @file{htmlize.el}.}, postscript, and iCalendar
28a16a1b 6581files. If you want to do this only occasionally, use the command
4009494e
GM
6582
6583@table @kbd
6584@kindex C-x C-w
6585@item C-x C-w
6586@cindex exporting agenda views
6587@cindex agenda views, exporting
6588Write the agenda view to a file. Depending on the extension of the
6589selected file name, the view will be exported as HTML (extension
28a16a1b
CD
6590@file{.html} or @file{.htm}), Postscript (extension @file{.ps}),
6591iCalendar (extension @file{.ics}), or plain text (any other extension).
6592Use the variable @code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} to
6593set options for @file{ps-print} and for @file{htmlize} to be used during
6594export, for example
6595
4009494e
GM
6596@lisp
6597(setq org-agenda-exporter-settings
6598 '((ps-number-of-columns 2)
6599 (ps-landscape-mode t)
6600 (htmlize-output-type 'css)))
6601@end lisp
6602@end table
6603
6604If you need to export certain agenda views frequently, you can associate
6605any custom agenda command with a list of output file names
6606@footnote{If you want to store standard views like the weekly agenda
6607or the global TODO list as well, you need to define custom commands for
28a16a1b 6608them in order to be able to specify file names.}. Here is an example
4009494e
GM
6609that first does define custom commands for the agenda and the global
6610todo list, together with a number of files to which to export them.
28a16a1b 6611Then we define two block agenda commands and specify file names for them
4009494e
GM
6612as well. File names can be relative to the current working directory,
6613or absolute.
6614
6615@lisp
6616@group
6617(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6618 '(("X" agenda "" nil ("agenda.html" "agenda.ps"))
6619 ("Y" alltodo "" nil ("todo.html" "todo.txt" "todo.ps"))
6620 ("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
28a16a1b 6621 ((agenda "")
dbc28aaa
CD
6622 (tags-todo "home")
6623 (tags "garden"))
4009494e
GM
6624 nil
6625 ("~/views/home.html"))
6626 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
6627 ((agenda)
dbc28aaa
CD
6628 (tags-todo "work")
6629 (tags "office"))
4009494e 6630 nil
28a16a1b 6631 ("~/views/office.ps" "~/calendars/office.ics"))))
4009494e
GM
6632@end group
6633@end lisp
6634
6635The extension of the file name determines the type of export. If it is
a7808fba 6636@file{.html}, Org mode will use the @file{htmlize.el} package to convert
4009494e
GM
6637the buffer to HTML and save it to this file name. If the extension is
6638@file{.ps}, @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} is used to produce
28a16a1b
CD
6639postscript output. If the extension is @file{.ics}, iCalendar export is
6640run export over all files that were used to construct the agenda, and
6641limit the export to entries listed in the agenda now. Any other
6642extension produces a plain ASCII file.
4009494e
GM
6643
6644The export files are @emph{not} created when you use one of those
28a16a1b
CD
6645commands interactively because this might use too much overhead.
6646Instead, there is a special command to produce @emph{all} specified
6647files in one step:
4009494e
GM
6648
6649@table @kbd
6650@kindex C-c a e
6651@item C-c a e
28a16a1b 6652Export all agenda views that have export file names associated with
4009494e
GM
6653them.
6654@end table
6655
6656You can use the options section of the custom agenda commands to also
6657set options for the export commands. For example:
6658
6659@lisp
6660(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
6661 '(("X" agenda ""
6662 ((ps-number-of-columns 2)
6663 (ps-landscape-mode t)
6664 (org-agenda-prefix-format " [ ] ")
6665 (org-agenda-with-colors nil)
6666 (org-agenda-remove-tags t))
6667 ("theagenda.ps"))))
6668@end lisp
6669
6670@noindent
6671This command sets two options for the postscript exporter, to make it
6672print in two columns in landscape format - the resulting page can be cut
6673in two and then used in a paper agenda. The remaining settings modify
6674the agenda prefix to omit category and scheduling information, and
6675instead include a checkbox to check off items. We also remove the tags
6676to make the lines compact, and we don't want to use colors for the
6677black-and-white printer. Settings specified in
6678@code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} will also apply, but the settings
6679in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands} take precedence.
6680
6681@noindent
6682From the command line you may also use
6683@example
6684emacs -f org-batch-store-agenda-views -kill
6685@end example
6686@noindent
71d35b24
CD
6687or, if you need to modify some parameters@footnote{Quoting may depend on the
6688system you use, please check th FAQ for examples.}
4009494e
GM
6689@example
6690emacs -eval '(org-batch-store-agenda-views \
6691 org-agenda-ndays 30 \
dbc28aaa 6692 org-agenda-start-day "2007-11-01" \
4009494e
GM
6693 org-agenda-include-diary nil \
6694 org-agenda-files (quote ("~/org/project.org")))' \
6695 -kill
6696@end example
6697@noindent
6698which will create the agenda views restricted to the file
6699@file{~/org/project.org}, without diary entries and with 30 days
28a16a1b 6700extent.
4009494e 6701
a7808fba
CD
6702@node Using the agenda elsewhere, , Exporting Agenda Views, Custom agenda views
6703@subsection Using agenda information outside of Org
4009494e
GM
6704@cindex agenda, pipe
6705@cindex Scripts, for agenda processing
6706
a7808fba 6707Org provides commands to access agenda information for the command
4009494e
GM
6708line in emacs batch mode. This extracted information can be sent
6709directly to a printer, or it can be read by a program that does further
6710processing of the data. The first of these commands is the function
6711@code{org-batch-agenda}, that produces an agenda view and sends it as
6712ASCII text to STDOUT. The command takes a single string as parameter.
6713If the string has length 1, it is used as a key to one of the commands
6714you have configured in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands}, basically any
6715key you can use after @kbd{C-c a}. For example, to directly print the
6716current TODO list, you could use
6717
6718@example
6719emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -eval '(org-batch-agenda "t")' | lpr
6720@end example
6721
6722If the parameter is a string with 2 or more characters, it is used as a
6723tags/todo match string. For example, to print your local shopping list
6724(all items with the tag @samp{shop}, but excluding the tag
6725@samp{NewYork}), you could use
6726
6727@example
28a16a1b 6728emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs \
4009494e
GM
6729 -eval '(org-batch-agenda "+shop-NewYork")' | lpr
6730@end example
6731
6732@noindent
6733You may also modify parameters on the fly like this:
6734
6735@example
6736emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs \
6737 -eval '(org-batch-agenda "a" \
6738 org-agenda-ndays 30 \
6739 org-agenda-include-diary nil \
6740 org-agenda-files (quote ("~/org/project.org")))' \
6741 | lpr
6742@end example
6743
6744@noindent
6745which will produce a 30 day agenda, fully restricted to the Org file
6746@file{~/org/projects.org}, not even including the diary.
6747
6748If you want to process the agenda data in more sophisticated ways, you
6749can use the command @code{org-batch-agenda-csv} to get a comma-separated
6750list of values for each agenda item. Each line in the output will
6751contain a number of fields separated by commas. The fields in a line
6752are:
6753
6754@example
6755category @r{The category of the item}
6756head @r{The headline, without TODO kwd, TAGS and PRIORITY}
6757type @r{The type of the agenda entry, can be}
6758 todo @r{selected in TODO match}
6759 tagsmatch @r{selected in tags match}
6760 diary @r{imported from diary}
6761 deadline @r{a deadline}
6762 scheduled @r{scheduled}
6763 timestamp @r{appointment, selected by timestamp}
6764 closed @r{entry was closed on date}
6765 upcoming-deadline @r{warning about nearing deadline}
6766 past-scheduled @r{forwarded scheduled item}
6767 block @r{entry has date block including date}
a7808fba 6768todo @r{The TODO keyword, if any}
4009494e
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6769tags @r{All tags including inherited ones, separated by colons}
6770date @r{The relevant date, like 2007-2-14}
6771time @r{The time, like 15:00-16:50}
6772extra @r{String with extra planning info}
6773priority-l @r{The priority letter if any was given}
6774priority-n @r{The computed numerical priority}
6775@end example
6776
6777@noindent
6778Time and date will only be given if a timestamp (or deadline/scheduled)
6779lead to the selection of the item.
6780
6781A CSV list like this is very easy to use in a post processing script.
6782For example, here is a Perl program that gets the TODO list from
a7808fba 6783Emacs/Org and prints all the items, preceded by a checkbox:
4009494e
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6784
6785@example
6786@group
6787#!/usr/bin/perl
6788
6789# define the Emacs command to run
6790$cmd = "emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -eval '(org-batch-agenda-csv \"t\")'";
6791
6792# run it and capture the output
6793$agenda = qx@{$cmd 2>/dev/null@};
6794
6795# loop over all lines
6796foreach $line (split(/\n/,$agenda)) @{
6797
6798 # get the individual values
6799 ($category,$head,$type,$todo,$tags,$date,$time,$extra,
6800 $priority_l,$priority_n) = split(/,/,$line);
6801
a50253cc 6802 # process and print
4009494e
GM
6803 print "[ ] $head\n";
6804@}
6805@end group
6806@end example
6807
a7808fba
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6808@node Agenda column view, , Custom agenda views, Agenda Views
6809@section Using column view in the agenda
6810@cindex column view, in agenda
6811@cindex agenda, column view
6812
6813Column view (@pxref{Column view}) is normally used to view and edit
6814properties embedded in the hierarchical structure of an Org file. It can be
6815quite useful to use column view also from the agenda, where entries are
6816collected by certain criteria.
6817
6818@table @kbd
6819@kindex C-c C-x C-c
6820@item C-c C-x C-c
6821Turn on column view in the agenda.
6822@end table
6823
6824To understand how to use this properly, it is important to realize that the
6825entries in the agenda are no longer in their proper outline environment.
6826This causes the following issues:
6827
6828@enumerate
6829@item
6830Org needs to make a decision which @code{COLUMNS} format to use. Since the
6831entries in the agenda are collected from different files, and different files
6832may have different @code{COLUMNS} formats, this is a non-trivial problem.
6833Org first checks if the variable @code{org-overriding-columns-format} is
6834currently set, and if yes takes the format from there. Otherwise it takes
6835the format associated with the first item in the agenda, or, if that item
6836does not have a specific format (defined in a property, or in it's file), it
6837uses @code{org-columns-default-format}.
6838@item
6839If any of the columns has a summary type defined (@pxref{Column attributes}),
6840turning on column view in the agenda will visit all relevant agenda files and
6841make sure that the computations of this property are up to date. This is
6842also true for the special @code{CLOCKSUM} property. Org will then sum the
6843values displayed in the agenda. In the daily/weekly agenda, the sums will
6844cover a single day, in all other views they cover the entire block. It is
6845vital to realize that the agenda may show the same entry @emph{twice} (for
6846example as scheduled and as a deadline), and it may show two entries from the
6847same hierarchy (for example a @emph{parent} and it's @emph{child}). In these
6848cases, the summation in the agenda will lead to incorrect results because
6849some values will count double.
6850@item
6851When the column view in the agenda shows the @code{CLOCKSUM}, that is always
6852the entire clocked time for this item. So even in the daily/weekly agenda,
6853the clocksum listed in column view may originate from times outside the
6854current view. This has the advantage that you can compare these values with
6855a column listing the planned total effort for a task - one of the major
6856applications for column view in the agenda. If you want information about
6857clocked time in the displayed period use clock table mode (press @kbd{R} in
6858the agenda).
6859@end enumerate
6860
6861
6862@node Embedded LaTeX, Exporting, Agenda Views, Top
4009494e
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6863@chapter Embedded LaTeX
6864@cindex @TeX{} interpretation
6865@cindex La@TeX{} interpretation
6866
6867Plain ASCII is normally sufficient for almost all note taking. One
a7808fba
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6868exception, however, are scientific notes which need to be able to contain
6869mathematical symbols and the occasional formula. La@TeX{}@footnote{La@TeX{}
6870is a macro system based on Donald E. Knuth's @TeX{} system. Many of the
6871features described here as ``La@TeX{}'' are really from @TeX{}, but for
6872simplicity I am blurring this distinction.} is widely used to typeset
6873scientific documents. Org mode supports embedding La@TeX{} code into its
6874files, because many academics are used to reading La@TeX{} source code, and
6875because it can be readily processed into images for HTML production.
4009494e
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6876
6877It is not necessary to mark La@TeX{} macros and code in any special way.
a7808fba 6878If you observe a few conventions, Org mode knows how to find it and what
4009494e
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6879to do with it.
6880
6881@menu
6882* Math symbols:: TeX macros for symbols and Greek letters
a7808fba 6883* Subscripts and superscripts:: Simple syntax for raising/lowering text
4009494e
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6884* LaTeX fragments:: Complex formulas made easy
6885* Processing LaTeX fragments:: Previewing LaTeX processing
6886* CDLaTeX mode:: Speed up entering of formulas
6887@end menu
6888
a7808fba 6889@node Math symbols, Subscripts and superscripts, Embedded LaTeX, Embedded LaTeX
4009494e
GM
6890@section Math symbols
6891@cindex math symbols
6892@cindex TeX macros
6893
6894You can use La@TeX{} macros to insert special symbols like @samp{\alpha}
6895to indicate the Greek letter, or @samp{\to} to indicate an arrow.
6896Completion for these macros is available, just type @samp{\} and maybe a
6897few letters, and press @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to see possible completions.
a7808fba 6898Unlike La@TeX{} code, Org mode allows these macros to be present
4009494e
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6899without surrounding math delimiters, for example:
6900
6901@example
6902Angles are written as Greek letters \alpha, \beta and \gamma.
6903@end example
6904
6905During HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), these symbols are translated
6906into the proper syntax for HTML, for the above examples this is
864c9740
CD
6907@samp{&alpha;} and @samp{&rarr;}, respectively. If you need such a symbol
6908inside a word, terminate it like this: @samp{\Aacute@{@}stor}.
4009494e 6909
a7808fba
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6910@node Subscripts and superscripts, LaTeX fragments, Math symbols, Embedded LaTeX
6911@section Subscripts and superscripts
4009494e
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6912@cindex subscript
6913@cindex superscript
6914
6915Just like in La@TeX{}, @samp{^} and @samp{_} are used to indicate super-
6916and subscripts. Again, these can be used without embedding them in
6917math-mode delimiters. To increase the readability of ASCII text, it is
6918not necessary (but OK) to surround multi-character sub- and superscripts
6919with curly braces. For example
6920
6921@example
6922The mass if the sun is M_sun = 1.989 x 10^30 kg. The radius of
6923the sun is R_@{sun@} = 6.96 x 10^8 m.
6924@end example
6925
6926To avoid interpretation as raised or lowered text, you can quote
6927@samp{^} and @samp{_} with a backslash: @samp{\_} and @samp{\^}.
6928
6929During HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), subscript and superscripts
6930are surrounded with @code{<sub>} and @code{<sup>} tags, respectively.
6931
a7808fba 6932@node LaTeX fragments, Processing LaTeX fragments, Subscripts and superscripts, Embedded LaTeX
4009494e
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6933@section LaTeX fragments
6934@cindex LaTeX fragments
6935
6936With symbols, sub- and superscripts, HTML is pretty much at its end when
6937it comes to representing mathematical formulas@footnote{Yes, there is
6938MathML, but that is not yet fully supported by many browsers, and there
6939is no decent converter for turning La@TeX{} or ASCII representations of
6940formulas into MathML. So for the time being, converting formulas into
6941images seems the way to go.}. More complex expressions need a dedicated
a7808fba 6942formula processor. To this end, Org mode can contain arbitrary La@TeX{}
4009494e
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6943fragments. It provides commands to preview the typeset result of these
6944fragments, and upon export to HTML, all fragments will be converted to
6945images and inlined into the HTML document@footnote{The La@TeX{} export
6946will not use images for displaying La@TeX{} fragments but include these
6947fragments directly into the La@TeX{} code.}. For this to work you
6948need to be on a system with a working La@TeX{} installation. You also
6949need the @file{dvipng} program, available at
6950@url{http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvipng/}. The La@TeX{} header that
6951will be used when processing a fragment can be configured with the
6952variable @code{org-format-latex-header}.
6953
6954La@TeX{} fragments don't need any special marking at all. The following
6955snippets will be identified as La@TeX{} source code:
6956@itemize @bullet
6957@item
6958Environments of any kind. The only requirement is that the
6959@code{\begin} statement appears on a new line, preceded by only
6960whitespace.
6961@item
6962Text within the usual La@TeX{} math delimiters. To avoid conflicts with
6963currency specifications, single @samp{$} characters are only recognized
6964as math delimiters if the enclosed text contains at most two line breaks,
6965is directly attached to the @samp{$} characters with no whitespace in
6966between, and if the closing @samp{$} is followed by whitespace or
6967punctuation. For the other delimiters, there is no such restriction, so
6968when in doubt, use @samp{\(...\)} as inline math delimiters.
6969@end itemize
6970
6971@noindent For example:
6972
6973@example
6974\begin@{equation@} % arbitrary environments,
6975x=\sqrt@{b@} % even tables, figures
6976\end@{equation@} % etc
6977
6978If $a^2=b$ and \( b=2 \), then the solution must be
6979either $$ a=+\sqrt@{2@} $$ or \[ a=-\sqrt@{2@} \].
6980@end example
6981
6982@noindent
6983If you need any of the delimiter ASCII sequences for other purposes, you
6984can configure the option @code{org-format-latex-options} to deselect the
6985ones you do not wish to have interpreted by the La@TeX{} converter.
6986
6987@node Processing LaTeX fragments, CDLaTeX mode, LaTeX fragments, Embedded LaTeX
6988@section Processing LaTeX fragments
6989@cindex LaTeX fragments, preview
6990
6991La@TeX{} fragments can be processed to produce a preview images of the
6992typeset expressions:
6993
6994@table @kbd
6995@kindex C-c C-x C-l
6996@item C-c C-x C-l
6997Produce a preview image of the La@TeX{} fragment at point and overlay it
6998over the source code. If there is no fragment at point, process all
6999fragments in the current entry (between two headlines). When called
7000with a prefix argument, process the entire subtree. When called with
7001two prefix arguments, or when the cursor is before the first headline,
7002process the entire buffer.
7003@kindex C-c C-c
7004@item C-c C-c
7005Remove the overlay preview images.
7006@end table
7007
7008During HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), all La@TeX{} fragments are
7009converted into images and inlined into the document if the following
7010setting is active:
7011
7012@lisp
7013(setq org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments t)
7014@end lisp
7015
7016@node CDLaTeX mode, , Processing LaTeX fragments, Embedded LaTeX
7017@section Using CDLaTeX to enter math
7018@cindex CDLaTeX
7019
a7808fba 7020CDLaTeX mode is a minor mode that is normally used in combination with a
4009494e 7021major La@TeX{} mode like AUCTeX in order to speed-up insertion of
a7808fba
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7022environments and math templates. Inside Org mode, you can make use of
7023some of the features of CDLaTeX mode. You need to install
4009494e
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7024@file{cdlatex.el} and @file{texmathp.el} (the latter comes also with
7025AUCTeX) from @url{http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik/Tools/cdlatex}.
a7808fba
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7026Don't use CDLaTeX mode itself under Org mode, but use the light
7027version @code{org-cdlatex-mode} that comes as part of Org mode. Turn it
4009494e 7028on for the current buffer with @code{M-x org-cdlatex-mode}, or for all
a7808fba 7029Org files with
4009494e
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7030
7031@lisp
7032(add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'turn-on-org-cdlatex)
7033@end lisp
7034
7035When this mode is enabled, the following features are present (for more
a7808fba 7036details see the documentation of CDLaTeX mode):
4009494e
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7037@itemize @bullet
7038@kindex C-c @{
7039@item
7040Environment templates can be inserted with @kbd{C-c @{}.
7041@item
7042@kindex @key{TAB}
7043The @key{TAB} key will do template expansion if the cursor is inside a
a7808fba 7044La@TeX{} fragment@footnote{Org mode has a method to test if the cursor is
4009494e
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7045inside such a fragment, see the documentation of the function
7046@code{org-inside-LaTeX-fragment-p}.}. For example, @key{TAB} will
7047expand @code{fr} to @code{\frac@{@}@{@}} and position the cursor
7048correctly inside the first brace. Another @key{TAB} will get you into
7049the second brace. Even outside fragments, @key{TAB} will expand
7050environment abbreviations at the beginning of a line. For example, if
7051you write @samp{equ} at the beginning of a line and press @key{TAB},
7052this abbreviation will be expanded to an @code{equation} environment.
7053To get a list of all abbreviations, type @kbd{M-x cdlatex-command-help}.
7054@item
7055@kindex _
7056@kindex ^
7057Pressing @kbd{_} and @kbd{^} inside a La@TeX{} fragment will insert these
7058characters together with a pair of braces. If you use @key{TAB} to move
7059out of the braces, and if the braces surround only a single character or
7060macro, they are removed again (depending on the variable
7061@code{cdlatex-simplify-sub-super-scripts}).
7062@item
7063@kindex `
7064Pressing the backquote @kbd{`} followed by a character inserts math
7065macros, also outside La@TeX{} fragments. If you wait more than 1.5 seconds
7066after the backquote, a help window will pop up.
7067@item
7068@kindex '
7069Pressing the normal quote @kbd{'} followed by another character modifies
7070the symbol before point with an accent or a font. If you wait more than
70711.5 seconds after the backquote, a help window will pop up. Character
7072modification will work only inside La@TeX{} fragments, outside the quote
7073is normal.
7074@end itemize
7075
7076@node Exporting, Publishing, Embedded LaTeX, Top
7077@chapter Exporting
7078@cindex exporting
7079
a7808fba 7080Org mode documents can be exported into a variety of other formats. For
4009494e 7081printing and sharing of notes, ASCII export produces a readable and
a7808fba 7082simple version of an Org file. HTML export allows you to publish a
4009494e
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7083notes file on the web, while the XOXO format provides a solid base for
7084exchange with a broad range of other applications. La@TeX{} export lets
a7808fba 7085you use Org mode and its structured editing functions to easily create
4009494e
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7086La@TeX{} files. To incorporate entries with associated times like
7087deadlines or appointments into a desktop calendar program like iCal,
a7808fba
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7088Org mode can also produce extracts in the iCalendar format. Currently
7089Org mode only supports export, not import of these different formats.
4009494e 7090
b6cb4cd5
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7091Org supports export of selected regions when @code{transient-mark-mode} is
7092enabled (default in Emacs 23).
7093
b349f79f
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7094@menu
7095* Markup rules:: Which structures are recognized?
864c9740 7096* Selective export:: Using tags to select and exclude trees
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7097* Export options:: Per-file export settings
7098* The export dispatcher:: How to access exporter commands
7099* ASCII export:: Exporting to plain ASCII
7100* HTML export:: Exporting to HTML
71d35b24 7101* LaTeX and PDF export:: Exporting to LaTeX, and processing to PDF
b349f79f
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7102* XOXO export:: Exporting to XOXO
7103* iCalendar export:: Exporting in iCalendar format
7104@end menu
7105
864c9740 7106@node Markup rules, Selective export, Exporting, Exporting
b349f79f
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7107@section Markup rules
7108
7109When exporting Org mode documents, the exporter tries to reflect the
7110structure of the document as accurately as possible in the back-end. Since
7111export targets like HTML or La@TeX{} allow much richer formatting, Org mode
7112has rules how to prepare text for rich export. This section summarizes the
7113markup rule used in an Org mode buffer.
7114
7115@menu
7116* Document title:: How the document title is determined
7117* Headings and sections:: The main structure of the exported document
7118* Table of contents:: If, where, how to create a table of contents
7119* Initial text:: Text before the first headline
7120* Lists:: Plain lists are exported
7121* Paragraphs:: What determines beginning and ending
7122* Literal examples:: Source code and other examples
7123* Include files:: Include the contents of a file during export
7124* Tables exported:: Tables are exported richly
67df9cfb 7125* Inlined images:: How to inline images during export
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7126* Footnotes:: Numbers like [1]
7127* Emphasis and monospace:: To bold or not to bold
7128* TeX macros and LaTeX fragments:: Create special, rich export.
7129* Horizontal rules:: A line across the page
7130* Comment lines:: Some lines will not be exported
7131@end menu
7132
7133@node Document title, Headings and sections, Markup rules, Markup rules
7134@subheading Document title
7135@cindex document title, markup rules
7136
7137@noindent
7138The title of the exported document is taken from the special line
7139
7140@example
7141#+TITLE: This is the title of the document
7142@end example
7143
7144@noindent
7145If this line does not exist, the title is derived from the first non-empty,
7146non-comment line in the buffer. If no such line exists, or if you have
7147turned off exporting of the text before the first headline (see below), the
7148title will be the file name without extension.
7149
7150If you are exporting only a subtree by marking is as the region, the heading
7151of the subtree will become the title of the document. If the subtree has a
7152property @code{EXPORT_TITLE}, that will take precedence.
7153
7154@node Headings and sections, Table of contents, Document title, Markup rules
7155@subheading Headings and sections
7156@cindex headings and sections, markup rules
7157
7158The outline structure of the document as described in @ref{Document
7159Structure} forms the basis for defining sections of the exported document.
7160However, since the outline structure is also used for (for example) lists of
7161tasks, only the first three outline levels will be used as headings. Deeper
7162levels will become itemized lists. You can change the location of this
7163switch, globally by setting the variable @code{org-headline-levels}, or on a
7164per file basis with a line
7165
7166@example
7167#+OPTIONS: H:4
7168@end example
7169
7170@node Table of contents, Initial text, Headings and sections, Markup rules
7171@subheading Table of contents
7172@cindex table of contents, markup rules
7173
7174The table of contents is normally inserted directly before the first headline
7175of the file. If you would like to get it to a different location, insert the
7176string @code{[TABLE-OF-CONTENTS]} on a line by itself at the desired
7177location. The depth of the table of contents is by default the same as the
7178number of headline levels, but you can choose a smaller number or turn off
7179the table of contents entirely by configuring the variable
7180@code{org-export-with-toc}, or on a per-file basis with a line like
7181
7182@example
7183#+OPTIONS: toc:2 (only to two levels in TOC)
7184#+OPTIONS: toc:nil (no TOC at all)
7185@end example
7186
7187@node Initial text, Lists, Table of contents, Markup rules
7188@subheading Text before the first headline
7189@cindex text before first headline, markup rules
7190@cindex #+TEXT
7191
7192Org mode normally exports the text before the first headline, and even uses
7193the first line as the document title. The text will be fully marked up. If
7194you need to include literal HTML or La@TeX{} code, use the special constructs
7195described below in the sections for the individual exporters.
7196
7197Some people like to use the space before the first headline for setup and
7198internal links and therefore would like to control the exported text before
7199the first headline in a different way. You can do so by setting the variable
7200@code{org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading} to @code{t}. On a per-file
7201basis, you can get the same effect with @samp{#+OPTIONS: skip:t}.
7202
7203@noindent
7204If you still want to have some text before the first headline, use the
7205@code{#+TEXT} construct:
7206
7207@example
7208#+OPTIONS: skip:t
7209#+TEXT: This text will go before the *first* headline.
7210#+TEXT: [TABLE-OF-CONTENTS]
7211#+TEXT: This goes between the table of contents and the first headline
7212@end example
7213
7214@node Lists, Paragraphs, Initial text, Markup rules
7215@subheading Lists
7216@cindex lists, markup rules
7217
7218Plain lists as described in @ref{Plain lists} are translated to the back-ends
7219syntax for such lists. Most back-ends support unordered, ordered, and
7220description lists.
7221
7222@node Paragraphs, Literal examples, Lists, Markup rules
7223@subheading Paragraphs, line breaks, and quoting
7224@cindex paragraphs, markup rules
7225
7226Paragraphs are separated by at least one empty line. If you need to enforce
7227a line break within a paragraph, use @samp{\\} at the end of a line.
7228
7229To keep the line breaks in a region, but otherwise use normal formatting, you
7230can use this construct, which can also be used to format poetry.
7231
7232@example
7233#+BEGIN_VERSE
864c9740
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7234 Great clouds overhead
7235 Tiny black birds rise and fall
7236 Snow covers Emacs
96c8522a 7237
864c9740 7238 -- AlexSchroeder
b349f79f
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7239#+END_VERSE
7240@end example
7241
7242When quoting a passage from another document, it is customary to format this
7243as a paragraph that is indented on both the left and the right margin. You
7244can include quotations in Org mode documents like this:
7245
7246@example
7247#+BEGIN_QUOTE
7248Everything should be made as simple as possible,
7249but not any simpler -- Albert Einstein
7250#+END_QUOTE
7251@end example
7252
7253
7254@node Literal examples, Include files, Paragraphs, Markup rules
7255@subheading Literal examples
7256@cindex literal examples, markup rules
7257
7258You can include literal examples that should not be subjected to
7259markup. Such examples will be typeset in monospace, so this is well suited
7260for source code and similar examples.
7261@cindex #+BEGIN_EXAMPLE
7262
7263@example
7264#+BEGIN_EXAMPLE
7265Some example from a text file.
7266#+END_EXAMPLE
7267@end example
7268
7269For simplicity when using small examples, you can also start the example
7270lines with a colon:
7271
7272@example
7273: Some example from a text file.
7274@end example
7275
7276@cindex formatting source code, markup rules
7277If the example is source code from a programming language, or any other text
7278that can be marked up by font-lock in Emacs, you can ask for the example to
7279look like the fontified Emacs buffer@footnote{Currently this works only for
7280the HTML back-end, and requires the @file{htmlize.el} package version 1.34 or
7281later.}. This is done with the @samp{src} block, where you also need to
7282specify the name of the major mode that should be used to fontify the
7283example:
7284@cindex #+BEGIN_SRC
7285
7286@example
7287#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
7288(defun org-xor (a b)
7289 "Exclusive or."
7290 (if a (not b) b))
7291#+END_SRC
7292@end example
7293
7294@table @kbd
7295@kindex C-c '
7296@item C-c '
7297Edit the source code example at point in its native mode. This works by
7298switching to an indirect buffer, narrowing the buffer and switching to the
864c9740
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7299other mode. You need to exit by pressing @kbd{C-c '} again@footnote{Upon
7300exit, lines starting with @samp{*} or @samp{#} will get a comma prepended, to
7301keep them from being interpreted by Org as outline nodes or special
7302comments. These commas will be striped for editing with @kbd{C-c '}, and
7303also for export.}. Fixed-width
7304regions (where each line starts with a colon followed by a space) will be
7305edited using @code{artist-mode}@footnote{You may select a different-mode with
7306the variable @code{org-edit-fixed-width-region-mode}.} to allow creating
7307ASCII drawings easily. Using this command in an empty line will create a new
7308fixed-width region.
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7309@end table
7310
7311
7312@node Include files, Tables exported, Literal examples, Markup rules
7313@subheading Include files
7314@cindex include files, markup rules
7315
7316During export, you can include the content of another file. For example, to
7317include your .emacs file, you could use:
7318@cindex #+INCLUDE
7319
7320@example
7321#+INCLUDE: "~/.emacs" src emacs-lisp
7322@end example
7323
7324The optional second and third parameter are the markup (@samp{quote},
7325@samp{example}, or @samp{src}), and, if the markup is @samp{src}, the
7326language for formatting the contents. The markup is optional, if it is not
7327given, the text will be assumed to be in Org mode format and will be
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CD
7328processed normally. The include line will also allow additional keyword
7329parameters @code{:prefix1} and @code{:prefix} to specify prefixes for the
7330first line and for each following line. For example, to include a file as an
7331item, use
7332
7333@example
7334#+INCLUDE: "~/snippets/xx" :prefix1 " + " :prefix " "
7335@end example
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CD
7336
7337@table @kbd
7338@kindex C-c '
7339@item C-c '
7340Visit the include file at point.
7341@end table
7342
67df9cfb 7343@node Tables exported, Inlined images, Include files, Markup rules
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CD
7344@subheading Tables
7345@cindex tables, markup rules
7346
7347Both the native Org mode tables (@pxref{Tables}) and tables formatted with
7348the @file{table.el} package will be exported properly. For Org mode tables,
7349the lines before the first horizontal separator line will become table header
a50253cc 7350lines. You can use the following lines somewhere before the table to assign
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CD
7351a caption and a label for cross references:
7352
7353@example
7354#+CAPTION: This is the caption for the next table (or link)
7355#+LABEL: tbl:basic-data
7356@end example
7357
7358@node Inlined images, Footnotes, Tables exported, Markup rules
7359@subheading Inlined Images
7360@cindex inlined images, markup rules
7361
7362Some backends (HTML and LaTeX) allow to directly include images into the
7363exported document. Org does this, if a link to an image files does not have
7364a description part, for example @code{[[./img/a.jpg]]}. If you wish to
7365define a caption for the image and maybe a label for internal cross
7366references, you can use (before, but close to the link)
7367
7368@example
7369#+CAPTION: This is the caption for the next figure link (or table)
7370#+LABEL: fig:SED-HR4049
7371@end example
b349f79f 7372
67df9cfb
CD
7373You may also define additional attributes for the figure. As this is
7374backend-specific, see the sections about the individual backends for more
7375information.
7376
7377@node Footnotes, Emphasis and monospace, Inlined images, Markup rules
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7378@subheading Footnotes
7379@cindex footnotes, markup rules
7380@cindex @file{footnote.el}
7381
7382@kindex C-c !
7383Numbers in square brackets are treated as footnote markers, and lines
7384starting with such a marker are interpreted as the footnote itself. You can
7385use the Emacs package @file{footnote.el} to create footnotes@footnote{The
7386@file{footnote} package uses @kbd{C-c !} to invoke its commands. This
7387binding conflicts with the Org mode command for inserting inactive time
7388stamps. You could use the variable @code{footnote-prefix} to switch
7389footnotes commands to another key. Or, if you are too used to this binding,
7390you could use @code{org-replace-disputed-keys} and @code{org-disputed-keys}
7391to change the settings in Org.}. For example:
7392
7393@example
7394The Org homepage[1] now looks a lot better than it used to.
7395
7396[1] The link is: http://orgmode.org
7397@end example
7398
7399@node Emphasis and monospace, TeX macros and LaTeX fragments, Footnotes, Markup rules
7400@subheading Emphasis and monospace
7401
7402@cindex underlined text, markup rules
7403@cindex bold text, markup rules
7404@cindex italic text, markup rules
7405@cindex verbatim text, markup rules
7406@cindex code text, markup rules
7407@cindex strike-through text, markup rules
7408You can make words @b{*bold*}, @i{/italic/}, _underlined_, @code{=code=}
7409and @code{~verbatim~}, and, if you must, @samp{+strike-through+}. Text
7410in the code and verbatim string is not processed for Org mode specific
7411syntax, it is exported verbatim.
7412
7413@node TeX macros and LaTeX fragments, Horizontal rules, Emphasis and monospace, Markup rules
7414@subheading @TeX{} macros and La@TeX{} fragments
7415@cindex LaTeX fragments, markup rules
7416@cindex TeX macros, markup rules
7417@cindex HTML entities
7418@cindex LaTeX entities
7419
7420A @TeX{}-like syntax is used to specify special characters. Where possible,
7421these will be transformed into the native format of the exporter back-end.
7422Strings like @code{\alpha} will be exported as @code{&alpha;} in the HTML
7423output, and as @code{$\alpha$} in the La@TeX{} output. Similarly,
7424@code{\nbsp} will become @code{&nbsp;} in HTML and @code{~} in La@TeX{}.
7425This applies for a large number of entities, with names taken from both HTML
7426and La@TeX{}, see the variable @code{org-html-entities} for the complete
7427list. If you are unsure about a name, use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} for completion
7428after having types the backslash and maybe a few characters
7429(@pxref{Completion}).
7430
7431La@TeX{} fragments are converted into images for HTML export, and they are
7432written literally into the La@TeX{} export. See also @ref{Embedded LaTeX}.
7433
7434Finally, @samp{\-} is treated as a shy hyphen, and @samp{--}, @samp{---}, and
7435@samp{...} are all converted into special commands creating hyphens of
7436different lengths or a compact set of dots.
7437
7438@node Horizontal rules, Comment lines, TeX macros and LaTeX fragments, Markup rules
7439@subheading Horizontal rules
7440@cindex horizontal rules, markup rules
7441A line consisting of only dashes, and at least 5 of them, will be
7442exported as a horizontal line (@samp{<hr/>} in HTML).
7443
7444@node Comment lines, , Horizontal rules, Markup rules
7445@subheading Comment lines
7446@cindex comment lines
7447@cindex exporting, not
7448
7449Lines starting with @samp{#} in column zero are treated as comments and will
7450never be exported. Also entire subtrees starting with the word
7451@samp{COMMENT} will never be exported. Finally, regions surrounded by
7452@samp{#+BEGIN_COMMENT} ... @samp{#+END_COMMENT} will not be exported.
7453
7454@table @kbd
7455@kindex C-c ;
7456@item C-c ;
7457Toggle the COMMENT keyword at the beginning of an entry.
7458@end table
7459
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CD
7460@node Selective export, Export options, Markup rules, Exporting
7461@section Selective export
7462@cindex export, selective by tags
7463
7464You may use tags to select the parts of a document that should be exported,
7465or to exclude parts from export. This behavior is governed by two variables:
7466@code{org-export-select-tags} and @code{org-export-exclude-tags}.
7467
7468Org first checks if any of the @emph{select} tags is present in the buffer.
7469If yes, all trees that do not carry one of these tags will be excluded. If a
7470selected tree is a subtree, the heading hierarchy above it will also be
7471selected for export, but not the text below those headings.
7472
7473@noindent
7474If none of the select tags is found, the whole buffer will be selected for
7475export.
7476
7477@noindent
7478Finally, all subtrees that are marked by any of the @emph{exclude} tags will
7479be removed from the export buffer.
7480
7481@node Export options, The export dispatcher, Selective export, Exporting
b349f79f
CD
7482@section Export options
7483@cindex options, for export
7484
7485@cindex completion, of option keywords
7486The exporter recognizes special lines in the buffer which provide
7487additional information. These lines may be put anywhere in the file.
7488The whole set of lines can be inserted into the buffer with @kbd{C-c
7489C-e t}. For individual lines, a good way to make sure the keyword is
7490correct is to type @samp{#+} and then use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} completion
7491(@pxref{Completion}).
7492
7493@table @kbd
7494@kindex C-c C-e t
7495@item C-c C-e t
7496Insert template with export options, see example below.
7497@end table
7498
7499@cindex #+TITLE:
7500@cindex #+AUTHOR:
7501@cindex #+DATE:
7502@cindex #+EMAIL:
7503@cindex #+LANGUAGE:
7504@cindex #+TEXT:
7505@cindex #+OPTIONS:
7506@cindex #+LINK_UP:
7507@cindex #+LINK_HOME:
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7508@cindex #+EXPORT_SELECT_TAGS:
7509@cindex #+EXPORT_EXCLUDE_TAGS:
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7510@example
7511#+TITLE: the title to be shown (default is the buffer name)
7512#+AUTHOR: the author (default taken from @code{user-full-name})
7513#+DATE: A date, fixed, of a format string for @code{format-time-string}
7514#+EMAIL: his/her email address (default from @code{user-mail-address})
7515#+LANGUAGE: language for HTML, e.g. @samp{en} (@code{org-export-default-language})
7516#+TEXT: Some descriptive text to be inserted at the beginning.
7517#+TEXT: Several lines may be given.
7518#+OPTIONS: H:2 num:t toc:t \n:nil @@:t ::t |:t ^:t f:t TeX:t ...
7519#+LINK_UP: the ``up'' link of an exported page
7520#+LINK_HOME: the ``home'' link of an exported page
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CD
7521#+EXPORT_SELECT_TAGS: Tags that select a tree for export
7522#+EXPORT_EXCLUDE_TAGS: Tags that exclude a tree from export
b349f79f
CD
7523@end example
7524
7525@noindent
7526The OPTIONS line is a compact@footnote{If you want to configure many options
7527this way, you can use several OPTIONS lines.} form to specify export settings. Here
7528you can:
7529@cindex headline levels
7530@cindex section-numbers
7531@cindex table of contents
7532@cindex line-break preservation
7533@cindex quoted HTML tags
7534@cindex fixed-width sections
7535@cindex tables
7536@cindex @TeX{}-like syntax for sub- and superscripts
7537@cindex footnotes
7538@cindex special strings
7539@cindex emphasized text
7540@cindex @TeX{} macros
7541@cindex La@TeX{} fragments
7542@cindex author info, in export
7543@cindex time info, in export
7544@example
7545H: @r{set the number of headline levels for export}
7546num: @r{turn on/off section-numbers}
7547toc: @r{turn on/off table of contents, or set level limit (integer)}
7548\n: @r{turn on/off line-break-preservation}
7549@@: @r{turn on/off quoted HTML tags}
7550:: @r{turn on/off fixed-width sections}
7551|: @r{turn on/off tables}
7552^: @r{turn on/off @TeX{}-like syntax for sub- and superscripts. If}
7553 @r{you write "^:@{@}", @code{a_@{b@}} will be interpreted, but}
7554 @r{the simple @code{a_b} will be left as it is.}
7555-: @r{turn on/off conversion of special strings.}
7556f: @r{turn on/off footnotes like this[1].}
96c8522a
CD
7557todo: @r{turn on/off inclusion of TODO keywords into exported text}
7558pri: @r{turn on/off priority cookies}
7559tags: @r{turn on/off inclusion of tags, may also be @code{not-in-toc}}
7560<: @r{turn on/off inclusion of any time/date stamps like DEADLINES}
b349f79f
CD
7561*: @r{turn on/off emphasized text (bold, italic, underlined)}
7562TeX: @r{turn on/off simple @TeX{} macros in plain text}
7563LaTeX: @r{turn on/off La@TeX{} fragments}
7564skip: @r{turn on/off skipping the text before the first heading}
7565author: @r{turn on/off inclusion of author name/email into exported file}
dd12e1c6 7566creator: @r{turn on/off inclusion of creator info into exported file}
b349f79f
CD
7567timestamp: @r{turn on/off inclusion creation time into exported file}
7568d: @r{turn on/off inclusion of drawers}
7569@end example
7570
7571These options take effect in both the HTML and La@TeX{} export, except
7572for @code{TeX} and @code{LaTeX}, which are respectively @code{t} and
7573@code{nil} for the La@TeX{} export.
7574
7575When exporting only a single subtree by selecting it with @kbd{C-c @@} before
7576calling an export command, the subtree can overrule some of the file's export
7577settings with properties @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}, @code{EXPORT_TITLE},
7578@code{EXPORT_TEXT}, and @code{EXPORT_OPTIONS}.
7579
7580@node The export dispatcher, ASCII export, Export options, Exporting
7581@section The export dispatcher
7582@cindex dispatcher, for export commands
7583
7584All export commands can be reached using the export dispatcher, which is a
7585prefix key that prompts for an additional key specifying the command.
7586Normally the entire file is exported, but if there is an active region that
7587contains one outline tree, the first heading is used as document title and
7588the subtrees are exported.
4009494e
GM
7589
7590@table @kbd
7591@kindex C-c C-e
7592@item C-c C-e
7593Dispatcher for export and publishing commands. Displays a help-window
7594listing the additional key(s) needed to launch an export or publishing
64fb801f
CD
7595command. The prefix arg is passed through to the exporter. A double prefix
7596@kbd{C-u C-u} causes most commands to be executed in the background, in a
7597separate emacs process@footnote{To make this behavior the default, customize
7598the variable @code{org-export-run-in-background}.}.
b349f79f
CD
7599@kindex C-c C-e v
7600@item C-c C-e v
7601Like @kbd{C-c C-e}, but only export the text that is currently visible
7602(i.e. not hidden by outline visibility).
a7808fba
CD
7603@kindex C-u C-u C-c C-e
7604@item C-u C-u C-c C-e
7605Call an the exporter, but reverse the setting of
7606@code{org-export-run-in-background}, i.e. request background processing if
7607not set, or force processing in the current Emacs process if st.
4009494e
GM
7608@end table
7609
b349f79f 7610@node ASCII export, HTML export, The export dispatcher, Exporting
4009494e
GM
7611@section ASCII export
7612@cindex ASCII export
7613
a7808fba 7614ASCII export produces a simple and very readable version of an Org mode
4009494e
GM
7615file.
7616
7617@cindex region, active
7618@cindex active region
b6cb4cd5 7619@cindex transient-mark-mode
4009494e
GM
7620@table @kbd
7621@kindex C-c C-e a
7622@item C-c C-e a
7623Export as ASCII file. For an org file @file{myfile.org}, the ASCII file
7624will be @file{myfile.txt}. The file will be overwritten without
b6cb4cd5
CD
7625warning. If there is an active region@footnote{this requires
7626@code{transient-mark-mode} to be turned on}, only the region will be
b349f79f
CD
7627exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
7628current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will
4009494e 7629become the document title. If the tree head entry has or inherits an
b349f79f 7630@code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME} property, that name will be used for the
28a16a1b 7631export.
4009494e
GM
7632@kindex C-c C-e v a
7633@item C-c C-e v a
7634Export only the visible part of the document.
7635@end table
7636
7637@cindex headline levels, for exporting
7638In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become
7639headlines, defining a general document structure. Additional levels
7640will be exported as itemized lists. If you want that transition to occur
7641at a different level, specify it with a prefix argument. For example,
7642
7643@example
7644@kbd{C-1 C-c C-e a}
7645@end example
7646
7647@noindent
7648creates only top level headlines and does the rest as items. When
7649headlines are converted to items, the indentation of the text following
7650the headline is changed to fit nicely under the item. This is done with
a7808fba 7651the assumption that the first body line indicates the base indentation of
4009494e
GM
7652the body text. Any indentation larger than this is adjusted to preserve
7653the layout relative to the first line. Should there be lines with less
7654indentation than the first, these are left alone.
7655
71d35b24 7656@node HTML export, LaTeX and PDF export, ASCII export, Exporting
4009494e
GM
7657@section HTML export
7658@cindex HTML export
7659
a7808fba 7660Org mode contains an HTML (XHTML 1.0 strict) exporter with extensive
b6cb4cd5 7661HTML formatting, in ways similar to John Gruber's @emph{markdown}
4009494e
GM
7662language, but with additional support for tables.
7663
7664@menu
b349f79f 7665* HTML Export commands:: How to invoke HTML export
a7808fba 7666* Quoting HTML tags:: Using direct HTML in Org mode
4009494e 7667* Links:: Transformation of links for HTML
67df9cfb 7668* Images in HTML export::
a7808fba
CD
7669* CSS support:: Changing the appearance of the output
7670* Javascript support:: Info and Folding in a web browser
4009494e
GM
7671@end menu
7672
7673@node HTML Export commands, Quoting HTML tags, HTML export, HTML export
7674@subsection HTML export commands
7675
7676@cindex region, active
7677@cindex active region
b6cb4cd5 7678@cindex transient-mark-mode
4009494e
GM
7679@table @kbd
7680@kindex C-c C-e h
7681@item C-c C-e h
b349f79f
CD
7682Export as HTML file @file{myfile.html}. For an org file @file{myfile.org},
7683the ASCII file will be @file{myfile.html}. The file will be overwritten
b6cb4cd5
CD
7684without warning. If there is an active region@footnote{this requires
7685@code{transient-mark-mode} to be turned on}, only the region will be
b349f79f
CD
7686exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
7687current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will become the document
b6cb4cd5 7688title. If the tree head entry has, or inherits, an @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}
b349f79f 7689property, that name will be used for the export.
4009494e
GM
7690@kindex C-c C-e b
7691@item C-c C-e b
7692Export as HTML file and immediately open it with a browser.
7693@kindex C-c C-e H
7694@item C-c C-e H
7695Export to a temporary buffer, do not create a file.
7696@kindex C-c C-e R
dbc28aaa 7697@item C-c C-e R
a7808fba
CD
7698Export the active region to a temporary buffer. With a prefix argument, do
7699not produce the file header and footer, but just the plain HTML section for
7700the region. This is good for cut-and-paste operations.
4009494e
GM
7701@kindex C-c C-e v h
7702@kindex C-c C-e v b
7703@kindex C-c C-e v H
7704@kindex C-c C-e v R
7705@item C-c C-e v h
7706@item C-c C-e v b
7707@item C-c C-e v H
7708@item C-c C-e v R
7709Export only the visible part of the document.
7710@item M-x org-export-region-as-html
a7808fba 7711Convert the region to HTML under the assumption that it was Org mode
4009494e
GM
7712syntax before. This is a global command that can be invoked in any
7713buffer.
7714@item M-x org-replace-region-by-HTML
a7808fba 7715Replace the active region (assumed to be in Org mode syntax) by HTML
4009494e
GM
7716code.
7717@end table
7718
7719@cindex headline levels, for exporting
a7808fba
CD
7720In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become headlines,
7721defining a general document structure. Additional levels will be exported as
7722itemized lists. If you want that transition to occur at a different level,
7723specify it with a numeric prefix argument. For example,
4009494e
GM
7724
7725@example
7726@kbd{C-2 C-c C-e b}
7727@end example
7728
7729@noindent
7730creates two levels of headings and does the rest as items.
7731
7732@node Quoting HTML tags, Links, HTML Export commands, HTML export
7733@subsection Quoting HTML tags
7734
7735Plain @samp{<} and @samp{>} are always transformed to @samp{&lt;} and
7736@samp{&gt;} in HTML export. If you want to include simple HTML tags
7737which should be interpreted as such, mark them with @samp{@@} as in
7738@samp{@@<b>bold text@@</b>}. Note that this really works only for
7739simple tags. For more extensive HTML that should be copied verbatim to
7740the exported file use either
7741
7742@example
7743#+HTML: Literal HTML code for export
7744@end example
7745
7746@noindent or
b349f79f 7747@cindex #+BEGIN_HTML
4009494e
GM
7748
7749@example
7750#+BEGIN_HTML
7751All lines between these markers are exported literally
7752#+END_HTML
7753@end example
7754
7755
67df9cfb 7756@node Links, Images in HTML export, Quoting HTML tags, HTML export
4009494e
GM
7757@subsection Links
7758
7759@cindex links, in HTML export
7760@cindex internal links, in HTML export
7761@cindex external links, in HTML export
67df9cfb
CD
7762Internal links (@pxref{Internal links}) will continue to work in HTML.
7763Automatic links created by radio targets (@pxref{Radio targets}) will also
7764work in the HTML file. Links to external files will still work if the HTML
7765file is in the same directory as the Org file. Links to other @file{.org}
7766files will be translated into HTML links under the assumption that an HTML
7767version also exists of the linked file. For information related to linking
7768files while publishing them to a publishing directory see @ref{Publishing
7769links}.
4009494e 7770
44ce9197 7771If you want to specify attributes for links, you can do so using a special
a50253cc 7772@code{#+ATTR_HTML} line to define attributes that will be added to the
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CD
7773@code{<a>} or @code{<img>} tags. Here is an example that sets @code{alt} and
7774@code{title} attributes for an inlined image:
44ce9197
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7775
7776@example
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CD
7777#+ATTR_HTML: alt="This is image A" title="Image with no action"
7778[[./img/a.jpg]]
44ce9197
CD
7779@end example
7780
67df9cfb 7781@node Images in HTML export, CSS support, Links, HTML export
4009494e
GM
7782@subsection Images
7783
7784@cindex images, inline in HTML
7785@cindex inlining images in HTML
a7808fba 7786HTML export can inline images given as links in the Org file, and
4009494e
GM
7787it can make an image the clickable part of a link. By
7788default@footnote{but see the variable
7789@code{org-export-html-inline-images}}, images are inlined if a link does
7790not have a description. So @samp{[[file:myimg.jpg]]} will be inlined,
7791while @samp{[[file:myimg.jpg][the image]]} will just produce a link
7792@samp{the image} that points to the image. If the description part
7793itself is a @code{file:} link or a @code{http:} URL pointing to an
7794image, this image will be inlined and activated so that clicking on the
7795image will activate the link. For example, to include a thumbnail that
7796will link to a high resolution version of the image, you could use:
7797
7798@example
7799[[file:highres.jpg][file:thumb.jpg]]
7800@end example
7801
7802@noindent
7803and you could use @code{http} addresses just as well.
7804
67df9cfb 7805@node CSS support, Javascript support, Images in HTML export, HTML export
4009494e 7806@subsection CSS support
a7808fba
CD
7807@cindex CSS, for HTML export
7808@cindex HTML export, CSS
4009494e
GM
7809
7810You can also give style information for the exported file. The HTML
7811exporter assigns the following CSS classes to appropriate parts of the
7812document - your style specifications may change these:
7813@example
7814.todo @r{TODO keywords}
7815.done @r{the DONE keyword}
7816.timestamp @r{time stamp}
7817.timestamp-kwd @r{keyword associated with a time stamp, like SCHEDULED}
7818.tag @r{tag in a headline}
7819.target @r{target for links}
7820@end example
7821
44ce9197 7822Each exported files contains a compact default style that defines these
e45e3595
CD
7823classes in a basic way@footnote{This style is defined in the constant
7824@code{org-export-html-style-default}, which you should not modify. To turn
7825inclusion of these defaults off, customize
7826@code{org-export-html-style-include-default}}. You may overwrite these
7827settings, or add to them by using the variables @code{org-export-html-style}
7828(for Org-wide settings) and @code{org-export-html-style-extra} (for more
7829granular settings, like file-local settings). To set the latter variable
7830individually for each file, you can use
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GM
7831
7832@example
864c9740 7833#+STYLE: <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet.css" />
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7834@end example
7835
864c9740 7836@noindent
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7837For longer style definitions, you can use several such lines. You could also
7838directly write a @code{<style>} @code{</style>} section in this way, without
7839referring to an external file.
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7840
7841@c FIXME: More about header and footer styles
7842@c FIXME: Talk about links and targets.
7843
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7844@node Javascript support, , CSS support, HTML export
7845@subsection Javascript supported display of web pages
7846
7847@emph{Sebastian Rose} has written a JavaScript program especially designed to
7848enhance the web viewing experience of HTML files created with Org. This
b6cb4cd5 7849program allows you to view large files in two different ways. The first one is
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7850an @emph{Info}-like mode where each section is displayed separately and
7851navigation can be done with the @kbd{n} and @kbd{p} keys (and some other keys
7852as well, press @kbd{?} for an overview of the available keys). The second
b6cb4cd5 7853view type is a @emph{folding} view much like Org provides inside Emacs.
a7808fba 7854The script is available at @url{http://orgmode.org/org-info.js} and you can
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7855find the documentation for it at
7856@url{http://orgmode.org/worg/code/org-info-js/org-info.js.html}. We are
7857serving the script from our site, but if you use it a lot, you might not want
7858to be dependent on @url{orgmode.org} and prefer to install a local copy on
7859your own web server.
a7808fba 7860
b349f79f 7861To use the script, you need to make sure that the @file{org-jsinfo.el} module
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7862gets loaded. It should be loaded by default, but you can try @kbd{M-x
7863customize-variable @key{RET} org-modules @key{RET}} to convince yourself that
7864this is indeed the case. All it then takes to make use of the program is
7865adding a single line to the Org file:
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7866
7867@example
b349f79f 7868#+INFOJS_OPT: view:info toc:nil
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7869@end example
7870
7871@noindent
7872If this line is found, the HTML header will automatically contain the code
7873needed to invoke the script. Using the line above, you can set the following
7874viewing options:
7875
7876@example
7877path: @r{The path to the script. The default is to grab the script from}
7878 @r{@url{http://orgmode.org/org-info.js}, but you might want to have}
7879 @r{a local copy and use a path like @samp{../scripts/org-info.js}.}
b349f79f 7880view: @r{Initial view when website is first shown. Possible values are:}
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7881 info @r{Info-like interface with one section per page.}
7882 overview @r{Folding interface, initially showing only top-level.}
7883 content @r{Folding interface, starting with all headlines visible.}
7884 showall @r{Folding interface, all headlines and text visible.}
7885sdepth: @r{Maximum headline level that will still become an independent}
7886 @r{section for info and folding modes. The default is taken from}
7887 @r{@code{org-headline-levels} (= the @code{H} switch in @code{#+OPTIONS}).}
7888 @r{If this is smaller than in @code{org-headline-levels}, each}
7889 @r{info/folding section can still contain children headlines.}
7890toc: @r{Should the table of content @emph{initially} be visible?}
7891 @r{Even when @code{nil}, you can always get to the toc with @kbd{i}.}
7892tdepth: @r{The depth of the table of contents. The defaults are taken from}
7893 @r{the variables @code{org-headline-levels} and @code{org-export-with-toc}.}
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7894ftoc: @r{Does the css of the page specify a fixed position for the toc?}
7895 @r{If yes, the toc will never be displayed as a section.}
a7808fba
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7896ltoc: @r{Should there be short contents (children) in each section?}
7897mouse: @r{Headings are highlighted when the mouse is over them. Should be}
7898 @r{@samp{underline} (default) or a background color like @samp{#cccccc}.}
7899buttons: @r{Should view-toggle buttons be everywhere? When @code{nil} (the}
7900 @r{default), only one such button will be present.}
7901@end example
7902
7903You can choose default values for these options by customizing the variable
7904@code{org-infojs-options}. If you always want to apply the script to your
7905pages, configure the variable @code{org-export-html-use-infojs}.
7906
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7907@node LaTeX and PDF export, XOXO export, HTML export, Exporting
7908@section LaTeX and PDF export
4009494e 7909@cindex LaTeX export
71d35b24 7910@cindex PDF export
4009494e 7911
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7912Org mode contains a La@TeX{} exporter written by Bastien Guerry. With
7913further processing, this backend is also used to produce PDF output. Since
7914the LaTeX output uses @file{hyperref} to implement links and cross
7915references, the PDF output file will be fully linked.
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7916
7917@menu
a50253cc 7918* LaTeX/PDF export commands:: Which key invokes which commands
4009494e 7919* Quoting LaTeX code:: Incorporating literal LaTeX code
a7808fba 7920* Sectioning structure:: Changing sectioning in LaTeX output
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7921* Tables in LaTeX export:: Options for exporting tables to LaTeX
7922* Images in LaTeX export:: How to insert figures into LaTeX output
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7923@end menu
7924
71d35b24 7925@node LaTeX/PDF export commands, Quoting LaTeX code, LaTeX and PDF export, LaTeX and PDF export
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7926@subsection LaTeX export commands
7927
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7928@cindex region, active
7929@cindex active region
7930@cindex transient-mark-mode
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7931@table @kbd
7932@kindex C-c C-e l
7933@item C-c C-e l
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7934Export as La@TeX{} file @file{myfile.tex}. For an org file
7935@file{myfile.org}, the ASCII file will be @file{myfile.tex}. The file will
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7936be overwritten without warning. If there is an active region@footnote{this
7937requires @code{transient-mark-mode} to be turned on}, only the region will be
7938exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
7939current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will become the document
7940title. If the tree head entry has or inherits an @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}
7941property, that name will be used for the export.
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7942@kindex C-c C-e L
7943@item C-c C-e L
7944Export to a temporary buffer, do not create a file.
7945@kindex C-c C-e v l
7946@kindex C-c C-e v L
7947@item C-c C-e v l
7948@item C-c C-e v L
7949Export only the visible part of the document.
7950@item M-x org-export-region-as-latex
a7808fba 7951Convert the region to La@TeX{} under the assumption that it was Org mode
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7952syntax before. This is a global command that can be invoked in any
7953buffer.
7954@item M-x org-replace-region-by-latex
a7808fba 7955Replace the active region (assumed to be in Org mode syntax) by La@TeX{}
4009494e 7956code.
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7957@kindex C-c C-e p
7958@item C-c C-e p
7959Export as LaTeX and then process to PDF.
7960@kindex C-c C-e d
7961@item C-c C-e d
7962Export as LaTeX and then process to PDF, then open the resulting PDF file.
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7963@end table
7964
7965@cindex headline levels, for exporting
7966In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become
7967headlines, defining a general document structure. Additional levels
7968will be exported as description lists. The exporter can ignore them or
7969convert them to a custom string depending on
7970@code{org-latex-low-levels}.
7971
7972If you want that transition to occur at a different level, specify it
a7808fba 7973with a numeric prefix argument. For example,
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7974
7975@example
7976@kbd{C-2 C-c C-e l}
7977@end example
7978
7979@noindent
7980creates two levels of headings and does the rest as items.
7981
71d35b24 7982@node Quoting LaTeX code, Sectioning structure, LaTeX/PDF export commands, LaTeX and PDF export
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7983@subsection Quoting LaTeX code
7984
7985Embedded La@TeX{} as described in @ref{Embedded LaTeX} will be correctly
a7808fba 7986inserted into the La@TeX{} file. Furthermore, you can add special code
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7987that should only be present in La@TeX{} export with the following
7988constructs:
7989
7990@example
7991#+LaTeX: Literal LaTeX code for export
7992@end example
7993
7994@noindent or
b349f79f 7995@cindex #+BEGIN_LaTeX
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7996
7997@example
7998#+BEGIN_LaTeX
7999All lines between these markers are exported literally
8000#+END_LaTeX
8001@end example
dbc28aaa 8002
67df9cfb 8003@node Sectioning structure, Tables in LaTeX export, Quoting LaTeX code, LaTeX and PDF export
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8004@subsection Sectioning structure
8005@cindex LaTeX class
8006@cindex LaTeX sectioning structure
8007
8008By default, the La@TeX{} output uses the class @code{article}.
8009
8010You can change this globally by setting a different value for
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8011@code{org-export-latex-default-class} or locally by adding an option like
8012@code{#+LaTeX_CLASS: myclass} in your file. The class should be listed in
8013@code{org-export-latex-classes}, where you can also define the sectioning
a50253cc 8014structure for each class, as well as defining additional classes.
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8015
8016
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8017@node Tables in LaTeX export, Images in LaTeX export, Sectioning structure, LaTeX and PDF export
8018@subsection Tables in LaTeX export
8019@cindex tables, in LaTeX export
8020
8021For LaTeX export of a table, you can specify a label and a caption
8022(@pxref{Tables exported}). You can also use the @code{ATTR_LaTeX} line to
8023request a longtable environment for the table, so that it may span several
8024pages:
8025
8026@example
8027#+CAPTION: A long table
8028#+LABEL: tbl:long
8029#+ATTR_LaTeX: longtable
8030| ..... | ..... |
8031| ..... | ..... |
8032@end example
8033
8034
8035@node Images in LaTeX export, , Tables in LaTeX export, LaTeX and PDF export
8036@subsection Images in LaTeX export
8037@cindex images, inline in LaTeX
8038@cindex inlining images in LaTeX
8039
8040Images that are linked to without a description part in the link, like
8041@samp{[[file:img.jpg]]} or @samp{[[./img.jpg]]} will be inserted into the PDF
8042output files resulting from LaTeX output. Org will use an
8043@code{\includegraphics} macro to insert the image. If you have specified a
8044caption and/or a label as described in @ref{Markup rules}, the figure will
a50253cc 8045be wrapped into a @code{figure} environment and thus become a floating
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8046element. Finally, you can use an @code{#+ATTR_LaTeX:} line to specify the
8047options that can be used in the optional argument of the
8048@code{\includegraphics} macro.
8049
8050@example
8051#+CAPTION: The black-body emission of the disk around HR 4049
8052#+LABEL: fig:SED-HR4049
8053#+ATTR_LaTeX: width=5cm,angle=90
8054[[./img/sed-hr4049.pdf]]
8055@end example
8056
8057
71d35b24 8058@node XOXO export, iCalendar export, LaTeX and PDF export, Exporting
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8059@section XOXO export
8060@cindex XOXO export
8061
a7808fba 8062Org mode contains an exporter that produces XOXO-style output.
4009494e 8063Currently, this exporter only handles the general outline structure and
a7808fba 8064does not interpret any additional Org mode features.
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8065
8066@table @kbd
8067@kindex C-c C-e x
8068@item C-c C-e x
8069Export as XOXO file @file{myfile.html}.
8070@kindex C-c C-e v
8071@item C-c C-e v x
8072Export only the visible part of the document.
8073@end table
8074
b349f79f 8075@node iCalendar export, , XOXO export, Exporting
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8076@section iCalendar export
8077@cindex iCalendar export
8078
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8079Some people like to use Org mode for keeping track of projects, but still
8080prefer a standard calendar application for anniversaries and appointments.
8081In this case it can be useful to have deadlines and other time-stamped items
8082in Org files show up in the calendar application. Org mode can export
8083calendar information in the standard iCalendar format. If you also want to
8084have TODO entries included in the export, configure the variable
8085@code{org-icalendar-include-todo}. iCalendar export will export plain time
8086stamps as VEVENT, and TODO items as VTODO. It will also create events from
8087deadlines that are in non-TODO items. Deadlines and scheduling dates in TODO
8088items will be used to set the start and due dates for the todo
8089entry@footnote{See the variables @code{org-icalendar-use-deadline} and
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8090@code{org-icalendar-use-scheduled}.}. As categories, it will use the tags
8091locally defined in the heading, and the file/tree category@footnote{To add
8092inherited tags or the TODO state, configure the variable
96c8522a 8093@code{org-icalendar-categories}.}.
4009494e 8094
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8095The iCalendar standard requires each entry to have a globally unique
8096identifier (UID). Org creates these identifiers during export. If you set
8097the variable @code{org-icalendar-store-UID}, the UID will be stored in the
8098@code{:ID:} property of the entry and re-used next time you report this
8099entry. Since a single entry can give rise to multiple iCalendar entries (as
8100a timestamp, a deadline, a scheduled item, and as a TODO item), Org adds
8101prefixes to the UID, depending on what triggered the inclusion of the entry.
8102In this way the UID remains unique, but a synchronization program can still
8103figure out from which entry all the different instances originate.
8104
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8105@table @kbd
8106@kindex C-c C-e i
8107@item C-c C-e i
8108Create iCalendar entries for the current file and store them in the same
8109directory, using a file extension @file{.ics}.
8110@kindex C-c C-e I
8111@item C-c C-e I
8112Like @kbd{C-c C-e i}, but do this for all files in
8113@code{org-agenda-files}. For each of these files, a separate iCalendar
8114file will be written.
8115@kindex C-c C-e c
8116@item C-c C-e c
8117Create a single large iCalendar file from all files in
8118@code{org-agenda-files} and write it to the file given by
8119@code{org-combined-agenda-icalendar-file}.
8120@end table
8121
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8122The export will honor SUMMARY, DESCRIPTION and LOCATION@footnote{The LOCATION
8123property can be inherited from higher in the hierarchy if you configure
8124@code{org-use-property-inheritance} accordingly.} properties if the selected
8125entries have them. If not, the summary will be derived from the headline,
8126and the description from the body (limited to
28a16a1b 8127@code{org-icalendar-include-body} characters).
dbc28aaa 8128
44ce9197 8129How this calendar is best read and updated, that depends on the application
4009494e
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8130you are using. The FAQ covers this issue.
8131
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8132@node Publishing, Miscellaneous, Exporting, Top
8133@chapter Publishing
8134@cindex publishing
8135
a7808fba 8136Org includes@footnote{@file{org-publish.el} is not distributed with
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8137Emacs 21, if you are still using Emacs 21, you need you need to download
8138this file separately.} a publishing management system that allows you to
8139configure automatic HTML conversion of @emph{projects} composed of
8140interlinked org files. This system is called @emph{org-publish}. You can
8141also configure org-publish to automatically upload your exported HTML
8142pages and related attachments, such as images and source code files, to
a7808fba 8143a web server. Org-publish turns Org into a web-site authoring tool.
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8144
8145You can also use Org-publish to convert files into La@TeX{}, or even
8146combine HTML and La@TeX{} conversion so that files are available in both
8147formats on the server@footnote{Since La@TeX{} files on a server are not
8148that helpful, you surely want to perform further conversion on them --
8149e.g. convert them to @code{PDF} format.}.
8150
a7808fba 8151Org-publish has been contributed to Org by David O'Toole.
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8152
8153@menu
8154* Configuration:: Defining projects
8155* Sample configuration:: Example projects
8156* Triggering publication:: Publication commands
8157@end menu
8158
8159@node Configuration, Sample configuration, Publishing, Publishing
8160@section Configuration
8161
8162Publishing needs significant configuration to specify files, destination
8163and many other properties of a project.
8164
8165@menu
8166* Project alist:: The central configuration variable
8167* Sources and destinations:: From here to there
8168* Selecting files:: What files are part of the project?
8169* Publishing action:: Setting the function doing the publishing
8170* Publishing options:: Tweaking HTML export
8171* Publishing links:: Which links keep working after publishing?
8172* Project page index:: Publishing a list of project files
8173@end menu
8174
8175@node Project alist, Sources and destinations, Configuration, Configuration
8176@subsection The variable @code{org-publish-project-alist}
8177@cindex org-publish-project-alist
8178@cindex projects, for publishing
8179
8180Org-publish is configured almost entirely through setting the value of
8181one variable, called @code{org-publish-project-alist}.
8182Each element of the list configures one project, and may be in one of
8183the two following forms:
8184
8185@lisp
dbc28aaa 8186("project-name" :property value :property value ...)
4009494e 8187
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8188@r{or}
8189
dbc28aaa 8190("project-name" :components ("project-name" "project-name" ...))
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8191
8192@end lisp
8193
8194In both cases, projects are configured by specifying property values.
8195A project defines the set of files that will be published, as well as
8196the publishing configuration to use when publishing those files. When
8197a project takes the second form listed above, the individual members
8198of the ``components'' property are taken to be components of the
8199project, which group together files requiring different publishing
8200options. When you publish such a ``meta-project'' all the components
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8201will also publish. The @code{:components} are published in the sequence
8202provided.
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8203
8204@node Sources and destinations, Selecting files, Project alist, Configuration
8205@subsection Sources and destinations for files
8206@cindex directories, for publishing
8207
8208Most properties are optional, but some should always be set. In
8209particular, org-publish needs to know where to look for source files,
8210and where to put published files.
8211
8212@multitable @columnfractions 0.3 0.7
8213@item @code{:base-directory}
8214@tab Directory containing publishing source files
8215@item @code{:publishing-directory}
8216@tab Directory (possibly remote) where output files will be published.
8217@item @code{:preparation-function}
b349f79f 8218@tab Function called before starting the publishing process, for example to
4009494e 8219run @code{make} for updating files to be published.
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8220@item @code{:completion-function}
8221@tab Function called after finishing the publishing process, for example to
8222change permissions of the resulting files.
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8223@end multitable
8224@noindent
8225
8226@node Selecting files, Publishing action, Sources and destinations, Configuration
8227@subsection Selecting files
8228@cindex files, selecting for publishing
8229
8230By default, all files with extension @file{.org} in the base directory
8231are considered part of the project. This can be modified by setting the
28a16a1b 8232properties
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8233@multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
8234@item @code{:base-extension}
8235@tab Extension (without the dot!) of source files. This actually is a
8236regular expression.
8237
28a16a1b 8238@item @code{:exclude}
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8239@tab Regular expression to match file names that should not be
8240published, even though they have been selected on the basis of their
8241extension.
8242
8243@item @code{:include}
8244@tab List of files to be included regardless of @code{:base-extension}
8245and @code{:exclude}.
8246@end multitable
8247
8248@node Publishing action, Publishing options, Selecting files, Configuration
a7808fba 8249@subsection Publishing action
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8250@cindex action, for publishing
8251
8252Publishing means that a file is copied to the destination directory and
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8253possibly transformed in the process. The default transformation is to export
8254Org files as HTML files, and this is done by the function
8255@code{org-publish-org-to-html} which calls the HTML exporter (@pxref{HTML
8256export}). But you also can publish your files in La@TeX{} by using the
8257function @code{org-publish-org-to-latex} instead, or as PDF files using
8258@code{org-publish-org-to-pdf}. Other files like images only need to be
8259copied to the publishing destination. For non-Org files, you need to provide
8260your own publishing function:
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8261
8262@multitable @columnfractions 0.3 0.7
8263@item @code{:publishing-function}
8264@tab Function executing the publication of a file. This may also be a
8265list of functions, which will all be called in turn.
8266@end multitable
8267
8268The function must accept two arguments: a property list containing at
8269least a @code{:publishing-directory} property, and the name of the file
8270to be published. It should take the specified file, make the necessary
8271transformation (if any) and place the result into the destination folder.
8272You can write your own publishing function, but @code{org-publish}
8273provides one for attachments (files that only need to be copied):
8274@code{org-publish-attachment}.
8275
8276@node Publishing options, Publishing links, Publishing action, Configuration
8277@subsection Options for the HTML/LaTeX exporters
8278@cindex options, for publishing
8279
8280The property list can be used to set many export options for the HTML
8281and La@TeX{} exporters. In most cases, these properties correspond to user
a7808fba 8282variables in Org. The table below lists these properties along
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8283with the variable they belong to. See the documentation string for the
8284respective variable for details.
8285
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8286@multitable @columnfractions 0.32 0.68
8287@item @code{:link-up} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-up}
8288@item @code{:link-home} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-home}
4009494e 8289@item @code{:language} @tab @code{org-export-default-language}
96c8522a 8290@item @code{:customtime} @tab @code{org-display-custom-times}
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8291@item @code{:headline-levels} @tab @code{org-export-headline-levels}
8292@item @code{:section-numbers} @tab @code{org-export-with-section-numbers}
96c8522a 8293@item @code{:section-number-format} @tab @code{org-export-section-number-format}
4009494e 8294@item @code{:table-of-contents} @tab @code{org-export-with-toc}
96c8522a 8295@item @code{:preserve-breaks} @tab @code{org-export-preserve-breaks}
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8296@item @code{:archived-trees} @tab @code{org-export-with-archived-trees}
8297@item @code{:emphasize} @tab @code{org-export-with-emphasize}
8298@item @code{:sub-superscript} @tab @code{org-export-with-sub-superscripts}
dbc28aaa 8299@item @code{:special-strings} @tab @code{org-export-with-special-strings}
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8300@item @code{:footnotes} @tab @code{org-export-with-footnotes}
8301@item @code{:drawers} @tab @code{org-export-with-drawers}
8302@item @code{:tags} @tab @code{org-export-with-tags}
8303@item @code{:todo-keywords} @tab @code{org-export-with-todo-keywords}
8304@item @code{:priority} @tab @code{org-export-with-priority}
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8305@item @code{:TeX-macros} @tab @code{org-export-with-TeX-macros}
8306@item @code{:LaTeX-fragments} @tab @code{org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments}
96c8522a 8307@item @code{:skip-before-1st-heading} @tab @code{org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading}
4009494e 8308@item @code{:fixed-width} @tab @code{org-export-with-fixed-width}
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8309@item @code{:timestamps} @tab @code{org-export-with-timestamps}
8310@item @code{:author-info} @tab @code{org-export-author-info}
8311@item @code{:creator-info} @tab @code{org-export-creator-info}
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8312@item @code{:tables} @tab @code{org-export-with-tables}
8313@item @code{:table-auto-headline} @tab @code{org-export-highlight-first-table-line}
e45e3595 8314@item @code{:style-include-default} @tab @code{org-export-html-style-include-default}
4009494e 8315@item @code{:style} @tab @code{org-export-html-style}
44ce9197 8316@item @code{:style-extra} @tab @code{org-export-html-style-extra}
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8317@item @code{:convert-org-links} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-org-files-as-html}
8318@item @code{:inline-images} @tab @code{org-export-html-inline-images}
96c8522a
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8319@item @code{:html-extension} @tab @code{org-export-html-extension}
8320@item @code{:html-table-tag} @tab @code{org-export-html-table-tag}
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8321@item @code{:expand-quoted-html} @tab @code{org-export-html-expand}
8322@item @code{:timestamp} @tab @code{org-export-html-with-timestamp}
8323@item @code{:publishing-directory} @tab @code{org-export-publishing-directory}
8324@item @code{:preamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-preamble}
8325@item @code{:postamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-postamble}
8326@item @code{:auto-preamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-auto-preamble}
8327@item @code{:auto-postamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-auto-postamble}
8328@item @code{:author} @tab @code{user-full-name}
8329@item @code{:email} @tab @code{user-mail-address}
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CD
8330@item @code{:select-tags} @tab @code{org-export-select-tags}
8331@item @code{:exclude-tags} @tab @code{org-export-exclude-tags}
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8332@end multitable
8333
dbc28aaa
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8334If you use several email addresses, separate them by a semi-column.
8335
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8336Most of the @code{org-export-with-*} variables have the same effect in
8337both HTML and La@TeX{} exporters, except for @code{:TeX-macros} and
8338@code{:LaTeX-fragments}, respectively @code{nil} and @code{t} in the
8339La@TeX{} export.
8340
dbc28aaa
CD
8341When a property is given a value in @code{org-publish-project-alist},
8342its setting overrides the value of the corresponding user variable (if
8343any) during publishing. Options set within a file (@pxref{Export
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8344options}), however, override everything.
8345
8346@node Publishing links, Project page index, Publishing options, Configuration
8347@subsection Links between published files
8348@cindex links, publishing
8349
a7808fba 8350To create a link from one Org file to another, you would use
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8351something like @samp{[[file:foo.org][The foo]]} or simply
8352@samp{file:foo.org.} (@pxref{Hyperlinks}). Upon publishing this link
8353becomes a link to @file{foo.html}. In this way, you can interlink the
8354pages of your "org web" project and the links will work as expected when
8355you publish them to HTML.
8356
8357You may also link to related files, such as images. Provided you are
8358careful with relative pathnames, and provided you have also configured
dbc28aaa 8359@code{org-publish} to upload the related files, these links will work
b6cb4cd5 8360too. See @ref{Complex example} for an example of this usage.
4009494e 8361
a7808fba 8362Sometime an Org file to be published may contain links that are
4009494e 8363only valid in your production environment, but not in the publishing
28a16a1b 8364location. In this case, use the property
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GM
8365
8366@multitable @columnfractions 0.4 0.6
8367@item @code{:link-validation-function}
8368@tab Function to validate links
8369@end multitable
8370
8371@noindent
8372to define a function for checking link validity. This function must
8373accept two arguments, the file name and a directory relative to which
8374the file name is interpreted in the production environment. If this
8375function returns @code{nil}, then the HTML generator will only insert a
8376description into the HTML file, but no link. One option for this
8377function is @code{org-publish-validate-link} which checks if the given
8378file is part of any project in @code{org-publish-project-alist}.
8379
8380@node Project page index, , Publishing links, Configuration
8381@subsection Project page index
8382@cindex index, of published pages
8383
8384The following properties may be used to control publishing of an
8385index of files or summary page for a given project.
8386
8387@multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
8388@item @code{:auto-index}
8389@tab When non-nil, publish an index during org-publish-current-project or
8390org-publish-all.
8391
8392@item @code{:index-filename}
8393@tab Filename for output of index. Defaults to @file{index.org} (which
8394becomes @file{index.html}).
8395
8396@item @code{:index-title}
8397@tab Title of index page. Defaults to name of file.
8398
8399@item @code{:index-function}
a7808fba 8400@tab Plug-in function to use for generation of index.
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8401Defaults to @code{org-publish-org-index}, which generates a plain list
8402of links to all files in the project.
8403@end multitable
8404
8405@node Sample configuration, Triggering publication, Configuration, Publishing
8406@section Sample configuration
8407
8408Below we provide two example configurations. The first one is a simple
a7808fba 8409project publishing only a set of Org files. The second example is
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8410more complex, with a multi-component project.
8411
8412@menu
8413* Simple example:: One-component publishing
8414* Complex example:: A multi-component publishing example
8415@end menu
8416
8417@node Simple example, Complex example, Sample configuration, Sample configuration
8418@subsection Example: simple publishing configuration
8419
a7808fba 8420This example publishes a set of Org files to the @file{public_html}
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8421directory on the local machine.
8422
8423@lisp
8424(setq org-publish-project-alist
28a16a1b 8425 '(("org"
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8426 :base-directory "~/org/"
8427 :publishing-directory "~/public_html"
8428 :section-numbers nil
8429 :table-of-contents nil
e45e3595 8430 :style "<link rel=\"stylesheet\"
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8431 href=\"../other/mystyle.css\"
8432 type=\"text/css\">")))
8433@end lisp
8434
8435@node Complex example, , Simple example, Sample configuration
8436@subsection Example: complex publishing configuration
8437
8438This more complicated example publishes an entire website, including
8439org files converted to HTML, image files, emacs lisp source code, and
a7808fba 8440style sheets. The publishing-directory is remote and private files are
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8441excluded.
8442
8443To ensure that links are preserved, care should be taken to replicate
8444your directory structure on the web server, and to use relative file
8445paths. For example, if your org files are kept in @file{~/org} and your
8446publishable images in @file{~/images}, you'd link to an image with
8447@c
8448@example
8449file:../images/myimage.png
8450@end example
8451@c
8452On the web server, the relative path to the image should be the
8453same. You can accomplish this by setting up an "images" folder in the
a7808fba 8454right place on the web server, and publishing images to it.
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8455
8456@lisp
8457(setq org-publish-project-alist
8458 '(("orgfiles"
8459 :base-directory "~/org/"
8460 :base-extension "org"
8461 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/notebook/"
8462 :publishing-function org-publish-org-to-html
8463 :exclude "PrivatePage.org" ;; regexp
8464 :headline-levels 3
8465 :section-numbers nil
8466 :table-of-contents nil
e45e3595 8467 :style "<link rel=\"stylesheet\"
4009494e
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8468 href=\"../other/mystyle.css\" type=\"text/css\">"
8469 :auto-preamble t
8470 :auto-postamble nil)
28a16a1b 8471
4009494e
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8472 ("images"
8473 :base-directory "~/images/"
8474 :base-extension "jpg\\|gif\\|png"
8475 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/images/"
8476 :publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
28a16a1b 8477
4009494e
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8478 ("other"
8479 :base-directory "~/other/"
8480 :base-extension "css\\|el"
8481 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/other/"
8482 :publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
8483 ("website" :components ("orgfiles" "images" "other"))))
8484@end lisp
8485
8486@node Triggering publication, , Sample configuration, Publishing
8487@section Triggering publication
8488
8489Once org-publish is properly configured, you can publish with the
28a16a1b 8490following functions:
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8491
8492@table @kbd
8493@item C-c C-e C
8494Prompt for a specific project and publish all files that belong to it.
8495@item C-c C-e P
8496Publish the project containing the current file.
8497@item C-c C-e F
8498Publish only the current file.
8499@item C-c C-e A
8500Publish all projects.
8501@end table
8502
8503Org uses timestamps to track when a file has changed. The above
8504functions normally only publish changed files. You can override this and
8505force publishing of all files by giving a prefix argument.
8506
b349f79f 8507@node Miscellaneous, Extensions, Publishing, Top
4009494e
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8508@chapter Miscellaneous
8509
8510@menu
8511* Completion:: M-TAB knows what you need
a7808fba 8512* Customization:: Adapting Org to your taste
4009494e
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8513* In-buffer settings:: Overview of the #+KEYWORDS
8514* The very busy C-c C-c key:: When in doubt, press C-c C-c
8515* Clean view:: Getting rid of leading stars in the outline
a7808fba 8516* TTY keys:: Using Org on a tty
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8517* Interaction:: Other Emacs packages
8518* Bugs:: Things which do not work perfectly
8519@end menu
8520
8521@node Completion, Customization, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous
8522@section Completion
8523@cindex completion, of @TeX{} symbols
8524@cindex completion, of TODO keywords
8525@cindex completion, of dictionary words
8526@cindex completion, of option keywords
8527@cindex completion, of tags
8528@cindex completion, of property keys
8529@cindex completion, of link abbreviations
8530@cindex @TeX{} symbol completion
8531@cindex TODO keywords completion
8532@cindex dictionary word completion
8533@cindex option keyword completion
8534@cindex tag completion
8535@cindex link abbreviations, completion of
8536
a7808fba 8537Org supports in-buffer completion. This type of completion does
4009494e
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8538not make use of the minibuffer. You simply type a few letters into
8539the buffer and use the key to complete text right there.
8540
8541@table @kbd
8542@kindex M-@key{TAB}
8543@item M-@key{TAB}
8544Complete word at point
8545@itemize @bullet
8546@item
8547At the beginning of a headline, complete TODO keywords.
8548@item
8549After @samp{\}, complete @TeX{} symbols supported by the exporter.
8550@item
8551After @samp{*}, complete headlines in the current buffer so that they
8552can be used in search links like @samp{[[*find this headline]]}.
8553@item
8554After @samp{:} in a headline, complete tags. The list of tags is taken
8555from the variable @code{org-tag-alist} (possibly set through the
8556@samp{#+TAGS} in-buffer option, @pxref{Setting tags}), or it is created
8557dynamically from all tags used in the current buffer.
8558@item
8559After @samp{:} and not in a headline, complete property keys. The list
8560of keys is constructed dynamically from all keys used in the current
8561buffer.
8562@item
8563After @samp{[}, complete link abbreviations (@pxref{Link abbreviations}).
8564@item
8565After @samp{#+}, complete the special keywords like @samp{TYP_TODO} or
a7808fba 8566@samp{OPTIONS} which set file-specific options for Org mode. When the
4009494e
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8567option keyword is already complete, pressing @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} again
8568will insert example settings for this keyword.
8569@item
8570In the line after @samp{#+STARTUP: }, complete startup keywords,
8571i.e. valid keys for this line.
8572@item
a7808fba 8573Elsewhere, complete dictionary words using Ispell.
4009494e
GM
8574@end itemize
8575@end table
8576
8577@node Customization, In-buffer settings, Completion, Miscellaneous
8578@section Customization
8579@cindex customization
8580@cindex options, for customization
8581@cindex variables, for customization
8582
8583There are more than 180 variables that can be used to customize
a7808fba 8584Org. For the sake of compactness of the manual, I am not
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8585describing the variables here. A structured overview of customization
8586variables is available with @kbd{M-x org-customize}. Or select
8587@code{Browse Org Group} from the @code{Org->Customization} menu. Many
8588settings can also be activated on a per-file basis, by putting special
8589lines into the buffer (@pxref{In-buffer settings}).
8590
8591@node In-buffer settings, The very busy C-c C-c key, Customization, Miscellaneous
8592@section Summary of in-buffer settings
8593@cindex in-buffer settings
8594@cindex special keywords
8595
a7808fba 8596Org mode uses special lines in the buffer to define settings on a
4009494e
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8597per-file basis. These lines start with a @samp{#+} followed by a
8598keyword, a colon, and then individual words defining a setting. Several
8599setting words can be in the same line, but you can also have multiple
8600lines for the keyword. While these settings are described throughout
8601the manual, here is a summary. After changing any of those lines in the
8602buffer, press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the line to
8603activate the changes immediately. Otherwise they become effective only
8604when the file is visited again in a new Emacs session.
8605
8606@table @kbd
8607@item #+ARCHIVE: %s_done::
8608This line sets the archive location for the agenda file. It applies for
8609all subsequent lines until the next @samp{#+ARCHIVE} line, or the end
8610of the file. The first such line also applies to any entries before it.
8611The corresponding variable is @code{org-archive-location}.
8612@item #+CATEGORY:
8613This line sets the category for the agenda file. The category applies
8614for all subsequent lines until the next @samp{#+CATEGORY} line, or the
8615end of the file. The first such line also applies to any entries before it.
8616@item #+COLUMNS: %25ITEM .....
8617Set the default format for columns view. This format applies when
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CD
8618columns view is invoked in location where no @code{COLUMNS} property
8619applies.
4009494e
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8620@item #+CONSTANTS: name1=value1 ...
8621Set file-local values for constants to be used in table formulas. This
8622line set the local variable @code{org-table-formula-constants-local}.
dbc28aaa 8623The global version of this variable is
4009494e 8624@code{org-table-formula-constants}.
b349f79f
CD
8625@item #+FILETAGS: :tag1:tag2:tag3:
8626Set tags that can be inherited by any entry in the file, including the
8627top-level entries.
dbc28aaa
CD
8628@item #+DRAWERS: NAME1 .....
8629Set the file-local set of drawers. The corresponding global variable is
8630@code{org-drawers}.
4009494e
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8631@item #+LINK: linkword replace
8632These lines (several are allowed) specify link abbreviations.
8633@xref{Link abbreviations}. The corresponding variable is
8634@code{org-link-abbrev-alist}.
8635@item #+PRIORITIES: highest lowest default
8636This line sets the limits and the default for the priorities. All three
8637must be either letters A-Z or numbers 0-9. The highest priority must
8638have a lower ASCII number that the lowest priority.
8639@item #+PROPERTY: Property_Name Value
8640This line sets a default inheritance value for entries in the current
8641buffer, most useful for specifying the allowed values of a property.
b349f79f
CD
8642@item #+SETUPFILE: file
8643This line defines a file that holds more in-buffer setup. Normally this is
8644entirely ignored. Only when the buffer is parsed for option-setting lines
8645(i.e. when starting Org mode for a file, when pressing @kbd{C-c C-c} in a
8646settings line, or when exporting), then the contents of this file are parsed
a50253cc 8647as if they had been included in the buffer. In particular, the file can be
b349f79f
CD
8648any other Org mode file with internal setup. You can visit the file the
8649cursor is in the line with @kbd{C-c '}.
4009494e 8650@item #+STARTUP:
a7808fba
CD
8651This line sets options to be used at startup of Org mode, when an
8652Org file is being visited. The first set of options deals with the
4009494e
GM
8653initial visibility of the outline tree. The corresponding variable for
8654global default settings is @code{org-startup-folded}, with a default
8655value @code{t}, which means @code{overview}.
8656@cindex @code{overview}, STARTUP keyword
8657@cindex @code{content}, STARTUP keyword
8658@cindex @code{showall}, STARTUP keyword
8659@example
8660overview @r{top-level headlines only}
8661content @r{all headlines}
8662showall @r{no folding at all, show everything}
8663@end example
8664Then there are options for aligning tables upon visiting a file. This
8665is useful in files containing narrowed table columns. The corresponding
8666variable is @code{org-startup-align-all-tables}, with a default value
28a16a1b 8667@code{nil}.
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GM
8668@cindex @code{align}, STARTUP keyword
8669@cindex @code{noalign}, STARTUP keyword
8670@example
8671align @r{align all tables}
8672noalign @r{don't align tables on startup}
8673@end example
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CD
8674Logging closing and reinstating TODO items, and clock intervals
8675(variables @code{org-log-done}, @code{org-log-note-clock-out}, and
8676@code{org-log-repeat}) can be configured using these options.
4009494e 8677@cindex @code{logdone}, STARTUP keyword
4009494e 8678@cindex @code{lognotedone}, STARTUP keyword
28a16a1b 8679@cindex @code{nologdone}, STARTUP keyword
4009494e 8680@cindex @code{lognoteclock-out}, STARTUP keyword
28a16a1b 8681@cindex @code{nolognoteclock-out}, STARTUP keyword
4009494e 8682@cindex @code{logrepeat}, STARTUP keyword
28a16a1b 8683@cindex @code{lognoterepeat}, STARTUP keyword
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GM
8684@cindex @code{nologrepeat}, STARTUP keyword
8685@example
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CD
8686logdone @r{record a timestamp when an item is marked DONE}
8687lognotedone @r{record timestamp and a note when DONE}
8688nologdone @r{don't record when items are marked DONE}
8689logrepeat @r{record a time when reinstating a repeating item}
8690lognoterepeat @r{record a note when reinstating a repeating item}
8691nologrepeat @r{do not record when reinstating repeating item}
8692lognoteclock-out @r{record a note when clocking out}
8693nolognoteclock-out @r{don't record a note when clocking out}
4009494e 8694@end example
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CD
8695Here are the options for hiding leading stars in outline headings, and for
8696indenting outlines. The corresponding variables are
8697@code{org-hide-leading-stars} and @code{org-odd-levels-only}, both with a
8698default setting @code{nil} (meaning @code{showstars} and @code{oddeven}).
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8699@cindex @code{hidestars}, STARTUP keyword
8700@cindex @code{showstars}, STARTUP keyword
8701@cindex @code{odd}, STARTUP keyword
8702@cindex @code{even}, STARTUP keyword
8703@example
8704hidestars @r{make all but one of the stars starting a headline invisible.}
8705showstars @r{show all stars starting a headline}
b349f79f
CD
8706indent @r{virtual indentation according to outline level}
8707noindent @r{no virtual indentation according to outline level}
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8708odd @r{allow only odd outline levels (1,3,...)}
8709oddeven @r{allow all outline levels}
8710@end example
8711To turn on custom format overlays over time stamps (variables
8712@code{org-put-time-stamp-overlays} and
8713@code{org-time-stamp-overlay-formats}), use
8714@cindex @code{customtime}, STARTUP keyword
8715@example
8716customtime @r{overlay custom time format}
8717@end example
8718The following options influence the table spreadsheet (variable
8719@code{constants-unit-system}).
8720@cindex @code{constcgs}, STARTUP keyword
8721@cindex @code{constSI}, STARTUP keyword
8722@example
8723constcgs @r{@file{constants.el} should use the c-g-s unit system}
8724constSI @r{@file{constants.el} should use the SI unit system}
8725@end example
8726@item #+TAGS: TAG1(c1) TAG2(c2)
cad1d376 8727These lines (several such lines are allowed) specify the valid tags in
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8728this file, and (potentially) the corresponding @emph{fast tag selection}
8729keys. The corresponding variable is @code{org-tag-alist}.
8730@item #+TBLFM:
8731This line contains the formulas for the table directly above the line.
dbc28aaa 8732@item #+TITLE:, #+AUTHOR:, #+EMAIL:, #+LANGUAGE:, #+TEXT:, #+OPTIONS, #+DATE:
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8733These lines provide settings for exporting files. For more details see
8734@ref{Export options}.
8735@item #+SEQ_TODO: #+TYP_TODO:
8736These lines set the TODO keywords and their interpretation in the
8737current file. The corresponding variables are @code{org-todo-keywords}
8738and @code{org-todo-interpretation}.
8739@end table
8740
8741@node The very busy C-c C-c key, Clean view, In-buffer settings, Miscellaneous
8742@section The very busy C-c C-c key
8743@kindex C-c C-c
8744@cindex C-c C-c, overview
8745
a7808fba 8746The key @kbd{C-c C-c} has many purposes in Org, which are all
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8747mentioned scattered throughout this manual. One specific function of
8748this key is to add @emph{tags} to a headline (@pxref{Tags}). In many
a7808fba 8749other circumstances it means something like @emph{Hey Org, look
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8750here and update according to what you see here}. Here is a summary of
8751what this means in different contexts.
8752
8753@itemize @minus
8754@item
8755If there are highlights in the buffer from the creation of a sparse
8756tree, or from clock display, remove these highlights.
8757@item
8758If the cursor is in one of the special @code{#+KEYWORD} lines, this
8759triggers scanning the buffer for these lines and updating the
28a16a1b 8760information.
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8761@item
8762If the cursor is inside a table, realign the table. This command
8763works even if the automatic table editor has been turned off.
8764@item
8765If the cursor is on a @code{#+TBLFM} line, re-apply the formulas to
8766the entire table.
8767@item
8768If the cursor is inside a table created by the @file{table.el} package,
8769activate that table.
8770@item
8771If the current buffer is a remember buffer, close the note and file it.
8772With a prefix argument, file it, without further interaction, to the
8773default location.
8774@item
8775If the cursor is on a @code{<<<target>>>}, update radio targets and
8776corresponding links in this buffer.
8777@item
8778If the cursor is in a property line or at the start or end of a property
8779drawer, offer property commands.
8780@item
8781If the cursor is in a plain list item with a checkbox, toggle the status
8782of the checkbox.
8783@item
8784If the cursor is on a numbered item in a plain list, renumber the
8785ordered list.
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8786@item
8787If the cursor is on the @code{#+BEGIN} line of a dynamical block, the
8788block is updated.
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8789@end itemize
8790
8791@node Clean view, TTY keys, The very busy C-c C-c key, Miscellaneous
8792@section A cleaner outline view
8793@cindex hiding leading stars
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8794@cindex dynamic indentation
8795@cindex odd-levels-only outlines
4009494e
GM
8796@cindex clean outline view
8797
b349f79f
CD
8798Some people find it noisy and distracting that the Org headlines are starting
8799with a potentially large number of stars, and that text below the headlines
8800is not indented. This is not really a problem when you are writing a book
8801where the outline headings are really section headlines. However, in a more
8802list-oriented outline, it is clear that an indented structure is a lot
8803cleaner, as can be seen by comparing the two columns in the following
96c8522a 8804example:
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8805
8806@example
b349f79f
CD
8807@group
8808* Top level headline | * Top level headline
8809** Second level | * Second level
8810*** 3rd level | * 3rd level
8811some text | some text
8812*** 3rd level | * 3rd level
8813more text | more text
8814* Another top level headline | * Another top level headline
8815@end group
4009494e
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8816@end example
8817
8818@noindent
b349f79f
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8819It is non-trivial to make such a look work in Emacs, but Org contains three
8820separate features that, combined, achieve just that.
4009494e 8821
b349f79f 8822@enumerate
96c8522a 8823@item
b349f79f
CD
8824@emph{Indentation of text below headlines}@*
8825You may indent text below each headline to make the left boundary line up
8826with the headline, like
4009494e 8827
b349f79f
CD
8828@example
8829*** 3rd level
8830 more text, now indented
8831@end example
8832
8833A good way to get this indentation is by hand, and Org supports this with
8834paragraph filling, line wrapping, and structure editing@footnote{See also the
8835variable @code{org-adapt-indentation}.} preserving or adapting the
8836indentation appropriate. A different approach would be to have a way to
8837automatically indent lines according to outline structure by adding overlays
8838or text properties. But I have not yet found a robust and efficient way to
8839do this in large files.
8840
8841@item
8842@emph{Hiding leading stars}@* You can modify the display in such a way that
8843all leading stars become invisible. To do this in a global way, configure
8844the variable @code{org-hide-leading-stars} or change this on a per-file basis
8845with
4009494e
GM
8846
8847@example
4009494e
GM
8848#+STARTUP: hidestars
8849@end example
8850
864c9740
CD
8851@noindent
8852Note that the opposite behavior is selected with @code{showstars}.
8853
b349f79f 8854With hidden stars, the tree becomes:
4009494e
GM
8855
8856@example
b349f79f 8857@group
4009494e
GM
8858* Top level headline
8859 * Second level
8860 * 3rd level
b349f79f
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8861 ...
8862@end group
4009494e
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8863@end example
8864
8865@noindent
8866Note that the leading stars are not truly replaced by whitespace, they
8867are only fontified with the face @code{org-hide} that uses the
8868background color as font color. If you are not using either white or
8869black background, you may have to customize this face to get the wanted
8870effect. Another possibility is to set this font such that the extra
8871stars are @i{almost} invisible, for example using the color
8872@code{grey90} on a white background.
8873
b349f79f
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8874@item
8875Things become cleaner still if you skip all the even levels and use only odd
8876levels 1, 3, 5..., effectively adding two stars to go from one outline level
8877to the next. In this way we get the outline view shown at the beginning of
8878this section. In order to make the structure editing and export commands
8879handle this convention correctly, configure the variable
8880@code{org-odd-levels-only}, or set this on a per-file basis with one of the
8881following lines:
4009494e
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8882
8883@example
8884#+STARTUP: odd
8885#+STARTUP: oddeven
8886@end example
8887
a7808fba 8888You can convert an Org file from single-star-per-level to the
4009494e
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8889double-star-per-level convention with @kbd{M-x org-convert-to-odd-levels
8890RET} in that file. The reverse operation is @kbd{M-x
8891org-convert-to-oddeven-levels}.
b349f79f 8892@end enumerate
4009494e
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8893
8894@node TTY keys, Interaction, Clean view, Miscellaneous
a7808fba
CD
8895@section Using Org on a tty
8896@cindex tty key bindings
4009494e 8897
a7808fba
CD
8898Because Org contains a large number of commands, by default much of
8899Org's core commands are bound to keys that are generally not
dbc28aaa
CD
8900accessible on a tty, such as the cursor keys (@key{left}, @key{right},
8901@key{up}, @key{down}), @key{TAB} and @key{RET}, in particular when used
8902together with modifiers like @key{Meta} and/or @key{Shift}. To access
8903these commands on a tty when special keys are unavailable, the following
8904alternative bindings can be used. The tty bindings below will likely be
8905more cumbersome; you may find for some of the bindings below that a
8906customized work-around suits you better. For example, changing a time
8907stamp is really only fun with @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} keys, whereas on a
8908tty you would rather use @kbd{C-c .} to re-insert the timestamp.
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8909
8910@multitable @columnfractions 0.15 0.2 0.2
8911@item @b{Default} @tab @b{Alternative 1} @tab @b{Alternative 2}
8912@item @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} @tab @kbd{C-u @key{TAB}} @tab
8913@item @kbd{M-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x l} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{left}}
8914@item @kbd{M-S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x L} @tab
71d35b24 8915@item @kbd{M-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x i} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{right}}
4009494e
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8916@item @kbd{M-S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x R} @tab
8917@item @kbd{M-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x u} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{up}}
8918@item @kbd{M-S-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x U} @tab
8919@item @kbd{M-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x d} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{down}}
8920@item @kbd{M-S-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x D} @tab
8921@item @kbd{S-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x c} @tab
8922@item @kbd{M-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x m} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{RET}}
8923@item @kbd{M-S-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x M} @tab
8924@item @kbd{S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{left}} @tab
8925@item @kbd{S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{right}} @tab
8926@item @kbd{S-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{up}} @tab
8927@item @kbd{S-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{down}} @tab
8928@item @kbd{C-S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x @key{left}} @tab
8929@item @kbd{C-S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x @key{right}} @tab
8930@end multitable
8931
8932@node Interaction, Bugs, TTY keys, Miscellaneous
8933@section Interaction with other packages
8934@cindex packages, interaction with other
a7808fba 8935Org lives in the world of GNU Emacs and interacts in various ways
4009494e
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8936with other code out there.
8937
8938@menu
a7808fba 8939* Cooperation:: Packages Org cooperates with
4009494e
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8940* Conflicts:: Packages that lead to conflicts
8941@end menu
8942
8943@node Cooperation, Conflicts, Interaction, Interaction
a7808fba 8944@subsection Packages that Org cooperates with
4009494e
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8945
8946@table @asis
8947@cindex @file{calc.el}
8948@item @file{calc.el} by Dave Gillespie
a7808fba
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8949Org uses the Calc package for implementing spreadsheet
8950functionality in its tables (@pxref{The spreadsheet}). Org
8951checks for the availability of Calc by looking for the function
8952@code{calc-eval} which should be autoloaded in your setup if Calc has
8953been installed properly. As of Emacs 22, Calc is part of the Emacs
4009494e 8954distribution. Another possibility for interaction between the two
a7808fba
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8955packages is using Calc for embedded calculations. @xref{Embedded Mode,
8956, Embedded Mode, Calc, GNU Emacs Calc Manual}.
4009494e
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8957@cindex @file{constants.el}
8958@item @file{constants.el} by Carsten Dominik
8959In a table formula (@pxref{The spreadsheet}), it is possible to use
8960names for natural constants or units. Instead of defining your own
8961constants in the variable @code{org-table-formula-constants}, install
8962the @file{constants} package which defines a large number of constants
8963and units, and lets you use unit prefixes like @samp{M} for
8964@samp{Mega} etc. You will need version 2.0 of this package, available
a7808fba 8965at @url{http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik/Tools}. Org checks for
4009494e
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8966the function @code{constants-get}, which has to be autoloaded in your
8967setup. See the installation instructions in the file
8968@file{constants.el}.
8969@item @file{cdlatex.el} by Carsten Dominik
8970@cindex @file{cdlatex.el}
a7808fba
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8971Org mode can make use of the CDLaTeX package to efficiently enter
8972La@TeX{} fragments into Org files. See @ref{CDLaTeX mode}.
dbc28aaa
CD
8973@item @file{imenu.el} by Ake Stenhoff and Lars Lindberg
8974@cindex @file{imenu.el}
a7808fba
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8975Imenu allows menu access to an index of items in a file. Org mode
8976supports Imenu - all you need to do to get the index is the following:
dbc28aaa 8977@lisp
28a16a1b 8978(add-hook 'org-mode-hook
a7808fba 8979 (lambda () (imenu-add-to-menubar "Imenu")))
dbc28aaa
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8980@end lisp
8981By default the index is two levels deep - you can modify the depth using
8982the option @code{org-imenu-depth}.
4009494e
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8983@item @file{remember.el} by John Wiegley
8984@cindex @file{remember.el}
a7808fba 8985Org cooperates with remember, see @ref{Remember}.
4009494e 8986@file{Remember.el} is not part of Emacs, find it on the web.
dbc28aaa
CD
8987@item @file{speedbar.el} by Eric M. Ludlam
8988@cindex @file{speedbar.el}
8989Speedbar is a package that creates a special frame displaying files and
a7808fba
CD
8990index items in files. Org mode supports Speedbar and allows you to
8991drill into Org files directly from the Speedbar. It also allows to
dbc28aaa 8992restrict the scope of agenda commands to a file or a subtree by using
a7808fba 8993the command @kbd{<} in the Speedbar frame.
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8994@cindex @file{table.el}
8995@item @file{table.el} by Takaaki Ota
8996@kindex C-c C-c
8997@cindex table editor, @file{table.el}
8998@cindex @file{table.el}
8999
9000Complex ASCII tables with automatic line wrapping, column- and
9001row-spanning, and alignment can be created using the Emacs table
9002package by Takaaki Ota (@uref{http://sourceforge.net/projects/table},
9003and also part of Emacs 22).
a7808fba 9004When @key{TAB} or @kbd{C-c C-c} is pressed in such a table, Org mode
4009494e 9005will call @command{table-recognize-table} and move the cursor into the
a7808fba
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9006table. Inside a table, the keymap of Org mode is inactive. In order
9007to execute Org mode-related commands, leave the table.
4009494e
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9008
9009@table @kbd
9010@kindex C-c C-c
9011@item C-c C-c
9012Recognize @file{table.el} table. Works when the cursor is in a
9013table.el table.
9014@c
9015@kindex C-c ~
9016@item C-c ~
9017Insert a table.el table. If there is already a table at point, this
a7808fba 9018command converts it between the table.el format and the Org mode
4009494e
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9019format. See the documentation string of the command
9020@code{org-convert-table} for the restrictions under which this is
9021possible.
9022@end table
9023@file{table.el} is part of Emacs 22.
9024@cindex @file{footnote.el}
9025@item @file{footnote.el} by Steven L. Baur
a7808fba 9026Org mode recognizes numerical footnotes as provided by this package
4009494e
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9027(@pxref{Footnotes}).
9028@end table
9029
9030@node Conflicts, , Cooperation, Interaction
a7808fba 9031@subsection Packages that lead to conflicts with Org mode
4009494e
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9032
9033@table @asis
9034
9035@cindex @file{allout.el}
9036@item @file{allout.el} by Ken Manheimer
a7808fba 9037Startup of Org may fail with the error message
4009494e
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9038@code{(wrong-type-argument keymapp nil)} when there is an outdated
9039version @file{allout.el} on the load path, for example the version
9040distributed with Emacs 21.x. Upgrade to Emacs 22 and this problem will
9041disappear. If for some reason you cannot do this, make sure that org.el
9042is loaded @emph{before} @file{allout.el}, for example by putting
9043@code{(require 'org)} early enough into your @file{.emacs} file.
9044
9045@cindex @file{CUA.el}
9046@item @file{CUA.el} by Kim. F. Storm
a7808fba
CD
9047Key bindings in Org conflict with the @kbd{S-<cursor>} keys used by
9048CUA mode (as well as pc-select-mode and s-region-mode) to select and
dbc28aaa 9049extend the region. If you want to use one of these packages along with
a7808fba
CD
9050Org, configure the variable @code{org-replace-disputed-keys}. When
9051set, Org will move the following key bindings in Org files, and
dbc28aaa 9052in the agenda buffer (but not during date selection).
4009494e
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9053
9054@example
9055S-UP -> M-p S-DOWN -> M-n
9056S-LEFT -> M-- S-RIGHT -> M-+
9057@end example
9058
9059Yes, these are unfortunately more difficult to remember. If you want
9060to have other replacement keys, look at the variable
9061@code{org-disputed-keys}.
9062@item @file{windmove.el} by Hovav Shacham
9063@cindex @file{windmove.el}
9064Also this package uses the @kbd{S-<cursor>} keys, so everything written
9065in the paragraph above about CUA mode also applies here.
9066
9067@cindex @file{footnote.el}
9068@item @file{footnote.el} by Steven L. Baur
a7808fba 9069Org supports the syntax of the footnote package, but only the
4009494e 9070numerical footnote markers. Also, the default key for footnote
a7808fba 9071commands, @kbd{C-c !} is already used by Org. You could use the
4009494e
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9072variable @code{footnote-prefix} to switch footnotes commands to another
9073key. Or, you could use @code{org-replace-disputed-keys} and
a7808fba 9074@code{org-disputed-keys} to change the settings in Org.
4009494e
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9075
9076@end table
9077
9078
9079@node Bugs, , Interaction, Miscellaneous
9080@section Bugs
9081@cindex bugs
9082
9083Here is a list of things that should work differently, but which I
9084have found too hard to fix.
9085
9086@itemize @bullet
9087@item
9088If a table field starts with a link, and if the corresponding table
9089column is narrowed (@pxref{Narrow columns}) to a width too small to
9090display the link, the field would look entirely empty even though it is
a7808fba 9091not. To prevent this, Org throws an error. The work-around is to
4009494e
GM
9092make the column wide enough to fit the link, or to add some text (at
9093least 2 characters) before the link in the same field.
9094@item
9095Narrowing table columns does not work on XEmacs, because the
9096@code{format} function does not transport text properties.
9097@item
9098Text in an entry protected with the @samp{QUOTE} keyword should not
9099autowrap.
9100@item
9101When the application called by @kbd{C-c C-o} to open a file link fails
9102(for example because the application does not exist or refuses to open
9103the file), it does so silently. No error message is displayed.
9104@item
9105Recalculating a table line applies the formulas from left to right.
9106If a formula uses @emph{calculated} fields further down the row,
9107multiple recalculation may be needed to get all fields consistent. You
9108may use the command @code{org-table-iterate} (@kbd{C-u C-c *}) to
9109recalculate until convergence.
9110@item
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9111The exporters work well, but could be made more efficient.
9112@end itemize
9113
9114
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9115@node Extensions, Hacking, Miscellaneous, Top
9116@appendix Extensions
9117
9118This appendix lists the extension modules that have been written for Org.
9119Many of these extensions live in the @file{contrib} directory of the Org
9120distribution, others are available somewhere on the web.
4009494e 9121
b349f79f
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9122@menu
9123* Extensions in the contrib directory:: These come with the Org distro
9124* Other extensions:: These you have to find on the web.
9125@end menu
9126
9127@node Extensions in the contrib directory, Other extensions, Extensions, Extensions
9128@section Extensions in the @file{contrib} directory
9129
64fb801f
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9130A number of extension are distributed with Org when you download it from its
9131homepage. Please note that these extensions are @emph{not} distributed as
9132part of Emacs, so if you use Org as delivered with Emacs, you still need to
9133go to @url{http://orgmode.org} to get access to these modules.
9134
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9135@table @asis
9136@item @file{org-annotate-file.el} by @i{Philip Jackson}
9137 Annotate a file with org syntax, in a separate file, with links back to
9138 the annotated file.
96c8522a 9139@item @file{org-annotation-helper.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry and Daniel E. German}
b349f79f
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9140 Call @i{remember} directly from Firefox/Opera, or from Adobe Reader.
9141 When activating a special link or bookmark, Emacs receives a trigger to
9142 create a note with a link back to the website. Requires some setup, a
a50253cc 9143 detailed description is in
b349f79f
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9144 @file{contrib/packages/org-annotation-helper}.
9145@item @file{org-bookmark.el} by @i{Tokuya Kameshima}
9146 Support for links to Emacs bookmarks.
9147@item @file{org-depend.el} by @i{Carsten Dominik}
9148 TODO dependencies for Org-mode. Make TODO state changes in one entry
9149 trigger changes in another, or be blocked by the state of another
9150 entry. Also, easily create chains of TODO items with exactly one
9151 active item at any time.
9152@item @file{org-elisp-symbol.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry}
9153 Org links to emacs-lisp symbols. This can create annotated links that
9154 exactly point to the definition location of a variable of function.
9155@item @file{org-eval.el} by @i{Carsten Dominik}
9156 The @code{<lisp>} tag, adapted from Emacs Wiki and Emacs Muse, allows
d60b1ba1 9157 text to be included in a document that is the result of evaluating some
b349f79f
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9158 code. Other scripting languages like @code{perl} can be supported with
9159 this package as well.
64fb801f
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9160@item @file{org-eval-light.el} by @i{Eric Schulte}
9161 User-controlled evaluation of code in an Org buffer.
9162@item @file{org-exp-blocks.el} by @i{Eric Schulte}
9163 Preprocess user-defined blocks for export.
b349f79f
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9164@item @file{org-expiry.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry}
9165 Expiry mechanism for Org entries.
9166@item @file{org-indent.el} by @i{Carsten Dominik}
9167 Dynamic indentation of Org outlines. The plan is to indent an outline
9168 according to level, but so far this is too hard for a proper and stable
9169 implementation. Still, it works somewhat.
9170@item @file{org-interactive-query.el} by @i{Christopher League}
9171 Interactive modification of tags queries. After running a general
9172 query in Org, this package allows to narrow down the results by adding
9173 more tags or keywords.
9174@item @file{org-mairix.el} by @i{Georg C. F. Greve}
9175 Hook mairix search into Org for different MUAs.
9176@item @file{org-man.el} by @i{Carsten Dominik}
9177 Support for links to manpages in Org-mode.
9178@item @file{org-mtags.el} by @i{Carsten Dominik}
9179 Support for some Muse-like tags in Org-mode. This package allows you
9180 to write @code{<example>} and @code{<src>} and other syntax copied from
9181 Emacs Muse, right inside an Org file. The goal here is to make it easy
9182 to publish the same file using either org-publish or Muse.
a50253cc 9183@item @file{org-panel.el} by @i{Lennart Borgman}
b349f79f
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9184 Simplified and display-aided access to some Org commands.
9185@item @file{org-registry.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry}
9186 A registry for Org links, to find out from where links point to a given
9187 file or location.
9188@item @file{org2rem.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry}
9189 Convert org appointments into reminders for the @file{remind} program.
9190@item @file{org-screen.el} by @i{Andrew Hyatt}
9191 Visit screen sessions through Org-mode links.
9192@item @file{org-toc.el} by @i{Bastien Guerry}
9193 Table of contents in a separate buffer, with fast access to sections
9194 and easy visibility cycling.
9195@item @file{orgtbl-sqlinsert.el} by @i{Jason Riedy}
9196 Convert Org-mode tables to SQL insertions. Documentation for this can
a50253cc 9197 be found on the Org pages.
b349f79f
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9198@end table
9199
b349f79f
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9200@node Other extensions, , Extensions in the contrib directory, Extensions
9201@section Other extensions
9202
9203@i{TO BE DONE}
9204
9205@node Hacking, History and Acknowledgments, Extensions, Top
9206@appendix Hacking
9207
9208This appendix covers some aspects where users can extend the functionality of
a7808fba 9209Org.
4009494e
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9210
9211@menu
4009494e
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9212* Adding hyperlink types:: New custom link types
9213* Tables in arbitrary syntax:: Orgtbl for LaTeX and other programs
9214* Dynamic blocks:: Automatically filled blocks
9215* Special agenda views:: Customized views
9216* Using the property API:: Writing programs that use entry properties
b349f79f 9217* Using the mapping API:: Mapping over all or selected entries
4009494e
GM
9218@end menu
9219
b349f79f 9220@node Adding hyperlink types, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Hacking, Hacking
4009494e
GM
9221@section Adding hyperlink types
9222@cindex hyperlinks, adding new types
9223
a7808fba 9224Org has a large number of hyperlink types built-in
4009494e 9225(@pxref{Hyperlinks}). If you would like to add new link types, it
864c9740 9226provides an interface for doing so. Let's look at an example file
4009494e 9227@file{org-man.el} that will add support for creating links like
a7808fba 9228@samp{[[man:printf][The printf manpage]]} to show Unix manual pages inside
4009494e
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9229emacs:
9230
9231@lisp
a7808fba 9232;;; org-man.el - Support for links to manpages in Org
4009494e
GM
9233
9234(require 'org)
9235
9236(org-add-link-type "man" 'org-man-open)
9237(add-hook 'org-store-link-functions 'org-man-store-link)
9238
9239(defcustom org-man-command 'man
9240 "The Emacs command to be used to display a man page."
9241 :group 'org-link
9242 :type '(choice (const man) (const woman)))
9243
9244(defun org-man-open (path)
9245 "Visit the manpage on PATH.
9246PATH should be a topic that can be thrown at the man command."
9247 (funcall org-man-command path))
9248
9249(defun org-man-store-link ()
9250 "Store a link to a manpage."
9251 (when (memq major-mode '(Man-mode woman-mode))
9252 ;; This is a man page, we do make this link
9253 (let* ((page (org-man-get-page-name))
9254 (link (concat "man:" page))
9255 (description (format "Manpage for %s" page)))
9256 (org-store-link-props
9257 :type "man"
9258 :link link
9259 :description description))))
9260
9261(defun org-man-get-page-name ()
9262 "Extract the page name from the buffer name."
9263 ;; This works for both `Man-mode' and `woman-mode'.
9264 (if (string-match " \\(\\S-+\\)\\*" (buffer-name))
9265 (match-string 1 (buffer-name))
9266 (error "Cannot create link to this man page")))
9267
9268(provide 'org-man)
9269
9270;;; org-man.el ends here
9271@end lisp
9272
9273@noindent
9274You would activate this new link type in @file{.emacs} with
9275
9276@lisp
9277(require 'org-man)
9278@end lisp
9279
9280@noindent
864c9740 9281Let's go through the file and see what it does.
4009494e 9282@enumerate
28a16a1b 9283@item
4009494e
GM
9284It does @code{(require 'org)} to make sure that @file{org.el} has been
9285loaded.
9286@item
9287The next line calls @code{org-add-link-type} to define a new link type
9288with prefix @samp{man}. The call also contains the name of a function
9289that will be called to follow such a link.
9290@item
9291The next line adds a function to @code{org-store-link-functions}, in
9292order to allow the command @kbd{C-c l} to record a useful link in a
9293buffer displaying a man page.
9294@end enumerate
9295
9296The rest of the file defines the necessary variables and functions.
9297First there is a customization variable that determines which emacs
a7808fba 9298command should be used to display man pages. There are two options,
4009494e
GM
9299@code{man} and @code{woman}. Then the function to follow a link is
9300defined. It gets the link path as an argument - in this case the link
9301path is just a topic for the manual command. The function calls the
9302value of @code{org-man-command} to display the man page.
9303
9304Finally the function @code{org-man-store-link} is defined. When you try
9305to store a link with @kbd{C-c l}, also this function will be called to
9306try to make a link. The function must first decide if it is supposed to
9307create the link for this buffer type, we do this by checking the value
9308of the variable @code{major-mode}. If not, the function must exit and
a7808fba
CD
9309return the value @code{nil}. If yes, the link is created by getting the
9310manual topic from the buffer name and prefixing it with the string
4009494e
GM
9311@samp{man:}. Then it must call the command @code{org-store-link-props}
9312and set the @code{:type} and @code{:link} properties. Optionally you
9313can also set the @code{:description} property to provide a default for
a7808fba 9314the link description when the link is later inserted into an Org
4009494e
GM
9315buffer with @kbd{C-c C-l}.
9316
b349f79f 9317@node Tables in arbitrary syntax, Dynamic blocks, Adding hyperlink types, Hacking
a7808fba 9318@section Tables and lists in arbitrary syntax
4009494e 9319@cindex tables, in other modes
dbc28aaa 9320@cindex lists, in other modes
a7808fba 9321@cindex Orgtbl mode
4009494e 9322
a7808fba 9323Since Orgtbl mode can be used as a minor mode in arbitrary buffers, a
4009494e 9324frequent feature request has been to make it work with native tables in
dbc28aaa
CD
9325specific languages, for example La@TeX{}. However, this is extremely
9326hard to do in a general way, would lead to a customization nightmare,
a7808fba 9327and would take away much of the simplicity of the Orgtbl mode table
dbc28aaa
CD
9328editor.
9329
4009494e 9330
a7808fba 9331This appendix describes a different approach. We keep the Orgtbl mode
4009494e
GM
9332table in its native format (the @i{source table}), and use a custom
9333function to @i{translate} the table to the correct syntax, and to
9334@i{install} it in the right location (the @i{target table}). This puts
9335the burden of writing conversion functions on the user, but it allows
9336for a very flexible system.
9337
dbc28aaa
CD
9338Bastien added the ability to do the same with lists. You can use Org's
9339facilities to edit and structure lists by turning @code{orgstruct-mode}
9340on, then locally exporting such lists in another format (HTML, La@TeX{}
a7808fba 9341or Texinfo.)
dbc28aaa
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9342
9343
4009494e
GM
9344@menu
9345* Radio tables:: Sending and receiving
9346* A LaTeX example:: Step by step, almost a tutorial
9347* Translator functions:: Copy and modify
a7808fba 9348* Radio lists:: Doing the same for lists
4009494e
GM
9349@end menu
9350
9351@node Radio tables, A LaTeX example, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Tables in arbitrary syntax
9352@subsection Radio tables
9353@cindex radio tables
9354
9355To define the location of the target table, you first need to create two
9356lines that are comments in the current mode, but contain magic words for
a7808fba 9357Orgtbl mode to find. Orgtbl mode will insert the translated table
4009494e
GM
9358between these lines, replacing whatever was there before. For example:
9359
9360@example
9361/* BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL table_name */
9362/* END RECEIVE ORGTBL table_name */
9363@end example
9364
9365@noindent
9366Just above the source table, we put a special line that tells
a7808fba 9367Orgtbl mode how to translate this table and where to install it. For
4009494e
GM
9368example:
9369@example
9370#+ORGTBL: SEND table_name translation_function arguments....
9371@end example
9372
9373@noindent
9374@code{table_name} is the reference name for the table that is also used
9375in the receiver lines. @code{translation_function} is the Lisp function
9376that does the translation. Furthermore, the line can contain a list of
9377arguments (alternating key and value) at the end. The arguments will be
9378passed as a property list to the translation function for
9379interpretation. A few standard parameters are already recognized and
9380acted upon before the translation function is called:
9381
9382@table @code
9383@item :skip N
b349f79f
CD
9384Skip the first N lines of the table. Hlines do count as separate lines for
9385this parameter!
9386
4009494e
GM
9387@item :skipcols (n1 n2 ...)
9388List of columns that should be skipped. If the table has a column with
9389calculation marks, that column is automatically discarded as well.
9390Please note that the translator function sees the table @emph{after} the
9391removal of these columns, the function never knows that there have been
9392additional columns.
9393@end table
9394
9395@noindent
9396The one problem remaining is how to keep the source table in the buffer
9397without disturbing the normal workings of the file, for example during
9398compilation of a C file or processing of a La@TeX{} file. There are a
9399number of different solutions:
9400
9401@itemize @bullet
9402@item
9403The table could be placed in a block comment if that is supported by the
a7808fba 9404language. For example, in C mode you could wrap the table between
4009494e 9405@samp{/*} and @samp{*/} lines.
28a16a1b 9406@item
4009494e
GM
9407Sometimes it is possible to put the table after some kind of @i{END}
9408statement, for example @samp{\bye} in TeX and @samp{\end@{document@}}
9409in La@TeX{}.
9410@item
9411You can just comment the table line by line whenever you want to process
9412the file, and uncomment it whenever you need to edit the table. This
9413only sounds tedious - the command @kbd{M-x orgtbl-toggle-comment} does
9414make this comment-toggling very easy, in particular if you bind it to a
9415key.
9416@end itemize
9417
9418@node A LaTeX example, Translator functions, Radio tables, Tables in arbitrary syntax
dbc28aaa 9419@subsection A LaTeX example of radio tables
a7808fba 9420@cindex LaTeX, and Orgtbl mode
4009494e
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9421
9422The best way to wrap the source table in La@TeX{} is to use the
9423@code{comment} environment provided by @file{comment.sty}. It has to be
9424activated by placing @code{\usepackage@{comment@}} into the document
a7808fba
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9425header. Orgtbl mode can insert a radio table skeleton@footnote{By
9426default this works only for La@TeX{}, HTML, and Texinfo. Configure the
4009494e
GM
9427variable @code{orgtbl-radio-tables} to install templates for other
9428modes.} with the command @kbd{M-x orgtbl-insert-radio-table}. You will
9429be prompted for a table name, lets say we use @samp{salesfigures}. You
9430will then get the following template:
9431
b349f79f 9432@cindex #+ORGTBL: SEND
4009494e
GM
9433@example
9434% BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9435% END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9436\begin@{comment@}
9437#+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex
9438| | |
9439\end@{comment@}
9440@end example
9441
9442@noindent
a7808fba 9443The @code{#+ORGTBL: SEND} line tells Orgtbl mode to use the function
4009494e
GM
9444@code{orgtbl-to-latex} to convert the table into La@TeX{} and to put it
9445into the receiver location with name @code{salesfigures}. You may now
9446fill in the table, feel free to use the spreadsheet features@footnote{If
9447the @samp{#+TBLFM} line contains an odd number of dollar characters,
a7808fba 9448this may cause problems with font-lock in LaTeX mode. As shown in the
4009494e
GM
9449example you can fix this by adding an extra line inside the
9450@code{comment} environment that is used to balance the dollar
9451expressions. If you are using AUCTeX with the font-latex library, a
9452much better solution is to add the @code{comment} environment to the
9453variable @code{LaTeX-verbatim-environments}.}:
9454
9455@example
9456% BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9457% END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9458\begin@{comment@}
9459#+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex
9460| Month | Days | Nr sold | per day |
9461|-------+------+---------+---------|
9462| Jan | 23 | 55 | 2.4 |
9463| Feb | 21 | 16 | 0.8 |
9464| March | 22 | 278 | 12.6 |
9465#+TBLFM: $4=$3/$2;%.1f
9466% $ (optional extra dollar to keep font-lock happy, see footnote)
9467\end@{comment@}
9468@end example
9469
9470@noindent
9471When you are done, press @kbd{C-c C-c} in the table to get the converted
9472table inserted between the two marker lines.
9473
9474Now lets assume you want to make the table header by hand, because you
9475want to control how columns are aligned etc. In this case we make sure
9476that the table translator does skip the first 2 lines of the source
9477table, and tell the command to work as a @i{splice}, i.e. to not produce
9478header and footer commands of the target table:
9479
9480@example
9481\begin@{tabular@}@{lrrr@}
9482Month & \multicolumn@{1@}@{c@}@{Days@} & Nr.\ sold & per day\\
9483% BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9484% END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
9485\end@{tabular@}
9486%
9487\begin@{comment@}
9488#+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex :splice t :skip 2
9489| Month | Days | Nr sold | per day |
9490|-------+------+---------+---------|
9491| Jan | 23 | 55 | 2.4 |
9492| Feb | 21 | 16 | 0.8 |
9493| March | 22 | 278 | 12.6 |
9494#+TBLFM: $4=$3/$2;%.1f
9495\end@{comment@}
9496@end example
9497
9498The La@TeX{} translator function @code{orgtbl-to-latex} is already part of
a7808fba 9499Orgtbl mode. It uses a @code{tabular} environment to typeset the table
4009494e 9500and marks horizontal lines with @code{\hline}. Furthermore, it
b349f79f 9501interprets the following parameters (see also @ref{Translator functions}):
4009494e
GM
9502
9503@table @code
9504@item :splice nil/t
9505When set to t, return only table body lines, don't wrap them into a
9506tabular environment. Default is nil.
9507
9508@item :fmt fmt
9509A format to be used to wrap each field, should contain @code{%s} for the
9510original field value. For example, to wrap each field value in dollars,
9511you could use @code{:fmt "$%s$"}. This may also be a property list with
9512column numbers and formats. for example @code{:fmt (2 "$%s$" 4 "%s\\%%")}.
a7808fba
CD
9513A function of one argument can be used in place of the strings; the
9514function must return a formatted string.
4009494e
GM
9515
9516@item :efmt efmt
9517Use this format to print numbers with exponentials. The format should
9518have @code{%s} twice for inserting mantissa and exponent, for example
9519@code{"%s\\times10^@{%s@}"}. The default is @code{"%s\\,(%s)"}. This
9520may also be a property list with column numbers and formats, for example
9521@code{:efmt (2 "$%s\\times10^@{%s@}$" 4 "$%s\\cdot10^@{%s@}$")}. After
9522@code{efmt} has been applied to a value, @code{fmt} will also be
a7808fba
CD
9523applied. Similar to @code{fmt}, functions of two arguments can be
9524supplied instead of strings.
4009494e
GM
9525@end table
9526
dbc28aaa 9527@node Translator functions, Radio lists, A LaTeX example, Tables in arbitrary syntax
4009494e 9528@subsection Translator functions
a7808fba 9529@cindex HTML, and Orgtbl mode
4009494e
GM
9530@cindex translator function
9531
b349f79f
CD
9532Orgtbl mode has several translator functions built-in: @code{orgtbl-to-csv}
9533(comma-separated values), @code{orgtbl-to-tsv} (TAB-separated values)
9534@code{orgtbl-to-latex}, @code{orgtbl-to-html}, and @code{orgtbl-to-texinfo}.
9535Except for @code{orgtbl-to-html}@footnote{The HTML translator uses the same
9536code that produces tables during HTML export.}, these all use a generic
9537translator, @code{orgtbl-to-generic}. For example, @code{orgtbl-to-latex}
9538itself is a very short function that computes the column definitions for the
9539@code{tabular} environment, defines a few field and line separators and then
9540hands over to the generic translator. Here is the entire code:
4009494e
GM
9541
9542@lisp
9543@group
9544(defun orgtbl-to-latex (table params)
a7808fba 9545 "Convert the Orgtbl mode TABLE to LaTeX."
4009494e
GM
9546 (let* ((alignment (mapconcat (lambda (x) (if x "r" "l"))
9547 org-table-last-alignment ""))
9548 (params2
9549 (list
9550 :tstart (concat "\\begin@{tabular@}@{" alignment "@}")
9551 :tend "\\end@{tabular@}"
9552 :lstart "" :lend " \\\\" :sep " & "
9553 :efmt "%s\\,(%s)" :hline "\\hline")))
9554 (orgtbl-to-generic table (org-combine-plists params2 params))))
9555@end group
9556@end lisp
9557
9558As you can see, the properties passed into the function (variable
9559@var{PARAMS}) are combined with the ones newly defined in the function
9560(variable @var{PARAMS2}). The ones passed into the function (i.e. the
9561ones set by the @samp{ORGTBL SEND} line) take precedence. So if you
9562would like to use the La@TeX{} translator, but wanted the line endings to
9563be @samp{\\[2mm]} instead of the default @samp{\\}, you could just
9564overrule the default with
9565
9566@example
9567#+ORGTBL: SEND test orgtbl-to-latex :lend " \\\\[2mm]"
9568@end example
9569
9570For a new language, you can either write your own converter function in
9571analogy with the La@TeX{} translator, or you can use the generic function
9572directly. For example, if you have a language where a table is started
9573with @samp{!BTBL!}, ended with @samp{!ETBL!}, and where table lines are
9574started with @samp{!BL!}, ended with @samp{!EL!} and where the field
9575separator is a TAB, you could call the generic translator like this (on
9576a single line!):
9577
9578@example
9579#+ORGTBL: SEND test orgtbl-to-generic :tstart "!BTBL!" :tend "!ETBL!"
9580 :lstart "!BL! " :lend " !EL!" :sep "\t"
9581@end example
9582
9583@noindent
9584Please check the documentation string of the function
9585@code{orgtbl-to-generic} for a full list of parameters understood by
9586that function and remember that you can pass each of them into
9587@code{orgtbl-to-latex}, @code{orgtbl-to-texinfo}, and any other function
9588using the generic function.
9589
9590Of course you can also write a completely new function doing complicated
9591things the generic translator cannot do. A translator function takes
9592two arguments. The first argument is the table, a list of lines, each
9593line either the symbol @code{hline} or a list of fields. The second
9594argument is the property list containing all parameters specified in the
9595@samp{#+ORGTBL: SEND} line. The function must return a single string
9596containing the formatted table. If you write a generally useful
9597translator, please post it on @code{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org} so that
9598others can benefit from your work.
9599
dbc28aaa
CD
9600@node Radio lists, , Translator functions, Tables in arbitrary syntax
9601@subsection Radio lists
9602@cindex radio lists
9603@cindex org-list-insert-radio-list
9604
9605Sending and receiving radio lists works exactly the same way than
9606sending and receiving radio tables (@pxref{Radio tables}) @footnote{You
9607need to load the @code{org-export-latex.el} package to use radio lists
9608since the relevant code is there for now.}. As for radio tables, you
a7808fba 9609can insert radio lists templates in HTML, La@TeX{} and Texinfo modes by
dbc28aaa
CD
9610calling @code{org-list-insert-radio-list}.
9611
9612Here are the differences with radio tables:
9613
9614@itemize @minus
9615@item
9616Use @code{ORGLST} instead of @code{ORGTBL}.
9617@item
9618The available translation functions for radio lists don't take
9619parameters.
28a16a1b 9620@item
dbc28aaa
CD
9621`C-c C-c' will work when pressed on the first item of the list.
9622@end itemize
9623
9624Here is a La@TeX{} example. Let's say that you have this in your
9625La@TeX{} file:
9626
9627@example
9628% BEGIN RECEIVE ORGLST to-buy
9629% END RECEIVE ORGLST to-buy
9630\begin@{comment@}
9631#+ORGLIST: SEND to-buy orgtbl-to-latex
9632- a new house
9633- a new computer
9634 + a new keyboard
9635 + a new mouse
9636- a new life
9637\end@{comment@}
9638@end example
9639
9640Pressing `C-c C-c' on @code{a new house} and will insert the converted
9641La@TeX{} list between the two marker lines.
9642
b349f79f 9643@node Dynamic blocks, Special agenda views, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Hacking
4009494e
GM
9644@section Dynamic blocks
9645@cindex dynamic blocks
9646
a7808fba 9647Org documents can contain @emph{dynamic blocks}. These are
4009494e
GM
9648specially marked regions that are updated by some user-written function.
9649A good example for such a block is the clock table inserted by the
9650command @kbd{C-c C-x C-r} (@pxref{Clocking work time}).
9651
9652Dynamic block are enclosed by a BEGIN-END structure that assigns a name
9653to the block and can also specify parameters for the function producing
9654the content of the block.
9655
b349f79f 9656#+BEGIN:dynamic block
4009494e
GM
9657@example
9658#+BEGIN: myblock :parameter1 value1 :parameter2 value2 ...
9659
9660#+END:
9661@end example
9662
9663Dynamic blocks are updated with the following commands
9664
9665@table @kbd
9666@kindex C-c C-x C-u
9667@item C-c C-x C-u
9668Update dynamic block at point.
9669@kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
9670@item C-u C-c C-x C-u
9671Update all dynamic blocks in the current file.
9672@end table
9673
9674Updating a dynamic block means to remove all the text between BEGIN and
9675END, parse the BEGIN line for parameters and then call the specific
28a16a1b
CD
9676writer function for this block to insert the new content. If you want
9677to use the original content in the writer function, you can use the
9678extra parameter @code{:content}.
9679
9680For a block with name @code{myblock}, the writer function is
4009494e
GM
9681@code{org-dblock-write:myblock} with as only parameter a property list
9682with the parameters given in the begin line. Here is a trivial example
9683of a block that keeps track of when the block update function was last
9684run:
9685
9686@example
9687#+BEGIN: block-update-time :format "on %m/%d/%Y at %H:%M"
9688
9689#+END:
9690@end example
9691
9692@noindent
9693The corresponding block writer function could look like this:
9694
9695@lisp
9696(defun org-dblock-write:block-update-time (params)
9697 (let ((fmt (or (plist-get params :format) "%d. %m. %Y")))
9698 (insert "Last block update at: "
9699 (format-time-string fmt (current-time)))))
9700@end lisp
9701
9702If you want to make sure that all dynamic blocks are always up-to-date,
9703you could add the function @code{org-update-all-dblocks} to a hook, for
9704example @code{before-save-hook}. @code{org-update-all-dblocks} is
a7808fba
CD
9705written in a way that is does nothing in buffers that are not in
9706@code{org-mode}.
4009494e 9707
b349f79f 9708@node Special agenda views, Using the property API, Dynamic blocks, Hacking
a7808fba 9709@section Special agenda views
4009494e
GM
9710@cindex agenda views, user-defined
9711
a7808fba 9712Org provides a special hook that can be used to narrow down the
4009494e
GM
9713selection made by any of the agenda views. You may specify a function
9714that is used at each match to verify if the match should indeed be part
9715of the agenda view, and if not, how much should be skipped.
9716
9717Let's say you want to produce a list of projects that contain a WAITING
9718tag anywhere in the project tree. Let's further assume that you have
a7808fba
CD
9719marked all tree headings that define a project with the TODO keyword
9720PROJECT. In this case you would run a TODO search for the keyword
4009494e
GM
9721PROJECT, but skip the match unless there is a WAITING tag anywhere in
9722the subtree belonging to the project line.
9723
9724To achieve this, you must write a function that searches the subtree for
9725the tag. If the tag is found, the function must return @code{nil} to
9726indicate that this match should not be skipped. If there is no such
9727tag, return the location of the end of the subtree, to indicate that
9728search should continue from there.
9729
9730@lisp
9731(defun my-skip-unless-waiting ()
9732 "Skip trees that are not waiting"
9733 (let ((subtree-end (save-excursion (org-end-of-subtree t))))
dbc28aaa 9734 (if (re-search-forward ":waiting:" subtree-end t)
4009494e
GM
9735 nil ; tag found, do not skip
9736 subtree-end))) ; tag not found, continue after end of subtree
9737@end lisp
9738
9739Now you may use this function in an agenda custom command, for example
9740like this:
9741
9742@lisp
9743(org-add-agenda-custom-command
9744 '("b" todo "PROJECT"
e45e3595 9745 ((org-agenda-skip-function 'my-skip-unless-waiting)
4009494e
GM
9746 (org-agenda-overriding-header "Projects waiting for something: "))))
9747@end lisp
9748
9749Note that this also binds @code{org-agenda-overriding-header} to get a
9750meaningful header in the agenda view.
9751
a7808fba
CD
9752A general way to create custom searches is to base them on a search for
9753entries with a certain level limit. If you want to study all entries with
9754your custom search function, simply do a search for @samp{LEVEL>0}, and then
9755use @code{org-agenda-skip-function} to select the entries you really want to
9756have.
9757
4009494e
GM
9758You may also put a Lisp form into @code{org-agenda-skip-function}. In
9759particular, you may use the functions @code{org-agenda-skip-entry-if}
9760and @code{org-agenda-skip-subtree-if} in this form, for example:
9761
9762@table @code
9763@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'scheduled)
9764Skip current entry if it has been scheduled.
9765@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'notscheduled)
9766Skip current entry if it has not been scheduled.
9767@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'deadline)
9768Skip current entry if it has a deadline.
9769@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'scheduled 'deadline)
9770Skip current entry if it has a deadline, or if it is scheduled.
9771@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry 'regexp "regular expression")
dbc28aaa
CD
9772Skip current entry if the regular expression matches in the entry.
9773@item '(org-agenda-skip-entry 'notregexp "regular expression")
9774Skip current entry unless the regular expression matches.
4009494e
GM
9775@item '(org-agenda-skip-subtree-if 'regexp "regular expression")
9776Same as above, but check and skip the entire subtree.
9777@end table
9778
9779Therefore we could also have written the search for WAITING projects
9780like this, even without defining a special function:
9781
9782@lisp
9783(org-add-agenda-custom-command
9784 '("b" todo "PROJECT"
9785 ((org-agenda-skip-function '(org-agenda-skip-subtree-if
dbc28aaa 9786 'regexp ":waiting:"))
4009494e
GM
9787 (org-agenda-overriding-header "Projects waiting for something: "))))
9788@end lisp
9789
b349f79f 9790@node Using the property API, Using the mapping API, Special agenda views, Hacking
4009494e
GM
9791@section Using the property API
9792@cindex API, for properties
9793@cindex properties, API
9794
9795Here is a description of the functions that can be used to work with
9796properties.
9797
9798@defun org-entry-properties &optional pom which
9799Get all properties of the entry at point-or-marker POM.
9800This includes the TODO keyword, the tags, time strings for deadline,
9801scheduled, and clocking, and any additional properties defined in the
9802entry. The return value is an alist, keys may occur multiple times
9803if the property key was used several times.
9804POM may also be nil, in which case the current entry is used.
9805If WHICH is nil or `all', get all properties. If WHICH is
9806`special' or `standard', only get that subclass.
9807@end defun
9808@defun org-entry-get pom property &optional inherit
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9809Get value of PROPERTY for entry at point-or-marker POM. By default,
9810this only looks at properties defined locally in the entry. If INHERIT
9811is non-nil and the entry does not have the property, then also check
9812higher levels of the hierarchy. If INHERIT is the symbol
9813@code{selective}, use inheritance if and only if the setting of
9814@code{org-use-property-inheritance} selects PROPERTY for inheritance.
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9815@end defun
9816
9817@defun org-entry-delete pom property
9818Delete the property PROPERTY from entry at point-or-marker POM.
9819@end defun
9820
9821@defun org-entry-put pom property value
9822Set PROPERTY to VALUE for entry at point-or-marker POM.
9823@end defun
9824
9825@defun org-buffer-property-keys &optional include-specials
9826Get all property keys in the current buffer.
9827@end defun
9828
9829@defun org-insert-property-drawer
9830Insert a property drawer at point.
9831@end defun
9832
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9833@defun org-entry-put-multivalued-property pom property &rest values
9834Set PROPERTY at point-or-marker POM to VALUES. VALUES should be a list of
9835strings. They will be concatenated, with spaces as separators.
9836@end defun
9837
9838@defun org-entry-get-multivalued-property pom property
9839Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
9840values and return the values as a list of strings.
9841@end defun
9842
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9843@defun org-entry-add-to-multivalued-property pom property value
9844Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
9845values and make sure that VALUE is in this list.
9846@end defun
9847
9848@defun org-entry-remove-from-multivalued-property pom property value
9849Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
9850values and make sure that VALUE is @emph{not} in this list.
9851@end defun
9852
9853@defun org-entry-member-in-multivalued-property pom property value
9854Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
9855values and check if VALUE is in this list.
9856@end defun
9857
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9858@node Using the mapping API, , Using the property API, Hacking
9859@section Using the mapping API
9860@cindex API, for mapping
9861@cindex mapping entries, API
9862
9863Org has sophisticated mapping capabilities to find all entries satisfying
9864certain criteria. Internally, this functionality is used to produce agenda
9865views, but there is also an API that can be used to execute arbitrary
9866functions for each or selected entries. The main entry point for this API
96c8522a 9867is:
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9868
9869@defun org-map-entries func &optional match scope &rest skip
9870Call FUNC at each headline selected by MATCH in SCOPE.
9871
9872FUNC is a function or a lisp form. The function will be called without
9873arguments, with the cursor positioned at the beginning of the headline.
9874The return values of all calls to the function will be collected and
9875returned as a list.
9876
864c9740 9877MATCH is a tags/property/todo match as it is used in the agenda match view.
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9878Only headlines that are matched by this query will be considered during
9879the iteration. When MATCH is nil or t, all headlines will be
9880visited by the iteration.
9881
9882SCOPE determines the scope of this command. It can be any of:
9883
9884@example
9885nil @r{the current buffer, respecting the restriction if any}
9886tree @r{the subtree started with the entry at point}
9887file @r{the current buffer, without restriction}
9888file-with-archives
9889 @r{the current buffer, and any archives associated with it}
9890agenda @r{all agenda files}
9891agenda-with-archives
9892 @r{all agenda files with any archive files associated with them}
9893(file1 file2 ...)
9894 @r{if this is a list, all files in the list will be scanned}
9895@end example
9896
9897The remaining args are treated as settings for the skipping facilities of
9898the scanner. The following items can be given here:
9899
9900@example
9901archive @r{skip trees with the archive tag}
9902comment @r{skip trees with the COMMENT keyword}
9903function or Lisp form
9904 @r{will be used as value for @code{org-agenda-skip-function},}
9905 @r{so whenever the the function returns t, FUNC}
9906 @r{will not be called for that entry and search will}
9907 @r{continue from the point where the function leaves it}
9908@end example
9909@end defun
9910
9911The function given to that mapping routine can really do anything you like.
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9912It can use the property API (@pxref{Using the property API}) to gather more
9913information about the entry, or in order to change metadata in the entry.
b349f79f 9914Here are a couple of functions that might be handy:
96c8522a 9915
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9916@defun org-todo &optional arg
9917Change the TODO state of the entry, see the docstring of the functions for
9918the many possible values for the argument ARG.
9919@end defun
9920
9921@defun org-priority &optional action
9922Change the priority of the entry, see the docstring of this function for the
9923possible values for ACTION.
9924@end defun
9925
9926@defun org-toggle-tag tag &optional onoff
9927Toggle the tag TAG in the current entry. Setting ONOFF to either @code{on}
9928or @code{off} will not toggle tag, but ensure that it is either on or off.
9929@end defun
9930
9931@defun org-promote
9932Promote the current entry.
9933@end defun
9934
9935@defun org-demote
9936Demote the current entry.
9937@end defun
9938
9939Here is a simple example that will turn all entries in the current file with
9940a tag @code{TOMORROW} into TODO entries with the keyword @code{UPCOMING}.
9941Entries in comment trees and in archive trees will be ignored.
9942
9943@lisp
9944(org-map-entries
9945 '(org-todo "UPCOMING")
9946 "+TOMORROW" 'file 'archive 'comment)
9947@end lisp
9948
9949The following example counts the number of entries with TODO keyword
9950@code{WAITING}, in all agenda files.
9951
9952@lisp
96c8522a 9953(length (org-map-entries t "/+WAITING" 'agenda))
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9954@end lisp
9955
9956@node History and Acknowledgments, Main Index, Hacking, Top
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9957@appendix History and Acknowledgments
9958@cindex acknowledgments
9959@cindex history
9960@cindex thanks
9961
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9962Org was borne in 2003, out of frustration over the user interface
9963of the Emacs Outline mode. I was trying to organize my notes and
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9964projects, and using Emacs seemed to be the natural way to go. However,
9965having to remember eleven different commands with two or three keys per
a7808fba 9966command, only to hide and show parts of the outline tree, that seemed
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9967entirely unacceptable to me. Also, when using outlines to take notes, I
9968constantly want to restructure the tree, organizing it parallel to my
9969thoughts and plans. @emph{Visibility cycling} and @emph{structure
9970editing} were originally implemented in the package
9971@file{outline-magic.el}, but quickly moved to the more general
9972@file{org.el}. As this environment became comfortable for project
9973planning, the next step was adding @emph{TODO entries}, basic @emph{time
9974stamps}, and @emph{table support}. These areas highlight the two main
a7808fba 9975goals that Org still has today: To create a new, outline-based,
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9976plain text mode with innovative and intuitive editing features, and to
9977incorporate project planning functionality directly into a notes file.
9978
a50253cc 9979A special thanks goes to @i{Bastien Guerry} who has not only written a large
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9980number of extensions to Org (most of them integrated into the core by now),
9981but has also helped the development and maintenance of Org so much that he
9982should be considered co-author of this package.
9983
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9984Since the first release, literally thousands of emails to me or on
9985@code{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org} have provided a constant stream of bug
9986reports, feedback, new ideas, and sometimes patches and add-on code.
9987Many thanks to everyone who has helped to improve this package. I am
9988trying to keep here a list of the people who had significant influence
a7808fba 9989in shaping one or more aspects of Org. The list may not be
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9990complete, if I have forgotten someone, please accept my apologies and
9991let me know.
9992
9993@itemize @bullet
9994
9995@item
9996@i{Russel Adams} came up with the idea for drawers.
9997@item
a7808fba 9998@i{Thomas Baumann} wrote @file{org-bbdb.el} and @file{org-mhe.el}.
4009494e 9999@item
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10000@i{Christophe Bataillon} created the great unicorn logo that we use on the
10001Org-mode website.
10002@item
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10003@i{Alex Bochannek} provided a patch for rounding time stamps.
10004@item
10005@i{Charles Cave}'s suggestion sparked the implementation of templates
10006for Remember.
10007@item
10008@i{Pavel Chalmoviansky} influenced the agenda treatment of items with
10009specified time.
10010@item
10011@i{Gregory Chernov} patched support for lisp forms into table
10012calculations and improved XEmacs compatibility, in particular by porting
10013@file{nouline.el} to XEmacs.
10014@item
10015@i{Sacha Chua} suggested to copy some linking code from Planner.
10016@item
a50253cc 10017@i{Edward DeVilla} proposed and tested checkbox statistics. He also
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10018came up with the idea of properties, and that there should be an API for
10019them.
10020@item
10021@i{Kees Dullemond} used to edit projects lists directly in HTML and so
10022inspired some of the early development, including HTML export. He also
10023asked for a way to narrow wide table columns.
10024@item
a7808fba 10025@i{Christian Egli} converted the documentation into Texinfo format,
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10026patched CSS formatting into the HTML exporter, and inspired the agenda.
10027@item
10028@i{David Emery} provided a patch for custom CSS support in exported
10029HTML agendas.
10030@item
10031@i{Nic Ferrier} contributed mailcap and XOXO support.
10032@item
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10033@i{Miguel A. Figueroa-Villanueva} implemented hierarchical checkboxes.
10034@item
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10035@i{John Foerch} figured out how to make incremental search show context
10036around a match in a hidden outline tree.
10037@item
dbc28aaa 10038@i{Niels Giesen} had the idea to automatically archive DONE trees.
4009494e 10039@item
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10040@i{Bastien Guerry} wrote the La@TeX{} exporter and @file{org-bibtex.el}, and
10041has been prolific with patches, ideas, and bug reports.
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10042@item
10043@i{Kai Grossjohann} pointed out key-binding conflicts with other packages.
10044@item
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10045@i{Bernt Hansen} has driven much of the support for auto-repeating tasks,
10046task state change logging, and the clocktable. His clear explanations have
10047been critical when we started to adopt the GIT version control system.
10048@item
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10049@i{Manuel Hermenegildo} has contributed various ideas, small fixed and
10050patches.
10051@item
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10052@i{Phil Jackson} wrote @file{org-irc.el}.
10053@item
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10054@i{Scott Jaderholm} proposed footnotes, control over whitespace between
10055folded entries, and column view for properties.
10056@item
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10057@i{Tokuya Kameshima} wrote @file{org-wl.el} and @file{org-mew.el}.
10058@item
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10059@i{Shidai Liu} ("Leo") asked for embedded La@TeX{} and tested it. He also
10060provided frequent feedback and some patches.
10061@item
10062@i{Jason F. McBrayer} suggested agenda export to CSV format.
10063@item
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10064@i{Max Mikhanosha} came up with the idea of refiling.
10065@item
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10066@i{Dmitri Minaev} sent a patch to set priority limits on a per-file
10067basis.
10068@item
10069@i{Stefan Monnier} provided a patch to keep the Emacs-Lisp compiler
10070happy.
10071@item
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10072@i{Rick Moynihan} proposed to allow multiple TODO sequences in a file
10073and to be able to quickly restrict the agenda to a subtree.
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10074@item
10075@i{Todd Neal} provided patches for links to Info files and elisp forms.
10076@item
10077@i{Tim O'Callaghan} suggested in-file links, search options for general
10078file links, and TAGS.
10079@item
10080@i{Takeshi Okano} translated the manual and David O'Toole's tutorial
10081into Japanese.
10082@item
10083@i{Oliver Oppitz} suggested multi-state TODO items.
10084@item
10085@i{Scott Otterson} sparked the introduction of descriptive text for
10086links, among other things.
10087@item
10088@i{Pete Phillips} helped during the development of the TAGS feature, and
10089provided frequent feedback.
10090@item
10091@i{T.V. Raman} reported bugs and suggested improvements.
10092@item
10093@i{Matthias Rempe} (Oelde) provided ideas, Windows support, and quality
10094control.
10095@item
10096@i{Kevin Rogers} contributed code to access VM files on remote hosts.
10097@item
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10098@i{Sebastian Rose} wrote @file{org-info.js}, a Java script for displaying
10099webpages derived from Org using an Info-like, or a folding interface with
10100single key navigation.
10101@item
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10102@i{Frank Ruell} solved the mystery of the @code{keymapp nil} bug, a
10103conflict with @file{allout.el}.
10104@item
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10105@i{Jason Riedy} generalized the send-receive mechanism for orgtbl tables with
10106extensive patches.
4009494e 10107@item
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10108@i{Philip Rooke} created the Org reference card, provided lots
10109of feedback, developed and applied standards to the Org documentation.
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10110@item
10111@i{Christian Schlauer} proposed angular brackets around links, among
10112other things.
10113@item
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10114@i{Eric Schulte} wrote @file{org-plot.el}.
10115@item
b349f79f 10116Linking to VM/BBDB/Gnus was first inspired by @i{Tom Shannon}'s
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10117@file{organizer-mode.el}.
10118@item
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10119@i{Ilya Shlyakhter} proposed the Archive Sibling.
10120@item
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10121@i{Stathis Sideris} wrote the @file{ditaa.jar} ASCII to PNG converter that is
10122now packaged into Org's @file{contrib} directory.
10123@item
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10124@i{Daniel Sinder} came up with the idea of internal archiving by locking
10125subtrees.
10126@item
10127@i{Dale Smith} proposed link abbreviations.
10128@item
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10129@i{James TD Smith} has contributed a large number of patches for useful
10130tweaks and features.
10131@item
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10132@i{Adam Spiers} asked for global linking commands, inspired the link
10133extension system, added support for mairix, and proposed the mapping API.
4009494e 10134@item
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10135@i{Andy Stewart} contributed code to @file{org-w3m.el}, to copy HTML content
10136with links transformation to Org syntax.
10137@item
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10138@i{David O'Toole} wrote @file{org-publish.el} and drafted the manual
10139chapter about publishing.
10140@item
10141@i{J@"urgen Vollmer} contributed code generating the table of contents
10142in HTML output.
10143@item
10144@i{Chris Wallace} provided a patch implementing the @samp{QUOTE}
10145keyword.
10146@item
10147@i{David Wainberg} suggested archiving, and improvements to the linking
10148system.
10149@item
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10150@i{John Wiegley} wrote @file{emacs-wiki.el}, @file{planner.el}, and
10151@file{muse.el}, which have similar goals as Org. Initially the
10152development of Org was fully independent because I was not aware of the
a50253cc 10153existence of these packages. But with time I have occasionally looked
b349f79f 10154at John's code and learned a lot from it. John has also contributed a
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10155number of great ideas and patches directly to Org, including the attachment
10156system (@file{org-attach.el}) and integration with Apple Mail
10157(@file{org-mac-message.el}).
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10158@item
10159@i{Carsten Wimmer} suggested some changes and helped fix a bug in
a7808fba 10160linking to Gnus.
4009494e 10161@item
a7808fba 10162@i{Roland Winkler} requested additional key bindings to make Org
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10163work on a tty.
10164@item
10165@i{Piotr Zielinski} wrote @file{org-mouse.el}, proposed agenda blocks
10166and contributed various ideas and code snippets.
10167@end itemize
10168
10169
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10170@node Main Index, Key Index, History and Acknowledgments, Top
10171@unnumbered The Main Index
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10172
10173@printindex cp
10174
dbc28aaa 10175@node Key Index, , Main Index, Top
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10176@unnumbered Key Index
10177
10178@printindex ky
10179
10180@bye
10181
10182@ignore
a7808fba 10183 arch-tag: 7893d1Fe-cc57-4d13-b5e5-f494a1CBC7ac
4009494e 10184@end ignore
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10185
10186@c Local variables:
10187@c ispell-local-dictionary: "en_US-w_accents"
10188@c ispell-local-pdict: "./.aspell.org.pws"
10189@c fill-column: 77
10190@c End:
44ce9197 10191