5 @settitle The Org Manual
10 @c Version and Contact Info
11 @set MAINTAINERSITE @uref{http://orgmode.org,maintainers webpage}
12 @set AUTHOR Carsten Dominik
13 @set MAINTAINER Carsten Dominik
14 @set MAINTAINEREMAIL @email{carsten at orgmode dot org}
15 @set MAINTAINERCONTACT @uref{mailto:carsten at orgmode dot org,contact the maintainer}
21 @c @hyphenation{time-stamp time-stamps time-stamp-ing time-stamp-ed}
36 @c Subheadings inside a table.
37 @macro tsubheading{text}
47 This manual is for Org version @value{VERSION}.
49 Copyright @copyright{} 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Free Software Foundation
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
55 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
56 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
57 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License.''
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
60 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
63 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
64 Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
65 separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
66 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
72 * Org Mode: (org). Outline-based notes management and organizer
78 @subtitle Release @value{VERSION}
79 @author by Carsten Dominik
80 with contributions by David O'Toole, Dan Davison, Eric Schulte and Thomas Dye
82 @c The following two commands start the copyright page.
84 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
88 @c Output the table of contents at the beginning.
92 @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
99 * Introduction:: Getting started
100 * Document Structure:: A tree works like your brain
101 * Tables:: Pure magic for quick formatting
102 * Hyperlinks:: Notes in context
103 * TODO Items:: Every tree branch can be a TODO item
104 * Tags:: Tagging headlines and matching sets of tags
105 * Properties and Columns:: Storing information about an entry
106 * Dates and Times:: Making items useful for planning
107 * Capture - Refile - Archive:: The ins and outs for projects
108 * Agenda Views:: Collecting information into views
109 * Markup:: Prepare text for rich export
110 * Exporting:: Sharing and publishing of notes
111 * Publishing:: Create a web site of linked Org files
112 * Working With Source Code:: Export, evaluate, and tangle code blocks
113 * Miscellaneous:: All the rest which did not fit elsewhere
114 * Hacking:: How to hack your way around
115 * MobileOrg:: Viewing and capture on a mobile device
116 * History and Acknowledgments:: How Org came into being
117 * Main Index:: An index of Org's concepts and features
118 * Key Index:: Key bindings and where they are described
119 * Variable Index:: Variables mentioned in the manual
122 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
126 * Summary:: Brief summary of what Org does
127 * Installation:: How to install a downloaded version of Org
128 * Activation:: How to activate Org for certain buffers
129 * Feedback:: Bug reports, ideas, patches etc.
130 * Conventions:: Type-setting conventions in the manual
134 * Outlines:: Org is based on Outline mode
135 * Headlines:: How to typeset Org tree headlines
136 * Visibility cycling:: Show and hide, much simplified
137 * Motion:: Jumping to other headlines
138 * Structure editing:: Changing sequence and level of headlines
139 * Sparse trees:: Matches embedded in context
140 * Plain lists:: Additional structure within an entry
141 * Drawers:: Tucking stuff away
142 * Blocks:: Folding blocks
143 * Footnotes:: How footnotes are defined in Org's syntax
144 * Orgstruct mode:: Structure editing outside Org
148 * Built-in table editor:: Simple tables
149 * Column width and alignment:: Overrule the automatic settings
150 * Column groups:: Grouping to trigger vertical lines
151 * Orgtbl mode:: The table editor as minor mode
152 * The spreadsheet:: The table editor has spreadsheet capabilities
153 * Org-Plot:: Plotting from org tables
157 * References:: How to refer to another field or range
158 * Formula syntax for Calc:: Using Calc to compute stuff
159 * Formula syntax for Lisp:: Writing formulas in Emacs Lisp
160 * Field formulas:: Formulas valid for a single field
161 * Column formulas:: Formulas valid for an entire column
162 * Editing and debugging formulas:: Fixing formulas
163 * Updating the table:: Recomputing all dependent fields
164 * Advanced features:: Field names, parameters and automatic recalc
168 * Link format:: How links in Org are formatted
169 * Internal links:: Links to other places in the current file
170 * External links:: URL-like links to the world
171 * Handling links:: Creating, inserting and following
172 * Using links outside Org:: Linking from my C source code?
173 * Link abbreviations:: Shortcuts for writing complex links
174 * Search options:: Linking to a specific location
175 * Custom searches:: When the default search is not enough
179 * Radio targets:: Make targets trigger links in plain text
183 * TODO basics:: Marking and displaying TODO entries
184 * TODO extensions:: Workflow and assignments
185 * Progress logging:: Dates and notes for progress
186 * Priorities:: Some things are more important than others
187 * Breaking down tasks:: Splitting a task into manageable pieces
188 * Checkboxes:: Tick-off lists
190 Extended use of TODO keywords
192 * Workflow states:: From TODO to DONE in steps
193 * TODO types:: I do this, Fred does the rest
194 * Multiple sets in one file:: Mixing it all, and still finding your way
195 * Fast access to TODO states:: Single letter selection of a state
196 * Per-file keywords:: Different files, different requirements
197 * Faces for TODO keywords:: Highlighting states
198 * TODO dependencies:: When one task needs to wait for others
202 * Closing items:: When was this entry marked DONE?
203 * Tracking TODO state changes:: When did the status change?
204 * Tracking your habits:: How consistent have you been?
208 * Tag inheritance:: Tags use the tree structure of the outline
209 * Setting tags:: How to assign tags to a headline
210 * Tag searches:: Searching for combinations of tags
212 Properties and columns
214 * Property syntax:: How properties are spelled out
215 * Special properties:: Access to other Org-mode features
216 * Property searches:: Matching property values
217 * Property inheritance:: Passing values down the tree
218 * Column view:: Tabular viewing and editing
219 * Property API:: Properties for Lisp programmers
223 * Defining columns:: The COLUMNS format property
224 * Using column view:: How to create and use column view
225 * Capturing column view:: A dynamic block for column view
229 * Scope of column definitions:: Where defined, where valid?
230 * Column attributes:: Appearance and content of a column
234 * Timestamps:: Assigning a time to a tree entry
235 * Creating timestamps:: Commands which insert timestamps
236 * Deadlines and scheduling:: Planning your work
237 * Clocking work time:: Tracking how long you spend on a task
238 * Resolving idle time:: Resolving time if you've been idle
239 * Effort estimates:: Planning work effort in advance
240 * Relative timer:: Notes with a running timer
244 * The date/time prompt:: How Org-mode helps you entering date and time
245 * Custom time format:: Making dates look different
247 Deadlines and scheduling
249 * Inserting deadline/schedule:: Planning items
250 * Repeated tasks:: Items that show up again and again
252 Capture - Refile - Archive
254 * Capture:: Capturing new stuff
255 * Attachments:: Add files to tasks
256 * RSS Feeds:: Getting input from RSS feeds
257 * Protocols:: External (e.g. Browser) access to Emacs and Org
258 * Refiling notes:: Moving a tree from one place to another
259 * Archiving:: What to do with finished projects
263 * Setting up capture:: Where notes will be stored
264 * Using capture:: Commands to invoke and terminate capture
265 * Capture templates:: Define the outline of different note types
269 * Template elements:: What is needed for a complete template entry
270 * Template expansion:: Filling in information about time and context
274 * Moving subtrees:: Moving a tree to an archive file
275 * Internal archiving:: Switch off a tree but keep it in the file
279 * Agenda files:: Files being searched for agenda information
280 * Agenda dispatcher:: Keyboard access to agenda views
281 * Built-in agenda views:: What is available out of the box?
282 * Presentation and sorting:: How agenda items are prepared for display
283 * Agenda commands:: Remote editing of Org trees
284 * Custom agenda views:: Defining special searches and views
285 * Exporting Agenda Views:: Writing a view to a file
286 * Agenda column view:: Using column view for collected entries
288 The built-in agenda views
290 * Weekly/daily agenda:: The calendar page with current tasks
291 * Global TODO list:: All unfinished action items
292 * Matching tags and properties:: Structured information with fine-tuned search
293 * Timeline:: Time-sorted view for single file
294 * Search view:: Find entries by searching for text
295 * Stuck projects:: Find projects you need to review
297 Presentation and sorting
299 * Categories:: Not all tasks are equal
300 * Time-of-day specifications:: How the agenda knows the time
301 * Sorting of agenda items:: The order of things
305 * Storing searches:: Type once, use often
306 * Block agenda:: All the stuff you need in a single buffer
307 * Setting Options:: Changing the rules
309 Markup for rich export
311 * Structural markup elements:: The basic structure as seen by the exporter
312 * Images and tables:: Tables and Images will be included
313 * Literal examples:: Source code examples with special formatting
314 * Include files:: Include additional files into a document
315 * Index entries:: Making an index
316 * Macro replacement:: Use macros to create complex output
317 * Embedded LaTeX:: LaTeX can be freely used inside Org documents
319 Structural markup elements
321 * Document title:: Where the title is taken from
322 * Headings and sections:: The document structure as seen by the exporter
323 * Table of contents:: The if and where of the table of contents
324 * Initial text:: Text before the first heading?
326 * Paragraphs:: Paragraphs
327 * Footnote markup:: Footnotes
328 * Emphasis and monospace:: Bold, italic, etc.
329 * Horizontal rules:: Make a line
330 * Comment lines:: What will *not* be exported
334 * Special symbols:: Greek letters and other symbols
335 * Subscripts and superscripts:: Simple syntax for raising/lowering text
336 * LaTeX fragments:: Complex formulas made easy
337 * Previewing LaTeX fragments:: What will this snippet look like?
338 * CDLaTeX mode:: Speed up entering of formulas
342 * Selective export:: Using tags to select and exclude trees
343 * Export options:: Per-file export settings
344 * The export dispatcher:: How to access exporter commands
345 * ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export:: Exporting to flat files with encoding
346 * HTML export:: Exporting to HTML
347 * LaTeX and PDF export:: Exporting to La@TeX{}, and processing to PDF
348 * DocBook export:: Exporting to DocBook
349 * TaskJuggler export:: Exporting to TaskJuggler
350 * Freemind export:: Exporting to Freemind mind maps
351 * XOXO export:: Exporting to XOXO
352 * iCalendar export:: Exporting in iCalendar format
356 * HTML Export commands:: How to invoke HTML export
357 * Quoting HTML tags:: Using direct HTML in Org-mode
358 * Links in HTML export:: How links will be interpreted and formatted
359 * Tables in HTML export:: How to modify the formatting of tables
360 * Images in HTML export:: How to insert figures into HTML output
361 * Text areas in HTML export:: An alternative way to show an example
362 * CSS support:: Changing the appearance of the output
363 * Javascript support:: Info and Folding in a web browser
365 La@TeX{} and PDF export
367 * LaTeX/PDF export commands:: Which key invokes which commands
368 * Header and sectioning:: Setting up the export file structure
369 * Quoting LaTeX code:: Incorporating literal La@TeX{} code
370 * Tables in LaTeX export:: Options for exporting tables to La@TeX{}
371 * Images in LaTeX export:: How to insert figures into La@TeX{} output
372 * Beamer class export:: Turning the file into a presentation
376 * DocBook export commands:: How to invoke DocBook export
377 * Quoting DocBook code:: Incorporating DocBook code in Org files
378 * Recursive sections:: Recursive sections in DocBook
379 * Tables in DocBook export:: Tables are exported as HTML tables
380 * Images in DocBook export:: How to insert figures into DocBook output
381 * Special characters:: How to handle special characters
385 * Configuration:: Defining projects
386 * Uploading files:: How to get files up on the server
387 * Sample configuration:: Example projects
388 * Triggering publication:: Publication commands
392 * Project alist:: The central configuration variable
393 * Sources and destinations:: From here to there
394 * Selecting files:: What files are part of the project?
395 * Publishing action:: Setting the function doing the publishing
396 * Publishing options:: Tweaking HTML export
397 * Publishing links:: Which links keep working after publishing?
398 * Sitemap:: Generating a list of all pages
399 * Generating an index:: An index that reaches across pages
403 * Simple example:: One-component publishing
404 * Complex example:: A multi-component publishing example
406 Working with source code
408 * Structure of code blocks:: Code block syntax described
409 * Editing source code:: Language major-mode editing
410 * Exporting code blocks:: Export contents and/or results
411 * Extracting source code:: Create pure source code files
412 * Evaluating code blocks:: Place results of evaluation in the Org-mode buffer
413 * Library of Babel:: Use and contribute to a library of useful code blocks
414 * Languages:: List of supported code block languages
415 * Header arguments:: Configure code block functionality
416 * Results of evaluation:: How evaluation results are handled
417 * Noweb reference syntax:: Literate programming in Org-mode
418 * Key bindings and useful functions:: Work quickly with code blocks
419 * Batch execution:: Call functions from the command line
423 * Using header arguments:: Different ways to set header arguments
424 * Specific header arguments:: List of header arguments
426 Using header arguments
428 * System-wide header arguments:: Set global default values
429 * Language-specific header arguments:: Set default values by language
430 * Buffer-wide header arguments:: Set default values for a specific buffer
431 * Header arguments in Org-mode properties:: Set default values for a buffer or heading
432 * Code block specific header arguments:: The most common way to set values
434 Specific header arguments
436 * var:: Pass arguments to code blocks
437 * results:: Specify the type of results and how they will be collectd and handled
438 * file:: Specify a path for file output
439 * dir and remote execution:: Specify the default directory for code block execution
440 * exports:: Export code and/or results
441 * tangle:: Toggle tangling and specify file name
442 * no-expand:: Turn off variable assignment and noweb expansion during tangling
443 * session:: Preserve the state of code evaluation
444 * noweb:: Toggle expansion of noweb references
445 * cache:: Avoid re-evaluating unchanged code blocks
446 * hlines:: Handle horizontal lines in tables
447 * colnames:: Handle column names in tables
448 * rownames:: Handle row names in tables
449 * shebang:: Make tangled files executable
453 * Completion:: M-TAB knows what you need
454 * Speed keys:: Electic commands at the beginning of a headline
455 * Code evaluation security:: Org mode files evaluate inline code
456 * Customization:: Adapting Org to your taste
457 * In-buffer settings:: Overview of the #+KEYWORDS
458 * The very busy C-c C-c key:: When in doubt, press C-c C-c
459 * Clean view:: Getting rid of leading stars in the outline
460 * TTY keys:: Using Org on a tty
461 * Interaction:: Other Emacs packages
463 Interaction with other packages
465 * Cooperation:: Packages Org cooperates with
466 * Conflicts:: Packages that lead to conflicts
470 * Hooks:: Who to reach into Org's internals
471 * Add-on packages:: Available extensions
472 * Adding hyperlink types:: New custom link types
473 * Context-sensitive commands:: How to add functionality to such commands
474 * Tables in arbitrary syntax:: Orgtbl for La@TeX{} and other programs
475 * Dynamic blocks:: Automatically filled blocks
476 * Special agenda views:: Customized views
477 * Extracting agenda information:: Postprocessing of agenda information
478 * Using the property API:: Writing programs that use entry properties
479 * Using the mapping API:: Mapping over all or selected entries
481 Tables and lists in arbitrary syntax
483 * Radio tables:: Sending and receiving radio tables
484 * A LaTeX example:: Step by step, almost a tutorial
485 * Translator functions:: Copy and modify
486 * Radio lists:: Doing the same for lists
490 * Setting up the staging area:: Where to interact with the mobile device
491 * Pushing to MobileOrg:: Uploading Org files and agendas
492 * Pulling from MobileOrg:: Integrating captured and flagged items
497 @node Introduction, Document Structure, Top, Top
498 @chapter Introduction
502 * Summary:: Brief summary of what Org does
503 * Installation:: How to install a downloaded version of Org
504 * Activation:: How to activate Org for certain buffers
505 * Feedback:: Bug reports, ideas, patches etc.
506 * Conventions:: Type-setting conventions in the manual
509 @node Summary, Installation, Introduction, Introduction
513 Org is a mode for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, and doing
514 project planning with a fast and effective plain-text system.
516 Org develops organizational tasks around NOTES files that contain
517 lists or information about projects as plain text. Org is
518 implemented on top of Outline mode, which makes it possible to keep the
519 content of large files well structured. Visibility cycling and
520 structure editing help to work with the tree. Tables are easily created
521 with a built-in table editor. Org supports TODO items, deadlines,
522 timestamps, and scheduling. It dynamically compiles entries into an
523 agenda that utilizes and smoothly integrates much of the Emacs calendar
524 and diary. Plain text URL-like links connect to websites, emails,
525 Usenet messages, BBDB entries, and any files related to the projects.
526 For printing and sharing of notes, an Org file can be exported as a
527 structured ASCII file, as HTML, or (TODO and agenda items only) as an
528 iCalendar file. It can also serve as a publishing tool for a set of
531 As a project planning environment, Org works by adding metadata to outline
532 nodes. Based on this data, specific entries can be extracted in queries and
533 create dynamic @i{agenda views}.
535 Org mode contains the Org Babel environment which allows to work with
536 embedded source code block in a file, to facilitate code evaluation,
537 documentation, and tangling.
539 Org's automatic, context-sensitive table editor with spreadsheet
540 capabilities can be integrated into any major mode by activating the
541 minor Orgtbl mode. Using a translation step, it can be used to maintain
542 tables in arbitrary file types, for example in La@TeX{}. The structure
543 editing and list creation capabilities can be used outside Org with
544 the minor Orgstruct mode.
546 Org keeps simple things simple. When first fired up, it should
547 feel like a straightforward, easy to use outliner. Complexity is not
548 imposed, but a large amount of functionality is available when you need
549 it. Org is a toolbox and can be used in different ways and for different
553 @r{@bullet{} an outline extension with visibility cycling and structure editing}
554 @r{@bullet{} an ASCII system and table editor for taking structured notes}
555 @r{@bullet{} a TODO list editor}
556 @r{@bullet{} a full agenda and planner with deadlines and work scheduling}
557 @pindex GTD, Getting Things Done
558 @r{@bullet{} an environment in which to implement David Allen's GTD system}
559 @r{@bullet{} a simple hypertext system, with HTML and La@TeX{} export}
560 @r{@bullet{} a publishing tool to create a set of interlinked webpages}
561 @r{@bullet{} an environment for literate programming}
566 There is a website for Org which provides links to the newest
567 version of Org, as well as additional information, frequently asked
568 questions (FAQ), links to tutorials, etc@. This page is located at
569 @uref{http://orgmode.org}.
574 @node Installation, Activation, Summary, Introduction
575 @section Installation
579 @b{Important:} @i{If you are using a version of Org that is part of the Emacs
580 distribution or an XEmacs package, please skip this section and go directly
581 to @ref{Activation}.}
583 If you have downloaded Org from the Web, either as a distribution @file{.zip}
584 or @file{.tar} file, or as a Git archive, you must take the following steps
585 to install it: go into the unpacked Org distribution directory and edit the
586 top section of the file @file{Makefile}. You must set the name of the Emacs
587 binary (likely either @file{emacs} or @file{xemacs}), and the paths to the
588 directories where local Lisp and Info files are kept. If you don't have
589 access to the system-wide directories, you can simply run Org directly from
590 the distribution directory by adding the @file{lisp} subdirectory to the
591 Emacs load path. To do this, add the following line to @file{.emacs}:
594 (setq load-path (cons "~/path/to/orgdir/lisp" load-path))
598 If you plan to use code from the @file{contrib} subdirectory, do a similar
599 step for this directory:
602 (setq load-path (cons "~/path/to/orgdir/contrib/lisp" load-path))
607 XEmacs users now need to install the file @file{noutline.el} from
608 the @file{xemacs} sub-directory of the Org distribution. Use the
612 make install-noutline
617 @noindent Now byte-compile the Lisp files with the shell command:
623 @noindent If you are running Org from the distribution directory, this is
624 all. If you want to install Org into the system directories, use (as
631 Installing Info files is system dependent, because of differences in the
632 @file{install-info} program. In Debian it copies the info files into the
633 correct directory and modifies the info directory file. In many other
634 systems, the files need to be copied to the correct directory separately, and
635 @file{install-info} then only modifies the directory file. Check your system
636 documentation to find out which of the following commands you need:
640 make install-info-debian
643 Then add the following line to @file{.emacs}. It is needed so that
644 Emacs can autoload functions that are located in files not immediately loaded
645 when Org-mode starts.
647 (require 'org-install)
650 Do not forget to activate Org as described in the following section.
653 @node Activation, Feedback, Installation, Introduction
657 @cindex global key bindings
658 @cindex key bindings, global
661 @b{Important:} @i{If you use copy-and-paste to copy Lisp code from the
662 PDF documentation as viewed by some PDF viewers to your @file{.emacs} file, the
663 single-quote character comes out incorrectly and the code will not work.
664 You need to fix the single-quotes by hand, or copy from Info
668 Add the following lines to your @file{.emacs} file. The last three lines
669 define @emph{global} keys for the commands @command{org-store-link},
670 @command{org-agenda}, and @command{org-iswitchb}---please choose suitable
674 ;; The following lines are always needed. Choose your own keys.
675 (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.org\\'" . org-mode))
676 (global-set-key "\C-cl" 'org-store-link)
677 (global-set-key "\C-ca" 'org-agenda)
678 (global-set-key "\C-cb" 'org-iswitchb)
681 Furthermore, you must activate @code{font-lock-mode} in Org
682 buffers, because significant functionality depends on font-locking being
683 active. You can do this with either one of the following two lines
684 (XEmacs users must use the second option):
686 (global-font-lock-mode 1) ; for all buffers
687 (add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'turn-on-font-lock) ; Org buffers only
690 @cindex Org-mode, turning on
691 With this setup, all files with extension @samp{.org} will be put
692 into Org-mode. As an alternative, make the first line of a file look
696 MY PROJECTS -*- mode: org; -*-
699 @vindex org-insert-mode-line-in-empty-file
700 @noindent which will select Org-mode for this buffer no matter what
701 the file's name is. See also the variable
702 @code{org-insert-mode-line-in-empty-file}.
704 Many commands in Org work on the region if the region is @i{active}. To make
705 use of this, you need to have @code{transient-mark-mode}
706 (@code{zmacs-regions} in XEmacs) turned on. In Emacs 23 this is the default,
707 in Emacs 22 you need to do this yourself with
709 (transient-mark-mode 1)
711 @noindent If you do not like @code{transient-mark-mode}, you can create an
712 active region by using the mouse to select a region, or pressing
713 @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} twice before moving the cursor.
715 @node Feedback, Conventions, Activation, Introduction
722 If you find problems with Org, or if you have questions, remarks, or ideas
723 about it, please mail to the Org mailing list @email{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org}.
724 If you are not a member of the mailing list, your mail will be passed to the
725 list after a moderator has approved it.
727 For bug reports, please provide as much information as possible, including
728 the version information of Emacs (@kbd{M-x emacs-version @key{RET}}) and Org
729 (@kbd{M-x org-version @key{RET}}), as well as the Org related setup in
730 @file{.emacs}. The easiest way to do this is to use the command
732 @kbd{M-x org-submit-bug-report}
734 @noindent which will put all this information into an Emacs mail buffer so
735 that you only need to add your description. If you re not sending the Email
736 from within Emacs, please copy and paste the content into your Email program.
738 If an error occurs, a backtrace can be very useful (see below on how to
739 create one). Often a small example file helps, along with clear information
743 @item What exactly did you do?
744 @item What did you expect to happen?
745 @item What happened instead?
747 @noindent Thank you for helping to improve this mode.
749 @subsubheading How to create a useful backtrace
751 @cindex backtrace of an error
752 If working with Org produces an error with a message you don't
753 understand, you may have hit a bug. The best way to report this is by
754 providing, in addition to what was mentioned above, a @emph{backtrace}.
755 This is information from the built-in debugger about where and how the
756 error occurred. Here is how to produce a useful backtrace:
760 Reload uncompiled versions of all Org-mode Lisp files. The backtrace
761 contains much more information if it is produced with uncompiled code.
764 C-u M-x org-reload RET
767 or select @code{Org -> Refresh/Reload -> Reload Org uncompiled} from the
770 Go to the @code{Options} menu and select @code{Enter Debugger on Error}
771 (XEmacs has this option in the @code{Troubleshooting} sub-menu).
773 Do whatever you have to do to hit the error. Don't forget to
774 document the steps you take.
776 When you hit the error, a @file{*Backtrace*} buffer will appear on the
777 screen. Save this buffer to a file (for example using @kbd{C-x C-w}) and
778 attach it to your bug report.
781 @node Conventions, , Feedback, Introduction
782 @section Typesetting conventions used in this manual
784 Org uses three types of keywords: TODO keywords, tags, and property
785 names. In this manual we use the following conventions:
790 TODO keywords are written with all capitals, even if they are
794 User-defined tags are written in lowercase; built-in tags with special
795 meaning are written with all capitals.
798 User-defined properties are capitalized; built-in properties with
799 special meaning are written with all capitals.
802 @node Document Structure, Tables, Introduction, Top
803 @chapter Document structure
804 @cindex document structure
805 @cindex structure of document
807 Org is based on Outline mode and provides flexible commands to
808 edit the structure of the document.
811 * Outlines:: Org is based on Outline mode
812 * Headlines:: How to typeset Org tree headlines
813 * Visibility cycling:: Show and hide, much simplified
814 * Motion:: Jumping to other headlines
815 * Structure editing:: Changing sequence and level of headlines
816 * Sparse trees:: Matches embedded in context
817 * Plain lists:: Additional structure within an entry
818 * Drawers:: Tucking stuff away
819 * Blocks:: Folding blocks
820 * Footnotes:: How footnotes are defined in Org's syntax
821 * Orgstruct mode:: Structure editing outside Org
824 @node Outlines, Headlines, Document Structure, Document Structure
829 Org is implemented on top of Outline mode. Outlines allow a
830 document to be organized in a hierarchical structure, which (at least
831 for me) is the best representation of notes and thoughts. An overview
832 of this structure is achieved by folding (hiding) large parts of the
833 document to show only the general document structure and the parts
834 currently being worked on. Org greatly simplifies the use of
835 outlines by compressing the entire show/hide functionality into a single
836 command, @command{org-cycle}, which is bound to the @key{TAB} key.
838 @node Headlines, Visibility cycling, Outlines, Document Structure
842 @vindex org-special-ctrl-a/e
843 @vindex org-special-ctrl-k
844 @vindex org-ctrl-k-protect-subtree
846 Headlines define the structure of an outline tree. The headlines in Org
847 start with one or more stars, on the left margin@footnote{See the variables
848 @code{org-special-ctrl-a/e}, @code{org-special-ctrl-k}, and
849 @code{org-ctrl-k-protect-subtree} to configure special behavior of @kbd{C-a},
850 @kbd{C-e}, and @kbd{C-k} in headlines.}. For example:
860 * Another top level headline
863 @noindent Some people find the many stars too noisy and would prefer an
864 outline that has whitespace followed by a single star as headline
865 starters. @ref{Clean view}, describes a setup to realize this.
867 @vindex org-cycle-separator-lines
868 An empty line after the end of a subtree is considered part of it and
869 will be hidden when the subtree is folded. However, if you leave at
870 least two empty lines, one empty line will remain visible after folding
871 the subtree, in order to structure the collapsed view. See the
872 variable @code{org-cycle-separator-lines} to modify this behavior.
874 @node Visibility cycling, Motion, Headlines, Document Structure
875 @section Visibility cycling
876 @cindex cycling, visibility
877 @cindex visibility cycling
878 @cindex trees, visibility
879 @cindex show hidden text
882 Outlines make it possible to hide parts of the text in the buffer.
883 Org uses just two commands, bound to @key{TAB} and
884 @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} to change the visibility in the buffer.
886 @cindex subtree visibility states
887 @cindex subtree cycling
888 @cindex folded, subtree visibility state
889 @cindex children, subtree visibility state
890 @cindex subtree, subtree visibility state
894 @emph{Subtree cycling}: Rotate current subtree among the states
897 ,-> FOLDED -> CHILDREN -> SUBTREE --.
898 '-----------------------------------'
901 @vindex org-cycle-emulate-tab
902 @vindex org-cycle-global-at-bob
903 The cursor must be on a headline for this to work@footnote{see, however,
904 the option @code{org-cycle-emulate-tab}.}. When the cursor is at the
905 beginning of the buffer and the first line is not a headline, then
906 @key{TAB} actually runs global cycling (see below)@footnote{see the
907 option @code{org-cycle-global-at-bob}.}. Also when called with a prefix
908 argument (@kbd{C-u @key{TAB}}), global cycling is invoked.
910 @cindex global visibility states
911 @cindex global cycling
912 @cindex overview, global visibility state
913 @cindex contents, global visibility state
914 @cindex show all, global visibility state
918 @emph{Global cycling}: Rotate the entire buffer among the states
921 ,-> OVERVIEW -> CONTENTS -> SHOW ALL --.
922 '--------------------------------------'
925 When @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} is called with a numeric prefix argument N, the
926 CONTENTS view up to headlines of level N will be shown. Note that inside
927 tables, @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} jumps to the previous field.
929 @cindex show all, command
930 @kindex C-u C-u C-u @key{TAB}
931 @item C-u C-u C-u @key{TAB}
932 Show all, including drawers.
935 Reveal context around point, showing the current entry, the following heading
936 and the hierarchy above. Useful for working near a location that has been
937 exposed by a sparse tree command (@pxref{Sparse trees}) or an agenda command
938 (@pxref{Agenda commands}). With a prefix argument show, on each
939 level, all sibling headings. With double prefix arg, also show the entire
940 subtree of the parent.
943 Expose all the headings of the subtree, CONTENT view for just one subtree.
946 Show the current subtree in an indirect buffer@footnote{The indirect
949 (@pxref{Indirect Buffers,,,emacs,GNU Emacs Manual})
952 (see the Emacs manual for more information about indirect buffers)
954 will contain the entire buffer, but will be narrowed to the current
955 tree. Editing the indirect buffer will also change the original buffer,
956 but without affecting visibility in that buffer.}. With a numeric
957 prefix argument N, go up to level N and then take that tree. If N is
958 negative then go up that many levels. With a @kbd{C-u} prefix, do not remove
959 the previously used indirect buffer.
962 @vindex org-startup-folded
963 @cindex @code{overview}, STARTUP keyword
964 @cindex @code{content}, STARTUP keyword
965 @cindex @code{showall}, STARTUP keyword
966 @cindex @code{showeverything}, STARTUP keyword
968 When Emacs first visits an Org file, the global state is set to
969 OVERVIEW, i.e. only the top level headlines are visible. This can be
970 configured through the variable @code{org-startup-folded}, or on a
971 per-file basis by adding one of the following lines anywhere in the
978 #+STARTUP: showeverything
981 @cindex property, VISIBILITY
983 Furthermore, any entries with a @samp{VISIBILITY} property (@pxref{Properties
984 and Columns}) will get their visibility adapted accordingly. Allowed values
985 for this property are @code{folded}, @code{children}, @code{content}, and
988 @kindex C-u C-u @key{TAB}
989 @item C-u C-u @key{TAB}
990 Switch back to the startup visibility of the buffer, i.e. whatever is
991 requested by startup options and @samp{VISIBILITY} properties in individual
995 @node Motion, Structure editing, Visibility cycling, Document Structure
997 @cindex motion, between headlines
998 @cindex jumping, to headlines
999 @cindex headline navigation
1000 The following commands jump to other headlines in the buffer.
1011 Next heading same level.
1014 Previous heading same level.
1017 Backward to higher level heading.
1020 Jump to a different place without changing the current outline
1021 visibility. Shows the document structure in a temporary buffer, where
1022 you can use the following keys to find your destination:
1023 @vindex org-goto-auto-isearch
1025 @key{TAB} @r{Cycle visibility.}
1026 @key{down} / @key{up} @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
1027 @key{RET} @r{Select this location.}
1028 @kbd{/} @r{Do a Sparse-tree search}
1029 @r{The following keys work if you turn off @code{org-goto-auto-isearch}}
1030 n / p @r{Next/previous visible headline.}
1031 f / b @r{Next/previous headline same level.}
1033 0-9 @r{Digit argument.}
1036 @vindex org-goto-interface
1038 See also the variable @code{org-goto-interface}.
1041 @node Structure editing, Sparse trees, Motion, Document Structure
1042 @section Structure editing
1043 @cindex structure editing
1044 @cindex headline, promotion and demotion
1045 @cindex promotion, of subtrees
1046 @cindex demotion, of subtrees
1047 @cindex subtree, cut and paste
1048 @cindex pasting, of subtrees
1049 @cindex cutting, of subtrees
1050 @cindex copying, of subtrees
1051 @cindex sorting, of subtrees
1052 @cindex subtrees, cut and paste
1057 @vindex org-M-RET-may-split-line
1058 Insert new heading with same level as current. If the cursor is in a
1059 plain list item, a new item is created (@pxref{Plain lists}). To force
1060 creation of a new headline, use a prefix argument, or first press @key{RET}
1061 to get to the beginning of the next line. When this command is used in
1062 the middle of a line, the line is split and the rest of the line becomes
1063 the new headline@footnote{If you do not want the line to be split,
1064 customize the variable @code{org-M-RET-may-split-line}.}. If the
1065 command is used at the beginning of a headline, the new headline is
1066 created before the current line. If at the beginning of any other line,
1067 the content of that line is made the new heading. If the command is
1068 used at the end of a folded subtree (i.e. behind the ellipses at the end
1069 of a headline), then a headline like the current one will be inserted
1070 after the end of the subtree.
1073 Just like @kbd{M-@key{RET}}, except when adding a new heading below the
1074 current heading, the new heading is placed after the body instead of before
1075 it. This command works from anywhere in the entry.
1076 @kindex M-S-@key{RET}
1078 @vindex org-treat-insert-todo-heading-as-state-change
1079 Insert new TODO entry with same level as current heading. See also the
1080 variable @code{org-treat-insert-todo-heading-as-state-change}.
1081 @kindex C-S-@key{RET}
1083 Insert new TODO entry with same level as current heading. Like
1084 @kbd{C-@key{RET}}, the new headline will be inserted after the current
1087 @item @key{TAB} @r{in new, empty entry}
1088 In a new entry with no text yet, the first @key{TAB} demotes the entry to
1089 become a child of the previous one. The next @key{TAB} makes it a parent,
1090 and so on, all the way to top level. Yet another @key{TAB}, and you are back
1091 to the initial level.
1092 @kindex M-@key{left}
1094 Promote current heading by one level.
1095 @kindex M-@key{right}
1097 Demote current heading by one level.
1098 @kindex M-S-@key{left}
1099 @item M-S-@key{left}
1100 Promote the current subtree by one level.
1101 @kindex M-S-@key{right}
1102 @item M-S-@key{right}
1103 Demote the current subtree by one level.
1104 @kindex M-S-@key{up}
1106 Move subtree up (swap with previous subtree of same
1108 @kindex M-S-@key{down}
1109 @item M-S-@key{down}
1110 Move subtree down (swap with next subtree of same level).
1113 Kill subtree, i.e. remove it from buffer but save in kill ring.
1114 With a numeric prefix argument N, kill N sequential subtrees.
1117 Copy subtree to kill ring. With a numeric prefix argument N, copy the N
1118 sequential subtrees.
1121 Yank subtree from kill ring. This does modify the level of the subtree to
1122 make sure the tree fits in nicely at the yank position. The yank level can
1123 also be specified with a numeric prefix argument, or by yanking after a
1124 headline marker like @samp{****}.
1127 @vindex org-yank-adjusted-subtrees
1128 @vindex org-yank-folded-subtrees
1129 Depending on the variables @code{org-yank-adjusted-subtrees} and
1130 @code{org-yank-folded-subtrees}, Org's internal @code{yank} command will
1131 paste subtrees folded and in a clever way, using the same command as @kbd{C-c
1132 C-x C-y}. With the default settings, no level adjustment will take place,
1133 but the yanked tree will be folded unless doing so would swallow text
1134 previously visible. Any prefix argument to this command will force a normal
1135 @code{yank} to be executed, with the prefix passed along. A good way to
1136 force a normal yank is @kbd{C-u C-y}. If you use @code{yank-pop} after a
1137 yank, it will yank previous kill items plainly, without adjustment and
1141 Clone a subtree by making a number of sibling copies of it. You will be
1142 prompted for the number of copies to make, and you can also specify if any
1143 timestamps in the entry should be shifted. This can be useful, for example,
1144 to create a number of tasks related to a series of lectures to prepare. For
1145 more details, see the docstring of the command
1146 @code{org-clone-subtree-with-time-shift}.
1149 Refile entry or region to a different location. @xref{Refiling notes}.
1152 Sort same-level entries. When there is an active region, all entries in the
1153 region will be sorted. Otherwise the children of the current headline are
1154 sorted. The command prompts for the sorting method, which can be
1155 alphabetically, numerically, by time (first timestamp with active preferred,
1156 creation time, scheduled time, deadline time), by priority, by TODO keyword
1157 (in the sequence the keywords have been defined in the setup) or by the value
1158 of a property. Reverse sorting is possible as well. You can also supply
1159 your own function to extract the sorting key. With a @kbd{C-u} prefix,
1160 sorting will be case-sensitive. With two @kbd{C-u C-u} prefixes, duplicate
1161 entries will also be removed.
1164 Narrow buffer to current subtree.
1167 Widen buffer to remove narrowing.
1170 Turn a normal line or plain list item into a headline (so that it becomes a
1171 subheading at its location). Also turn a headline into a normal line by
1172 removing the stars. If there is an active region, turn all lines in the
1173 region into headlines. If the first line in the region was an item, turn
1174 only the item lines into headlines. Finally, if the first line is a
1175 headline, remove the stars from all headlines in the region.
1178 @cindex region, active
1179 @cindex active region
1180 @cindex transient mark mode
1181 When there is an active region (Transient Mark mode), promotion and
1182 demotion work on all headlines in the region. To select a region of
1183 headlines, it is best to place both point and mark at the beginning of a
1184 line, mark at the beginning of the first headline, and point at the line
1185 just after the last headline to change. Note that when the cursor is
1186 inside a table (@pxref{Tables}), the Meta-Cursor keys have different
1190 @node Sparse trees, Plain lists, Structure editing, Document Structure
1191 @section Sparse trees
1192 @cindex sparse trees
1193 @cindex trees, sparse
1194 @cindex folding, sparse trees
1195 @cindex occur, command
1197 @vindex org-show-hierarchy-above
1198 @vindex org-show-following-heading
1199 @vindex org-show-siblings
1200 @vindex org-show-entry-below
1201 An important feature of Org-mode is the ability to construct @emph{sparse
1202 trees} for selected information in an outline tree, so that the entire
1203 document is folded as much as possible, but the selected information is made
1204 visible along with the headline structure above it@footnote{See also the
1205 variables @code{org-show-hierarchy-above}, @code{org-show-following-heading},
1206 @code{org-show-siblings}, and @code{org-show-entry-below} for detailed
1207 control on how much context is shown around each match.}. Just try it out
1208 and you will see immediately how it works.
1210 Org-mode contains several commands creating such trees, all these
1211 commands can be accessed through a dispatcher:
1216 This prompts for an extra key to select a sparse-tree creating command.
1219 @vindex org-remove-highlights-with-change
1220 Occur. Prompts for a regexp and shows a sparse tree with all matches. If
1221 the match is in a headline, the headline is made visible. If the match is in
1222 the body of an entry, headline and body are made visible. In order to
1223 provide minimal context, also the full hierarchy of headlines above the match
1224 is shown, as well as the headline following the match. Each match is also
1225 highlighted; the highlights disappear when the buffer is changed by an
1226 editing command@footnote{This depends on the option
1227 @code{org-remove-highlights-with-change}}, or by pressing @kbd{C-c C-c}.
1228 When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, previous highlights are kept,
1229 so several calls to this command can be stacked.
1233 @vindex org-agenda-custom-commands
1234 For frequently used sparse trees of specific search strings, you can
1235 use the variable @code{org-agenda-custom-commands} to define fast
1236 keyboard access to specific sparse trees. These commands will then be
1237 accessible through the agenda dispatcher (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).
1241 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
1242 '(("f" occur-tree "FIXME")))
1245 @noindent will define the key @kbd{C-c a f} as a shortcut for creating
1246 a sparse tree matching the string @samp{FIXME}.
1248 The other sparse tree commands select headings based on TODO keywords,
1249 tags, or properties and will be discussed later in this manual.
1252 @cindex printing sparse trees
1253 @cindex visible text, printing
1254 To print a sparse tree, you can use the Emacs command
1255 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} which does not print invisible parts
1256 of the document @footnote{This does not work under XEmacs, because
1257 XEmacs uses selective display for outlining, not text properties.}.
1258 Or you can use the command @kbd{C-c C-e v} to export only the visible
1259 part of the document and print the resulting file.
1261 @node Plain lists, Drawers, Sparse trees, Document Structure
1262 @section Plain lists
1264 @cindex lists, plain
1265 @cindex lists, ordered
1266 @cindex ordered lists
1268 Within an entry of the outline tree, hand-formatted lists can provide
1269 additional structure. They also provide a way to create lists of
1270 checkboxes (@pxref{Checkboxes}). Org supports editing such lists,
1271 and the HTML exporter (@pxref{Exporting}) parses and formats them.
1273 Org knows ordered lists, unordered lists, and description lists.
1276 @emph{Unordered} list items start with @samp{-}, @samp{+}, or
1277 @samp{*}@footnote{When using @samp{*} as a bullet, lines must be indented or
1278 they will be seen as top-level headlines. Also, when you are hiding leading
1279 stars to get a clean outline view, plain list items starting with a star are
1280 visually indistinguishable from true headlines. In short: even though
1281 @samp{*} is supported, it may be better to not use it for plain list items.}
1284 @emph{Ordered} list items start with a numeral followed by either a period or
1285 a right parenthesis, such as @samp{1.} or @samp{1)}. If you want a list to
1286 start a different value (e.g. 20), start the text of the item with
1287 @code{[@@start:20]}.
1289 @emph{Description} list items are unordered list items, and contain the
1290 separator @samp{ :: } to separate the description @emph{term} from the
1294 @vindex org-empty-line-terminates-plain-lists
1295 Items belonging to the same list must have the same indentation on the first
1296 line. In particular, if an ordered list reaches number @samp{10.}, then the
1297 2--digit numbers must be written left-aligned with the other numbers in the
1298 list. Indentation also determines the end of a list item. It ends before
1299 the next line that is indented like the bullet/number, or less. Empty lines
1300 are part of the previous item, so you can have several paragraphs in one
1301 item. If you would like an empty line to terminate all currently open plain
1302 lists, configure the variable @code{org-empty-line-terminates-plain-lists}.
1307 ** Lord of the Rings
1308 My favorite scenes are (in this order)
1309 1. The attack of the Rohirrim
1310 2. Eowyn's fight with the witch king
1311 + this was already my favorite scene in the book
1312 + I really like Miranda Otto.
1313 3. Peter Jackson being shot by Legolas
1315 He makes a really funny face when it happens.
1316 But in the end, no individual scenes matter but the film as a whole.
1317 Important actors in this film are:
1318 - @b{Elijah Wood} :: He plays Frodo
1319 - @b{Sean Austin} :: He plays Sam, Frodo's friend. I still remember
1320 him very well from his role as Mikey Walsh in @i{The Goonies}.
1324 Org supports these lists by tuning filling and wrapping commands to deal with
1325 them correctly@footnote{Org only changes the filling settings for Emacs. For
1326 XEmacs, you should use Kyle E. Jones' @file{filladapt.el}. To turn this on,
1327 put into @file{.emacs}: @code{(require 'filladapt)}}, and by exporting them
1328 properly (@pxref{Exporting}). Since indentation is what governs the
1329 structure of these lists, many structural constructs like @code{#+BEGIN_...}
1330 blocks can be indented to signal that they should be part of a list item.
1332 @vindex org-list-demote-modify-bullet
1333 If you find that using a different bullet for a sub-list (than that used for
1334 the current list-level) improves readability, customize the variable
1335 @code{org-list-demote-modify-bullet}.
1337 The following commands act on items when the cursor is in the first line
1338 of an item (the line with the bullet or number).
1343 @vindex org-cycle-include-plain-lists
1344 Items can be folded just like headline levels. Normally this works only if
1345 the cursor is on a plain list item. For more details, see the variable
1346 @code{org-cycle-include-plain-lists}. to @code{integrate}, plain list items
1347 will be treated like low-level. The level of an item is then given by the
1348 indentation of the bullet/number. Items are always subordinate to real
1349 headlines, however; the hierarchies remain completely separated.
1351 If @code{org-cycle-include-plain-lists} has not been set, @key{TAB}
1352 fixes the indentation of the current line in a heuristic way.
1355 @vindex org-M-RET-may-split-line
1356 Insert new item at current level. With a prefix argument, force a new
1357 heading (@pxref{Structure editing}). If this command is used in the middle
1358 of a line, the line is @emph{split} and the rest of the line becomes the new
1359 item@footnote{If you do not want the line to be split, customize the variable
1360 @code{org-M-RET-may-split-line}.}. If this command is executed in the
1361 @emph{whitespace before a bullet or number}, the new item is created
1362 @emph{before} the current item. If the command is executed in the white
1363 space before the text that is part of an item but does not contain the
1364 bullet, a bullet is added to the current line.
1365 @kindex M-S-@key{RET}
1367 Insert a new item with a checkbox (@pxref{Checkboxes}).
1369 @item @key{TAB} @r{in new, empty item}
1370 In a new item with no text yet, the first @key{TAB} demotes the item to
1371 become a child of the previous one. The next @key{TAB} makes it a parent,
1372 and so on, all the way to the left margin. Yet another @key{TAB}, and you
1373 are back to the initial level.
1375 @kindex S-@key{down}
1378 @cindex shift-selection-mode
1379 @vindex org-support-shift-select
1380 Jump to the previous/next item in the current list, but only if
1381 @code{org-support-shift-select} is off. If not, you can still use paragraph
1382 jumping commands like @kbd{C-@key{up}} and @kbd{C-@key{down}} to quite
1384 @kindex M-S-@key{up}
1385 @kindex M-S-@key{down}
1387 @itemx M-S-@key{down}
1388 Move the item including subitems up/down (swap with previous/next item
1389 of same indentation). If the list is ordered, renumbering is
1391 @kindex M-@key{left}
1392 @kindex M-@key{right}
1394 @itemx M-@key{right}
1395 Decrease/increase the indentation of an item, leaving children alone.
1396 @kindex M-S-@key{left}
1397 @kindex M-S-@key{right}
1398 @item M-S-@key{left}
1399 @itemx M-S-@key{right}
1400 Decrease/increase the indentation of the item, including subitems.
1401 Initially, the item tree is selected based on current indentation.
1402 When these commands are executed several times in direct succession,
1403 the initially selected region is used, even if the new indentation
1404 would imply a different hierarchy. To use the new hierarchy, break
1405 the command chain with a cursor motion or so.
1408 If there is a checkbox (@pxref{Checkboxes}) in the item line, toggle the
1409 state of the checkbox. If not, this command makes sure that all the
1410 items on this list level use the same bullet. Furthermore, if this is
1411 an ordered list, make sure the numbering is OK.
1414 Cycle the entire list level through the different itemize/enumerate bullets
1415 (@samp{-}, @samp{+}, @samp{*}, @samp{1.}, @samp{1)}). With a numeric prefix
1416 argument N, select the Nth bullet from this list. If there is an active
1417 region when calling this, all lines will be converted to list items. If the
1418 first line already was a list item, any item markers will be removed from the
1419 list. Finally, even without an active region, a normal line will be
1420 converted into a list item.
1423 Turn a plain list item into a headline (so that it becomes a subheading at
1424 its location). @xref{Structure editing}, for a detailed explanation.
1425 @kindex S-@key{left}
1426 @kindex S-@key{right}
1427 @item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
1428 @vindex org-support-shift-select
1429 This command also cycles bullet styles when the cursor in on the bullet or
1430 anywhere in an item line, details depending on
1431 @code{org-support-shift-select}.
1434 Sort the plain list. You will be prompted for the sorting method:
1435 numerically, alphabetically, by time, or by custom function.
1438 @node Drawers, Blocks, Plain lists, Document Structure
1442 @cindex visibility cycling, drawers
1445 Sometimes you want to keep information associated with an entry, but you
1446 normally don't want to see it. For this, Org-mode has @emph{drawers}.
1447 Drawers need to be configured with the variable
1448 @code{org-drawers}@footnote{You can define drawers on a per-file basis
1449 with a line like @code{#+DRAWERS: HIDDEN PROPERTIES STATE}}. Drawers
1453 ** This is a headline
1454 Still outside the drawer
1456 This is inside the drawer.
1461 Visibility cycling (@pxref{Visibility cycling}) on the headline will hide and
1462 show the entry, but keep the drawer collapsed to a single line. In order to
1463 look inside the drawer, you need to move the cursor to the drawer line and
1464 press @key{TAB} there. Org-mode uses the @code{PROPERTIES} drawer for
1465 storing properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}), and you can also arrange
1466 for state change notes (@pxref{Tracking TODO state changes}) and clock times
1467 (@pxref{Clocking work time}) to be stored in a drawer @code{LOGBOOK}. If you
1468 want to store a quick note in the LOGBOOK drawer, in a similar way as this is
1469 done by state changes, use
1474 Add a time-stamped note to the LOGBOOK drawer.
1477 @node Blocks, Footnotes, Drawers, Document Structure
1480 @vindex org-hide-block-startup
1481 @cindex blocks, folding
1482 Org-mode uses begin...end blocks for various purposes from including source
1483 code examples (@pxref{Literal examples}) to capturing time logging
1484 information (@pxref{Clocking work time}). These blocks can be folded and
1485 unfolded by pressing TAB in the begin line. You can also get all blocks
1486 folded at startup by configuring the variable @code{org-hide-block-startup}
1487 or on a per-file basis by using
1489 @cindex @code{hideblocks}, STARTUP keyword
1490 @cindex @code{nohideblocks}, STARTUP keyword
1492 #+STARTUP: hideblocks
1493 #+STARTUP: nohideblocks
1496 @node Footnotes, Orgstruct mode, Blocks, Document Structure
1500 Org-mode supports the creation of footnotes. In contrast to the
1501 @file{footnote.el} package, Org-mode's footnotes are designed for work on a
1502 larger document, not only for one-off documents like emails. The basic
1503 syntax is similar to the one used by @file{footnote.el}, i.e. a footnote is
1504 defined in a paragraph that is started by a footnote marker in square
1505 brackets in column 0, no indentation allowed. If you need a paragraph break
1506 inside a footnote, use the La@TeX{} idiom @samp{\par}. The footnote reference
1507 is simply the marker in square brackets, inside text. For example:
1510 The Org homepage[fn:1] now looks a lot better than it used to.
1512 [fn:1] The link is: http://orgmode.org
1515 Org-mode extends the number-based syntax to @emph{named} footnotes and
1516 optional inline definition. Using plain numbers as markers (as
1517 @file{footnote.el} does) is supported for backward compatibility, but not
1518 encouraged because of possible conflicts with La@TeX{} snippets (@pxref{Embedded
1519 LaTeX}). Here are the valid references:
1523 A plain numeric footnote marker. Compatible with @file{footnote.el}, but not
1524 recommended because somthing like @samp{[1]} could easily be part of a code
1527 A named footnote reference, where @code{name} is a unique label word, or, for
1528 simplicity of automatic creation, a number.
1529 @item [fn:: This is the inline definition of this footnote]
1530 A La@TeX{}-like anonymous footnote where the definition is given directly at the
1532 @item [fn:name: a definition]
1533 An inline definition of a footnote, which also specifies a name for the note.
1534 Since Org allows multiple references to the same note, you can then use
1535 @code{[fn:name]} to create additional references.
1538 @vindex org-footnote-auto-label
1539 Footnote labels can be created automatically, or you can create names yourself.
1540 This is handled by the variable @code{org-footnote-auto-label} and its
1541 corresponding @code{#+STARTUP} keywords, see the docstring of that variable
1544 @noindent The following command handles footnotes:
1549 The footnote action command.
1551 When the cursor is on a footnote reference, jump to the definition. When it
1552 is at a definition, jump to the (first) reference.
1554 @vindex org-footnote-define-inline
1555 @vindex org-footnote-section
1556 @vindex org-footnote-auto-adjust
1557 Otherwise, create a new footnote. Depending on the variable
1558 @code{org-footnote-define-inline}@footnote{The corresponding in-buffer
1559 setting is: @code{#+STARTUP: fninline} or @code{#+STARTUP: nofninline}}, the
1560 definition will be placed right into the text as part of the reference, or
1561 separately into the location determined by the variable
1562 @code{org-footnote-section}.
1564 When this command is called with a prefix argument, a menu of additional
1567 s @r{Sort the footnote definitions by reference sequence. During editing,}
1568 @r{Org makes no effort to sort footnote definitions into a particular}
1569 @r{sequence. If you want them sorted, use this command, which will}
1570 @r{also move entries according to @code{org-footnote-section}. Automatic}
1571 @r{sorting after each insertion/deletion can be configured using the}
1572 @r{variable @code{org-footnote-auto-adjust}.}
1573 r @r{Renumber the simple @code{fn:N} footnotes. Automatic renumbering}
1574 @r{after each insertion/deletion can be configured using the variable}
1575 @r{@code{org-footnote-auto-adjust}.}
1576 S @r{Short for first @code{r}, then @code{s} action.}
1577 n @r{Normalize the footnotes by collecting all definitions (including}
1578 @r{inline definitions) into a special section, and then numbering them}
1579 @r{in sequence. The references will then also be numbers. This is}
1580 @r{meant to be the final step before finishing a document (e.g. sending}
1581 @r{off an email). The exporters do this automatically, and so could}
1582 @r{something like @code{message-send-hook}.}
1583 d @r{Delete the footnote at point, and all definitions of and references}
1586 Depending on the variable @code{org-footnote-auto-adjust}@footnote{the
1587 corresponding in-buffer options are @code{fnadjust} and @code{nofnadjust}.},
1588 renumbering and sorting footnotes can be automatic after each insertion or
1593 If the cursor is on a footnote reference, jump to the definition. If it is a
1594 the definition, jump back to the reference. When called at a footnote
1595 location with a prefix argument, offer the same menu as @kbd{C-c C-x f}.
1599 @item C-c C-o @r{or} mouse-1/2
1600 Footnote labels are also links to the corresponding definition/reference, and
1601 you can use the usual commands to follow these links.
1604 @node Orgstruct mode, , Footnotes, Document Structure
1605 @section The Orgstruct minor mode
1606 @cindex Orgstruct mode
1607 @cindex minor mode for structure editing
1609 If you like the intuitive way the Org-mode structure editing and list
1610 formatting works, you might want to use these commands in other modes like
1611 Text mode or Mail mode as well. The minor mode @code{orgstruct-mode} makes
1612 this possible. Toggle the mode with @kbd{M-x orgstruct-mode}, or
1613 turn it on by default, for example in Mail mode, with one of:
1616 (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgstruct)
1617 (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgstruct++)
1620 When this mode is active and the cursor is on a line that looks to Org like a
1621 headline or the first line of a list item, most structure editing commands
1622 will work, even if the same keys normally have different functionality in the
1623 major mode you are using. If the cursor is not in one of those special
1624 lines, Orgstruct mode lurks silently in the shadow. When you use
1625 @code{orgstruct++-mode}, Org will also export indentation and autofill
1626 settings into that mode, and detect item context after the first line of an
1629 @node Tables, Hyperlinks, Document Structure, Top
1632 @cindex editing tables
1634 Org comes with a fast and intuitive table editor. Spreadsheet-like
1635 calculations are supported in connection with the Emacs @file{calc}
1638 (@pxref{Top,Calc,,Calc,Gnu Emacs Calculator Manual}).
1641 (see the Emacs Calculator manual for more information about the Emacs
1646 * Built-in table editor:: Simple tables
1647 * Column width and alignment:: Overrule the automatic settings
1648 * Column groups:: Grouping to trigger vertical lines
1649 * Orgtbl mode:: The table editor as minor mode
1650 * The spreadsheet:: The table editor has spreadsheet capabilities
1651 * Org-Plot:: Plotting from org tables
1654 @node Built-in table editor, Column width and alignment, Tables, Tables
1655 @section The built-in table editor
1656 @cindex table editor, built-in
1658 Org makes it easy to format tables in plain ASCII. Any line with
1659 @samp{|} as the first non-whitespace character is considered part of a
1660 table. @samp{|} is also the column separator. A table might look like
1664 | Name | Phone | Age |
1665 |-------+-------+-----|
1666 | Peter | 1234 | 17 |
1667 | Anna | 4321 | 25 |
1670 A table is re-aligned automatically each time you press @key{TAB} or
1671 @key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} inside the table. @key{TAB} also moves to
1672 the next field (@key{RET} to the next row) and creates new table rows
1673 at the end of the table or before horizontal lines. The indentation
1674 of the table is set by the first line. Any line starting with
1675 @samp{|-} is considered as a horizontal separator line and will be
1676 expanded on the next re-align to span the whole table width. So, to
1677 create the above table, you would only type
1684 @noindent and then press @key{TAB} to align the table and start filling in
1685 fields. Even faster would be to type @code{|Name|Phone|Age} followed by
1686 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}.
1688 @vindex org-enable-table-editor
1689 @vindex org-table-auto-blank-field
1690 When typing text into a field, Org treats @key{DEL},
1691 @key{Backspace}, and all character keys in a special way, so that
1692 inserting and deleting avoids shifting other fields. Also, when
1693 typing @emph{immediately after the cursor was moved into a new field
1694 with @kbd{@key{TAB}}, @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} or @kbd{@key{RET}}}, the
1695 field is automatically made blank. If this behavior is too
1696 unpredictable for you, configure the variables
1697 @code{org-enable-table-editor} and @code{org-table-auto-blank-field}.
1700 @tsubheading{Creation and conversion}
1703 Convert the active region to table. If every line contains at least one
1704 TAB character, the function assumes that the material is tab separated.
1705 If every line contains a comma, comma-separated values (CSV) are assumed.
1706 If not, lines are split at whitespace into fields. You can use a prefix
1707 argument to force a specific separator: @kbd{C-u} forces CSV, @kbd{C-u
1708 C-u} forces TAB, and a numeric argument N indicates that at least N
1709 consecutive spaces, or alternatively a TAB will be the separator.
1711 If there is no active region, this command creates an empty Org
1712 table. But it's easier just to start typing, like
1713 @kbd{|Name|Phone|Age @key{RET} |- @key{TAB}}.
1715 @tsubheading{Re-aligning and field motion}
1718 Re-align the table without moving the cursor.
1722 Re-align the table, move to the next field. Creates a new row if
1727 Re-align, move to previous field.
1731 Re-align the table and move down to next row. Creates a new row if
1732 necessary. At the beginning or end of a line, @key{RET} still does
1733 NEWLINE, so it can be used to split a table.
1737 Move to beginning of the current table field, or on to the previous field.
1740 Move to end of the current table field, or on to the next field.
1742 @tsubheading{Column and row editing}
1743 @kindex M-@key{left}
1744 @kindex M-@key{right}
1746 @itemx M-@key{right}
1747 Move the current column left/right.
1749 @kindex M-S-@key{left}
1750 @item M-S-@key{left}
1751 Kill the current column.
1753 @kindex M-S-@key{right}
1754 @item M-S-@key{right}
1755 Insert a new column to the left of the cursor position.
1758 @kindex M-@key{down}
1761 Move the current row up/down.
1763 @kindex M-S-@key{up}
1765 Kill the current row or horizontal line.
1767 @kindex M-S-@key{down}
1768 @item M-S-@key{down}
1769 Insert a new row above the current row. With a prefix argument, the line is
1770 created below the current one.
1774 Insert a horizontal line below current row. With a prefix argument, the line
1775 is created above the current line.
1777 @kindex C-c @key{RET}
1779 Insert a horizontal line below current row, and move the cursor into the row
1784 Sort the table lines in the region. The position of point indicates the
1785 column to be used for sorting, and the range of lines is the range
1786 between the nearest horizontal separator lines, or the entire table. If
1787 point is before the first column, you will be prompted for the sorting
1788 column. If there is an active region, the mark specifies the first line
1789 and the sorting column, while point should be in the last line to be
1790 included into the sorting. The command prompts for the sorting type
1791 (alphabetically, numerically, or by time). When called with a prefix
1792 argument, alphabetic sorting will be case-sensitive.
1794 @tsubheading{Regions}
1797 Copy a rectangular region from a table to a special clipboard. Point and
1798 mark determine edge fields of the rectangle. If there is no active region,
1799 copy just the current field. The process ignores horizontal separator lines.
1803 Copy a rectangular region from a table to a special clipboard, and
1804 blank all fields in the rectangle. So this is the ``cut'' operation.
1808 Paste a rectangular region into a table.
1809 The upper left corner ends up in the current field. All involved fields
1810 will be overwritten. If the rectangle does not fit into the present table,
1811 the table is enlarged as needed. The process ignores horizontal separator
1816 Wrap several fields in a column like a paragraph. If there is an active
1817 region, and both point and mark are in the same column, the text in the
1818 column is wrapped to minimum width for the given number of lines. A numeric
1819 prefix argument may be used to change the number of desired lines. If there
1820 is no region, the current field is split at the cursor position and the text
1821 fragment to the right of the cursor is prepended to the field one line
1822 down. If there is no region, but you specify a prefix argument, the current
1823 field is made blank, and the content is appended to the field above.
1825 @tsubheading{Calculations}
1826 @cindex formula, in tables
1827 @cindex calculations, in tables
1828 @cindex region, active
1829 @cindex active region
1830 @cindex transient mark mode
1833 Sum the numbers in the current column, or in the rectangle defined by
1834 the active region. The result is shown in the echo area and can
1835 be inserted with @kbd{C-y}.
1839 @vindex org-table-copy-increment
1840 When current field is empty, copy from first non-empty field above. When not
1841 empty, copy current field down to next row and move cursor along with it.
1842 Depending on the variable @code{org-table-copy-increment}, integer field
1843 values will be incremented during copy. Integers that are too large will not
1844 be incremented. Also, a @code{0} prefix argument temporarily disables the
1845 increment. This key is also used by shift-selection and related modes
1846 (@pxref{Conflicts}).
1848 @tsubheading{Miscellaneous}
1851 Edit the current field in a separate window. This is useful for fields that
1852 are not fully visible (@pxref{Column width and alignment}). When called with
1853 a @kbd{C-u} prefix, just make the full field visible, so that it can be
1856 @item M-x org-table-import
1857 Import a file as a table. The table should be TAB or whitespace
1858 separated. Use, for example, to import a spreadsheet table or data
1859 from a database, because these programs generally can write
1860 TAB-separated text files. This command works by inserting the file into
1861 the buffer and then converting the region to a table. Any prefix
1862 argument is passed on to the converter, which uses it to determine the
1865 Tables can also be imported by pasting tabular text into the Org
1866 buffer, selecting the pasted text with @kbd{C-x C-x} and then using the
1867 @kbd{C-c |} command (see above under @i{Creation and conversion}).
1869 @item M-x org-table-export
1870 @vindex org-table-export-default-format
1871 Export the table, by default as a TAB-separated file. Use for data
1872 exchange with, for example, spreadsheet or database programs. The format
1873 used to export the file can be configured in the variable
1874 @code{org-table-export-default-format}. You may also use properties
1875 @code{TABLE_EXPORT_FILE} and @code{TABLE_EXPORT_FORMAT} to specify the file
1876 name and the format for table export in a subtree. Org supports quite
1877 general formats for exported tables. The exporter format is the same as the
1878 format used by Orgtbl radio tables, see @ref{Translator functions}, for a
1879 detailed description.
1882 If you don't like the automatic table editor because it gets in your
1883 way on lines which you would like to start with @samp{|}, you can turn
1887 (setq org-enable-table-editor nil)
1890 @noindent Then the only table command that still works is
1891 @kbd{C-c C-c} to do a manual re-align.
1893 @node Column width and alignment, Column groups, Built-in table editor, Tables
1894 @section Column width and alignment
1895 @cindex narrow columns in tables
1896 @cindex alignment in tables
1898 The width of columns is automatically determined by the table editor. And
1899 also the alignment of a column is determined automatically from the fraction
1900 of number-like versus non-number fields in the column.
1902 Sometimes a single field or a few fields need to carry more text, leading to
1903 inconveniently wide columns. Or maybe you want to make a table with several
1904 columns having a fixed width, regardless of content. To set@footnote{This
1905 feature does not work on XEmacs.} the width of a column, one field anywhere
1906 in the column may contain just the string @samp{<N>} where @samp{N} is an
1907 integer specifying the width of the column in characters. The next re-align
1908 will then set the width of this column to this value.
1912 |---+------------------------------| |---+--------|
1914 | 1 | one | | 1 | one |
1915 | 2 | two | ----\ | 2 | two |
1916 | 3 | This is a long chunk of text | ----/ | 3 | This=> |
1917 | 4 | four | | 4 | four |
1918 |---+------------------------------| |---+--------|
1923 Fields that are wider become clipped and end in the string @samp{=>}.
1924 Note that the full text is still in the buffer, it is only invisible.
1925 To see the full text, hold the mouse over the field---a tool-tip window
1926 will show the full content. To edit such a field, use the command
1927 @kbd{C-c `} (that is @kbd{C-c} followed by the backquote). This will
1928 open a new window with the full field. Edit it and finish with @kbd{C-c
1931 @vindex org-startup-align-all-tables
1932 When visiting a file containing a table with narrowed columns, the
1933 necessary character hiding has not yet happened, and the table needs to
1934 be aligned before it looks nice. Setting the option
1935 @code{org-startup-align-all-tables} will realign all tables in a file
1936 upon visiting, but also slow down startup. You can also set this option
1937 on a per-file basis with:
1944 If you would like to overrule the automatic alignment of number-rich columns
1945 to the right and of string-rich column to the left, you and use @samp{<r>} or
1946 @samp{<l>} in a similar fashion. You may also combine alignment and field
1947 width like this: @samp{<l10>}.
1949 Lines which only contain these formatting cookies will be removed
1950 automatically when exporting the document.
1952 @node Column groups, Orgtbl mode, Column width and alignment, Tables
1953 @section Column groups
1954 @cindex grouping columns in tables
1956 When Org exports tables, it does so by default without vertical
1957 lines because that is visually more satisfying in general. Occasionally
1958 however, vertical lines can be useful to structure a table into groups
1959 of columns, much like horizontal lines can do for groups of rows. In
1960 order to specify column groups, you can use a special row where the
1961 first field contains only @samp{/}. The further fields can either
1962 contain @samp{<} to indicate that this column should start a group,
1963 @samp{>} to indicate the end of a column, or @samp{<>} to make a column
1964 a group of its own. Boundaries between column groups will upon export be
1965 marked with vertical lines. Here is an example:
1968 | N | N^2 | N^3 | N^4 | sqrt(n) | sqrt[4](N) |
1969 |---+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
1970 | / | < | | > | < | > |
1971 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
1972 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 1.4142 | 1.1892 |
1973 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 81 | 1.7321 | 1.3161 |
1974 |---+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
1975 #+TBLFM: $2=$1^2::$3=$1^3::$4=$1^4::$5=sqrt($1)::$6=sqrt(sqrt(($1)))
1978 It is also sufficient to just insert the column group starters after
1979 every vertical line you would like to have:
1982 | N | N^2 | N^3 | N^4 | sqrt(n) | sqrt[4](N) |
1983 |----+-----+-----+-----+---------+------------|
1987 @node Orgtbl mode, The spreadsheet, Column groups, Tables
1988 @section The Orgtbl minor mode
1990 @cindex minor mode for tables
1992 If you like the intuitive way the Org table editor works, you
1993 might also want to use it in other modes like Text mode or Mail mode.
1994 The minor mode Orgtbl mode makes this possible. You can always toggle
1995 the mode with @kbd{M-x orgtbl-mode}. To turn it on by default, for
1996 example in mail mode, use
1999 (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgtbl)
2002 Furthermore, with some special setup, it is possible to maintain tables
2003 in arbitrary syntax with Orgtbl mode. For example, it is possible to
2004 construct La@TeX{} tables with the underlying ease and power of
2005 Orgtbl mode, including spreadsheet capabilities. For details, see
2006 @ref{Tables in arbitrary syntax}.
2008 @node The spreadsheet, Org-Plot, Orgtbl mode, Tables
2009 @section The spreadsheet
2010 @cindex calculations, in tables
2011 @cindex spreadsheet capabilities
2012 @cindex @file{calc} package
2014 The table editor makes use of the Emacs @file{calc} package to implement
2015 spreadsheet-like capabilities. It can also evaluate Emacs Lisp forms to
2016 derive fields from other fields. While fully featured, Org's implementation
2017 is not identical to other spreadsheets. For example, Org knows the concept
2018 of a @emph{column formula} that will be applied to all non-header fields in a
2019 column without having to copy the formula to each relevant field. There is
2020 also a formula debugger, and a formula editor with features for highlighting
2021 fields in the table corresponding to the references at the point in the
2022 formula, moving these references by arrow keys
2025 * References:: How to refer to another field or range
2026 * Formula syntax for Calc:: Using Calc to compute stuff
2027 * Formula syntax for Lisp:: Writing formulas in Emacs Lisp
2028 * Field formulas:: Formulas valid for a single field
2029 * Column formulas:: Formulas valid for an entire column
2030 * Editing and debugging formulas:: Fixing formulas
2031 * Updating the table:: Recomputing all dependent fields
2032 * Advanced features:: Field names, parameters and automatic recalc
2035 @node References, Formula syntax for Calc, The spreadsheet, The spreadsheet
2036 @subsection References
2039 To compute fields in the table from other fields, formulas must
2040 reference other fields or ranges. In Org, fields can be referenced
2041 by name, by absolute coordinates, and by relative coordinates. To find
2042 out what the coordinates of a field are, press @kbd{C-c ?} in that
2043 field, or press @kbd{C-c @}} to toggle the display of a grid.
2045 @subsubheading Field references
2046 @cindex field references
2047 @cindex references, to fields
2049 Formulas can reference the value of another field in two ways. Like in
2050 any other spreadsheet, you may reference fields with a letter/number
2051 combination like @code{B3}, meaning the 2nd field in the 3rd row.
2052 @c Such references are always fixed to that field, they don't change
2053 @c when you copy and paste a formula to a different field. So
2054 @c Org's @code{B3} behaves like @code{$B$3} in other spreadsheets.
2057 Org also uses another, more general operator that looks like this:
2059 @@@var{row}$@var{column}
2063 Column references can be absolute like @samp{1}, @samp{2},...@samp{@var{N}},
2064 or relative to the current column like @samp{+1} or @samp{-2}.
2066 The row specification only counts data lines and ignores horizontal
2067 separator lines (hlines). You can use absolute row numbers
2068 @samp{1}...@samp{@var{N}}, and row numbers relative to the current row like
2069 @samp{+3} or @samp{-1}. Or specify the row relative to one of the
2070 hlines: @samp{I} refers to the first hline@footnote{Note that only
2071 hlines are counted that @emph{separate} table lines. If the table
2072 starts with a hline above the header, it does not count.}, @samp{II} to
2073 the second, etc@. @samp{-I} refers to the first such line above the
2074 current line, @samp{+I} to the first such line below the current line.
2075 You can also write @samp{III+2} which is the second data line after the
2076 third hline in the table.
2078 @samp{0} refers to the current row and column. Also, if you omit
2079 either the column or the row part of the reference, the current
2080 row/column is implied.
2082 Org's references with @emph{unsigned} numbers are fixed references
2083 in the sense that if you use the same reference in the formula for two
2084 different fields, the same field will be referenced each time.
2085 Org's references with @emph{signed} numbers are floating
2086 references because the same reference operator can reference different
2087 fields depending on the field being calculated by the formula.
2089 As a special case, references like @samp{$LR5} and @samp{$LR12} can be used
2090 to refer in a stable way to the 5th and 12th field in the last row of the
2093 Here are a few examples:
2096 @@2$3 @r{2nd row, 3rd column}
2097 C2 @r{same as previous}
2098 $5 @r{column 5 in the current row}
2099 E& @r{same as previous}
2100 @@2 @r{current column, row 2}
2101 @@-1$-3 @r{the field one row up, three columns to the left}
2102 @@-I$2 @r{field just under hline above current row, column 2}
2105 @subsubheading Range references
2106 @cindex range references
2107 @cindex references, to ranges
2109 You may reference a rectangular range of fields by specifying two field
2110 references connected by two dots @samp{..}. If both fields are in the
2111 current row, you may simply use @samp{$2..$7}, but if at least one field
2112 is in a different row, you need to use the general @code{@@row$column}
2113 format at least for the first field (i.e the reference must start with
2114 @samp{@@} in order to be interpreted correctly). Examples:
2117 $1..$3 @r{First three fields in the current row.}
2118 $P..$Q @r{Range, using column names (see under Advanced)}
2119 @@2$1..@@4$3 @r{6 fields between these two fields.}
2120 A2..C4 @r{Same as above.}
2121 @@-1$-2..@@-1 @r{3 numbers from the column to the left, 2 up to current row}
2124 @noindent Range references return a vector of values that can be fed
2125 into Calc vector functions. Empty fields in ranges are normally
2126 suppressed, so that the vector contains only the non-empty fields (but
2127 see the @samp{E} mode switch below). If there are no non-empty fields,
2128 @samp{[0]} is returned to avoid syntax errors in formulas.
2130 @subsubheading Field coordinates in formulas
2131 @cindex field coordinates
2132 @cindex coordinates, of field
2133 @cindex row, of field coordinates
2134 @cindex column, of field coordinates
2136 For Calc formulas and Lisp formulas @code{@@#} and @code{$#} can be used to
2137 get the row or column number of the field where the formula result goes.
2138 The traditional Lisp formula equivalents are @code{org-table-current-dline}
2139 and @code{org-table-current-column}. Examples:
2142 if(@@# % 2, $#, string("")) @r{column number on odd lines only}
2143 $3 = remote(FOO, @@@@#$2) @r{copy column 2 from table FOO into}
2144 @r{column 3 of the current table}
2147 @noindent For the second example, table FOO must have at least as many rows
2148 as the current table. Inefficient@footnote{The computation time scales as
2149 O(N^2) because table FOO is parsed for each field to be copied.} for large
2152 @subsubheading Named references
2153 @cindex named references
2154 @cindex references, named
2155 @cindex name, of column or field
2156 @cindex constants, in calculations
2159 @vindex org-table-formula-constants
2160 @samp{$name} is interpreted as the name of a column, parameter or
2161 constant. Constants are defined globally through the variable
2162 @code{org-table-formula-constants}, and locally (for the file) through a
2166 #+CONSTANTS: c=299792458. pi=3.14 eps=2.4e-6
2170 @vindex constants-unit-system
2171 @pindex constants.el
2172 Also properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}) can be used as
2173 constants in table formulas: for a property @samp{:Xyz:} use the name
2174 @samp{$PROP_Xyz}, and the property will be searched in the current
2175 outline entry and in the hierarchy above it. If you have the
2176 @file{constants.el} package, it will also be used to resolve constants,
2177 including natural constants like @samp{$h} for Planck's constant, and
2178 units like @samp{$km} for kilometers@footnote{@file{constants.el} can
2179 supply the values of constants in two different unit systems, @code{SI}
2180 and @code{cgs}. Which one is used depends on the value of the variable
2181 @code{constants-unit-system}. You can use the @code{#+STARTUP} options
2182 @code{constSI} and @code{constcgs} to set this value for the current
2183 buffer.}. Column names and parameters can be specified in special table
2184 lines. These are described below, see @ref{Advanced features}. All
2185 names must start with a letter, and further consist of letters and
2188 @subsubheading Remote references
2189 @cindex remote references
2190 @cindex references, remote
2191 @cindex references, to a different table
2192 @cindex name, of column or field
2193 @cindex constants, in calculations
2196 You may also reference constants, fields and ranges from a different table,
2197 either in the current file or even in a different file. The syntax is
2200 remote(NAME-OR-ID,REF)
2204 where NAME can be the name of a table in the current file as set by a
2205 @code{#+TBLNAME: NAME} line before the table. It can also be the ID of an
2206 entry, even in a different file, and the reference then refers to the first
2207 table in that entry. REF is an absolute field or range reference as
2208 described above for example @code{@@3$3} or @code{$somename}, valid in the
2211 @node Formula syntax for Calc, Formula syntax for Lisp, References, The spreadsheet
2212 @subsection Formula syntax for Calc
2213 @cindex formula syntax, Calc
2214 @cindex syntax, of formulas
2216 A formula can be any algebraic expression understood by the Emacs
2217 @file{Calc} package. @b{Note that @file{calc} has the
2218 non-standard convention that @samp{/} has lower precedence than
2219 @samp{*}, so that @samp{a/b*c} is interpreted as @samp{a/(b*c)}.} Before
2220 evaluation by @code{calc-eval} (@pxref{Calling Calc from
2221 Your Programs,calc-eval,Calling Calc from Your Lisp Programs,Calc,GNU
2222 Emacs Calc Manual}),
2223 @c FIXME: The link to the Calc manual in HTML does not work.
2224 variable substitution takes place according to the rules described above.
2225 @cindex vectors, in table calculations
2226 The range vectors can be directly fed into the Calc vector functions
2227 like @samp{vmean} and @samp{vsum}.
2229 @cindex format specifier
2230 @cindex mode, for @file{calc}
2231 @vindex org-calc-default-modes
2232 A formula can contain an optional mode string after a semicolon. This
2233 string consists of flags to influence Calc and other modes during
2234 execution. By default, Org uses the standard Calc modes (precision
2235 12, angular units degrees, fraction and symbolic modes off). The display
2236 format, however, has been changed to @code{(float 8)} to keep tables
2237 compact. The default settings can be configured using the variable
2238 @code{org-calc-default-modes}.
2241 p20 @r{set the internal Calc calculation precision to 20 digits}
2242 n3 s3 e2 f4 @r{Normal, scientific, engineering, or fixed}
2243 @r{format of the result of Calc passed back to Org.}
2244 @r{Calc formatting is unlimited in precision as}
2245 @r{long as the Calc calculation precision is greater.}
2246 D R @r{angle modes: degrees, radians}
2247 F S @r{fraction and symbolic modes}
2248 N @r{interpret all fields as numbers, use 0 for non-numbers}
2249 T @r{force text interpretation}
2250 E @r{keep empty fields in ranges}
2255 Unless you use large integer numbers or high-precision-calculation
2256 and -display for floating point numbers you may alternatively provide a
2257 @code{printf} format specifier to reformat the Calc result after it has been
2258 passed back to Org instead of letting Calc already do the
2259 formatting@footnote{The @code{printf} reformatting is limited in precision
2260 because the value passed to it is converted into an @code{integer} or
2261 @code{double}. The @code{integer} is limited in size by truncating the
2262 signed value to 32 bits. The @code{double} is limited in precision to 64
2263 bits overall which leaves approximately 16 significant decimal digits.}.
2267 $1+$2 @r{Sum of first and second field}
2268 $1+$2;%.2f @r{Same, format result to two decimals}
2269 exp($2)+exp($1) @r{Math functions can be used}
2270 $0;%.1f @r{Reformat current cell to 1 decimal}
2271 ($3-32)*5/9 @r{Degrees F -> C conversion}
2272 $c/$1/$cm @r{Hz -> cm conversion, using @file{constants.el}}
2273 tan($1);Dp3s1 @r{Compute in degrees, precision 3, display SCI 1}
2274 sin($1);Dp3%.1e @r{Same, but use printf specifier for display}
2275 vmean($2..$7) @r{Compute column range mean, using vector function}
2276 vmean($2..$7);EN @r{Same, but treat empty fields as 0}
2277 taylor($3,x=7,2) @r{taylor series of $3, at x=7, second degree}
2280 Calc also contains a complete set of logical operations. For example
2283 if($1<20,teen,string("")) @r{``teen'' if age $1 less than 20, else empty}
2286 @node Formula syntax for Lisp, Field formulas, Formula syntax for Calc, The spreadsheet
2287 @subsection Emacs Lisp forms as formulas
2288 @cindex Lisp forms, as table formulas
2290 It is also possible to write a formula in Emacs Lisp; this can be useful
2291 for string manipulation and control structures, if Calc's
2292 functionality is not enough. If a formula starts with a single-quote
2293 followed by an opening parenthesis, then it is evaluated as a Lisp form.
2294 The evaluation should return either a string or a number. Just as with
2295 @file{calc} formulas, you can specify modes and a printf format after a
2296 semicolon. With Emacs Lisp forms, you need to be conscious about the way
2297 field references are interpolated into the form. By default, a
2298 reference will be interpolated as a Lisp string (in double-quotes)
2299 containing the field. If you provide the @samp{N} mode switch, all
2300 referenced elements will be numbers (non-number fields will be zero) and
2301 interpolated as Lisp numbers, without quotes. If you provide the
2302 @samp{L} flag, all fields will be interpolated literally, without quotes.
2303 I.e., if you want a reference to be interpreted as a string by the Lisp
2304 form, enclose the reference operator itself in double-quotes, like
2305 @code{"$3"}. Ranges are inserted as space-separated fields, so you can
2306 embed them in list or vector syntax. A few examples, note how the
2307 @samp{N} mode is used when we do computations in Lisp.
2310 @r{Swap the first two characters of the content of column 1}
2311 '(concat (substring $1 1 2) (substring $1 0 1) (substring $1 2))
2312 @r{Add columns 1 and 2, equivalent to Calc's @code{$1+$2}}
2314 @r{Compute the sum of columns 1-4, like Calc's @code{vsum($1..$4)}}
2315 '(apply '+ '($1..$4));N
2318 @node Field formulas, Column formulas, Formula syntax for Lisp, The spreadsheet
2319 @subsection Field formulas
2320 @cindex field formula
2321 @cindex formula, for individual table field
2323 To assign a formula to a particular field, type it directly into the
2324 field, preceded by @samp{:=}, for example @samp{:=$1+$2}. When you
2325 press @key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in
2326 the field, the formula will be stored as the formula for this field,
2327 evaluated, and the current field replaced with the result.
2330 Formulas are stored in a special line starting with @samp{#+TBLFM:}
2331 directly below the table. If you typed the equation in the 4th field of
2332 the 3rd data line in the table, the formula will look like
2333 @samp{@@3$4=$1+$2}. When inserting/deleting/swapping column and rows
2334 with the appropriate commands, @i{absolute references} (but not relative
2335 ones) in stored formulas are modified in order to still reference the
2336 same field. Of course this is not true if you edit the table structure
2337 with normal editing commands---then you must fix the equations yourself.
2338 The left-hand side of a formula may also be a named field (@pxref{Advanced
2339 features}), or a last-row reference like @samp{$LR3}.
2341 Instead of typing an equation into the field, you may also use the
2347 Install a new formula for the current field. The command prompts for a
2348 formula with default taken from the @samp{#+TBLFM:} line, applies
2349 it to the current field, and stores it.
2352 @node Column formulas, Editing and debugging formulas, Field formulas, The spreadsheet
2353 @subsection Column formulas
2354 @cindex column formula
2355 @cindex formula, for table column
2357 Often in a table, the same formula should be used for all fields in a
2358 particular column. Instead of having to copy the formula to all fields
2359 in that column, Org allows you to assign a single formula to an entire
2360 column. If the table contains horizontal separator hlines, everything
2361 before the first such line is considered part of the table @emph{header}
2362 and will not be modified by column formulas.
2364 To assign a formula to a column, type it directly into any field in the
2365 column, preceded by an equal sign, like @samp{=$1+$2}. When you press
2366 @key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the field,
2367 the formula will be stored as the formula for the current column, evaluated
2368 and the current field replaced with the result. If the field contains only
2369 @samp{=}, the previously stored formula for this column is used. For each
2370 column, Org will only remember the most recently used formula. In the
2371 @samp{#+TBLFM:} line, column formulas will look like @samp{$4=$1+$2}. The left-hand
2372 side of a column formula cannot currently be the name of column, it
2373 must be the numeric column reference.
2375 Instead of typing an equation into the field, you may also use the
2381 Install a new formula for the current column and replace current field with
2382 the result of the formula. The command prompts for a formula, with default
2383 taken from the @samp{#+TBLFM} line, applies it to the current field and
2384 stores it. With a numeric prefix argument(e.g. @kbd{C-5 C-c =}) the command
2385 will apply it to that many consecutive fields in the current column.
2388 @node Editing and debugging formulas, Updating the table, Column formulas, The spreadsheet
2389 @subsection Editing and debugging formulas
2390 @cindex formula editing
2391 @cindex editing, of table formulas
2393 @vindex org-table-use-standard-references
2394 You can edit individual formulas in the minibuffer or directly in the
2395 field. Org can also prepare a special buffer with all active
2396 formulas of a table. When offering a formula for editing, Org
2397 converts references to the standard format (like @code{B3} or @code{D&})
2398 if possible. If you prefer to only work with the internal format (like
2399 @code{@@3$2} or @code{$4}), configure the variable
2400 @code{org-table-use-standard-references}.
2407 Edit the formula associated with the current column/field in the
2408 minibuffer. See @ref{Column formulas}, and @ref{Field formulas}.
2409 @kindex C-u C-u C-c =
2411 Re-insert the active formula (either a
2412 field formula, or a column formula) into the current field, so that you
2413 can edit it directly in the field. The advantage over editing in the
2414 minibuffer is that you can use the command @kbd{C-c ?}.
2417 While editing a formula in a table field, highlight the field(s)
2418 referenced by the reference at the cursor position in the formula.
2421 Toggle the display of row and column numbers for a table, using
2422 overlays. These are updated each time the table is aligned; you can
2423 force it with @kbd{C-c C-c}.
2426 Toggle the formula debugger on and off. See below.
2429 Edit all formulas for the current table in a special buffer, where the
2430 formulas will be displayed one per line. If the current field has an
2431 active formula, the cursor in the formula editor will mark it.
2432 While inside the special buffer, Org will automatically highlight
2433 any field or range reference at the cursor position. You may edit,
2434 remove and add formulas, and use the following commands:
2440 Exit the formula editor and store the modified formulas. With @kbd{C-u}
2441 prefix, also apply the new formulas to the entire table.
2444 Exit the formula editor without installing changes.
2447 Toggle all references in the formula editor between standard (like
2448 @code{B3}) and internal (like @code{@@3$2}).
2451 Pretty-print or indent Lisp formula at point. When in a line containing
2452 a Lisp formula, format the formula according to Emacs Lisp rules.
2453 Another @key{TAB} collapses the formula back again. In the open
2454 formula, @key{TAB} re-indents just like in Emacs Lisp mode.
2457 Complete Lisp symbols, just like in Emacs Lisp mode.
2459 @kindex S-@key{down}
2460 @kindex S-@key{left}
2461 @kindex S-@key{right}
2462 @item S-@key{up}/@key{down}/@key{left}/@key{right}
2463 Shift the reference at point. For example, if the reference is
2464 @code{B3} and you press @kbd{S-@key{right}}, it will become @code{C3}.
2465 This also works for relative references and for hline references.
2466 @kindex M-S-@key{up}
2467 @kindex M-S-@key{down}
2468 @item M-S-@key{up}/@key{down}
2469 Move the test line for column formulas in the Org buffer up and
2472 @kindex M-@key{down}
2473 @item M-@key{up}/@key{down}
2474 Scroll the window displaying the table.
2477 Turn the coordinate grid in the table on and off.
2481 Making a table field blank does not remove the formula associated with
2482 the field, because that is stored in a different line (the @samp{#+TBLFM}
2483 line)---during the next recalculation the field will be filled again.
2484 To remove a formula from a field, you have to give an empty reply when
2485 prompted for the formula, or to edit the @samp{#+TBLFM} line.
2488 You may edit the @samp{#+TBLFM} directly and re-apply the changed
2489 equations with @kbd{C-c C-c} in that line or with the normal
2490 recalculation commands in the table.
2492 @subsubheading Debugging formulas
2493 @cindex formula debugging
2494 @cindex debugging, of table formulas
2495 When the evaluation of a formula leads to an error, the field content
2496 becomes the string @samp{#ERROR}. If you would like see what is going
2497 on during variable substitution and calculation in order to find a bug,
2498 turn on formula debugging in the @code{Tbl} menu and repeat the
2499 calculation, for example by pressing @kbd{C-u C-u C-c = @key{RET}} in a
2500 field. Detailed information will be displayed.
2502 @node Updating the table, Advanced features, Editing and debugging formulas, The spreadsheet
2503 @subsection Updating the table
2504 @cindex recomputing table fields
2505 @cindex updating, table
2507 Recalculation of a table is normally not automatic, but needs to be
2508 triggered by a command. See @ref{Advanced features}, for a way to make
2509 recalculation at least semi-automatic.
2511 In order to recalculate a line of a table or the entire table, use the
2517 Recalculate the current row by first applying the stored column formulas
2518 from left to right, and all field formulas in the current row.
2524 Recompute the entire table, line by line. Any lines before the first
2525 hline are left alone, assuming that these are part of the table header.
2527 @kindex C-u C-u C-c *
2528 @kindex C-u C-u C-c C-c
2530 @itemx C-u C-u C-c C-c
2531 Iterate the table by recomputing it until no further changes occur.
2532 This may be necessary if some computed fields use the value of other
2533 fields that are computed @i{later} in the calculation sequence.
2534 @item M-x org-table-recalculate-buffer-tables
2535 Recompute all tables in the current buffer.
2536 @item M-x org-table-iterate-buffer-tables
2537 Iterate all tables in the current buffer, in order to converge table-to-table
2541 @node Advanced features, , Updating the table, The spreadsheet
2542 @subsection Advanced features
2544 If you want the recalculation of fields to happen automatically, or if
2545 you want to be able to assign @i{names} to fields and columns, you need
2546 to reserve the first column of the table for special marking characters.
2550 Rotate the calculation mark in first column through the states @samp{ },
2551 @samp{#}, @samp{*}, @samp{!}, @samp{$}. When there is an active region,
2552 change all marks in the region.
2555 Here is an example of a table that collects exam results of students and
2556 makes use of these features:
2560 |---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2561 | | Student | Prob 1 | Prob 2 | Prob 3 | Total | Note |
2562 |---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2563 | ! | | P1 | P2 | P3 | Tot | |
2564 | # | Maximum | 10 | 15 | 25 | 50 | 10.0 |
2565 | ^ | | m1 | m2 | m3 | mt | |
2566 |---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2567 | # | Peter | 10 | 8 | 23 | 41 | 8.2 |
2568 | # | Sam | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1.8 |
2569 |---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2570 | | Average | | | | 29.7 | |
2571 | ^ | | | | | at | |
2572 | $ | max=50 | | | | | |
2573 |---+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+------|
2574 #+TBLFM: $6=vsum($P1..$P3)::$7=10*$Tot/$max;%.1f::$at=vmean(@@-II..@@-I);%.1f
2578 @noindent @b{Important}: please note that for these special tables,
2579 recalculating the table with @kbd{C-u C-c *} will only affect rows that
2580 are marked @samp{#} or @samp{*}, and fields that have a formula assigned
2581 to the field itself. The column formulas are not applied in rows with
2584 @cindex marking characters, tables
2585 The marking characters have the following meaning:
2588 The fields in this line define names for the columns, so that you may
2589 refer to a column as @samp{$Tot} instead of @samp{$6}.
2591 This row defines names for the fields @emph{above} the row. With such
2592 a definition, any formula in the table may use @samp{$m1} to refer to
2593 the value @samp{10}. Also, if you assign a formula to a names field, it
2594 will be stored as @samp{$name=...}.
2596 Similar to @samp{^}, but defines names for the fields in the row
2599 Fields in this row can define @emph{parameters} for formulas. For
2600 example, if a field in a @samp{$} row contains @samp{max=50}, then
2601 formulas in this table can refer to the value 50 using @samp{$max}.
2602 Parameters work exactly like constants, only that they can be defined on
2605 Fields in this row are automatically recalculated when pressing
2606 @key{TAB} or @key{RET} or @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} in this row. Also, this row
2607 is selected for a global recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}. Unmarked
2608 lines will be left alone by this command.
2610 Selects this line for global recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}, but
2611 not for automatic recalculation. Use this when automatic
2612 recalculation slows down editing too much.
2614 Unmarked lines are exempt from recalculation with @kbd{C-u C-c *}.
2615 All lines that should be recalculated should be marked with @samp{#}
2618 Do not export this line. Useful for lines that contain the narrowing
2619 @samp{<N>} markers or column group markers.
2622 Finally, just to whet your appetite for what can be done with the
2623 fantastic @file{calc.el} package, here is a table that computes the Taylor
2624 series of degree @code{n} at location @code{x} for a couple of
2629 |---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2630 | | Func | n | x | Result |
2631 |---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2632 | # | exp(x) | 1 | x | 1 + x |
2633 | # | exp(x) | 2 | x | 1 + x + x^2 / 2 |
2634 | # | exp(x) | 3 | x | 1 + x + x^2 / 2 + x^3 / 6 |
2635 | # | x^2+sqrt(x) | 2 | x=0 | x*(0.5 / 0) + x^2 (2 - 0.25 / 0) / 2 |
2636 | # | x^2+sqrt(x) | 2 | x=1 | 2 + 2.5 x - 2.5 + 0.875 (x - 1)^2 |
2637 | * | tan(x) | 3 | x | 0.0175 x + 1.77e-6 x^3 |
2638 |---+-------------+---+-----+--------------------------------------|
2639 #+TBLFM: $5=taylor($2,$4,$3);n3
2643 @node Org-Plot, , The spreadsheet, Tables
2645 @cindex graph, in tables
2646 @cindex plot tables using gnuplot
2649 Org-Plot can produce 2D and 3D graphs of information stored in org tables
2650 using @file{Gnuplot} @uref{http://www.gnuplot.info/} and @file{gnuplot-mode}
2651 @uref{http://cars9.uchicago.edu/~ravel/software/gnuplot-mode.html}. To see
2652 this in action, ensure that you have both Gnuplot and Gnuplot mode installed
2653 on your system, then call @code{org-plot/gnuplot} on the following table.
2657 #+PLOT: title:"Citas" ind:1 deps:(3) type:2d with:histograms set:"yrange [0:]"
2658 | Sede | Max cites | H-index |
2659 |-----------+-----------+---------|
2660 | Chile | 257.72 | 21.39 |
2661 | Leeds | 165.77 | 19.68 |
2662 | Sao Paolo | 71.00 | 11.50 |
2663 | Stockholm | 134.19 | 14.33 |
2664 | Morelia | 257.56 | 17.67 |
2668 Notice that Org Plot is smart enough to apply the table's headers as labels.
2669 Further control over the labels, type, content, and appearance of plots can
2670 be exercised through the @code{#+PLOT:} lines preceding a table. See below
2671 for a complete list of Org-plot options. For more information and examples
2672 see the Org-plot tutorial at
2673 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-plot.php}.
2675 @subsubheading Plot Options
2679 Specify any @command{gnuplot} option to be set when graphing.
2682 Specify the title of the plot.
2685 Specify which column of the table to use as the @code{x} axis.
2688 Specify the columns to graph as a Lisp style list, surrounded by parentheses
2689 and separated by spaces for example @code{dep:(3 4)} to graph the third and
2690 fourth columns (defaults to graphing all other columns aside from the @code{ind}
2694 Specify whether the plot will be @code{2d}, @code{3d}, or @code{grid}.
2697 Specify a @code{with} option to be inserted for every col being plotted
2698 (e.g. @code{lines}, @code{points}, @code{boxes}, @code{impulses}, etc...).
2699 Defaults to @code{lines}.
2702 If you want to plot to a file, specify @code{"@var{path/to/desired/output-file}"}.
2705 List of labels to be used for the deps (defaults to the column headers if
2709 Specify an entire line to be inserted in the Gnuplot script.
2712 When plotting @code{3d} or @code{grid} types, set this to @code{t} to graph a
2713 flat mapping rather than a @code{3d} slope.
2716 Specify format of Org-mode timestamps as they will be parsed by Gnuplot.
2717 Defaults to @samp{%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S}.
2720 If you want total control, you can specify a script file (place the file name
2721 between double-quotes) which will be used to plot. Before plotting, every
2722 instance of @code{$datafile} in the specified script will be replaced with
2723 the path to the generated data file. Note: even if you set this option, you
2724 may still want to specify the plot type, as that can impact the content of
2728 @node Hyperlinks, TODO Items, Tables, Top
2732 Like HTML, Org provides links inside a file, external links to
2733 other files, Usenet articles, emails, and much more.
2736 * Link format:: How links in Org are formatted
2737 * Internal links:: Links to other places in the current file
2738 * External links:: URL-like links to the world
2739 * Handling links:: Creating, inserting and following
2740 * Using links outside Org:: Linking from my C source code?
2741 * Link abbreviations:: Shortcuts for writing complex links
2742 * Search options:: Linking to a specific location
2743 * Custom searches:: When the default search is not enough
2746 @node Link format, Internal links, Hyperlinks, Hyperlinks
2747 @section Link format
2749 @cindex format, of links
2751 Org will recognize plain URL-like links and activate them as
2752 clickable links. The general link format, however, looks like this:
2755 [[link][description]] @r{or alternatively} [[link]]
2759 Once a link in the buffer is complete (all brackets present), Org
2760 will change the display so that @samp{description} is displayed instead
2761 of @samp{[[link][description]]} and @samp{link} is displayed instead of
2762 @samp{[[link]]}. Links will be highlighted in the face @code{org-link},
2763 which by default is an underlined face. You can directly edit the
2764 visible part of a link. Note that this can be either the @samp{link}
2765 part (if there is no description) or the @samp{description} part. To
2766 edit also the invisible @samp{link} part, use @kbd{C-c C-l} with the
2769 If you place the cursor at the beginning or just behind the end of the
2770 displayed text and press @key{BACKSPACE}, you will remove the
2771 (invisible) bracket at that location. This makes the link incomplete
2772 and the internals are again displayed as plain text. Inserting the
2773 missing bracket hides the link internals again. To show the
2774 internal structure of all links, use the menu entry
2775 @code{Org->Hyperlinks->Literal links}.
2777 @node Internal links, External links, Link format, Hyperlinks
2778 @section Internal links
2779 @cindex internal links
2780 @cindex links, internal
2781 @cindex targets, for links
2783 @cindex property, CUSTOM_ID
2784 If the link does not look like a URL, it is considered to be internal in the
2785 current file. The most important case is a link like
2786 @samp{[[#my-custom-id]]} which will link to the entry with the
2787 @code{CUSTOM_ID} property @samp{my-custom-id}. Such custom IDs are very good
2788 for HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}) where they produce pretty section
2789 links. You are responsible yourself to make sure these custom IDs are unique
2792 Links such as @samp{[[My Target]]} or @samp{[[My Target][Find my target]]}
2793 lead to a text search in the current file.
2795 The link can be followed with @kbd{C-c C-o} when the cursor is on the link,
2796 or with a mouse click (@pxref{Handling links}). Links to custom IDs will
2797 point to the corresponding headline. The preferred match for a text link is
2798 a @i{dedicated target}: the same string in double angular brackets. Targets
2799 may be located anywhere; sometimes it is convenient to put them into a
2800 comment line. For example
2806 @noindent In HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), such targets will become
2807 named anchors for direct access through @samp{http} links@footnote{Note that
2808 text before the first headline is usually not exported, so the first such
2809 target should be after the first headline, or in the line directly before the
2812 If no dedicated target exists, Org will search for the words in the link. In
2813 the above example the search would be for @samp{my target}. Links starting
2814 with a star like @samp{*My Target} restrict the search to
2815 headlines@footnote{To insert a link targeting a headline, in-buffer
2816 completion can be used. Just type a star followed by a few optional letters
2817 into the buffer and press @kbd{M-@key{TAB}}. All headlines in the current
2818 buffer will be offered as completions. @xref{Handling links}, for more
2819 commands creating links.}. When searching, Org-mode will first try an
2820 exact match, but then move on to more and more lenient searches. For
2821 example, the link @samp{[[*My Targets]]} will find any of the following:
2825 ** TODO my targets are bright
2826 ** my 20 targets are
2830 Following a link pushes a mark onto Org's own mark ring. You can
2831 return to the previous position with @kbd{C-c &}. Using this command
2832 several times in direct succession goes back to positions recorded
2836 * Radio targets:: Make targets trigger links in plain text
2839 @node Radio targets, , Internal links, Internal links
2840 @subsection Radio targets
2841 @cindex radio targets
2842 @cindex targets, radio
2843 @cindex links, radio targets
2845 Org can automatically turn any occurrences of certain target names
2846 in normal text into a link. So without explicitly creating a link, the
2847 text connects to the target radioing its position. Radio targets are
2848 enclosed by triple angular brackets. For example, a target @samp{<<<My
2849 Target>>>} causes each occurrence of @samp{my target} in normal text to
2850 become activated as a link. The Org file is scanned automatically
2851 for radio targets only when the file is first loaded into Emacs. To
2852 update the target list during editing, press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the
2853 cursor on or at a target.
2855 @node External links, Handling links, Internal links, Hyperlinks
2856 @section External links
2857 @cindex links, external
2858 @cindex external links
2859 @cindex links, external
2867 @cindex WANDERLUST links
2869 @cindex USENET links
2874 Org supports links to files, websites, Usenet and email messages,
2875 BBDB database entries and links to both IRC conversations and their
2876 logs. External links are URL-like locators. They start with a short
2877 identifying string followed by a colon. There can be no space after
2878 the colon. The following list shows examples for each link type.
2881 http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik @r{on the web}
2882 doi:10.1000/182 @r{DOI for an electronic resource}
2883 file:/home/dominik/images/jupiter.jpg @r{file, absolute path}
2884 /home/dominik/images/jupiter.jpg @r{same as above}
2885 file:papers/last.pdf @r{file, relative path}
2886 ./papers/last.pdf @r{same as above}
2887 file:/myself@@some.where:papers/last.pdf @r{file, path on remote machine}
2888 /myself@@some.where:papers/last.pdf @r{same as above}
2889 file:sometextfile::NNN @r{file with line number to jump to}
2890 file:projects.org @r{another Org file}
2891 file:projects.org::some words @r{text search in Org file}
2892 file:projects.org::*task title @r{heading search in Org file}
2893 docview:papers/last.pdf::NNN @r{open file in doc-view mode at page NNN}
2894 id:B7423F4D-2E8A-471B-8810-C40F074717E9 @r{Link to heading by ID}
2895 news:comp.emacs @r{Usenet link}
2896 mailto:adent@@galaxy.net @r{Mail link}
2897 vm:folder @r{VM folder link}
2898 vm:folder#id @r{VM message link}
2899 vm://myself@@some.where.org/folder#id @r{VM on remote machine}
2900 wl:folder @r{WANDERLUST folder link}
2901 wl:folder#id @r{WANDERLUST message link}
2902 mhe:folder @r{MH-E folder link}
2903 mhe:folder#id @r{MH-E message link}
2904 rmail:folder @r{RMAIL folder link}
2905 rmail:folder#id @r{RMAIL message link}
2906 gnus:group @r{Gnus group link}
2907 gnus:group#id @r{Gnus article link}
2908 bbdb:R.*Stallman @r{BBDB link (with regexp)}
2909 irc:/irc.com/#emacs/bob @r{IRC link}
2910 info:org:External%20links @r{Info node link (with encoded space)}
2911 shell:ls *.org @r{A shell command}
2912 elisp:org-agenda @r{Interactive Elisp command}
2913 elisp:(find-file-other-frame "Elisp.org") @r{Elisp form to evaluate}
2916 A link should be enclosed in double brackets and may contain a
2917 descriptive text to be displayed instead of the URL (@pxref{Link
2918 format}), for example:
2921 [[http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][GNU Emacs]]
2925 If the description is a file name or URL that points to an image, HTML
2926 export (@pxref{HTML export}) will inline the image as a clickable
2927 button. If there is no description at all and the link points to an
2929 that image will be inlined into the exported HTML file.
2931 @cindex square brackets, around links
2932 @cindex plain text external links
2933 Org also finds external links in the normal text and activates them
2934 as links. If spaces must be part of the link (for example in
2935 @samp{bbdb:Richard Stallman}), or if you need to remove ambiguities
2936 about the end of the link, enclose them in square brackets.
2938 @node Handling links, Using links outside Org, External links, Hyperlinks
2939 @section Handling links
2940 @cindex links, handling
2942 Org provides methods to create a link in the correct syntax, to
2943 insert it into an Org file, and to follow the link.
2947 @cindex storing links
2949 Store a link to the current location. This is a @emph{global} command (you
2950 must create the key binding yourself) which can be used in any buffer to
2951 create a link. The link will be stored for later insertion into an Org
2952 buffer (see below). What kind of link will be created depends on the current
2955 @b{Org-mode buffers}@*
2956 For Org files, if there is a @samp{<<target>>} at the cursor, the link points
2957 to the target. Otherwise it points to the current headline, which will also
2960 @vindex org-link-to-org-use-id
2961 @cindex property, CUSTOM_ID
2962 @cindex property, ID
2963 If the headline has a @code{CUSTOM_ID} property, a link to this custom ID
2964 will be stored. In addition or alternatively (depending on the value of
2965 @code{org-link-to-org-use-id}), a globally unique @code{ID} property will be
2966 created and/or used to construct a link. So using this command in Org
2967 buffers will potentially create two links: a human-readable from the custom
2968 ID, and one that is globally unique and works even if the entry is moved from
2969 file to file. Later, when inserting the link, you need to decide which one
2972 @b{Email/News clients: VM, Rmail, Wanderlust, MH-E, Gnus}@*
2973 Pretty much all Emacs mail clients are supported. The link will point to the
2974 current article, or, in some GNUS buffers, to the group. The description is
2975 constructed from the author and the subject.
2977 @b{Web browsers: W3 and W3M}@*
2978 Here the link will be the current URL, with the page title as description.
2980 @b{Contacts: BBDB}@*
2981 Links created in a BBDB buffer will point to the current entry.
2984 @vindex org-irc-link-to-logs
2985 For IRC links, if you set the variable @code{org-irc-link-to-logs} to
2986 @code{t}, a @samp{file:/} style link to the relevant point in the logs for
2987 the current conversation is created. Otherwise an @samp{irc:/} style link to
2988 the user/channel/server under the point will be stored.
2991 For any other files, the link will point to the file, with a search string
2992 (@pxref{Search options}) pointing to the contents of the current line. If
2993 there is an active region, the selected words will form the basis of the
2994 search string. If the automatically created link is not working correctly or
2995 accurately enough, you can write custom functions to select the search string
2996 and to do the search for particular file types---see @ref{Custom searches}.
2997 The key binding @kbd{C-c l} is only a suggestion---see @ref{Installation}.
3000 When the cursor is in an agenda view, the created link points to the
3001 entry referenced by the current line.
3005 @cindex link completion
3006 @cindex completion, of links
3007 @cindex inserting links
3009 @vindex org-keep-stored-link-after-insertion
3010 Insert a link@footnote{ Note that you don't have to use this command to
3011 insert a link. Links in Org are plain text, and you can type or paste them
3012 straight into the buffer. By using this command, the links are automatically
3013 enclosed in double brackets, and you will be asked for the optional
3014 descriptive text.}. This prompts for a link to be inserted into the buffer.
3015 You can just type a link, using text for an internal link, or one of the link
3016 type prefixes mentioned in the examples above. The link will be inserted
3017 into the buffer@footnote{After insertion of a stored link, the link will be
3018 removed from the list of stored links. To keep it in the list later use, use
3019 a triple @kbd{C-u} prefix argument to @kbd{C-c C-l}, or configure the option
3020 @code{org-keep-stored-link-after-insertion}.}, along with a descriptive text.
3021 If some text was selected when this command is called, the selected text
3022 becomes the default description.
3024 @b{Inserting stored links}@*
3025 All links stored during the
3026 current session are part of the history for this prompt, so you can access
3027 them with @key{up} and @key{down} (or @kbd{M-p/n}).
3029 @b{Completion support}@* Completion with @key{TAB} will help you to insert
3030 valid link prefixes like @samp{http:} or @samp{ftp:}, including the prefixes
3031 defined through link abbreviations (@pxref{Link abbreviations}). If you
3032 press @key{RET} after inserting only the @var{prefix}, Org will offer
3033 specific completion support for some link types@footnote{This works by
3034 calling a special function @code{org-PREFIX-complete-link}.} For
3035 example, if you type @kbd{file @key{RET}}, file name completion (alternative
3036 access: @kbd{C-u C-c C-l}, see below) will be offered, and after @kbd{bbdb
3037 @key{RET}} you can complete contact names.
3039 @cindex file name completion
3040 @cindex completion, of file names
3042 When @kbd{C-c C-l} is called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, a link to
3043 a file will be inserted and you may use file name completion to select
3044 the name of the file. The path to the file is inserted relative to the
3045 directory of the current Org file, if the linked file is in the current
3046 directory or in a sub-directory of it, or if the path is written relative
3047 to the current directory using @samp{../}. Otherwise an absolute path
3048 is used, if possible with @samp{~/} for your home directory. You can
3049 force an absolute path with two @kbd{C-u} prefixes.
3051 @item C-c C-l @ @r{(with cursor on existing link)}
3052 When the cursor is on an existing link, @kbd{C-c C-l} allows you to edit the
3053 link and description parts of the link.
3055 @cindex following links
3058 @item C-c C-o @ @r{(or, if @code{org-return-follows-link} is set, also} @key{RET}
3059 @vindex org-file-apps
3060 Open link at point. This will launch a web browser for URLs (using
3061 @command{browse-url-at-point}), run VM/MH-E/Wanderlust/Rmail/Gnus/BBDB for
3062 the corresponding links, and execute the command in a shell link. When the
3063 cursor is on an internal link, this commands runs the corresponding search.
3064 When the cursor is on a TAG list in a headline, it creates the corresponding
3065 TAGS view. If the cursor is on a timestamp, it compiles the agenda for that
3066 date. Furthermore, it will visit text and remote files in @samp{file:} links
3067 with Emacs and select a suitable application for local non-text files.
3068 Classification of files is based on file extension only. See option
3069 @code{org-file-apps}. If you want to override the default application and
3070 visit the file with Emacs, use a @kbd{C-u} prefix. If you want to avoid
3071 opening in Emacs, use a @kbd{C-u C-u} prefix.@*
3072 If the cursor is on a headline, but not on a link, offer all links in the
3073 headline and entry text.
3079 On links, @kbd{mouse-2} will open the link just as @kbd{C-c C-o}
3080 would. Under Emacs 22, @kbd{mouse-1} will also follow a link.
3084 @vindex org-display-internal-link-with-indirect-buffer
3085 Like @kbd{mouse-2}, but force file links to be opened with Emacs, and
3086 internal links to be displayed in another window@footnote{See the
3087 variable @code{org-display-internal-link-with-indirect-buffer}}.
3089 @cindex inlining images
3090 @cindex images, inlining
3093 Toggle the inline display of linked images. Normally this will only inline
3094 images that have no description part in the link, i.e. images that will also
3095 be inlined during export. When called with a prefix argument, also display
3096 images that do have a link description.
3100 Push the current position onto the mark ring, to be able to return
3101 easily. Commands following an internal link do this automatically.
3103 @cindex links, returning to
3106 Jump back to a recorded position. A position is recorded by the
3107 commands following internal links, and by @kbd{C-c %}. Using this
3108 command several times in direct succession moves through a ring of
3109 previously recorded positions.
3113 @cindex links, finding next/previous
3116 Move forward/backward to the next link in the buffer. At the limit of
3117 the buffer, the search fails once, and then wraps around. The key
3118 bindings for this are really too long, you might want to bind this also
3119 to @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}
3121 (add-hook 'org-load-hook
3123 (define-key 'org-mode-map "\C-n" 'org-next-link)
3124 (define-key 'org-mode-map "\C-p" 'org-previous-link)))
3128 @node Using links outside Org, Link abbreviations, Handling links, Hyperlinks
3129 @section Using links outside Org
3131 You can insert and follow links that have Org syntax not only in
3132 Org, but in any Emacs buffer. For this, you should create two
3133 global commands, like this (please select suitable global keys
3137 (global-set-key "\C-c L" 'org-insert-link-global)
3138 (global-set-key "\C-c o" 'org-open-at-point-global)
3141 @node Link abbreviations, Search options, Using links outside Org, Hyperlinks
3142 @section Link abbreviations
3143 @cindex link abbreviations
3144 @cindex abbreviation, links
3146 Long URLs can be cumbersome to type, and often many similar links are
3147 needed in a document. For this you can use link abbreviations. An
3148 abbreviated link looks like this
3151 [[linkword:tag][description]]
3155 @vindex org-link-abbrev-alist
3156 where the tag is optional.
3157 The @i{linkword} must be a word, starting with a letter, followed by
3158 letters, numbers, @samp{-}, and @samp{_}. Abbreviations are resolved
3159 according to the information in the variable @code{org-link-abbrev-alist}
3160 that relates the linkwords to replacement text. Here is an example:
3164 (setq org-link-abbrev-alist
3165 '(("bugzilla" . "http://10.1.2.9/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=")
3166 ("google" . "http://www.google.com/search?q=")
3167 ("ads" . "http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/
3168 nph-abs_connect?author=%s&db_key=AST")))
3172 If the replacement text contains the string @samp{%s}, it will be
3173 replaced with the tag. Otherwise the tag will be appended to the string
3174 in order to create the link. You may also specify a function that will
3175 be called with the tag as the only argument to create the link.
3177 With the above setting, you could link to a specific bug with
3178 @code{[[bugzilla:129]]}, search the web for @samp{OrgMode} with
3179 @code{[[google:OrgMode]]} and find out what the Org author is
3180 doing besides Emacs hacking with @code{[[ads:Dominik,C]]}.
3182 If you need special abbreviations just for a single Org buffer, you
3183 can define them in the file with
3187 #+LINK: bugzilla http://10.1.2.9/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=
3188 #+LINK: google http://www.google.com/search?q=%s
3192 In-buffer completion (@pxref{Completion}) can be used after @samp{[} to
3193 complete link abbreviations. You may also define a function
3194 @code{org-PREFIX-complete-link} that implements special (e.g. completion)
3195 support for inserting such a link with @kbd{C-c C-l}. Such a function should
3196 not accept any arguments, and return the full link with prefix.
3198 @node Search options, Custom searches, Link abbreviations, Hyperlinks
3199 @section Search options in file links
3200 @cindex search option in file links
3201 @cindex file links, searching
3203 File links can contain additional information to make Emacs jump to a
3204 particular location in the file when following a link. This can be a
3205 line number or a search option after a double@footnote{For backward
3206 compatibility, line numbers can also follow a single colon.} colon. For
3207 example, when the command @kbd{C-c l} creates a link (@pxref{Handling
3208 links}) to a file, it encodes the words in the current line as a search
3209 string that can be used to find this line back later when following the
3210 link with @kbd{C-c C-o}.
3212 Here is the syntax of the different ways to attach a search to a file
3213 link, together with an explanation:
3216 [[file:~/code/main.c::255]]
3217 [[file:~/xx.org::My Target]]
3218 [[file:~/xx.org::*My Target]]
3219 [[file:~/xx.org::#my-custom-id]]
3220 [[file:~/xx.org::/regexp/]]
3227 Search for a link target @samp{<<My Target>>}, or do a text search for
3228 @samp{my target}, similar to the search in internal links, see
3229 @ref{Internal links}. In HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), such a file
3230 link will become an HTML reference to the corresponding named anchor in
3233 In an Org file, restrict search to headlines.
3235 Link to a heading with a @code{CUSTOM_ID} property
3237 Do a regular expression search for @code{regexp}. This uses the Emacs
3238 command @code{occur} to list all matches in a separate window. If the
3239 target file is in Org-mode, @code{org-occur} is used to create a
3240 sparse tree with the matches.
3241 @c If the target file is a directory,
3242 @c @code{grep} will be used to search all files in the directory.
3245 As a degenerate case, a file link with an empty file name can be used
3246 to search the current file. For example, @code{[[file:::find me]]} does
3247 a search for @samp{find me} in the current file, just as
3248 @samp{[[find me]]} would.
3250 @node Custom searches, , Search options, Hyperlinks
3251 @section Custom Searches
3252 @cindex custom search strings
3253 @cindex search strings, custom
3255 The default mechanism for creating search strings and for doing the
3256 actual search related to a file link may not work correctly in all
3257 cases. For example, Bib@TeX{} database files have many entries like
3258 @samp{year="1993"} which would not result in good search strings,
3259 because the only unique identification for a Bib@TeX{} entry is the
3262 @vindex org-create-file-search-functions
3263 @vindex org-execute-file-search-functions
3264 If you come across such a problem, you can write custom functions to set
3265 the right search string for a particular file type, and to do the search
3266 for the string in the file. Using @code{add-hook}, these functions need
3267 to be added to the hook variables
3268 @code{org-create-file-search-functions} and
3269 @code{org-execute-file-search-functions}. See the docstring for these
3270 variables for more information. Org actually uses this mechanism
3271 for Bib@TeX{} database files, and you can use the corresponding code as
3272 an implementation example. See the file @file{org-bibtex.el}.
3274 @node TODO Items, Tags, Hyperlinks, Top
3278 Org-mode does not maintain TODO lists as separate documents@footnote{Of
3279 course, you can make a document that contains only long lists of TODO items,
3280 but this is not required.}. Instead, TODO items are an integral part of the
3281 notes file, because TODO items usually come up while taking notes! With Org
3282 mode, simply mark any entry in a tree as being a TODO item. In this way,
3283 information is not duplicated, and the entire context from which the TODO
3284 item emerged is always present.
3286 Of course, this technique for managing TODO items scatters them
3287 throughout your notes file. Org-mode compensates for this by providing
3288 methods to give you an overview of all the things that you have to do.
3291 * TODO basics:: Marking and displaying TODO entries
3292 * TODO extensions:: Workflow and assignments
3293 * Progress logging:: Dates and notes for progress
3294 * Priorities:: Some things are more important than others
3295 * Breaking down tasks:: Splitting a task into manageable pieces
3296 * Checkboxes:: Tick-off lists
3299 @node TODO basics, TODO extensions, TODO Items, TODO Items
3300 @section Basic TODO functionality
3302 Any headline becomes a TODO item when it starts with the word
3303 @samp{TODO}, for example:
3306 *** TODO Write letter to Sam Fortune
3310 The most important commands to work with TODO entries are:
3314 @cindex cycling, of TODO states
3316 Rotate the TODO state of the current item among
3319 ,-> (unmarked) -> TODO -> DONE --.
3320 '--------------------------------'
3323 The same rotation can also be done ``remotely'' from the timeline and
3324 agenda buffers with the @kbd{t} command key (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
3328 Select a specific keyword using completion or (if it has been set up)
3329 the fast selection interface. For the latter, you need to assign keys
3330 to TODO states, see @ref{Per-file keywords}, and @ref{Setting tags}, for
3333 @kindex S-@key{right}
3334 @kindex S-@key{left}
3335 @vindex org-treat-S-cursor-todo-selection-as-state-change
3338 Select the following/preceding TODO state, similar to cycling. Useful
3339 mostly if more than two TODO states are possible (@pxref{TODO
3340 extensions}). See also @ref{Conflicts}, for a discussion of the interaction
3341 with @code{shift-selection-mode}. See also the variable
3342 @code{org-treat-S-cursor-todo-selection-as-state-change}.
3344 @cindex sparse tree, for TODO
3346 @vindex org-todo-keywords
3347 View TODO items in a @emph{sparse tree} (@pxref{Sparse trees}). Folds the
3348 entire buffer, but shows all TODO items (with not-DONE state) and the
3349 headings hierarchy above them. With a prefix argument (or by using @kbd{C-c
3350 / T}), search for a specific TODO. You will be prompted for the keyword, and
3351 you can also give a list of keywords like @code{KWD1|KWD2|...} to list
3352 entries that match any one of these keywords. With numeric prefix argument
3353 N, show the tree for the Nth keyword in the variable
3354 @code{org-todo-keywords}. With two prefix arguments, find all TODO states,
3355 both un-done and done.
3358 Show the global TODO list. Collects the TODO items (with not-DONE states)
3359 from all agenda files (@pxref{Agenda Views}) into a single buffer. The new
3360 buffer will be in @code{agenda-mode}, which provides commands to examine and
3361 manipulate the TODO entries from the new buffer (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
3362 @xref{Global TODO list}, for more information.
3363 @kindex S-M-@key{RET}
3365 Insert a new TODO entry below the current one.
3369 @vindex org-todo-state-tags-triggers
3370 Changing a TODO state can also trigger tag changes. See the docstring of the
3371 option @code{org-todo-state-tags-triggers} for details.
3373 @node TODO extensions, Progress logging, TODO basics, TODO Items
3374 @section Extended use of TODO keywords
3375 @cindex extended TODO keywords
3377 @vindex org-todo-keywords
3378 By default, marked TODO entries have one of only two states: TODO and
3379 DONE. Org-mode allows you to classify TODO items in more complex ways
3380 with @emph{TODO keywords} (stored in @code{org-todo-keywords}). With
3381 special setup, the TODO keyword system can work differently in different
3384 Note that @i{tags} are another way to classify headlines in general and
3385 TODO items in particular (@pxref{Tags}).
3388 * Workflow states:: From TODO to DONE in steps
3389 * TODO types:: I do this, Fred does the rest
3390 * Multiple sets in one file:: Mixing it all, and still finding your way
3391 * Fast access to TODO states:: Single letter selection of a state
3392 * Per-file keywords:: Different files, different requirements
3393 * Faces for TODO keywords:: Highlighting states
3394 * TODO dependencies:: When one task needs to wait for others
3397 @node Workflow states, TODO types, TODO extensions, TODO extensions
3398 @subsection TODO keywords as workflow states
3399 @cindex TODO workflow
3400 @cindex workflow states as TODO keywords
3402 You can use TODO keywords to indicate different @emph{sequential} states
3403 in the process of working on an item, for example@footnote{Changing
3404 this variable only becomes effective after restarting Org-mode in a
3408 (setq org-todo-keywords
3409 '((sequence "TODO" "FEEDBACK" "VERIFY" "|" "DONE" "DELEGATED")))
3412 The vertical bar separates the TODO keywords (states that @emph{need
3413 action}) from the DONE states (which need @emph{no further action}). If
3414 you don't provide the separator bar, the last state is used as the DONE
3416 @cindex completion, of TODO keywords
3417 With this setup, the command @kbd{C-c C-t} will cycle an entry from TODO
3418 to FEEDBACK, then to VERIFY, and finally to DONE and DELEGATED. You may
3419 also use a numeric prefix argument to quickly select a specific state. For
3420 example @kbd{C-3 C-c C-t} will change the state immediately to VERIFY.
3421 Or you can use @kbd{S-@key{left}} to go backward through the sequence. If you
3422 define many keywords, you can use in-buffer completion
3423 (@pxref{Completion}) or even a special one-key selection scheme
3424 (@pxref{Fast access to TODO states}) to insert these words into the
3425 buffer. Changing a TODO state can be logged with a timestamp, see
3426 @ref{Tracking TODO state changes}, for more information.
3428 @node TODO types, Multiple sets in one file, Workflow states, TODO extensions
3429 @subsection TODO keywords as types
3431 @cindex names as TODO keywords
3432 @cindex types as TODO keywords
3434 The second possibility is to use TODO keywords to indicate different
3435 @emph{types} of action items. For example, you might want to indicate
3436 that items are for ``work'' or ``home''. Or, when you work with several
3437 people on a single project, you might want to assign action items
3438 directly to persons, by using their names as TODO keywords. This would
3439 be set up like this:
3442 (setq org-todo-keywords '((type "Fred" "Sara" "Lucy" "|" "DONE")))
3445 In this case, different keywords do not indicate a sequence, but rather
3446 different types. So the normal work flow would be to assign a task to a
3447 person, and later to mark it DONE. Org-mode supports this style by adapting
3448 the workings of the command @kbd{C-c C-t}@footnote{This is also true for the
3449 @kbd{t} command in the timeline and agenda buffers.}. When used several
3450 times in succession, it will still cycle through all names, in order to first
3451 select the right type for a task. But when you return to the item after some
3452 time and execute @kbd{C-c C-t} again, it will switch from any name directly
3453 to DONE. Use prefix arguments or completion to quickly select a specific
3454 name. You can also review the items of a specific TODO type in a sparse tree
3455 by using a numeric prefix to @kbd{C-c / t}. For example, to see all things
3456 Lucy has to do, you would use @kbd{C-3 C-c / t}. To collect Lucy's items
3457 from all agenda files into a single buffer, you would use the numeric prefix
3458 argument as well when creating the global TODO list: @kbd{C-3 C-c a t}.
3460 @node Multiple sets in one file, Fast access to TODO states, TODO types, TODO extensions
3461 @subsection Multiple keyword sets in one file
3462 @cindex TODO keyword sets
3464 Sometimes you may want to use different sets of TODO keywords in
3465 parallel. For example, you may want to have the basic
3466 @code{TODO}/@code{DONE}, but also a workflow for bug fixing, and a
3467 separate state indicating that an item has been canceled (so it is not
3468 DONE, but also does not require action). Your setup would then look
3472 (setq org-todo-keywords
3473 '((sequence "TODO" "|" "DONE")
3474 (sequence "REPORT" "BUG" "KNOWNCAUSE" "|" "FIXED")
3475 (sequence "|" "CANCELED")))
3478 The keywords should all be different, this helps Org-mode to keep track
3479 of which subsequence should be used for a given entry. In this setup,
3480 @kbd{C-c C-t} only operates within a subsequence, so it switches from
3481 @code{DONE} to (nothing) to @code{TODO}, and from @code{FIXED} to
3482 (nothing) to @code{REPORT}. Therefore you need a mechanism to initially
3483 select the correct sequence. Besides the obvious ways like typing a
3484 keyword or using completion, you may also apply the following commands:
3487 @kindex C-S-@key{right}
3488 @kindex C-S-@key{left}
3489 @kindex C-u C-u C-c C-t
3490 @item C-u C-u C-c C-t
3491 @itemx C-S-@key{right}
3492 @itemx C-S-@key{left}
3493 These keys jump from one TODO subset to the next. In the above example,
3494 @kbd{C-u C-u C-c C-t} or @kbd{C-S-@key{right}} would jump from @code{TODO} or
3495 @code{DONE} to @code{REPORT}, and any of the words in the second row to
3496 @code{CANCELED}. Note that the @kbd{C-S-} key binding conflict with
3497 @code{shift-selection-mode} (@pxref{Conflicts}).
3498 @kindex S-@key{right}
3499 @kindex S-@key{left}
3502 @kbd{S-@key{<left>}} and @kbd{S-@key{<right>}} and walk through @emph{all}
3503 keywords from all sets, so for example @kbd{S-@key{<right>}} would switch
3504 from @code{DONE} to @code{REPORT} in the example above. See also
3505 @ref{Conflicts}, for a discussion of the interaction with
3506 @code{shift-selection-mode}.
3509 @node Fast access to TODO states, Per-file keywords, Multiple sets in one file, TODO extensions
3510 @subsection Fast access to TODO states
3512 If you would like to quickly change an entry to an arbitrary TODO state
3513 instead of cycling through the states, you can set up keys for
3514 single-letter access to the states. This is done by adding the section
3515 key after each keyword, in parentheses. For example:
3518 (setq org-todo-keywords
3519 '((sequence "TODO(t)" "|" "DONE(d)")
3520 (sequence "REPORT(r)" "BUG(b)" "KNOWNCAUSE(k)" "|" "FIXED(f)")
3521 (sequence "|" "CANCELED(c)")))
3524 @vindex org-fast-tag-selection-include-todo
3525 If you then press @code{C-c C-t} followed by the selection key, the entry
3526 will be switched to this state. @key{SPC} can be used to remove any TODO
3527 keyword from an entry.@footnote{Check also the variable
3528 @code{org-fast-tag-selection-include-todo}, it allows you to change the TODO
3529 state through the tags interface (@pxref{Setting tags}), in case you like to
3530 mingle the two concepts. Note that this means you need to come up with
3531 unique keys across both sets of keywords.}
3533 @node Per-file keywords, Faces for TODO keywords, Fast access to TODO states, TODO extensions
3534 @subsection Setting up keywords for individual files
3535 @cindex keyword options
3536 @cindex per-file keywords
3541 It can be very useful to use different aspects of the TODO mechanism in
3542 different files. For file-local settings, you need to add special lines
3543 to the file which set the keywords and interpretation for that file
3544 only. For example, to set one of the two examples discussed above, you
3545 need one of the following lines, starting in column zero anywhere in the
3549 #+TODO: TODO FEEDBACK VERIFY | DONE CANCELED
3551 @noindent (you may also write @code{#+SEQ_TODO} to be explicit about the
3552 interpretation, but it means the same as @code{#+TODO}), or
3554 #+TYP_TODO: Fred Sara Lucy Mike | DONE
3557 A setup for using several sets in parallel would be:
3561 #+TODO: REPORT BUG KNOWNCAUSE | FIXED
3565 @cindex completion, of option keywords
3567 @noindent To make sure you are using the correct keyword, type
3568 @samp{#+} into the buffer and then use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} completion.
3570 @cindex DONE, final TODO keyword
3571 Remember that the keywords after the vertical bar (or the last keyword
3572 if no bar is there) must always mean that the item is DONE (although you
3573 may use a different word). After changing one of these lines, use
3574 @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the line to make the changes
3575 known to Org-mode@footnote{Org-mode parses these lines only when
3576 Org-mode is activated after visiting a file. @kbd{C-c C-c} with the
3577 cursor in a line starting with @samp{#+} is simply restarting Org-mode
3578 for the current buffer.}.
3580 @node Faces for TODO keywords, TODO dependencies, Per-file keywords, TODO extensions
3581 @subsection Faces for TODO keywords
3582 @cindex faces, for TODO keywords
3584 @vindex org-todo @r{(face)}
3585 @vindex org-done @r{(face)}
3586 @vindex org-todo-keyword-faces
3587 Org-mode highlights TODO keywords with special faces: @code{org-todo}
3588 for keywords indicating that an item still has to be acted upon, and
3589 @code{org-done} for keywords indicating that an item is finished. If
3590 you are using more than 2 different states, you might want to use
3591 special faces for some of them. This can be done using the variable
3592 @code{org-todo-keyword-faces}. For example:
3596 (setq org-todo-keyword-faces
3597 '(("TODO" . org-warning) ("STARTED" . "yellow")
3598 ("CANCELED" . (:foreground "blue" :weight bold))))
3602 While using a list with face properties as shown for CANCELED @emph{should}
3603 work, this does not aways seem to be the case. If necessary, define a
3604 special face and use that. A string is interpreted as a color. The variable
3605 @code{org-faces-easy-properties} determines if that color is interpreted as a
3606 foreground or a background color.
3608 @node TODO dependencies, , Faces for TODO keywords, TODO extensions
3609 @subsection TODO dependencies
3610 @cindex TODO dependencies
3611 @cindex dependencies, of TODO states
3613 @vindex org-enforce-todo-dependencies
3614 @cindex property, ORDERED
3615 The structure of Org files (hierarchy and lists) makes it easy to define TODO
3616 dependencies. Usually, a parent TODO task should not be marked DONE until
3617 all subtasks (defined as children tasks) are marked as DONE. And sometimes
3618 there is a logical sequence to a number of (sub)tasks, so that one task
3619 cannot be acted upon before all siblings above it are done. If you customize
3620 the variable @code{org-enforce-todo-dependencies}, Org will block entries
3621 from changing state to DONE while they have children that are not DONE.
3622 Furthermore, if an entry has a property @code{ORDERED}, each of its children
3623 will be blocked until all earlier siblings are marked DONE. Here is an
3627 * TODO Blocked until (two) is done
3636 ** TODO b, needs to wait for (a)
3637 ** TODO c, needs to wait for (a) and (b)
3643 @vindex org-track-ordered-property-with-tag
3644 @cindex property, ORDERED
3645 Toggle the @code{ORDERED} property of the current entry. A property is used
3646 for this behavior because this should be local to the current entry, not
3647 inherited like a tag. However, if you would like to @i{track} the value of
3648 this property with a tag for better visibility, customize the variable
3649 @code{org-track-ordered-property-with-tag}.
3650 @kindex C-u C-u C-u C-c C-t
3651 @item C-u C-u C-u C-c C-t
3652 Change TODO state, circumventing any state blocking.
3655 @vindex org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks
3656 If you set the variable @code{org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks}, TODO entries
3657 that cannot be closed because of such dependencies will be shown in a dimmed
3658 font or even made invisible in agenda views (@pxref{Agenda Views}).
3660 @cindex checkboxes and TODO dependencies
3661 @vindex org-enforce-todo-dependencies
3662 You can also block changes of TODO states by looking at checkboxes
3663 (@pxref{Checkboxes}). If you set the variable
3664 @code{org-enforce-todo-checkbox-dependencies}, an entry that has unchecked
3665 checkboxes will be blocked from switching to DONE.
3667 If you need more complex dependency structures, for example dependencies
3668 between entries in different trees or files, check out the contributed
3669 module @file{org-depend.el}.
3672 @node Progress logging, Priorities, TODO extensions, TODO Items
3673 @section Progress logging
3674 @cindex progress logging
3675 @cindex logging, of progress
3677 Org-mode can automatically record a timestamp and possibly a note when
3678 you mark a TODO item as DONE, or even each time you change the state of
3679 a TODO item. This system is highly configurable, settings can be on a
3680 per-keyword basis and can be localized to a file or even a subtree. For
3681 information on how to clock working time for a task, see @ref{Clocking
3685 * Closing items:: When was this entry marked DONE?
3686 * Tracking TODO state changes:: When did the status change?
3687 * Tracking your habits:: How consistent have you been?
3690 @node Closing items, Tracking TODO state changes, Progress logging, Progress logging
3691 @subsection Closing items
3693 The most basic logging is to keep track of @emph{when} a certain TODO
3694 item was finished. This is achieved with@footnote{The corresponding
3695 in-buffer setting is: @code{#+STARTUP: logdone}}.
3698 (setq org-log-done 'time)
3702 Then each time you turn an entry from a TODO (not-done) state into any
3703 of the DONE states, a line @samp{CLOSED: [timestamp]} will be inserted
3704 just after the headline. If you turn the entry back into a TODO item
3705 through further state cycling, that line will be removed again. If you
3706 want to record a note along with the timestamp, use@footnote{The
3707 corresponding in-buffer setting is: @code{#+STARTUP: lognotedone}}
3710 (setq org-log-done 'note)
3714 You will then be prompted for a note, and that note will be stored below
3715 the entry with a @samp{Closing Note} heading.
3717 In the timeline (@pxref{Timeline}) and in the agenda
3718 (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}), you can then use the @kbd{l} key to
3719 display the TODO items with a @samp{CLOSED} timestamp on each day,
3720 giving you an overview of what has been done.
3722 @node Tracking TODO state changes, Tracking your habits, Closing items, Progress logging
3723 @subsection Tracking TODO state changes
3724 @cindex drawer, for state change recording
3726 @vindex org-log-states-order-reversed
3727 @vindex org-log-into-drawer
3728 @cindex property, LOG_INTO_DRAWER
3729 When TODO keywords are used as workflow states (@pxref{Workflow states}), you
3730 might want to keep track of when a state change occurred and maybe take a
3731 note about this change. You can either record just a timestamp, or a
3732 time-stamped note for a change. These records will be inserted after the
3733 headline as an itemized list, newest first@footnote{See the variable
3734 @code{org-log-states-order-reversed}}. When taking a lot of notes, you might
3735 want to get the notes out of the way into a drawer (@pxref{Drawers}).
3736 Customize the variable @code{org-log-into-drawer} to get this
3737 behavior---the recommended drawer for this is called @code{LOGBOOK}. You can
3738 also overrule the setting of this variable for a subtree by setting a
3739 @code{LOG_INTO_DRAWER} property.
3741 Since it is normally too much to record a note for every state, Org-mode
3742 expects configuration on a per-keyword basis for this. This is achieved by
3743 adding special markers @samp{!} (for a timestamp) and @samp{@@} (for a note)
3744 in parentheses after each keyword. For example, with the setting
3747 (setq org-todo-keywords
3748 '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)" "CANCELED(c@@)")))
3752 @vindex org-log-done
3753 you not only define global TODO keywords and fast access keys, but also
3754 request that a time is recorded when the entry is set to
3755 DONE@footnote{It is possible that Org-mode will record two timestamps
3756 when you are using both @code{org-log-done} and state change logging.
3757 However, it will never prompt for two notes---if you have configured
3758 both, the state change recording note will take precedence and cancel
3759 the @samp{Closing Note}.}, and that a note is recorded when switching to
3760 WAIT or CANCELED. The setting for WAIT is even more special: the
3761 @samp{!} after the slash means that in addition to the note taken when
3762 entering the state, a timestamp should be recorded when @i{leaving} the
3763 WAIT state, if and only if the @i{target} state does not configure
3764 logging for entering it. So it has no effect when switching from WAIT
3765 to DONE, because DONE is configured to record a timestamp only. But
3766 when switching from WAIT back to TODO, the @samp{/!} in the WAIT
3767 setting now triggers a timestamp even though TODO has no logging
3770 You can use the exact same syntax for setting logging preferences local
3773 #+TODO: TODO(t) WAIT(w@@/!) | DONE(d!) CANCELED(c@@)
3776 @cindex property, LOGGING
3777 In order to define logging settings that are local to a subtree or a
3778 single item, define a LOGGING property in this entry. Any non-empty
3779 LOGGING property resets all logging settings to nil. You may then turn
3780 on logging for this specific tree using STARTUP keywords like
3781 @code{lognotedone} or @code{logrepeat}, as well as adding state specific
3782 settings like @code{TODO(!)}. For example
3785 * TODO Log each state with only a time
3787 :LOGGING: TODO(!) WAIT(!) DONE(!) CANCELED(!)
3789 * TODO Only log when switching to WAIT, and when repeating
3791 :LOGGING: WAIT(@@) logrepeat
3793 * TODO No logging at all
3799 @node Tracking your habits, , Tracking TODO state changes, Progress logging
3800 @subsection Tracking your habits
3803 Org has the ability to track the consistency of a special category of TODOs,
3804 called ``habits''. A habit has the following properties:
3808 You have enabled the @code{habits} module by customizing the variable
3811 The habit is a TODO, with a TODO keyword representing an open state.
3813 The property @code{STYLE} is set to the value @code{habit}.
3815 The TODO has a scheduled date, with a @code{.+} style repeat interval.
3817 The TODO may also have minimum and maximum ranges specified by using the
3818 syntax @samp{.+2d/3d}, which says that you want to do the task at least every
3819 three days, but at most every two days.
3821 You must also have state logging for the @code{DONE} state enabled, in order
3822 for historical data to be represented in the consistency graph. If it's not
3823 enabled it's not an error, but the consistency graphs will be largely
3827 To give you an idea of what the above rules look like in action, here's an
3828 actual habit with some history:
3832 SCHEDULED: <2009-10-17 Sat .+2d/4d>
3833 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-10-15 Thu]
3834 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-10-12 Mon]
3835 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-10-10 Sat]
3836 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-10-04 Sun]
3837 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-10-02 Fri]
3838 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-09-29 Tue]
3839 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-09-25 Fri]
3840 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-09-19 Sat]
3841 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-09-16 Wed]
3842 - State "DONE" from "TODO" [2009-09-12 Sat]
3845 :LAST_REPEAT: [2009-10-19 Mon 00:36]
3849 What this habit says is: I want to shave at most every 2 days (given by the
3850 @code{SCHEDULED} date and repeat interval) and at least every 4 days. If
3851 today is the 15th, then the habit first appears in the agenda on Oct 17,
3852 after the minimum of 2 days has elapsed, and will appear overdue on Oct 19,
3853 after four days have elapsed.
3855 What's really useful about habits is that they are displayed along with a
3856 consistency graph, to show how consistent you've been at getting that task
3857 done in the past. This graph shows every day that the task was done over the
3858 past three weeks, with colors for each day. The colors used are:
3862 If the task wasn't to be done yet on that day.
3864 If the task could have been done on that day.
3866 If the task was going to be overdue the next day.
3868 If the task was overdue on that day.
3871 In addition to coloring each day, the day is also marked with an asterix if
3872 the task was actually done that day, and an exclamation mark to show where
3873 the current day falls in the graph.
3875 There are several configuration variables that can be used to change the way
3876 habits are displayed in the agenda.
3879 @item org-habit-graph-column
3880 The buffer column at which the consistency graph should be drawn. This will
3881 overwrite any text in that column, so it's a good idea to keep your habits'
3882 titles brief and to the point.
3883 @item org-habit-preceding-days
3884 The amount of history, in days before today, to appear in consistency graphs.
3885 @item org-habit-following-days
3886 The number of days after today that will appear in consistency graphs.
3887 @item org-habit-show-habits-only-for-today
3888 If non-nil, only show habits in today's agenda view. This is set to true by
3892 Lastly, pressing @kbd{K} in the agenda buffer will cause habits to
3893 temporarily be disabled and they won't appear at all. Press @kbd{K} again to
3894 bring them back. They are also subject to tag filtering, if you have habits
3895 which should only be done in certain contexts, for example.
3897 @node Priorities, Breaking down tasks, Progress logging, TODO Items
3901 If you use Org-mode extensively, you may end up with enough TODO items that
3902 it starts to make sense to prioritize them. Prioritizing can be done by
3903 placing a @emph{priority cookie} into the headline of a TODO item, like this
3906 *** TODO [#A] Write letter to Sam Fortune
3910 @vindex org-priority-faces
3911 By default, Org-mode supports three priorities: @samp{A}, @samp{B}, and
3912 @samp{C}. @samp{A} is the highest priority. An entry without a cookie is
3913 treated as priority @samp{B}. Priorities make a difference only in the
3914 agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}); outside the agenda, they have no
3915 inherent meaning to Org-mode. The cookies can be highlighted with special
3916 faces by customizing the variable @code{org-priority-faces}.
3918 Priorities can be attached to any outline tree entries; they do not need
3924 Set the priority of the current headline. The command prompts for a
3925 priority character @samp{A}, @samp{B} or @samp{C}. When you press
3926 @key{SPC} instead, the priority cookie is removed from the headline.
3927 The priorities can also be changed ``remotely'' from the timeline and
3928 agenda buffer with the @kbd{,} command (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
3931 @kindex S-@key{down}
3934 @vindex org-priority-start-cycle-with-default
3935 Increase/decrease priority of current headline@footnote{See also the option
3936 @code{org-priority-start-cycle-with-default}.}. Note that these keys are
3937 also used to modify timestamps (@pxref{Creating timestamps}). See also
3938 @ref{Conflicts}, for a discussion of the interaction with
3939 @code{shift-selection-mode}.
3942 @vindex org-highest-priority
3943 @vindex org-lowest-priority
3944 @vindex org-default-priority
3945 You can change the range of allowed priorities by setting the variables
3946 @code{org-highest-priority}, @code{org-lowest-priority}, and
3947 @code{org-default-priority}. For an individual buffer, you may set
3948 these values (highest, lowest, default) like this (please make sure that
3949 the highest priority is earlier in the alphabet than the lowest
3952 @cindex #+PRIORITIES
3957 @node Breaking down tasks, Checkboxes, Priorities, TODO Items
3958 @section Breaking tasks down into subtasks
3959 @cindex tasks, breaking down
3960 @cindex statistics, for TODO items
3962 @vindex org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels
3963 It is often advisable to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable
3964 subtasks. You can do this by creating an outline tree below a TODO item,
3965 with detailed subtasks on the tree@footnote{To keep subtasks out of the
3966 global TODO list, see the @code{org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels}.}. To keep
3967 the overview over the fraction of subtasks that are already completed, insert
3968 either @samp{[/]} or @samp{[%]} anywhere in the headline. These cookies will
3969 be updated each time the TODO status of a child changes, or when pressing
3970 @kbd{C-c C-c} on the cookie. For example:
3973 * Organize Party [33%]
3974 ** TODO Call people [1/2]
3978 ** DONE Talk to neighbor
3981 @cindex property, COOKIE_DATA
3982 If a heading has both checkboxes and TODO children below it, the meaning of
3983 the statistics cookie become ambiguous. Set the property
3984 @code{COOKIE_DATA} to either @samp{checkbox} or @samp{todo} to resolve
3987 @vindex org-hierarchical-todo-statistics
3988 If you would like to have the statistics cookie count any TODO entries in the
3989 subtree (not just direct children), configure the variable
3990 @code{org-hierarchical-todo-statistics}. To do this for a single subtree,
3991 include the word @samp{recursive} into the value of the @code{COOKIE_DATA}
3995 * Parent capturing statistics [2/20]
3997 :COOKIE_DATA: todo recursive
4001 If you would like a TODO entry to automatically change to DONE
4002 when all children are done, you can use the following setup:
4005 (defun org-summary-todo (n-done n-not-done)
4006 "Switch entry to DONE when all subentries are done, to TODO otherwise."
4007 (let (org-log-done org-log-states) ; turn off logging
4008 (org-todo (if (= n-not-done 0) "DONE" "TODO"))))
4010 (add-hook 'org-after-todo-statistics-hook 'org-summary-todo)
4014 Another possibility is the use of checkboxes to identify (a hierarchy of) a
4015 large number of subtasks (@pxref{Checkboxes}).
4018 @node Checkboxes, , Breaking down tasks, TODO Items
4022 Every item in a plain list (@pxref{Plain lists}) can be made into a
4023 checkbox by starting it with the string @samp{[ ]}. This feature is
4024 similar to TODO items (@pxref{TODO Items}), but is more lightweight.
4025 Checkboxes are not included into the global TODO list, so they are often
4026 great to split a task into a number of simple steps. Or you can use
4027 them in a shopping list. To toggle a checkbox, use @kbd{C-c C-c}, or
4028 use the mouse (thanks to Piotr Zielinski's @file{org-mouse.el}).
4030 Here is an example of a checkbox list.
4033 * TODO Organize party [2/4]
4034 - [-] call people [1/3]
4039 - [ ] think about what music to play
4040 - [X] talk to the neighbors
4043 Checkboxes work hierarchically, so if a checkbox item has children that
4044 are checkboxes, toggling one of the children checkboxes will make the
4045 parent checkbox reflect if none, some, or all of the children are
4048 @cindex statistics, for checkboxes
4049 @cindex checkbox statistics
4050 @cindex property, COOKIE_DATA
4051 @vindex org-hierarchical-checkbox-statistics
4052 The @samp{[2/4]} and @samp{[1/3]} in the first and second line are cookies
4053 indicating how many checkboxes present in this entry have been checked off,
4054 and the total number of checkboxes present. This can give you an idea on how
4055 many checkboxes remain, even without opening a folded entry. The cookies can
4056 be placed into a headline or into (the first line of) a plain list item.
4057 Each cookie covers checkboxes of direct children structurally below the
4058 headline/item on which the cookie appears@footnote{Set the variable
4059 @code{org-hierarchical-checkbox-statistics} if you want such cookies to
4060 represent the all checkboxes below the cookie, not just the direct
4061 children.}. You have to insert the cookie yourself by typing either
4062 @samp{[/]} or @samp{[%]}. With @samp{[/]} you get an @samp{n out of m}
4063 result, as in the examples above. With @samp{[%]} you get information about
4064 the percentage of checkboxes checked (in the above example, this would be
4065 @samp{[50%]} and @samp{[33%]}, respectively). In a headline, a cookie can
4066 count either checkboxes below the heading or TODO states of children, and it
4067 will display whatever was changed last. Set the property @code{COOKIE_DATA}
4068 to either @samp{checkbox} or @samp{todo} to resolve this issue.
4070 @cindex blocking, of checkboxes
4071 @cindex checkbox blocking
4072 @cindex property, ORDERED
4073 If the current outline node has an @code{ORDERED} property, checkboxes must
4074 be checked off in sequence, and an error will be thrown if you try to check
4075 off a box while there are unchecked boxes above it.
4077 @noindent The following commands work with checkboxes:
4082 Toggle checkbox status or (with prefix arg) checkbox presence at point. With
4083 double prefix argument, set it to @samp{[-]}, which is considered to be an
4087 Toggle checkbox status or (with prefix arg) checkbox presence at point. With
4088 double prefix argument, set it to @samp{[-]}, which is considered to be an
4092 If there is an active region, toggle the first checkbox in the region
4093 and set all remaining boxes to the same status as the first. With a prefix
4094 arg, add or remove the checkbox for all items in the region.
4096 If the cursor is in a headline, toggle checkboxes in the region between
4097 this headline and the next (so @emph{not} the entire subtree).
4099 If there is no active region, just toggle the checkbox at point.
4101 @kindex M-S-@key{RET}
4103 Insert a new item with a checkbox.
4104 This works only if the cursor is already in a plain list item
4105 (@pxref{Plain lists}).
4108 @vindex org-track-ordered-property-with-tag
4109 @cindex property, ORDERED
4110 Toggle the @code{ORDERED} property of the entry, to toggle if checkboxes must
4111 be checked off in sequence. A property is used for this behavior because
4112 this should be local to the current entry, not inherited like a tag.
4113 However, if you would like to @i{track} the value of this property with a tag
4114 for better visibility, customize the variable
4115 @code{org-track-ordered-property-with-tag}.
4118 Update the statistics cookie in the current outline entry. When called with
4119 a @kbd{C-u} prefix, update the entire file. Checkbox statistic cookies are
4120 updated automatically if you toggle checkboxes with @kbd{C-c C-c} and make
4121 new ones with @kbd{M-S-@key{RET}}. TODO statistics cookies update when
4122 changing TODO states. If you delete boxes/entries or add/change them by
4123 hand, use this command to get things back into sync. Or simply toggle any
4124 entry twice (checkboxes with @kbd{C-c C-c}).
4127 @node Tags, Properties and Columns, TODO Items, Top
4130 @cindex headline tagging
4131 @cindex matching, tags
4132 @cindex sparse tree, tag based
4134 An excellent way to implement labels and contexts for cross-correlating
4135 information is to assign @i{tags} to headlines. Org-mode has extensive
4138 @vindex org-tag-faces
4139 Every headline can contain a list of tags; they occur at the end of the
4140 headline. Tags are normal words containing letters, numbers, @samp{_}, and
4141 @samp{@@}. Tags must be preceded and followed by a single colon, e.g.,
4142 @samp{:work:}. Several tags can be specified, as in @samp{:work:urgent:}.
4143 Tags will by default be in bold face with the same color as the headline.
4144 You may specify special faces for specific tags using the variable
4145 @code{org-tag-faces}, in much the same way as you can for TODO keywords
4146 (@pxref{Faces for TODO keywords}).
4149 * Tag inheritance:: Tags use the tree structure of the outline
4150 * Setting tags:: How to assign tags to a headline
4151 * Tag searches:: Searching for combinations of tags
4154 @node Tag inheritance, Setting tags, Tags, Tags
4155 @section Tag inheritance
4156 @cindex tag inheritance
4157 @cindex inheritance, of tags
4158 @cindex sublevels, inclusion into tags match
4160 @i{Tags} make use of the hierarchical structure of outline trees. If a
4161 heading has a certain tag, all subheadings will inherit the tag as
4162 well. For example, in the list
4165 * Meeting with the French group :work:
4166 ** Summary by Frank :boss:notes:
4167 *** TODO Prepare slides for him :action:
4171 the final heading will have the tags @samp{:work:}, @samp{:boss:},
4172 @samp{:notes:}, and @samp{:action:} even though the final heading is not
4173 explicitly marked with those tags. You can also set tags that all entries in
4174 a file should inherit just as if these tags were defined in a hypothetical
4175 level zero that surrounds the entire file. Use a line like this@footnote{As
4176 with all these in-buffer settings, pressing @kbd{C-c C-c} activates any
4177 changes in the line.}:
4181 #+FILETAGS: :Peter:Boss:Secret:
4185 @vindex org-use-tag-inheritance
4186 @vindex org-tags-exclude-from-inheritance
4187 To limit tag inheritance to specific tags, or to turn it off entirely, use
4188 the variables @code{org-use-tag-inheritance} and
4189 @code{org-tags-exclude-from-inheritance}.
4191 @vindex org-tags-match-list-sublevels
4192 When a headline matches during a tags search while tag inheritance is turned
4193 on, all the sublevels in the same tree will (for a simple match form) match
4194 as well@footnote{This is only true if the search does not involve more
4195 complex tests including properties (@pxref{Property searches}).}. The list
4196 of matches may then become very long. If you only want to see the first tags
4197 match in a subtree, configure the variable
4198 @code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels} (not recommended).
4200 @node Setting tags, Tag searches, Tag inheritance, Tags
4201 @section Setting tags
4202 @cindex setting tags
4203 @cindex tags, setting
4206 Tags can simply be typed into the buffer at the end of a headline.
4207 After a colon, @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} offers completion on tags. There is
4208 also a special command for inserting tags:
4213 @cindex completion, of tags
4214 @vindex org-tags-column
4215 Enter new tags for the current headline. Org-mode will either offer
4216 completion or a special single-key interface for setting tags, see
4217 below. After pressing @key{RET}, the tags will be inserted and aligned
4218 to @code{org-tags-column}. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, all
4219 tags in the current buffer will be aligned to that column, just to make
4220 things look nice. TAGS are automatically realigned after promotion,
4221 demotion, and TODO state changes (@pxref{TODO basics}).
4224 When the cursor is in a headline, this does the same as @kbd{C-c C-q}.
4227 @vindex org-tag-alist
4228 Org will support tag insertion based on a @emph{list of tags}. By
4229 default this list is constructed dynamically, containing all tags
4230 currently used in the buffer. You may also globally specify a hard list
4231 of tags with the variable @code{org-tag-alist}. Finally you can set
4232 the default tags for a given file with lines like
4236 #+TAGS: @@work @@home @@tennisclub
4237 #+TAGS: laptop car pc sailboat
4240 If you have globally defined your preferred set of tags using the
4241 variable @code{org-tag-alist}, but would like to use a dynamic tag list
4242 in a specific file, add an empty TAGS option line to that file:
4248 @vindex org-tag-persistent-alist
4249 If you have a preferred set of tags that you would like to use in every file,
4250 in addition to those defined on a per-file basis by TAGS option lines, then
4251 you may specify a list of tags with the variable
4252 @code{org-tag-persistent-alist}. You may turn this off on a per-file basis
4253 by adding a STARTUP option line to that file:
4259 By default Org-mode uses the standard minibuffer completion facilities for
4260 entering tags. However, it also implements another, quicker, tag selection
4261 method called @emph{fast tag selection}. This allows you to select and
4262 deselect tags with just a single key press. For this to work well you should
4263 assign unique letters to most of your commonly used tags. You can do this
4264 globally by configuring the variable @code{org-tag-alist} in your
4265 @file{.emacs} file. For example, you may find the need to tag many items in
4266 different files with @samp{:@@home:}. In this case you can set something
4270 (setq org-tag-alist '(("@@work" . ?w) ("@@home" . ?h) ("laptop" . ?l)))
4273 @noindent If the tag is only relevant to the file you are working on, then you
4274 can instead set the TAGS option line as:
4277 #+TAGS: @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t) laptop(l) pc(p)
4280 @noindent The tags interface will show the available tags in a splash
4281 window. If you want to start a new line after a specific tag, insert
4282 @samp{\n} into the tag list
4285 #+TAGS: @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t) \n laptop(l) pc(p)
4288 @noindent or write them in two lines:
4291 #+TAGS: @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t)
4292 #+TAGS: laptop(l) pc(p)
4296 You can also group together tags that are mutually exclusive by using
4300 #+TAGS: @{ @@work(w) @@home(h) @@tennisclub(t) @} laptop(l) pc(p)
4303 @noindent you indicate that at most one of @samp{@@work}, @samp{@@home},
4304 and @samp{@@tennisclub} should be selected. Multiple such groups are allowed.
4306 @noindent Don't forget to press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor in one of
4307 these lines to activate any changes.
4310 To set these mutually exclusive groups in the variable @code{org-tags-alist},
4311 you must use the dummy tags @code{:startgroup} and @code{:endgroup} instead
4312 of the braces. Similarly, you can use @code{:newline} to indicate a line
4313 break. The previous example would be set globally by the following
4317 (setq org-tag-alist '((:startgroup . nil)
4318 ("@@work" . ?w) ("@@home" . ?h)
4319 ("@@tennisclub" . ?t)
4321 ("laptop" . ?l) ("pc" . ?p)))
4324 If at least one tag has a selection key then pressing @kbd{C-c C-c} will
4325 automatically present you with a special interface, listing inherited tags,
4326 the tags of the current headline, and a list of all valid tags with
4327 corresponding keys@footnote{Keys will automatically be assigned to tags which
4328 have no configured keys.}. In this interface, you can use the following
4333 Pressing keys assigned to tags will add or remove them from the list of
4334 tags in the current line. Selecting a tag in a group of mutually
4335 exclusive tags will turn off any other tags from that group.
4338 Enter a tag in the minibuffer, even if the tag is not in the predefined
4339 list. You will be able to complete on all tags present in the buffer.
4342 Clear all tags for this line.
4345 Accept the modified set.
4347 Abort without installing changes.
4349 If @kbd{q} is not assigned to a tag, it aborts like @kbd{C-g}.
4351 Turn off groups of mutually exclusive tags. Use this to (as an
4352 exception) assign several tags from such a group.
4354 Toggle auto-exit after the next change (see below).
4355 If you are using expert mode, the first @kbd{C-c} will display the
4360 This method lets you assign tags to a headline with very few keys. With
4361 the above setup, you could clear the current tags and set @samp{@@home},
4362 @samp{laptop} and @samp{pc} tags with just the following keys: @kbd{C-c
4363 C-c @key{SPC} h l p @key{RET}}. Switching from @samp{@@home} to
4364 @samp{@@work} would be done with @kbd{C-c C-c w @key{RET}} or
4365 alternatively with @kbd{C-c C-c C-c w}. Adding the non-predefined tag
4366 @samp{Sarah} could be done with @kbd{C-c C-c @key{TAB} S a r a h
4367 @key{RET} @key{RET}}.
4369 @vindex org-fast-tag-selection-single-key
4370 If you find that most of the time you need only a single key press to
4371 modify your list of tags, set the variable
4372 @code{org-fast-tag-selection-single-key}. Then you no longer have to
4373 press @key{RET} to exit fast tag selection---it will immediately exit
4374 after the first change. If you then occasionally need more keys, press
4375 @kbd{C-c} to turn off auto-exit for the current tag selection process
4376 (in effect: start selection with @kbd{C-c C-c C-c} instead of @kbd{C-c
4377 C-c}). If you set the variable to the value @code{expert}, the special
4378 window is not even shown for single-key tag selection, it comes up only
4379 when you press an extra @kbd{C-c}.
4381 @node Tag searches, , Setting tags, Tags
4382 @section Tag searches
4383 @cindex tag searches
4384 @cindex searching for tags
4386 Once a system of tags has been set up, it can be used to collect related
4387 information into special lists.
4394 Create a sparse tree with all headlines matching a tags search. With a
4395 @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, ignore headlines that are not a TODO line.
4398 Create a global list of tag matches from all agenda files.
4399 @xref{Matching tags and properties}.
4402 @vindex org-tags-match-list-sublevels
4403 Create a global list of tag matches from all agenda files, but check
4404 only TODO items and force checking subitems (see variable
4405 @code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels}).
4408 These commands all prompt for a match string which allows basic Boolean logic
4409 like @samp{+boss+urgent-project1}, to find entries with tags @samp{boss} and
4410 @samp{urgent}, but not @samp{project1}, or @samp{Kathy|Sally} to find entries
4411 which are tagged, like @samp{Kathy} or @samp{Sally}. The full syntax of the search
4412 string is rich and allows also matching against TODO keywords, entry levels
4413 and properties. For a complete description with many examples, see
4414 @ref{Matching tags and properties}.
4417 @node Properties and Columns, Dates and Times, Tags, Top
4418 @chapter Properties and columns
4421 Properties are a set of key-value pairs associated with an entry. There
4422 are two main applications for properties in Org-mode. First, properties
4423 are like tags, but with a value. Second, you can use properties to
4424 implement (very basic) database capabilities in an Org buffer. For
4425 an example of the first application, imagine maintaining a file where
4426 you document bugs and plan releases for a piece of software. Instead of
4427 using tags like @code{:release_1:}, @code{:release_2:}, one can use a
4428 property, say @code{:Release:}, that in different subtrees has different
4429 values, such as @code{1.0} or @code{2.0}. For an example of the second
4430 application of properties, imagine keeping track of your music CDs,
4431 where properties could be things such as the album, artist, date of
4432 release, number of tracks, and so on.
4434 Properties can be conveniently edited and viewed in column view
4435 (@pxref{Column view}).
4438 * Property syntax:: How properties are spelled out
4439 * Special properties:: Access to other Org-mode features
4440 * Property searches:: Matching property values
4441 * Property inheritance:: Passing values down the tree
4442 * Column view:: Tabular viewing and editing
4443 * Property API:: Properties for Lisp programmers
4446 @node Property syntax, Special properties, Properties and Columns, Properties and Columns
4447 @section Property syntax
4448 @cindex property syntax
4449 @cindex drawer, for properties
4451 Properties are key-value pairs. They need to be inserted into a special
4452 drawer (@pxref{Drawers}) with the name @code{PROPERTIES}. Each property
4453 is specified on a single line, with the key (surrounded by colons)
4454 first, and the value after it. Here is an example:
4459 *** Goldberg Variations
4461 :Title: Goldberg Variations
4462 :Composer: J.S. Bach
4464 :Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon
4469 You may define the allowed values for a particular property @samp{:Xyz:}
4470 by setting a property @samp{:Xyz_ALL:}. This special property is
4471 @emph{inherited}, so if you set it in a level 1 entry, it will apply to
4472 the entire tree. When allowed values are defined, setting the
4473 corresponding property becomes easier and is less prone to typing
4474 errors. For the example with the CD collection, we can predefine
4475 publishers and the number of disks in a box like this:
4480 :NDisks_ALL: 1 2 3 4
4481 :Publisher_ALL: "Deutsche Grammophon" Philips EMI
4485 If you want to set properties that can be inherited by any entry in a
4486 file, use a line like
4487 @cindex property, _ALL
4490 #+PROPERTY: NDisks_ALL 1 2 3 4
4493 @vindex org-global-properties
4494 Property values set with the global variable
4495 @code{org-global-properties} can be inherited by all entries in all
4499 The following commands help to work with properties:
4504 After an initial colon in a line, complete property keys. All keys used
4505 in the current file will be offered as possible completions.
4508 Set a property. This prompts for a property name and a value. If
4509 necessary, the property drawer is created as well.
4510 @item M-x org-insert-property-drawer
4511 Insert a property drawer into the current entry. The drawer will be
4512 inserted early in the entry, but after the lines with planning
4513 information like deadlines.
4516 With the cursor in a property drawer, this executes property commands.
4518 Set a property in the current entry. Both the property and the value
4519 can be inserted using completion.
4520 @kindex S-@key{right}
4521 @kindex S-@key{left}
4522 @item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
4523 Switch property at point to the next/previous allowed value.
4525 Remove a property from the current entry.
4527 Globally remove a property, from all entries in the current file.
4529 Compute the property at point, using the operator and scope from the
4530 nearest column format definition.
4533 @node Special properties, Property searches, Property syntax, Properties and Columns
4534 @section Special properties
4535 @cindex properties, special
4537 Special properties provide an alternative access method to Org-mode
4538 features, like the TODO state or the priority of an entry, discussed in the
4539 previous chapters. This interface exists so that you can include
4540 these states in a column view (@pxref{Column view}), or to use them in
4541 queries. The following property names are special and should not be
4542 used as keys in the properties drawer:
4544 @cindex property, special, TODO
4545 @cindex property, special, TAGS
4546 @cindex property, special, ALLTAGS
4547 @cindex property, special, CATEGORY
4548 @cindex property, special, PRIORITY
4549 @cindex property, special, DEADLINE
4550 @cindex property, special, SCHEDULED
4551 @cindex property, special, CLOSED
4552 @cindex property, special, TIMESTAMP
4553 @cindex property, special, TIMESTAMP_IA
4554 @cindex property, special, CLOCKSUM
4555 @cindex property, special, BLOCKED
4556 @c guessing that ITEM is needed in this area; also, should this list be sorted?
4557 @cindex property, special, ITEM
4559 TODO @r{The TODO keyword of the entry.}
4560 TAGS @r{The tags defined directly in the headline.}
4561 ALLTAGS @r{All tags, including inherited ones.}
4562 CATEGORY @r{The category of an entry.}
4563 PRIORITY @r{The priority of the entry, a string with a single letter.}
4564 DEADLINE @r{The deadline time string, without the angular brackets.}
4565 SCHEDULED @r{The scheduling timestamp, without the angular brackets.}
4566 CLOSED @r{When was this entry closed?}
4567 TIMESTAMP @r{The first keyword-less timestamp in the entry.}
4568 TIMESTAMP_IA @r{The first inactive timestamp in the entry.}
4569 CLOCKSUM @r{The sum of CLOCK intervals in the subtree. @code{org-clock-sum}}
4570 @r{must be run first to compute the values.}
4571 BLOCKED @r{"t" if task is currently blocked by children or siblings}
4572 ITEM @r{The content of the entry.}
4575 @node Property searches, Property inheritance, Special properties, Properties and Columns
4576 @section Property searches
4577 @cindex properties, searching
4578 @cindex searching, of properties
4580 To create sparse trees and special lists with selection based on properties,
4581 the same commands are used as for tag searches (@pxref{Tag searches}).
4587 Create a sparse tree with all matching entries. With a
4588 @kbd{C-u} prefix argument, ignore headlines that are not a TODO line.
4591 Create a global list of tag/property matches from all agenda files.
4592 @xref{Matching tags and properties}.
4595 @vindex org-tags-match-list-sublevels
4596 Create a global list of tag matches from all agenda files, but check
4597 only TODO items and force checking of subitems (see variable
4598 @code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels}).
4601 The syntax for the search string is described in @ref{Matching tags and
4604 There is also a special command for creating sparse trees based on a
4610 Create a sparse tree based on the value of a property. This first
4611 prompts for the name of a property, and then for a value. A sparse tree
4612 is created with all entries that define this property with the given
4613 value. If you enclose the value into curly braces, it is interpreted as
4614 a regular expression and matched against the property values.
4617 @node Property inheritance, Column view, Property searches, Properties and Columns
4618 @section Property Inheritance
4619 @cindex properties, inheritance
4620 @cindex inheritance, of properties
4622 @vindex org-use-property-inheritance
4623 The outline structure of Org-mode documents lends itself for an
4624 inheritance model of properties: if the parent in a tree has a certain
4625 property, the children can inherit this property. Org-mode does not
4626 turn this on by default, because it can slow down property searches
4627 significantly and is often not needed. However, if you find inheritance
4628 useful, you can turn it on by setting the variable
4629 @code{org-use-property-inheritance}. It may be set to @code{t} to make
4630 all properties inherited from the parent, to a list of properties
4631 that should be inherited, or to a regular expression that matches
4632 inherited properties. If a property has the value @samp{nil}, this is
4633 interpreted as an explicit undefine of he property, so that inheritance
4634 search will stop at this value and return @code{nil}.
4636 Org-mode has a few properties for which inheritance is hard-coded, at
4637 least for the special applications for which they are used:
4639 @cindex property, COLUMNS
4642 The @code{:COLUMNS:} property defines the format of column view
4643 (@pxref{Column view}). It is inherited in the sense that the level
4644 where a @code{:COLUMNS:} property is defined is used as the starting
4645 point for a column view table, independently of the location in the
4646 subtree from where columns view is turned on.
4648 @cindex property, CATEGORY
4649 For agenda view, a category set through a @code{:CATEGORY:} property
4650 applies to the entire subtree.
4652 @cindex property, ARCHIVE
4653 For archiving, the @code{:ARCHIVE:} property may define the archive
4654 location for the entire subtree (@pxref{Moving subtrees}).
4656 @cindex property, LOGGING
4657 The LOGGING property may define logging settings for an entry or a
4658 subtree (@pxref{Tracking TODO state changes}).
4661 @node Column view, Property API, Property inheritance, Properties and Columns
4662 @section Column view
4664 A great way to view and edit properties in an outline tree is
4665 @emph{column view}. In column view, each outline node is turned into a
4666 table row. Columns in this table provide access to properties of the
4667 entries. Org-mode implements columns by overlaying a tabular structure
4668 over the headline of each item. While the headlines have been turned
4669 into a table row, you can still change the visibility of the outline
4670 tree. For example, you get a compact table by switching to CONTENTS
4671 view (@kbd{S-@key{TAB} S-@key{TAB}}, or simply @kbd{c} while column view
4672 is active), but you can still open, read, and edit the entry below each
4673 headline. Or, you can switch to column view after executing a sparse
4674 tree command and in this way get a table only for the selected items.
4675 Column view also works in agenda buffers (@pxref{Agenda Views}) where
4676 queries have collected selected items, possibly from a number of files.
4679 * Defining columns:: The COLUMNS format property
4680 * Using column view:: How to create and use column view
4681 * Capturing column view:: A dynamic block for column view
4684 @node Defining columns, Using column view, Column view, Column view
4685 @subsection Defining columns
4686 @cindex column view, for properties
4687 @cindex properties, column view
4689 Setting up a column view first requires defining the columns. This is
4690 done by defining a column format line.
4693 * Scope of column definitions:: Where defined, where valid?
4694 * Column attributes:: Appearance and content of a column
4697 @node Scope of column definitions, Column attributes, Defining columns, Defining columns
4698 @subsubsection Scope of column definitions
4700 To define a column format for an entire file, use a line like
4704 #+COLUMNS: %25ITEM %TAGS %PRIORITY %TODO
4707 To specify a format that only applies to a specific tree, add a
4708 @code{:COLUMNS:} property to the top node of that tree, for example:
4711 ** Top node for columns view
4713 :COLUMNS: %25ITEM %TAGS %PRIORITY %TODO
4717 If a @code{:COLUMNS:} property is present in an entry, it defines columns
4718 for the entry itself, and for the entire subtree below it. Since the
4719 column definition is part of the hierarchical structure of the document,
4720 you can define columns on level 1 that are general enough for all
4721 sublevels, and more specific columns further down, when you edit a
4722 deeper part of the tree.
4724 @node Column attributes, , Scope of column definitions, Defining columns
4725 @subsubsection Column attributes
4726 A column definition sets the attributes of a column. The general
4727 definition looks like this:
4730 %[@var{width}]@var{property}[(@var{title})][@{@var{summary-type}@}]
4734 Except for the percent sign and the property name, all items are
4735 optional. The individual parts have the following meaning:
4738 @var{width} @r{An integer specifying the width of the column in characters.}
4739 @r{If omitted, the width will be determined automatically.}
4740 @var{property} @r{The property that should be edited in this column.}
4741 @r{Special properties representing meta data are allowed here}
4742 @r{as well (@pxref{Special properties})}
4743 (title) @r{The header text for the column. If omitted, the}
4744 @r{property name is used.}
4745 @{@var{summary-type}@} @r{The summary type. If specified, the column values for}
4746 @r{parent nodes are computed from the children.}
4747 @r{Supported summary types are:}
4748 @{+@} @r{Sum numbers in this column.}
4749 @{+;%.1f@} @r{Like @samp{+}, but format result with @samp{%.1f}.}
4750 @{$@} @r{Currency, short for @samp{+;%.2f}.}
4751 @{:@} @r{Sum times, HH:MM, plain numbers are hours.}
4752 @{X@} @r{Checkbox status, @samp{[X]} if all children are @samp{[X]}.}
4753 @{X/@} @r{Checkbox status, @samp{[n/m]}.}
4754 @{X%@} @r{Checkbox status, @samp{[n%]}.}
4755 @{min@} @r{Smallest number in column.}
4756 @{max@} @r{Largest number.}
4757 @{mean@} @r{Arithmetic mean of numbers.}
4758 @{:min@} @r{Smallest time value in column.}
4759 @{:max@} @r{Largest time value.}
4760 @{:mean@} @r{Arithmetic mean of time values.}
4761 @{@@min@} @r{Minimum age (in days/hours/mins/seconds).}
4762 @{@@max@} @r{Maximum age (in days/hours/mins/seconds).}
4763 @{@@mean@} @r{Arithmetic mean of ages (in days/hours/mins/seconds).}
4767 Be aware that you can only have one summary type for any property you
4768 include. Subsequent columns referencing the same property will all display the
4769 same summary information.
4771 Here is an example for a complete columns definition, along with allowed
4775 :COLUMNS: %25ITEM %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.}
4776 %10Time_Estimate@{:@} %CLOCKSUM
4777 :Owner_ALL: Tammy Mark Karl Lisa Don
4778 :Status_ALL: "In progress" "Not started yet" "Finished" ""
4779 :Approved_ALL: "[ ]" "[X]"
4783 The first column, @samp{%25ITEM}, means the first 25 characters of the
4784 item itself, i.e. of the headline. You probably always should start the
4785 column definition with the @samp{ITEM} specifier. The other specifiers
4786 create columns @samp{Owner} with a list of names as allowed values, for
4787 @samp{Status} with four different possible values, and for a checkbox
4788 field @samp{Approved}. When no width is given after the @samp{%}
4789 character, the column will be exactly as wide as it needs to be in order
4790 to fully display all values. The @samp{Approved} column does have a
4791 modified title (@samp{Approved?}, with a question mark). Summaries will
4792 be created for the @samp{Time_Estimate} column by adding time duration
4793 expressions like HH:MM, and for the @samp{Approved} column, by providing
4794 an @samp{[X]} status if all children have been checked. The
4795 @samp{CLOCKSUM} column is special, it lists the sum of CLOCK intervals
4798 @node Using column view, Capturing column view, Defining columns, Column view
4799 @subsection Using column view
4802 @tsubheading{Turning column view on and off}
4805 @vindex org-columns-default-format
4806 Turn on column view. If the cursor is before the first headline in the file,
4807 column view is turned on for the entire file, using the @code{#+COLUMNS}
4808 definition. If the cursor is somewhere inside the outline, this command
4809 searches the hierarchy, up from point, for a @code{:COLUMNS:} property that
4810 defines a format. When one is found, the column view table is established
4811 for the tree starting at the entry that contains the @code{:COLUMNS:}
4812 property. If no such property is found, the format is taken from the
4813 @code{#+COLUMNS} line or from the variable @code{org-columns-default-format},
4814 and column view is established for the current entry and its subtree.
4817 Recreate the column view, to include recent changes made in the buffer.
4824 @tsubheading{Editing values}
4825 @item @key{left} @key{right} @key{up} @key{down}
4826 Move through the column view from field to field.
4827 @kindex S-@key{left}
4828 @kindex S-@key{right}
4829 @item S-@key{left}/@key{right}
4830 Switch to the next/previous allowed value of the field. For this, you
4831 have to have specified allowed values for a property.
4833 Directly select the nth allowed value, @kbd{0} selects the 10th value.
4837 Same as @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}}
4840 Edit the property at point. For the special properties, this will
4841 invoke the same interface that you normally use to change that
4842 property. For example, when editing a TAGS property, the tag completion
4843 or fast selection interface will pop up.
4846 When there is a checkbox at point, toggle it.
4849 View the full value of this property. This is useful if the width of
4850 the column is smaller than that of the value.
4853 Edit the list of allowed values for this property. If the list is found
4854 in the hierarchy, the modified values is stored there. If no list is
4855 found, the new value is stored in the first entry that is part of the
4856 current column view.
4857 @tsubheading{Modifying the table structure}
4861 Make the column narrower/wider by one character.
4862 @kindex S-M-@key{right}
4863 @item S-M-@key{right}
4864 Insert a new column, to the left of the current column.
4865 @kindex S-M-@key{left}
4866 @item S-M-@key{left}
4867 Delete the current column.
4870 @node Capturing column view, , Using column view, Column view
4871 @subsection Capturing column view
4873 Since column view is just an overlay over a buffer, it cannot be
4874 exported or printed directly. If you want to capture a column view, use
4875 a @code{columnview} dynamic block (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). The frame
4876 of this block looks like this:
4878 @cindex #+BEGIN, columnview
4881 #+BEGIN: columnview :hlines 1 :id "label"
4886 @noindent This dynamic block has the following parameters:
4890 This is the most important parameter. Column view is a feature that is
4891 often localized to a certain (sub)tree, and the capture block might be
4892 at a different location in the file. To identify the tree whose view to
4893 capture, you can use 4 values:
4894 @cindex property, ID
4896 local @r{use the tree in which the capture block is located}
4897 global @r{make a global view, including all headings in the file}
4898 "file:@var{path-to-file}"
4899 @r{run column view at the top of this file}
4900 "@var{ID}" @r{call column view in the tree that has an @code{:ID:}}
4901 @r{property with the value @i{label}. You can use}
4902 @r{@kbd{M-x org-id-copy} to create a globally unique ID for}
4903 @r{the current entry and copy it to the kill-ring.}
4906 When @code{t}, insert an hline after every line. When a number @var{N}, insert
4907 an hline before each headline with level @code{<= @var{N}}.
4909 When set to @code{t}, force column groups to get vertical lines.
4911 When set to a number, don't capture entries below this level.
4912 @item :skip-empty-rows
4913 When set to @code{t}, skip rows where the only non-empty specifier of the
4914 column view is @code{ITEM}.
4919 The following commands insert or update the dynamic block:
4924 Insert a dynamic block capturing a column view. You will be prompted
4925 for the scope or ID of the view.
4930 Update dynamic block at point. The cursor needs to be in the
4931 @code{#+BEGIN} line of the dynamic block.
4932 @kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
4933 @item C-u C-c C-x C-u
4934 Update all dynamic blocks (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). This is useful if
4935 you have several clock table blocks in a buffer.
4938 You can add formulas to the column view table and you may add plotting
4939 instructions in front of the table---these will survive an update of the
4940 block. If there is a @code{#+TBLFM:} after the table, the table will
4941 actually be recalculated automatically after an update.
4943 An alternative way to capture and process property values into a table is
4944 provided by Eric Schulte's @file{org-collector.el} which is a contributed
4945 package@footnote{Contributed packages are not part of Emacs, but are
4946 distributed with the main distribution of Org (visit
4947 @uref{http://orgmode.org}).}. It provides a general API to collect
4948 properties from entries in a certain scope, and arbitrary Lisp expressions to
4949 process these values before inserting them into a table or a dynamic block.
4951 @node Property API, , Column view, Properties and Columns
4952 @section The Property API
4953 @cindex properties, API
4954 @cindex API, for properties
4956 There is a full API for accessing and changing properties. This API can
4957 be used by Emacs Lisp programs to work with properties and to implement
4958 features based on them. For more information see @ref{Using the
4961 @node Dates and Times, Capture - Refile - Archive, Properties and Columns, Top
4962 @chapter Dates and times
4968 To assist project planning, TODO items can be labeled with a date and/or
4969 a time. The specially formatted string carrying the date and time
4970 information is called a @emph{timestamp} in Org-mode. This may be a
4971 little confusing because timestamp is often used as indicating when
4972 something was created or last changed. However, in Org-mode this term
4973 is used in a much wider sense.
4976 * Timestamps:: Assigning a time to a tree entry
4977 * Creating timestamps:: Commands which insert timestamps
4978 * Deadlines and scheduling:: Planning your work
4979 * Clocking work time:: Tracking how long you spend on a task
4980 * Resolving idle time:: Resolving time if you've been idle
4981 * Effort estimates:: Planning work effort in advance
4982 * Relative timer:: Notes with a running timer
4986 @node Timestamps, Creating timestamps, Dates and Times, Dates and Times
4987 @section Timestamps, deadlines, and scheduling
4989 @cindex ranges, time
4994 A timestamp is a specification of a date (possibly with a time or a range of
4995 times) in a special format, either @samp{<2003-09-16 Tue>} or
4996 @samp{<2003-09-16 Tue 09:39>} or @samp{<2003-09-16 Tue
4997 12:00-12:30>}@footnote{This is inspired by the standard ISO 8601 date/time
4998 format. To use an alternative format, see @ref{Custom time format}.}. A
4999 timestamp can appear anywhere in the headline or body of an Org tree entry.
5000 Its presence causes entries to be shown on specific dates in the agenda
5001 (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}). We distinguish:
5004 @item Plain timestamp; Event; Appointment
5006 A simple timestamp just assigns a date/time to an item. This is just
5007 like writing down an appointment or event in a paper agenda. In the
5008 timeline and agenda displays, the headline of an entry associated with a
5009 plain timestamp will be shown exactly on that date.
5012 * Meet Peter at the movies <2006-11-01 Wed 19:15>
5013 * Discussion on climate change <2006-11-02 Thu 20:00-22:00>
5016 @item Timestamp with repeater interval
5017 @cindex timestamp, with repeater interval
5018 A timestamp may contain a @emph{repeater interval}, indicating that it
5019 applies not only on the given date, but again and again after a certain
5020 interval of N days (d), weeks (w), months (m), or years (y). The
5021 following will show up in the agenda every Wednesday:
5024 * Pick up Sam at school <2007-05-16 Wed 12:30 +1w>
5027 @item Diary-style sexp entries
5028 For more complex date specifications, Org-mode supports using the
5029 special sexp diary entries implemented in the Emacs calendar/diary
5030 package. For example
5033 * The nerd meeting on every 2nd Thursday of the month
5034 <%%(diary-float t 4 2)>
5037 @item Time/Date range
5040 Two timestamps connected by @samp{--} denote a range. The headline
5041 will be shown on the first and last day of the range, and on any dates
5042 that are displayed and fall in the range. Here is an example:
5045 ** Meeting in Amsterdam
5046 <2004-08-23 Mon>--<2004-08-26 Thu>
5049 @item Inactive timestamp
5050 @cindex timestamp, inactive
5051 @cindex inactive timestamp
5052 Just like a plain timestamp, but with square brackets instead of
5053 angular ones. These timestamps are inactive in the sense that they do
5054 @emph{not} trigger an entry to show up in the agenda.
5057 * Gillian comes late for the fifth time [2006-11-01 Wed]
5062 @node Creating timestamps, Deadlines and scheduling, Timestamps, Dates and Times
5063 @section Creating timestamps
5064 @cindex creating timestamps
5065 @cindex timestamps, creating
5067 For Org-mode to recognize timestamps, they need to be in the specific
5068 format. All commands listed below produce timestamps in the correct
5074 Prompt for a date and insert a corresponding timestamp. When the cursor is
5075 at an existing timestamp in the buffer, the command is used to modify this
5076 timestamp instead of inserting a new one. When this command is used twice in
5077 succession, a time range is inserted.
5081 Like @kbd{C-c .}, but insert an inactive timestamp that will not cause
5088 @vindex org-time-stamp-rounding-minutes
5089 Like @kbd{C-c .} and @kbd{C-c !}, but use the alternative format which
5090 contains date and time. The default time can be rounded to multiples of 5
5091 minutes, see the option @code{org-time-stamp-rounding-minutes}.
5095 Insert a timestamp corresponding to the cursor date in the Calendar.
5099 Access the Emacs calendar for the current date. If there is a
5100 timestamp in the current line, go to the corresponding date
5105 Access the agenda for the date given by the timestamp or -range at
5106 point (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}).
5108 @kindex S-@key{left}
5109 @kindex S-@key{right}
5111 @itemx S-@key{right}
5112 Change date at cursor by one day. These key bindings conflict with
5113 shift-selection and related modes (@pxref{Conflicts}).
5116 @kindex S-@key{down}
5119 Change the item under the cursor in a timestamp. The cursor can be on a
5120 year, month, day, hour or minute. When the timestamp contains a time range
5121 like @samp{15:30-16:30}, modifying the first time will also shift the second,
5122 shifting the time block with constant length. To change the length, modify
5123 the second time. Note that if the cursor is in a headline and not at a
5124 timestamp, these same keys modify the priority of an item.
5125 (@pxref{Priorities}). The key bindings also conflict with shift-selection and
5126 related modes (@pxref{Conflicts}).
5129 @cindex evaluate time range
5131 Evaluate a time range by computing the difference between start and end.
5132 With a prefix argument, insert result after the time range (in a table: into
5133 the following column).
5138 * The date/time prompt:: How Org-mode helps you entering date and time
5139 * Custom time format:: Making dates look different
5142 @node The date/time prompt, Custom time format, Creating timestamps, Creating timestamps
5143 @subsection The date/time prompt
5144 @cindex date, reading in minibuffer
5145 @cindex time, reading in minibuffer
5147 @vindex org-read-date-prefer-future
5148 When Org-mode prompts for a date/time, the default is shown in default
5149 date/time format, and the prompt therefore seems to ask for a specific
5150 format. But it will in fact accept any string containing some date and/or
5151 time information, and it is really smart about interpreting your input. You
5152 can, for example, use @kbd{C-y} to paste a (possibly multi-line) string
5153 copied from an email message. Org-mode will find whatever information is in
5154 there and derive anything you have not specified from the @emph{default date
5155 and time}. The default is usually the current date and time, but when
5156 modifying an existing timestamp, or when entering the second stamp of a
5157 range, it is taken from the stamp in the buffer. When filling in
5158 information, Org-mode assumes that most of the time you will want to enter a
5159 date in the future: if you omit the month/year and the given day/month is
5160 @i{before} today, it will assume that you mean a future date@footnote{See the
5161 variable @code{org-read-date-prefer-future}. You may set that variable to
5162 the symbol @code{time} to even make a time before now shift the date to
5163 tomorrow.}. If the date has been automatically shifted into the future, the
5164 time prompt will show this with @samp{(=>F).}
5166 For example, let's assume that today is @b{June 13, 2006}. Here is how
5167 various inputs will be interpreted, the items filled in by Org-mode are
5171 3-2-5 --> 2003-02-05
5172 2/5/3 --> 2003-02-05
5173 14 --> @b{2006}-@b{06}-14
5174 12 --> @b{2006}-@b{07}-12
5175 2/5 --> @b{2007}-02-05
5176 Fri --> nearest Friday (default date or later)
5177 sep 15 --> @b{2006}-09-15
5178 feb 15 --> @b{2007}-02-15
5179 sep 12 9 --> 2009-09-12
5180 12:45 --> @b{2006}-@b{06}-@b{13} 12:45
5181 22 sept 0:34 --> @b{2006}-09-22 0:34
5182 w4 --> ISO week for of the current year @b{2006}
5183 2012 w4 fri --> Friday of ISO week 4 in 2012
5184 2012-w04-5 --> Same as above
5187 Furthermore you can specify a relative date by giving, as the
5188 @emph{first} thing in the input: a plus/minus sign, a number and a
5189 letter ([dwmy]) to indicate change in days, weeks, months, or years. With a
5190 single plus or minus, the date is always relative to today. With a
5191 double plus or minus, it is relative to the default date. If instead of
5192 a single letter, you use the abbreviation of day name, the date will be
5193 the nth such day. E.g.
5198 +4d --> four days from today
5199 +4 --> same as above
5200 +2w --> two weeks from today
5201 ++5 --> five days from default date
5202 +2tue --> second Tuesday from now.
5205 @vindex parse-time-months
5206 @vindex parse-time-weekdays
5207 The function understands English month and weekday abbreviations. If
5208 you want to use unabbreviated names and/or other languages, configure
5209 the variables @code{parse-time-months} and @code{parse-time-weekdays}.
5211 @cindex calendar, for selecting date
5212 @vindex org-popup-calendar-for-date-prompt
5213 Parallel to the minibuffer prompt, a calendar is popped up@footnote{If
5214 you don't need/want the calendar, configure the variable
5215 @code{org-popup-calendar-for-date-prompt}.}. When you exit the date
5216 prompt, either by clicking on a date in the calendar, or by pressing
5217 @key{RET}, the date selected in the calendar will be combined with the
5218 information entered at the prompt. You can control the calendar fully
5219 from the minibuffer:
5226 @kindex S-@key{right}
5227 @kindex S-@key{left}
5228 @kindex S-@key{down}
5230 @kindex M-S-@key{right}
5231 @kindex M-S-@key{left}
5234 @key{RET} @r{Choose date at cursor in calendar.}
5235 mouse-1 @r{Select date by clicking on it.}
5236 S-@key{right}/@key{left} @r{One day forward/backward.}
5237 S-@key{down}/@key{up} @r{One week forward/backward.}
5238 M-S-@key{right}/@key{left} @r{One month forward/backward.}
5239 > / < @r{Scroll calendar forward/backward by one month.}
5240 M-v / C-v @r{Scroll calendar forward/backward by 3 months.}
5243 @vindex org-read-date-display-live
5244 The actions of the date/time prompt may seem complex, but I assure you they
5245 will grow on you, and you will start getting annoyed by pretty much any other
5246 way of entering a date/time out there. To help you understand what is going
5247 on, the current interpretation of your input will be displayed live in the
5248 minibuffer@footnote{If you find this distracting, turn the display of with
5249 @code{org-read-date-display-live}.}.
5251 @node Custom time format, , The date/time prompt, Creating timestamps
5252 @subsection Custom time format
5253 @cindex custom date/time format
5254 @cindex time format, custom
5255 @cindex date format, custom
5257 @vindex org-display-custom-times
5258 @vindex org-time-stamp-custom-formats
5259 Org-mode uses the standard ISO notation for dates and times as it is
5260 defined in ISO 8601. If you cannot get used to this and require another
5261 representation of date and time to keep you happy, you can get it by
5262 customizing the variables @code{org-display-custom-times} and
5263 @code{org-time-stamp-custom-formats}.
5268 Toggle the display of custom formats for dates and times.
5272 Org-mode needs the default format for scanning, so the custom date/time
5273 format does not @emph{replace} the default format---instead it is put
5274 @emph{over} the default format using text properties. This has the
5275 following consequences:
5278 You cannot place the cursor onto a timestamp anymore, only before or
5281 The @kbd{S-@key{up}/@key{down}} keys can no longer be used to adjust
5282 each component of a timestamp. If the cursor is at the beginning of
5283 the stamp, @kbd{S-@key{up}/@key{down}} will change the stamp by one day,
5284 just like @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}}. At the end of the stamp, the
5285 time will be changed by one minute.
5287 If the timestamp contains a range of clock times or a repeater, these
5288 will not be overlayed, but remain in the buffer as they were.
5290 When you delete a timestamp character-by-character, it will only
5291 disappear from the buffer after @emph{all} (invisible) characters
5292 belonging to the ISO timestamp have been removed.
5294 If the custom timestamp format is longer than the default and you are
5295 using dates in tables, table alignment will be messed up. If the custom
5296 format is shorter, things do work as expected.
5300 @node Deadlines and scheduling, Clocking work time, Creating timestamps, Dates and Times
5301 @section Deadlines and scheduling
5303 A timestamp may be preceded by special keywords to facilitate planning:
5307 @cindex DEADLINE keyword
5309 Meaning: the task (most likely a TODO item, though not necessarily) is supposed
5310 to be finished on that date.
5312 @vindex org-deadline-warning-days
5313 On the deadline date, the task will be listed in the agenda. In
5314 addition, the agenda for @emph{today} will carry a warning about the
5315 approaching or missed deadline, starting
5316 @code{org-deadline-warning-days} before the due date, and continuing
5317 until the entry is marked DONE. An example:
5320 *** TODO write article about the Earth for the Guide
5321 The editor in charge is [[bbdb:Ford Prefect]]
5322 DEADLINE: <2004-02-29 Sun>
5325 You can specify a different lead time for warnings for a specific
5326 deadlines using the following syntax. Here is an example with a warning
5327 period of 5 days @code{DEADLINE: <2004-02-29 Sun -5d>}.
5330 @cindex SCHEDULED keyword
5332 Meaning: you are planning to start working on that task on the given
5335 @vindex org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done
5336 The headline will be listed under the given date@footnote{It will still
5337 be listed on that date after it has been marked DONE. If you don't like
5338 this, set the variable @code{org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done}.}. In
5339 addition, a reminder that the scheduled date has passed will be present
5340 in the compilation for @emph{today}, until the entry is marked DONE.
5341 I.e. the task will automatically be forwarded until completed.
5344 *** TODO Call Trillian for a date on New Years Eve.
5345 SCHEDULED: <2004-12-25 Sat>
5349 @b{Important:} Scheduling an item in Org-mode should @i{not} be
5350 understood in the same way that we understand @i{scheduling a meeting}.
5351 Setting a date for a meeting is just a simple appointment, you should
5352 mark this entry with a simple plain timestamp, to get this item shown
5353 on the date where it applies. This is a frequent misunderstanding by
5354 Org users. In Org-mode, @i{scheduling} means setting a date when you
5355 want to start working on an action item.
5358 You may use timestamps with repeaters in scheduling and deadline
5359 entries. Org-mode will issue early and late warnings based on the
5360 assumption that the timestamp represents the @i{nearest instance} of
5361 the repeater. However, the use of diary sexp entries like
5363 @code{<%%(diary-float t 42)>}
5365 in scheduling and deadline timestamps is limited. Org-mode does not
5366 know enough about the internals of each sexp function to issue early and
5367 late warnings. However, it will show the item on each day where the
5371 * Inserting deadline/schedule:: Planning items
5372 * Repeated tasks:: Items that show up again and again
5375 @node Inserting deadline/schedule, Repeated tasks, Deadlines and scheduling, Deadlines and scheduling
5376 @subsection Inserting deadlines or schedules
5378 The following commands allow you to quickly insert a deadline or to schedule
5385 Insert @samp{DEADLINE} keyword along with a stamp. The insertion will happen
5386 in the line directly following the headline. When called with a prefix arg,
5387 an existing deadline will be removed from the entry. Depending on the
5388 variable @code{org-log-redeadline}@footnote{with corresponding
5389 @code{#+STARTUP} keywords @code{logredeadline}, @code{lognoteredeadline},
5390 and @code{nologredeadline}}, a note will be taken when changing an existing
5392 @c FIXME Any CLOSED timestamp will be removed.????????
5396 Insert @samp{SCHEDULED} keyword along with a stamp. The insertion will
5397 happen in the line directly following the headline. Any CLOSED timestamp
5398 will be removed. When called with a prefix argument, remove the scheduling
5399 date from the entry. Depending on the variable
5400 @code{org-log-reschedule}@footnote{with corresponding @code{#+STARTUP}
5401 keywords @code{logredeadline}, @code{lognoteredeadline}, and
5402 @code{nologredeadline}}, a note will be taken when changing an existing
5409 Mark the current entry for agenda action. After you have marked the entry
5410 like this, you can open the agenda or the calendar to find an appropriate
5411 date. With the cursor on the selected date, press @kbd{k s} or @kbd{k d} to
5412 schedule the marked item.
5415 @cindex sparse tree, for deadlines
5417 @vindex org-deadline-warning-days
5418 Create a sparse tree with all deadlines that are either past-due, or
5419 which will become due within @code{org-deadline-warning-days}.
5420 With @kbd{C-u} prefix, show all deadlines in the file. With a numeric
5421 prefix, check that many days. For example, @kbd{C-1 C-c / d} shows
5422 all deadlines due tomorrow.
5426 Sparse tree for deadlines and scheduled items before a given date.
5430 Sparse tree for deadlines and scheduled items after a given date.
5433 @node Repeated tasks, , Inserting deadline/schedule, Deadlines and scheduling
5434 @subsection Repeated tasks
5435 @cindex tasks, repeated
5436 @cindex repeated tasks
5438 Some tasks need to be repeated again and again. Org-mode helps to
5439 organize such tasks using a so-called repeater in a DEADLINE, SCHEDULED,
5440 or plain timestamp. In the following example
5442 ** TODO Pay the rent
5443 DEADLINE: <2005-10-01 Sat +1m>
5446 the @code{+1m} is a repeater; the intended interpretation is that the task
5447 has a deadline on <2005-10-01> and repeats itself every (one) month starting
5448 from that time. If you need both a repeater and a special warning period in
5449 a deadline entry, the repeater should come first and the warning period last:
5450 @code{DEADLINE: <2005-10-01 Sat +1m -3d>}.
5452 @vindex org-todo-repeat-to-state
5453 Deadlines and scheduled items produce entries in the agenda when they are
5454 over-due, so it is important to be able to mark such an entry as completed
5455 once you have done so. When you mark a DEADLINE or a SCHEDULE with the TODO
5456 keyword DONE, it will no longer produce entries in the agenda. The problem
5457 with this is, however, that then also the @emph{next} instance of the
5458 repeated entry will not be active. Org-mode deals with this in the following
5459 way: When you try to mark such an entry DONE (using @kbd{C-c C-t}), it will
5460 shift the base date of the repeating timestamp by the repeater interval, and
5461 immediately set the entry state back to TODO@footnote{In fact, the target
5462 state is taken from, in this sequence, the @code{REPEAT_TO_STATE} property or
5463 the variable @code{org-todo-repeat-to-state}. If neither of these is
5464 specified, the target state defaults to the first state of the TODO state
5465 sequence.}. In the example above, setting the state to DONE would actually
5466 switch the date like this:
5469 ** TODO Pay the rent
5470 DEADLINE: <2005-11-01 Tue +1m>
5473 @vindex org-log-repeat
5474 A timestamp@footnote{You can change this using the option
5475 @code{org-log-repeat}, or the @code{#+STARTUP} options @code{logrepeat},
5476 @code{lognoterepeat}, and @code{nologrepeat}. With @code{lognoterepeat}, you
5477 will also be prompted for a note.} will be added under the deadline, to keep
5478 a record that you actually acted on the previous instance of this deadline.
5480 As a consequence of shifting the base date, this entry will no longer be
5481 visible in the agenda when checking past dates, but all future instances
5484 With the @samp{+1m} cookie, the date shift will always be exactly one
5485 month. So if you have not paid the rent for three months, marking this
5486 entry DONE will still keep it as an overdue deadline. Depending on the
5487 task, this may not be the best way to handle it. For example, if you
5488 forgot to call you father for 3 weeks, it does not make sense to call
5489 him 3 times in a single day to make up for it. Finally, there are tasks
5490 like changing batteries which should always repeat a certain time
5491 @i{after} the last time you did it. For these tasks, Org-mode has
5492 special repeaters markers with @samp{++} and @samp{.+}. For example:
5496 DEADLINE: <2008-02-10 Sun ++1w>
5497 Marking this DONE will shift the date by at least one week,
5498 but also by as many weeks as it takes to get this date into
5499 the future. However, it stays on a Sunday, even if you called
5500 and marked it done on Saturday.
5501 ** TODO Check the batteries in the smoke detectors
5502 DEADLINE: <2005-11-01 Tue .+1m>
5503 Marking this DONE will shift the date to one month after
5507 You may have both scheduling and deadline information for a specific
5508 task---just make sure that the repeater intervals on both are the same.
5510 An alternative to using a repeater is to create a number of copies of a task
5511 subtree, with dates shifted in each copy. The command @kbd{C-c C-x c} was
5512 created for this purpose, it is described in @ref{Structure editing}.
5515 @node Clocking work time, Resolving idle time, Deadlines and scheduling, Dates and Times
5516 @section Clocking work time
5518 Org-mode allows you to clock the time you spend on specific tasks in a
5519 project. When you start working on an item, you can start the clock.
5520 When you stop working on that task, or when you mark the task done, the
5521 clock is stopped and the corresponding time interval is recorded. It
5522 also computes the total time spent on each subtree of a project. And it
5523 remembers a history or tasks recently clocked, to that you can jump quickly
5524 between a number of tasks absorbing your time.
5526 To save the clock history across Emacs sessions, use
5528 (setq org-clock-persist 'history)
5529 (org-clock-persistence-insinuate)
5531 When you clock into a new task after resuming Emacs, the incomplete
5532 clock@footnote{To resume the clock under the assumption that you have worked
5533 on this task while outside Emacs, use @code{(setq org-clock-persist t)}.}
5534 will be found (@pxref{Resolving idle time}) and you will be prompted about
5540 @vindex org-clock-into-drawer
5541 Start the clock on the current item (clock-in). This inserts the CLOCK
5542 keyword together with a timestamp. If this is not the first clocking of
5543 this item, the multiple CLOCK lines will be wrapped into a
5544 @code{:LOGBOOK:} drawer (see also the variable
5545 @code{org-clock-into-drawer}). When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix argument,
5546 select the task from a list of recently clocked tasks. With two @kbd{C-u
5547 C-u} prefixes, clock into the task at point and mark it as the default task.
5548 The default task will always be available when selecting a clocking task,
5549 with letter @kbd{d}.@*
5550 @cindex property: CLOCK_MODELINE_TOTAL
5551 @cindex property: LAST_REPEAT
5552 @vindex org-clock-modeline-total
5553 While the clock is running, the current clocking time is shown in the mode
5554 line, along with the title of the task. The clock time shown will be all
5555 time ever clocked for this task and its children. If the task has an effort
5556 estimate (@pxref{Effort estimates}), the mode line displays the current
5557 clocking time against it@footnote{To add an effort estimate ``on the fly'',
5558 hook a function doing this to @code{org-clock-in-prepare-hook}.} If the task
5559 is a repeating one (@pxref{Repeated tasks}), only the time since the last
5560 reset of the task @footnote{as recorded by the @code{LAST_REPEAT} property}
5561 will be shown. More control over what time is shown can be exercised with
5562 the @code{CLOCK_MODELINE_TOTAL} property. It may have the values
5563 @code{current} to show only the current clocking instance, @code{today} to
5564 show all time clocked on this tasks today (see also the variable
5565 @code{org-extend-today-until}), @code{all} to include all time, or
5566 @code{auto} which is the default@footnote{See also the variable
5567 @code{org-clock-modeline-total}.}.@* Clicking with @kbd{mouse-1} onto the
5568 mode line entry will pop up a menu with clocking options.
5571 @vindex org-log-note-clock-out
5572 Stop the clock (clock-out). This inserts another timestamp at the same
5573 location where the clock was last started. It also directly computes
5574 the resulting time in inserts it after the time range as @samp{=>
5575 HH:MM}. See the variable @code{org-log-note-clock-out} for the
5576 possibility to record an additional note together with the clock-out
5577 timestamp@footnote{The corresponding in-buffer setting is:
5578 @code{#+STARTUP: lognoteclock-out}}.
5581 Update the effort estimate for the current clock task.
5584 @item C-c C-y @ @ @r{or}@ @ C-c C-c
5585 Recompute the time interval after changing one of the timestamps. This
5586 is only necessary if you edit the timestamps directly. If you change
5587 them with @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} keys, the update is automatic.
5590 Changing the TODO state of an item to DONE automatically stops the clock
5591 if it is running in this same item.
5594 Cancel the current clock. This is useful if a clock was started by
5595 mistake, or if you ended up working on something else.
5598 Jump to the entry that contains the currently running clock. With a
5599 @kbd{C-u} prefix arg, select the target task from a list of recently clocked
5603 @vindex org-remove-highlights-with-change
5604 Display time summaries for each subtree in the current buffer. This
5605 puts overlays at the end of each headline, showing the total time
5606 recorded under that heading, including the time of any subheadings. You
5607 can use visibility cycling to study the tree, but the overlays disappear
5608 when you change the buffer (see variable
5609 @code{org-remove-highlights-with-change}) or press @kbd{C-c C-c}.
5612 Insert a dynamic block (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}) containing a clock
5613 report as an Org-mode table into the current file. When the cursor is
5614 at an existing clock table, just update it. When called with a prefix
5615 argument, jump to the first clock report in the current document and
5617 @cindex #+BEGIN, clocktable
5619 #+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 2 :emphasize nil :scope file
5623 If such a block already exists at point, its content is replaced by the
5624 new table. The @samp{BEGIN} line can specify options:
5626 :maxlevel @r{Maximum level depth to which times are listed in the table.}
5627 :emphasize @r{When @code{t}, emphasize level one and level two items.}
5628 :scope @r{The scope to consider. This can be any of the following:}
5629 nil @r{the current buffer or narrowed region}
5630 file @r{the full current buffer}
5631 subtree @r{the subtree where the clocktable is located}
5632 tree@var{N} @r{the surrounding level @var{N} tree, for example @code{tree3}}
5633 tree @r{the surrounding level 1 tree}
5634 agenda @r{all agenda files}
5635 ("file"..) @r{scan these files}
5636 file-with-archives @r{current file and its archives}
5637 agenda-with-archives @r{all agenda files, including archives}
5638 :block @r{The time block to consider. This block is specified either}
5639 @r{absolute, or relative to the current time and may be any of}
5641 2007-12-31 @r{New year eve 2007}
5642 2007-12 @r{December 2007}
5643 2007-W50 @r{ISO-week 50 in 2007}
5644 2007 @r{the year 2007}
5645 today, yesterday, today-@var{N} @r{a relative day}
5646 thisweek, lastweek, thisweek-@var{N} @r{a relative week}
5647 thismonth, lastmonth, thismonth-@var{N} @r{a relative month}
5648 thisyear, lastyear, thisyear-@var{N} @r{a relative year}
5649 @r{Use @kbd{S-@key{left}/@key{right}} keys to shift the time interval.}
5650 :tstart @r{A time string specifying when to start considering times.}
5651 :tend @r{A time string specifying when to stop considering times.}
5652 :step @r{@code{week} or @code{day}, to split the table into chunks.}
5653 @r{To use this, @code{:block} or @code{:tstart}, @code{:tend} are needed.}
5654 :stepskip0 @r{Don't show steps that have zero time}
5655 :tags @r{A tags match to select entries that should contribute}
5656 :link @r{Link the item headlines in the table to their origins.}
5657 :formula @r{Content of a @code{#+TBLFM} line to be added and evaluated.}
5658 @r{As a special case, @samp{:formula %} adds a column with % time.}
5659 @r{If you do not specify a formula here, any existing formula.}
5660 @r{below the clock table will survive updates and be evaluated.}
5661 :timestamp @r{A timestamp for the entry, when available. Look for SCHEDULED,}
5662 @r{DEADLINE, TIMESTAMP and TIMESTAMP_IA, in this order.}
5664 To get a clock summary of the current level 1 tree, for the current
5665 day, you could write
5667 #+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 2 :block today :scope tree1 :link t
5671 and to use a specific time range you could write@footnote{Note that all
5672 parameters must be specified in a single line---the line is broken here
5673 only to fit it into the manual.}
5675 #+BEGIN: clocktable :tstart "<2006-08-10 Thu 10:00>"
5676 :tend "<2006-08-10 Thu 12:00>"
5679 A summary of the current subtree with % times would be
5681 #+BEGIN: clocktable :scope subtree :link t :formula %
5688 Update dynamic block at point. The cursor needs to be in the
5689 @code{#+BEGIN} line of the dynamic block.
5690 @kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
5691 @item C-u C-c C-x C-u
5692 Update all dynamic blocks (@pxref{Dynamic blocks}). This is useful if
5693 you have several clock table blocks in a buffer.
5694 @kindex S-@key{left}
5695 @kindex S-@key{right}
5697 @itemx S-@key{right}
5698 Shift the current @code{:block} interval and update the table. The cursor
5699 needs to be in the @code{#+BEGIN: clocktable} line for this command. If
5700 @code{:block} is @code{today}, it will be shifted to @code{today-1} etc.
5703 The @kbd{l} key may be used in the timeline (@pxref{Timeline}) and in
5704 the agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}) to show which tasks have been
5705 worked on or closed during a day.
5707 @node Resolving idle time, Effort estimates, Clocking work time, Dates and Times
5708 @section Resolving idle time
5709 @cindex resolve idle time
5711 @cindex idle, resolve, dangling
5712 If you clock in on a work item, and then walk away from your
5713 computer---perhaps to take a phone call---you often need to ``resolve'' the
5714 time you were away by either subtracting it from the current clock, or
5715 applying it to another one.
5717 @vindex org-clock-idle-time
5718 By customizing the variable @code{org-clock-idle-time} to some integer, such
5719 as 10 or 15, Emacs can alert you when you get back to your computer after
5720 being idle for that many minutes@footnote{On computers using Mac OS X,
5721 idleness is based on actual user idleness, not just Emacs' idle time. For
5722 X11, you can install a utility program @file{x11idle.c}, available in the
5723 UTILITIES directory of the Org git distribution, to get the same general
5724 treatment of idleness. On other systems, idle time refers to Emacs idle time
5725 only.}, and ask what you want to do with the idle time. There will be a
5726 question waiting for you when you get back, indicating how much idle time has
5727 passed (constantly updated with the current amount), as well as a set of
5728 choices to correct the discrepancy:
5732 To keep some or all of the minutes and stay clocked in, press @kbd{k}. Org
5733 will ask how many of the minutes to keep. Press @key{RET} to keep them all,
5734 effectively changing nothing, or enter a number to keep that many minutes.
5736 If you use the shift key and press @kbd{K}, it will keep however many minutes
5737 you request and then immediately clock out of that task. If you keep all of
5738 the minutes, this is the same as just clocking out of the current task.
5740 To keep none of the minutes, use @kbd{s} to subtract all the away time from
5741 the clock, and then check back in from the moment you returned.
5743 To keep none of the minutes and just clock out at the start of the away time,
5744 use the shift key and press @kbd{S}. Remember that using shift will always
5745 leave you clocked out, no matter which option you choose.
5747 To cancel the clock altogether, use @kbd{C}. Note that if instead of
5748 cancelling you subtract the away time, and the resulting clock amount is less
5749 than a minute, the clock will still be cancelled rather than clutter up the
5750 log with an empty entry.
5753 What if you subtracted those away minutes from the current clock, and now
5754 want to apply them to a new clock? Simply clock in to any task immediately
5755 after the subtraction. Org will notice that you have subtracted time ``on
5756 the books'', so to speak, and will ask if you want to apply those minutes to
5757 the next task you clock in on.
5759 There is one other instance when this clock resolution magic occurs. Say you
5760 were clocked in and hacking away, and suddenly your cat chased a mouse who
5761 scared a hamster that crashed into your UPS's power button! You suddenly
5762 lose all your buffers, but thanks to auto-save you still have your recent Org
5763 mode changes, including your last clock in.
5765 If you restart Emacs and clock into any task, Org will notice that you have a
5766 dangling clock which was never clocked out from your last session. Using
5767 that clock's starting time as the beginning of the unaccounted-for period,
5768 Org will ask how you want to resolve that time. The logic and behavior is
5769 identical to dealing with away time due to idleness, it's just happening due
5770 to a recovery event rather than a set amount of idle time.
5772 You can also check all the files visited by your Org agenda for dangling
5773 clocks at any time using @kbd{M-x org-resolve-clocks}.
5775 @node Effort estimates, Relative timer, Resolving idle time, Dates and Times
5776 @section Effort estimates
5777 @cindex effort estimates
5779 @cindex property, Effort
5780 @vindex org-effort-property
5781 If you want to plan your work in a very detailed way, or if you need to
5782 produce offers with quotations of the estimated work effort, you may want to
5783 assign effort estimates to entries. If you are also clocking your work, you
5784 may later want to compare the planned effort with the actual working time, a
5785 great way to improve planning estimates. Effort estimates are stored in a
5786 special property @samp{Effort}@footnote{You may change the property being
5787 used with the variable @code{org-effort-property}.}. You can set the effort
5788 for an entry with the following commands:
5793 Set the effort estimate for the current entry. With a numeric prefix
5794 argument, set it to the NTH allowed value (see below). This command is also
5795 accessible from the agenda with the @kbd{e} key.
5798 Modify the effort estimate of the item currently being clocked.
5801 Clearly the best way to work with effort estimates is through column view
5802 (@pxref{Column view}). You should start by setting up discrete values for
5803 effort estimates, and a @code{COLUMNS} format that displays these values
5804 together with clock sums (if you want to clock your time). For a specific
5808 #+PROPERTY: Effort_ALL 0 0:10 0:30 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00
5809 #+COLUMNS: %40ITEM(Task) %17Effort(Estimated Effort)@{:@} %CLOCKSUM
5813 @vindex org-global-properties
5814 @vindex org-columns-default-format
5815 or, even better, you can set up these values globally by customizing the
5816 variables @code{org-global-properties} and @code{org-columns-default-format}.
5817 In particular if you want to use this setup also in the agenda, a global
5818 setup may be advised.
5820 The way to assign estimates to individual items is then to switch to column
5821 mode, and to use @kbd{S-@key{right}} and @kbd{S-@key{left}} to change the
5822 value. The values you enter will immediately be summed up in the hierarchy.
5823 In the column next to it, any clocked time will be displayed.
5825 @vindex org-agenda-columns-add-appointments-to-effort-sum
5826 If you switch to column view in the daily/weekly agenda, the effort column
5827 will summarize the estimated work effort for each day@footnote{Please note
5828 the pitfalls of summing hierarchical data in a flat list (@pxref{Agenda
5829 column view}).}, and you can use this to find space in your schedule. To get
5830 an overview of the entire part of the day that is committed, you can set the
5831 option @code{org-agenda-columns-add-appointments-to-effort-sum}. The
5832 appointments on a day that take place over a specified time interval will
5833 then also be added to the load estimate of the day.
5835 Effort estimates can be used in secondary agenda filtering that is triggered
5836 with the @kbd{/} key in the agenda (@pxref{Agenda commands}). If you have
5837 these estimates defined consistently, two or three key presses will narrow
5838 down the list to stuff that fits into an available time slot.
5840 @node Relative timer, , Effort estimates, Dates and Times
5841 @section Taking notes with a relative timer
5842 @cindex relative timer
5844 When taking notes during, for example, a meeting or a video viewing, it can
5845 be useful to have access to times relative to a starting time. Org provides
5846 such a relative timer and make it easy to create timed notes.
5851 Insert a relative time into the buffer. The first time you use this, the
5852 timer will be started. When called with a prefix argument, the timer is
5856 Insert a description list item with the current relative time. With a prefix
5857 argument, first reset the timer to 0.
5860 Once the timer list is started, you can also use @kbd{M-@key{RET}} to insert
5864 Pause the timer, or continue it if it is already paused.
5865 @c removed the sentence because it is redundant to the following item
5866 @kindex C-u C-c C-x ,
5868 Stop the timer. After this, you can only start a new timer, not continue the
5869 old one. This command also removes the timer from the mode line.
5872 Reset the timer without inserting anything into the buffer. By default, the
5873 timer is reset to 0. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, reset the timer to
5874 specific starting offset. The user is prompted for the offset, with a
5875 default taken from a timer string at point, if any, So this can be used to
5876 restart taking notes after a break in the process. When called with a double
5877 prefix argument @kbd{C-u C-u}, change all timer strings in the active region
5878 by a certain amount. This can be used to fix timer strings if the timer was
5879 not started at exactly the right moment.
5882 @node Capture - Refile - Archive, Agenda Views, Dates and Times, Top
5883 @chapter Capture - Refile - Archive
5886 An important part of any organization system is the ability to quickly
5887 capture new ideas and tasks, and to associate reference material with them.
5888 Org does this using a process called @i{capture}. It also can store files
5889 related to a task (@i{attachments}) in a special directory. Once in the
5890 system, tasks and projects need to be moved around. Moving completed project
5891 trees to an archive file keeps the system compact and fast.
5894 * Capture:: Capturing new stuff
5895 * Attachments:: Add files to tasks
5896 * RSS Feeds:: Getting input from RSS feeds
5897 * Protocols:: External (e.g. Browser) access to Emacs and Org
5898 * Refiling notes:: Moving a tree from one place to another
5899 * Archiving:: What to do with finished projects
5902 @node Capture, Attachments, Capture - Refile - Archive, Capture - Refile - Archive
5906 Org's method for capturing new items is heavily inspired by John Wiegley
5907 excellent remember package. Up to version 6.36 Org used a special setup
5908 for @file{remember.el}. @file{org-remember.el} is still part of Org-mode for
5909 backward compatibility with existing setups. You can find the documentation
5910 for org-remember at @url{http://orgmode.org/org-remember.pdf}.
5912 The new capturing setup described here is preferred and should be used by new
5913 users. To convert your @code{org-remember-templates}, run the command
5915 @kbd{M-x org-capture-import-remember-templates @key{RET}}
5917 @noindent and then customize the new variable with @kbd{M-x
5918 customize-variable org-capture-templates}, check the result, and save the
5919 customization. You can then use both remember and capture until
5920 you are familiar with the new mechanism.
5922 Capture lets you quickly store notes with little interruption of your work
5923 flow. The basic process of capturing is very similar to remember, but Org
5924 does enhance it with templates and more.
5927 * Setting up capture:: Where notes will be stored
5928 * Using capture:: Commands to invoke and terminate capture
5929 * Capture templates:: Define the outline of different note types
5932 @node Setting up capture, Using capture, Capture, Capture
5933 @subsection Setting up capture
5935 The following customization sets a default target file for notes, and defines
5936 a global key@footnote{Please select your own key, @kbd{C-c c} is only a
5937 suggestion.} for capturing new material.
5940 (setq org-default-notes-file (concat org-directory "/notes.org"))
5941 (define-key global-map "\C-cc" 'org-capture)
5944 @node Using capture, Capture templates, Setting up capture, Capture
5945 @subsection Using capture
5950 Call the command @code{org-capture}. If you have templates defined
5951 @pxref{Capture templates}, it will offer these templates for selection or use
5952 a new Org outline node as the default template. It will insert the template
5953 into the target file and switch to an indirect buffer narrowed to this new
5954 node. You may then insert the information you want.
5958 Once you have finished entering information into the capture buffer,
5959 @kbd{C-c C-c} will return you to the window configuration before the capture
5960 process, so that you can resume your work without further distraction.
5964 Finalize the capture process by refiling (@pxref{Refiling notes}) the note to
5969 Abort the capture process and return to the previous state.
5972 You can also call @code{org-capture} in a special way from the agenda, using
5973 the @kbd{k c} key combination. With this access, any timestamps inserted by
5974 the selected capture template will default to the cursor date in the agenda,
5975 rather than to the current date.
5977 @node Capture templates, , Using capture, Capture
5978 @subsection Capture templates
5979 @cindex templates, for Capture
5981 You can use templates for different types of capture items, and
5982 for different target locations. The easiest way to create such templates is
5983 through the customize interface.
5988 Customize the variable @code{org-capture-templates}.
5991 Before we give the formal description of template definitions, let's look at
5992 an example. Say you would like to use one template to create general TODO
5993 entries, and you want to put these entries under the heading @samp{Tasks} in
5994 your file @file{~/org/gtd.org}. Also, a date tree in the file
5995 @file{journal.org} should capture journal entries. A possible configuration
5999 (setq org-capture-templates
6000 '(("t" "Todo" entry (file+headline "~/org/gtd.org" "Tasks")
6001 "* TODO %?\n %i\n %a")
6002 ("j" "Journal" entry (file+datetree "~/org/journal.org")
6003 "* %?\nEntered on %U\n %i\n %a")))
6006 @noindent If you then press @kbd{C-c c t}, Org will prepare the template
6010 [[file:@var{link to where you initiated capture}]]
6014 During expansion of the template, @code{%a} has been replaced by a link to
6015 the location from where you called the capture command. This can be
6016 extremely useful for deriving tasks from emails, for example. You fill in
6017 the task definition, press @code{C-c C-c} and Org returns you to the same
6018 place where you started the capture process.
6022 * Template elements:: What is needed for a complete template entry
6023 * Template expansion:: Filling in information about time and context
6026 @node Template elements, Template expansion, Capture templates, Capture templates
6027 @subsubsection Template elements
6029 Now lets look at the elements of a template defintion. Each entry in
6030 @code{org-capture-templates} is a list with the following items:
6034 The keys that will select the template, as a string, characters
6035 only, for example @code{"a"} for a template to be selected with a
6036 single key, or @code{"bt"} for selection with two keys. When using
6037 several keys, keys using the same prefix key must be sequential
6038 in the list and preceded by a 2-element entry explaining the
6039 prefix key, for example
6041 ("b" "Templates for marking stuff to buy")
6043 @noindent If you do not define a template for the @kbd{C} key, this key will
6044 be used to open the customize buffer for this complex variable.
6047 A short string describing the template, which will be shown during
6051 The type of entry, a symbol. Valid values are:
6054 An Org-mode node, with a headline. Will be filed as the child of the
6055 target entry or as a top-level entry. The target file should be an Org-mode
6058 A plain list item, placed in the first plain list at the target
6059 location. Again the target file should be an Org file.
6061 A checkbox item. This only differs from the plain list item by the
6064 a new line in the first table at the target location. Where exactly the
6065 line will be inserted depends on the properties @code{:prepend} and
6066 @code{:table-line-pos} (see below).
6068 Text to be inserted as it is.
6072 Specification of where the captured item should be placed.
6073 In Org-mode files, targets usually define a node. Entries will become
6074 children of this node, other types will be added to the table or list in the
6079 @item (file "path/to/file")
6080 Text will be placed at the beginning or end of that file.
6082 @item (id "id of existing org entry")
6083 Filing as child of this entry, or in the body of the entry.
6085 @item (file+headline "path/to/file" "node headline")
6086 Fast configuration if the target heading is unique in the file.
6088 @item (file+olp "path/to/file" "Level 1 heading" "Level 2" ...)
6089 For non-unique headings, the full path is safer.
6091 @item (file+regexp "path/to/file" "regexp to find location")
6092 Use a regular expression to position the cursor.
6094 @item (file+datetree "path/to/file")
6095 Will create a heading in a date tree.
6097 @item (file+function "path/to/file" function-finding-location)
6098 A function to find the right location in the file.
6101 File to the entry that is currently being clocked.
6103 @item (function function-finding-location)
6104 Most general way, write your own function to find both
6109 The template for creating the capture item. If you leave this
6110 empty, an appropriate default template will be used. Otherwise this is a
6111 string with escape codes, which will be replaced depending on time
6112 and context of the capture call. See below for more details.
6115 The rest of the entry is a property list of additional options.
6116 Recognized properties are:
6119 Normally new captured information will be appended at
6120 the target location (last child, last table line, last list item...).
6121 Setting this property will change that.
6123 @item :immediate-finish
6124 When set, do not offer to edit the information, just
6125 file it away immediately. This makes sense if the template only needs
6126 information that can be added automatically.
6129 Set this to the number of lines to insert
6130 before and after the new item. Default 0, only common other value is 1.
6133 Start the clock in this item.
6136 If starting the capture interrupted a clock, restart that clock when finished
6140 Do not narrow the target buffer, simply show the full buffer. Default is to
6141 narrow it so that you only see the new material.
6145 @node Template expansion, , Template elements, Capture templates
6146 @subsubsection Template expansion
6148 In the template itself, special @kbd{%}-escapes@footnote{If you need one of
6149 these sequences literally, escape the @kbd{%} with a backslash.} allow
6150 dynamic insertion of content:
6152 @comment SJE: should these sentences terminate in period?
6154 %^@{@var{prompt}@} @r{prompt the user for a string and replace this sequence with it.}
6155 @r{You may specify a default value and a completion table with}
6156 @r{%^@{prompt|default|completion2|completion3...@}}
6157 @r{The arrow keys access a prompt-specific history.}
6158 %a @r{annotation, normally the link created with @code{org-store-link}}
6159 %A @r{like @code{%a}, but prompt for the description part}
6160 %i @r{initial content, the region when capture is called while the}
6161 @r{region is active.}
6162 @r{The entire text will be indented like @code{%i} itself.}
6163 %t @r{timestamp, date only}
6164 %T @r{timestamp with date and time}
6165 %u, %U @r{like the above, but inactive timestamps}
6166 %^t @r{like @code{%t}, but prompt for date. Similarly @code{%^T}, @code{%^u}, @code{%^U}}
6167 @r{You may define a prompt like @code{%^@{Birthday@}t}}
6168 %n @r{user name (taken from @code{user-full-name})}
6169 %c @r{Current kill ring head.}
6170 %x @r{Content of the X clipboard.}
6171 %^C @r{Interactive selection of which kill or clip to use.}
6172 %^L @r{Like @code{%^C}, but insert as link.}
6173 %k @r{title of the currently clocked task}
6174 %K @r{link to the currently clocked task}
6175 %^g @r{prompt for tags, with completion on tags in target file.}
6176 %^G @r{prompt for tags, with completion all tags in all agenda files.}
6177 %^@{@var{prop}@}p @r{Prompt the user for a value for property @var{prop}}
6178 %:keyword @r{specific information for certain link types, see below}
6179 %[@var{file}] @r{insert the contents of the file given by @var{file}}
6180 %(@var{sexp}) @r{evaluate Elisp @var{sexp} and replace with the result}
6184 For specific link types, the following keywords will be
6185 defined@footnote{If you define your own link types (@pxref{Adding
6186 hyperlink types}), any property you store with
6187 @code{org-store-link-props} can be accessed in capture templates in a
6190 @vindex org-from-is-user-regexp
6192 Link type | Available keywords
6193 -------------------+----------------------------------------------
6194 bbdb | %:name %:company
6195 bbdb | %::server %:port %:nick
6196 vm, wl, mh, rmail | %:type %:subject %:message-id
6197 | %:from %:fromname %:fromaddress
6198 | %:to %:toname %:toaddress
6199 | %: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}.}}
6200 gnus | %:group, @r{for messages also all email fields}
6202 info | %:file %:node
6207 To place the cursor after template expansion use:
6210 %? @r{After completing the template, position cursor here.}
6214 @node Attachments, RSS Feeds, Capture, Capture - Refile - Archive
6215 @section Attachments
6218 @vindex org-attach-directory
6219 It is often useful to associate reference material with an outline node/task.
6220 Small chunks of plain text can simply be stored in the subtree of a project.
6221 Hyperlinks (@pxref{Hyperlinks}) can establish associations with
6222 files that live elsewhere on your computer or in the cloud, like emails or
6223 source code files belonging to a project. Another method is @i{attachments},
6224 which are files located in a directory belonging to an outline node. Org
6225 uses directories named by the unique ID of each entry. These directories are
6226 located in the @file{data} directory which lives in the same directory where
6227 your Org file lives@footnote{If you move entries or Org files from one
6228 directory to another, you may want to configure @code{org-attach-directory}
6229 to contain an absolute path.}. If you initialize this directory with
6230 @code{git init}, Org will automatically commit changes when it sees them.
6231 The attachment system has been contributed to Org by John Wiegley.
6233 In cases where it seems better to do so, you can also attach a directory of your
6234 choice to an entry. You can also make children inherit the attachment
6235 directory from a parent, so that an entire subtree uses the same attached
6238 @noindent The following commands deal with attachments:
6244 The dispatcher for commands related to the attachment system. After these
6245 keys, a list of commands is displayed and you must press an additional key
6246 to select a command:
6251 @vindex org-attach-method
6252 Select a file and move it into the task's attachment directory. The file
6253 will be copied, moved, or linked, depending on @code{org-attach-method}.
6254 Note that hard links are not supported on all systems.
6260 Attach a file using the copy/move/link method.
6261 Note that hard links are not supported on all systems.
6265 Create a new attachment as an Emacs buffer.
6269 Synchronize the current task with its attachment directory, in case you added
6270 attachments yourself.
6274 @vindex org-file-apps
6275 Open current task's attachment. If there is more than one, prompt for a
6276 file name first. Opening will follow the rules set by @code{org-file-apps}.
6277 For more details, see the information on following hyperlinks
6278 (@pxref{Handling links}).
6282 Also open the attachment, but force opening the file in Emacs.
6286 Open the current task's attachment directory.
6290 Also open the directory, but force using @command{dired} in Emacs.
6294 Select and delete a single attachment.
6298 Delete all of a task's attachments. A safer way is to open the directory in
6299 @command{dired} and delete from there.
6303 @cindex property, ATTACH_DIR
6304 Set a specific directory as the entry's attachment directory. This works by
6305 putting the directory path into the @code{ATTACH_DIR} property.
6309 @cindex property, ATTACH_DIR_INHERIT
6310 Set the @code{ATTACH_DIR_INHERIT} property, so that children will use the
6311 same directory for attachments as the parent does.
6315 @node RSS Feeds, Protocols, Attachments, Capture - Refile - Archive
6319 Org can add and change entries based on information found in RSS feeds. You
6320 could use this to make a task out of each new podcast in a podcast feed. Or
6321 you could use a phone-based note-creating service on the web to import tasks
6322 into Org. To access feeds, configure the variable @code{org-feed-alist}.
6323 The docstring of this variable has detailed information. Here is just an
6327 (setq org-feed-alist
6328 '(("ReQall" "http://www.reqall.com/user/feeds/rss/a1b2c3....."
6329 "~/org/feeds.org" "ReQall Entries")
6332 will configure that new items from the feed provided by @file{reqall.com}
6333 will result in new entries in the file @file{~/org/feeds.org} under the
6334 heading @samp{ReQall Entries}, whenever the following command is used:
6339 Collect items from the feeds configured in @code{org-feed-alist} and act upon
6343 Prompt for a feed name and go to the inbox configured for this feed.
6346 Under the same headline, Org will create a drawer @samp{FEEDSTATUS} in which
6347 it will store information about the status of items in the feed, to avoid
6348 adding the same item several times. You should add @samp{FEEDSTATUS} to the
6349 list of drawers in that file:
6352 #+DRAWERS: LOGBOOK PROPERTIES FEEDSTATUS
6355 For more information, see @file{org-feed.el} and the docstring of
6356 @code{org-feed-alist}.
6358 @node Protocols, Refiling notes, RSS Feeds, Capture - Refile - Archive
6359 @section Protocols for external access
6360 @cindex protocols, for external access
6363 You can set up Org for handling protocol calls from outside applications that
6364 are passed to Emacs through the @file{emacsserver}. For example, you can
6365 configure bookmarks in your web browser to send a link to the current page to
6366 Org and create a note from it using capture (@pxref{Capture}). Or you
6367 could create a bookmark that will tell Emacs to open the local source file of
6368 a remote website you are looking at with the browser. See
6369 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/org-protocol.php} for detailed
6370 documentation and setup instructions.
6372 @node Refiling notes, Archiving, Protocols, Capture - Refile - Archive
6373 @section Refiling notes
6374 @cindex refiling notes
6376 When reviewing the captured data, you may want to refile some of the entries
6377 into a different list, for example into a project. Cutting, finding the
6378 right location, and then pasting the note is cumbersome. To simplify this
6379 process, you can use the following special command:
6384 @vindex org-reverse-note-order
6385 @vindex org-refile-targets
6386 @vindex org-refile-use-outline-path
6387 @vindex org-outline-path-complete-in-steps
6388 @vindex org-refile-allow-creating-parent-nodes
6389 @vindex org-log-refile
6390 @vindex org-refile-use-cache
6391 Refile the entry or region at point. This command offers possible locations
6392 for refiling the entry and lets you select one with completion. The item (or
6393 all items in the region) is filed below the target heading as a subitem.
6394 Depending on @code{org-reverse-note-order}, it will be either the first or
6396 By default, all level 1 headlines in the current buffer are considered to be
6397 targets, but you can have more complex definitions across a number of files.
6398 See the variable @code{org-refile-targets} for details. If you would like to
6399 select a location via a file-path-like completion along the outline path, see
6400 the variables @code{org-refile-use-outline-path} and
6401 @code{org-outline-path-complete-in-steps}. If you would like to be able to
6402 create new nodes as new parents for refiling on the fly, check the
6403 variable @code{org-refile-allow-creating-parent-nodes}.
6404 When the variable @code{org-log-refile}@footnote{with corresponding
6405 @code{#+STARTUP} keywords @code{logrefile}, @code{lognoterefile},
6406 and @code{nologrefile}} is set, a time stamp or a note will be
6407 recorded when an entry has been refiled.
6410 Use the refile interface to jump to a heading.
6411 @kindex C-u C-u C-c C-w
6412 @item C-u C-u C-c C-w
6413 Jump to the location where @code{org-refile} last moved a tree to.
6415 Refile as the child of the item currently being clocked.
6416 @item C-0 C-c C-w @ @r{or} @ C-u C-u C-u C-c C-w
6417 Clear the target cache. Caching of refile targets can be turned on by
6418 setting @code{org-refile-use-cache}. To make the command seen new possible
6419 targets, you have to clear the cache with this command.
6422 @node Archiving, , Refiling notes, Capture - Refile - Archive
6426 When a project represented by a (sub)tree is finished, you may want
6427 to move the tree out of the way and to stop it from contributing to the
6428 agenda. Archiving is important to keep your working files compact and global
6429 searches like the construction of agenda views fast.
6434 @vindex org-archive-default-command
6435 Archive the current entry using the command specified in the variable
6436 @code{org-archive-default-command}.
6440 * Moving subtrees:: Moving a tree to an archive file
6441 * Internal archiving:: Switch off a tree but keep it in the file
6444 @node Moving subtrees, Internal archiving, Archiving, Archiving
6445 @subsection Moving a tree to the archive file
6446 @cindex external archiving
6448 The most common archiving action is to move a project tree to another file,
6454 @item C-c C-x C-s@ @r{or short} @ C-c $
6455 @vindex org-archive-location
6456 Archive the subtree starting at the cursor position to the location
6457 given by @code{org-archive-location}.
6458 @kindex C-u C-c C-x C-s
6459 @item C-u C-c C-x C-s
6460 Check if any direct children of the current headline could be moved to
6461 the archive. To do this, each subtree is checked for open TODO entries.
6462 If none are found, the command offers to move it to the archive
6463 location. If the cursor is @emph{not} on a headline when this command
6464 is invoked, the level 1 trees will be checked.
6467 @cindex archive locations
6468 The default archive location is a file in the same directory as the
6469 current file, with the name derived by appending @file{_archive} to the
6470 current file name. For information and examples on how to change this,
6471 see the documentation string of the variable
6472 @code{org-archive-location}. There is also an in-buffer option for
6473 setting this variable, for example@footnote{For backward compatibility,
6474 the following also works: If there are several such lines in a file,
6475 each specifies the archive location for the text below it. The first
6476 such line also applies to any text before its definition. However,
6477 using this method is @emph{strongly} deprecated as it is incompatible
6478 with the outline structure of the document. The correct method for
6479 setting multiple archive locations in a buffer is using properties.}:
6483 #+ARCHIVE: %s_done::
6486 @cindex property, ARCHIVE
6488 If you would like to have a special ARCHIVE location for a single entry
6489 or a (sub)tree, give the entry an @code{:ARCHIVE:} property with the
6490 location as the value (@pxref{Properties and Columns}).
6492 @vindex org-archive-save-context-info
6493 When a subtree is moved, it receives a number of special properties that
6494 record context information like the file from where the entry came, its
6495 outline path the archiving time etc. Configure the variable
6496 @code{org-archive-save-context-info} to adjust the amount of information
6500 @node Internal archiving, , Moving subtrees, Archiving
6501 @subsection Internal archiving
6503 If you want to just switch off (for agenda views) certain subtrees without
6504 moving them to a different file, you can use the @code{ARCHIVE tag}.
6506 A headline that is marked with the ARCHIVE tag (@pxref{Tags}) stays at
6507 its location in the outline tree, but behaves in the following way:
6510 @vindex org-cycle-open-archived-trees
6511 It does not open when you attempt to do so with a visibility cycling
6512 command (@pxref{Visibility cycling}). You can force cycling archived
6513 subtrees with @kbd{C-@key{TAB}}, or by setting the option
6514 @code{org-cycle-open-archived-trees}. Also normal outline commands like
6515 @code{show-all} will open archived subtrees.
6517 @vindex org-sparse-tree-open-archived-trees
6518 During sparse tree construction (@pxref{Sparse trees}), matches in
6519 archived subtrees are not exposed, unless you configure the option
6520 @code{org-sparse-tree-open-archived-trees}.
6522 @vindex org-agenda-skip-archived-trees
6523 During agenda view construction (@pxref{Agenda Views}), the content of
6524 archived trees is ignored unless you configure the option
6525 @code{org-agenda-skip-archived-trees}, in which case these trees will always
6526 be included. In the agenda you can press @kbd{v a} to get archives
6527 temporarily included.
6529 @vindex org-export-with-archived-trees
6530 Archived trees are not exported (@pxref{Exporting}), only the headline
6531 is. Configure the details using the variable
6532 @code{org-export-with-archived-trees}.
6534 @vindex org-columns-skip-archived-trees
6535 Archived trees are excluded from column view unless the variable
6536 @code{org-columns-skip-archived-trees} is configured to @code{nil}.
6539 The following commands help manage the ARCHIVE tag:
6544 Toggle the ARCHIVE tag for the current headline. When the tag is set,
6545 the headline changes to a shadowed face, and the subtree below it is
6547 @kindex C-u C-c C-x a
6549 Check if any direct children of the current headline should be archived.
6550 To do this, each subtree is checked for open TODO entries. If none are
6551 found, the command offers to set the ARCHIVE tag for the child. If the
6552 cursor is @emph{not} on a headline when this command is invoked, the
6553 level 1 trees will be checked.
6556 Cycle a tree even if it is tagged with ARCHIVE.
6559 Move the current entry to the @emph{Archive Sibling}. This is a sibling of
6560 the entry with the heading @samp{Archive} and the tag @samp{ARCHIVE}. The
6561 entry becomes a child of that sibling and in this way retains a lot of its
6562 original context, including inherited tags and approximate position in the
6567 @node Agenda Views, Markup, Capture - Refile - Archive, Top
6568 @chapter Agenda views
6569 @cindex agenda views
6571 Due to the way Org works, TODO items, time-stamped items, and
6572 tagged headlines can be scattered throughout a file or even a number of
6573 files. To get an overview of open action items, or of events that are
6574 important for a particular date, this information must be collected,
6575 sorted and displayed in an organized way.
6577 Org can select items based on various criteria and display them
6578 in a separate buffer. Seven different view types are provided:
6582 an @emph{agenda} that is like a calendar and shows information
6585 a @emph{TODO list} that covers all unfinished
6588 a @emph{match view}, showings headlines based on the tags, properties, and
6589 TODO state associated with them,
6591 a @emph{timeline view} that shows all events in a single Org file,
6592 in time-sorted view,
6594 a @emph{text search view} that shows all entries from multiple files
6595 that contain specified keywords,
6597 a @emph{stuck projects view} showing projects that currently don't move
6600 @emph{custom views} that are special searches and combinations of different
6605 The extracted information is displayed in a special @emph{agenda
6606 buffer}. This buffer is read-only, but provides commands to visit the
6607 corresponding locations in the original Org files, and even to
6608 edit these files remotely.
6610 @vindex org-agenda-window-setup
6611 @vindex org-agenda-restore-windows-after-quit
6612 Two variables control how the agenda buffer is displayed and whether the
6613 window configuration is restored when the agenda exits:
6614 @code{org-agenda-window-setup} and
6615 @code{org-agenda-restore-windows-after-quit}.
6618 * Agenda files:: Files being searched for agenda information
6619 * Agenda dispatcher:: Keyboard access to agenda views
6620 * Built-in agenda views:: What is available out of the box?
6621 * Presentation and sorting:: How agenda items are prepared for display
6622 * Agenda commands:: Remote editing of Org trees
6623 * Custom agenda views:: Defining special searches and views
6624 * Exporting Agenda Views:: Writing a view to a file
6625 * Agenda column view:: Using column view for collected entries
6628 @node Agenda files, Agenda dispatcher, Agenda Views, Agenda Views
6629 @section Agenda files
6630 @cindex agenda files
6631 @cindex files for agenda
6633 @vindex org-agenda-files
6634 The information to be shown is normally collected from all @emph{agenda
6635 files}, the files listed in the variable
6636 @code{org-agenda-files}@footnote{If the value of that variable is not a
6637 list, but a single file name, then the list of agenda files will be
6638 maintained in that external file.}. If a directory is part of this list,
6639 all files with the extension @file{.org} in this directory will be part
6642 Thus, even if you only work with a single Org file, that file should
6643 be put into the list@footnote{When using the dispatcher, pressing
6644 @kbd{<} before selecting a command will actually limit the command to
6645 the current file, and ignore @code{org-agenda-files} until the next
6646 dispatcher command.}. You can customize @code{org-agenda-files}, but
6647 the easiest way to maintain it is through the following commands
6649 @cindex files, adding to agenda list
6653 Add current file to the list of agenda files. The file is added to
6654 the front of the list. If it was already in the list, it is moved to
6655 the front. With a prefix argument, file is added/moved to the end.
6658 Remove current file from the list of agenda files.
6663 Cycle through agenda file list, visiting one file after the other.
6664 @kindex M-x org-iswitchb
6665 @item M-x org-iswitchb
6666 Command to use an @code{iswitchb}-like interface to switch to and between Org
6671 The Org menu contains the current list of files and can be used
6672 to visit any of them.
6674 If you would like to focus the agenda temporarily on a file not in
6675 this list, or on just one file in the list, or even on only a subtree in a
6676 file, then this can be done in different ways. For a single agenda command,
6677 you may press @kbd{<} once or several times in the dispatcher
6678 (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}). To restrict the agenda scope for an
6679 extended period, use the following commands:
6684 Permanently restrict the agenda to the current subtree. When with a
6685 prefix argument, or with the cursor before the first headline in a file,
6686 the agenda scope is set to the entire file. This restriction remains in
6687 effect until removed with @kbd{C-c C-x >}, or by typing either @kbd{<}
6688 or @kbd{>} in the agenda dispatcher. If there is a window displaying an
6689 agenda view, the new restriction takes effect immediately.
6692 Remove the permanent restriction created by @kbd{C-c C-x <}.
6696 When working with @file{speedbar.el}, you can use the following commands in
6700 @item < @r{in the speedbar frame}
6701 Permanently restrict the agenda to the item---either an Org file or a subtree
6702 in such a file---at the cursor in the Speedbar frame.
6703 If there is a window displaying an agenda view, the new restriction takes
6706 @item > @r{in the speedbar frame}
6707 Lift the restriction.
6710 @node Agenda dispatcher, Built-in agenda views, Agenda files, Agenda Views
6711 @section The agenda dispatcher
6712 @cindex agenda dispatcher
6713 @cindex dispatching agenda commands
6714 The views are created through a dispatcher, which should be bound to a
6715 global key---for example @kbd{C-c a} (@pxref{Installation}). In the
6716 following we will assume that @kbd{C-c a} is indeed how the dispatcher
6717 is accessed and list keyboard access to commands accordingly. After
6718 pressing @kbd{C-c a}, an additional letter is required to execute a
6719 command. The dispatcher offers the following default commands:
6722 Create the calendar-like agenda (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}).
6724 Create a list of all TODO items (@pxref{Global TODO list}).
6726 Create a list of headlines matching a TAGS expression (@pxref{Matching
6727 tags and properties}).
6729 Create the timeline view for the current buffer (@pxref{Timeline}).
6731 Create a list of entries selected by a boolean expression of keywords
6732 and/or regular expressions that must or must not occur in the entry.
6734 @vindex org-agenda-text-search-extra-files
6735 Search for a regular expression in all agenda files and additionally in
6736 the files listed in @code{org-agenda-text-search-extra-files}. This
6737 uses the Emacs command @code{multi-occur}. A prefix argument can be
6738 used to specify the number of context lines for each match, default is
6741 Create a list of stuck projects (@pxref{Stuck projects}).
6743 Restrict an agenda command to the current buffer@footnote{For backward
6744 compatibility, you can also press @kbd{1} to restrict to the current
6745 buffer.}. After pressing @kbd{<}, you still need to press the character
6746 selecting the command.
6748 If there is an active region, restrict the following agenda command to
6749 the region. Otherwise, restrict it to the current subtree@footnote{For
6750 backward compatibility, you can also press @kbd{0} to restrict to the
6751 current region/subtree.}. After pressing @kbd{< <}, you still need to press the
6752 character selecting the command.
6755 You can also define custom commands that will be accessible through the
6756 dispatcher, just like the default commands. This includes the
6757 possibility to create extended agenda buffers that contain several
6758 blocks together, for example the weekly agenda, the global TODO list and
6759 a number of special tags matches. @xref{Custom agenda views}.
6761 @node Built-in agenda views, Presentation and sorting, Agenda dispatcher, Agenda Views
6762 @section The built-in agenda views
6764 In this section we describe the built-in views.
6767 * Weekly/daily agenda:: The calendar page with current tasks
6768 * Global TODO list:: All unfinished action items
6769 * Matching tags and properties:: Structured information with fine-tuned search
6770 * Timeline:: Time-sorted view for single file
6771 * Search view:: Find entries by searching for text
6772 * Stuck projects:: Find projects you need to review
6775 @node Weekly/daily agenda, Global TODO list, Built-in agenda views, Built-in agenda views
6776 @subsection The weekly/daily agenda
6778 @cindex weekly agenda
6779 @cindex daily agenda
6781 The purpose of the weekly/daily @emph{agenda} is to act like a page of a
6782 paper agenda, showing all the tasks for the current week or day.
6785 @cindex org-agenda, command
6788 @vindex org-agenda-ndays
6789 Compile an agenda for the current week from a list of Org files. The agenda
6790 shows the entries for each day. With a numeric prefix@footnote{For backward
6791 compatibility, the universal prefix @kbd{C-u} causes all TODO entries to be
6792 listed before the agenda. This feature is deprecated, use the dedicated TODO
6793 list, or a block agenda instead (@pxref{Block agenda}).} (like @kbd{C-u 2 1
6794 C-c a a}) you may set the number of days to be displayed (see also the
6795 variable @code{org-agenda-ndays})
6798 Remote editing from the agenda buffer means, for example, that you can
6799 change the dates of deadlines and appointments from the agenda buffer.
6800 The commands available in the Agenda buffer are listed in @ref{Agenda
6803 @subsubheading Calendar/Diary integration
6804 @cindex calendar integration
6805 @cindex diary integration
6807 Emacs contains the calendar and diary by Edward M. Reingold. The
6808 calendar displays a three-month calendar with holidays from different
6809 countries and cultures. The diary allows you to keep track of
6810 anniversaries, lunar phases, sunrise/set, recurrent appointments
6811 (weekly, monthly) and more. In this way, it is quite complementary to
6812 Org. It can be very useful to combine output from Org with
6815 In order to include entries from the Emacs diary into Org-mode's
6816 agenda, you only need to customize the variable
6819 (setq org-agenda-include-diary t)
6822 @noindent After that, everything will happen automatically. All diary
6823 entries including holidays, anniversaries, etc., will be included in the
6824 agenda buffer created by Org-mode. @key{SPC}, @key{TAB}, and
6825 @key{RET} can be used from the agenda buffer to jump to the diary
6826 file in order to edit existing diary entries. The @kbd{i} command to
6827 insert new entries for the current date works in the agenda buffer, as
6828 well as the commands @kbd{S}, @kbd{M}, and @kbd{C} to display
6829 Sunrise/Sunset times, show lunar phases and to convert to other
6830 calendars, respectively. @kbd{c} can be used to switch back and forth
6831 between calendar and agenda.
6833 If you are using the diary only for sexp entries and holidays, it is
6834 faster to not use the above setting, but instead to copy or even move
6835 the entries into an Org file. Org-mode evaluates diary-style sexp
6836 entries, and does it faster because there is no overhead for first
6837 creating the diary display. Note that the sexp entries must start at
6838 the left margin, no whitespace is allowed before them. For example,
6839 the following segment of an Org file will be processed and entries
6840 will be made in the agenda:
6843 * Birthdays and similar stuff
6845 %%(org-calendar-holiday) ; special function for holiday names
6847 %%(diary-anniversary 5 14 1956)@footnote{Note that the order of the arguments (month, day, year) depends on the setting of @code{calendar-date-style}.} Arthur Dent is %d years old
6848 %%(diary-anniversary 10 2 1869) Mahatma Gandhi would be %d years old
6851 @subsubheading Anniversaries from BBDB
6852 @cindex BBDB, anniversaries
6853 @cindex anniversaries, from BBDB
6855 If you are using the Big Brothers Database to store your contacts, you will
6856 very likely prefer to store anniversaries in BBDB rather than in a
6857 separate Org or diary file. Org supports this and will show BBDB
6858 anniversaries as part of the agenda. All you need to do is to add the
6859 following to one your your agenda files:
6866 %%(org-bbdb-anniversaries)
6869 You can then go ahead and define anniversaries for a BBDB record. Basically,
6870 you need to press @kbd{C-o anniversary @key{RET}} with the cursor in a BBDB
6871 record and then add the date in the format @code{YYYY-MM-DD}, followed by a
6872 space and the class of the anniversary (@samp{birthday} or @samp{wedding}, or
6873 a format string). If you omit the class, it will default to @samp{birthday}.
6874 Here are a few examples, the header for the file @file{org-bbdb.el} contains
6875 more detailed information.
6880 2008-04-14 %s released version 6.01 of org-mode, %d years ago
6883 After a change to BBDB, or for the first agenda display during an Emacs
6884 session, the agenda display will suffer a short delay as Org updates its
6885 hash with anniversaries. However, from then on things will be very fast---much
6886 faster in fact than a long list of @samp{%%(diary-anniversary)} entries
6887 in an Org or Diary file.
6889 @subsubheading Appointment reminders
6890 @cindex @file{appt.el}
6891 @cindex appointment reminders
6893 Org can interact with Emacs appointments notification facility. To add all
6894 the appointments of your agenda files, use the command
6895 @code{org-agenda-to-appt}. This command also lets you filter through the
6896 list of your appointments and add only those belonging to a specific category
6897 or matching a regular expression. See the docstring for details.
6899 @node Global TODO list, Matching tags and properties, Weekly/daily agenda, Built-in agenda views
6900 @subsection The global TODO list
6901 @cindex global TODO list
6902 @cindex TODO list, global
6904 The global TODO list contains all unfinished TODO items formatted and
6905 collected into a single place.
6910 Show the global TODO list. This collects the TODO items from all agenda
6911 files (@pxref{Agenda Views}) into a single buffer. By default, this lists
6912 items with a state the is not a DONE state. The buffer is in
6913 @code{agenda-mode}, so there are commands to examine and manipulate the TODO
6914 entries directly from that buffer (@pxref{Agenda commands}).
6917 @cindex TODO keyword matching
6918 @vindex org-todo-keywords
6919 Like the above, but allows selection of a specific TODO keyword. You can
6920 also do this by specifying a prefix argument to @kbd{C-c a t}. You are
6921 prompted for a keyword, and you may also specify several keywords by
6922 separating them with @samp{|} as the boolean OR operator. With a numeric
6923 prefix, the nth keyword in @code{org-todo-keywords} is selected.
6925 The @kbd{r} key in the agenda buffer regenerates it, and you can give
6926 a prefix argument to this command to change the selected TODO keyword,
6927 for example @kbd{3 r}. If you often need a search for a specific
6928 keyword, define a custom command for it (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).@*
6929 Matching specific TODO keywords can also be done as part of a tags
6930 search (@pxref{Tag searches}).
6933 Remote editing of TODO items means that you can change the state of a
6934 TODO entry with a single key press. The commands available in the
6935 TODO list are described in @ref{Agenda commands}.
6937 @cindex sublevels, inclusion into TODO list
6938 Normally the global TODO list simply shows all headlines with TODO
6939 keywords. This list can become very long. There are two ways to keep
6943 @vindex org-agenda-todo-ignore-scheduled
6944 @vindex org-agenda-todo-ignore-deadlines
6945 @vindex org-agenda-todo-ignore-with-date
6946 Some people view a TODO item that has been @emph{scheduled} for execution or
6947 have a @emph{deadline} (@pxref{Timestamps}) as no longer @emph{open}.
6948 Configure the variables @code{org-agenda-todo-ignore-scheduled},
6949 @code{org-agenda-todo-ignore-deadlines}, and/or
6950 @code{org-agenda-todo-ignore-with-date} to exclude such items from the
6953 @vindex org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels
6954 TODO items may have sublevels to break up the task into subtasks. In
6955 such cases it may be enough to list only the highest level TODO headline
6956 and omit the sublevels from the global list. Configure the variable
6957 @code{org-agenda-todo-list-sublevels} to get this behavior.
6960 @node Matching tags and properties, Timeline, Global TODO list, Built-in agenda views
6961 @subsection Matching tags and properties
6962 @cindex matching, of tags
6963 @cindex matching, of properties
6967 If headlines in the agenda files are marked with @emph{tags} (@pxref{Tags}),
6968 or have properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}), you can select headlines
6969 based on this metadata and collect them into an agenda buffer. The match
6970 syntax described here also applies when creating sparse trees with @kbd{C-c /
6976 Produce a list of all headlines that match a given set of tags. The
6977 command prompts for a selection criterion, which is a boolean logic
6978 expression with tags, like @samp{+work+urgent-withboss} or
6979 @samp{work|home} (@pxref{Tags}). If you often need a specific search,
6980 define a custom command for it (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}).
6983 @vindex org-tags-match-list-sublevels
6984 @vindex org-agenda-tags-todo-honor-ignore-options
6985 Like @kbd{C-c a m}, but only select headlines that are also TODO items in a
6986 not-DONE state and force checking subitems (see variable
6987 @code{org-tags-match-list-sublevels}). To exclude scheduled/deadline items,
6988 see the variable @code{org-agenda-tags-todo-honor-ignore-options}. Matching
6989 specific TODO keywords together with a tags match is also possible, see
6993 The commands available in the tags list are described in @ref{Agenda
6996 @subsubheading Match syntax
6998 @cindex Boolean logic, for tag/property searches
6999 A search string can use Boolean operators @samp{&} for AND and @samp{|} for
7000 OR. @samp{&} binds more strongly than @samp{|}. Parentheses are currently
7001 not implemented. Each element in the search is either a tag, a regular
7002 expression matching tags, or an expression like @code{PROPERTY OPERATOR
7003 VALUE} with a comparison operator, accessing a property value. Each element
7004 may be preceded by @samp{-}, to select against it, and @samp{+} is syntactic
7005 sugar for positive selection. The AND operator @samp{&} is optional when
7006 @samp{+} or @samp{-} is present. Here are some examples, using only tags.
7010 Select headlines tagged @samp{:work:}, but discard those also tagged
7013 Selects lines tagged @samp{:work:} or @samp{:laptop:}.
7014 @item work|laptop+night
7015 Like before, but require the @samp{:laptop:} lines to be tagged also
7019 @cindex regular expressions, with tags search
7020 Instead of a tag, you may also specify a regular expression enclosed in curly
7021 braces. For example,
7022 @samp{work+@{^boss.*@}} matches headlines that contain the tag
7023 @samp{:work:} and any tag @i{starting} with @samp{boss}.
7025 @cindex TODO keyword matching, with tags search
7026 @cindex level, require for tags/property match
7027 @cindex category, require for tags/property match
7028 @vindex org-odd-levels-only
7029 You may also test for properties (@pxref{Properties and Columns}) at the same
7030 time as matching tags. The properties may be real properties, or special
7031 properties that represent other metadata (@pxref{Special properties}). For
7032 example, the ``property'' @code{TODO} represents the TODO keyword of the
7033 entry. Or, the ``property'' @code{LEVEL} represents the level of an entry.
7034 So a search @samp{+LEVEL=3+boss-TODO="DONE"} lists all level three headlines
7035 that have the tag @samp{boss} and are @emph{not} marked with the TODO keyword
7036 DONE. In buffers with @code{org-odd-levels-only} set, @samp{LEVEL} does not
7037 count the number of stars, but @samp{LEVEL=2} will correspond to 3 stars etc.
7039 Here are more examples:
7041 @item work+TODO="WAITING"
7042 Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines with the specific TODO
7043 keyword @samp{WAITING}.
7044 @item work+TODO="WAITING"|home+TODO="WAITING"
7045 Waiting tasks both at work and at home.
7048 When matching properties, a number of different operators can be used to test
7049 the value of a property. Here is a complex example:
7052 +work-boss+PRIORITY="A"+Coffee="unlimited"+Effort<2 \
7053 +With=@{Sarah\|Denny@}+SCHEDULED>="<2008-10-11>"
7057 The type of comparison will depend on how the comparison value is written:
7060 If the comparison value is a plain number, a numerical comparison is done,
7061 and the allowed operators are @samp{<}, @samp{=}, @samp{>}, @samp{<=},
7062 @samp{>=}, and @samp{<>}.
7064 If the comparison value is enclosed in double-quotes,
7065 a string comparison is done, and the same operators are allowed.
7067 If the comparison value is enclosed in double-quotes @emph{and} angular
7068 brackets (like @samp{DEADLINE<="<2008-12-24 18:30>"}), both values are
7069 assumed to be date/time specifications in the standard Org way, and the
7070 comparison will be done accordingly. Special values that will be recognized
7071 are @code{"<now>"} for now (including time), and @code{"<today>"}, and
7072 @code{"<tomorrow>"} for these days at 0:00 hours, i.e. without a time
7073 specification. Also strings like @code{"<+5d>"} or @code{"<-2m>"} with units
7074 @code{d}, @code{w}, @code{m}, and @code{y} for day, week, month, and year,
7075 respectively, can be used.
7077 If the comparison value is enclosed
7078 in curly braces, a regexp match is performed, with @samp{=} meaning that the
7079 regexp matches the property value, and @samp{<>} meaning that it does not
7083 So the search string in the example finds entries tagged @samp{:work:} but
7084 not @samp{:boss:}, which also have a priority value @samp{A}, a
7085 @samp{:Coffee:} property with the value @samp{unlimited}, an @samp{Effort}
7086 property that is numerically smaller than 2, a @samp{:With:} property that is
7087 matched by the regular expression @samp{Sarah\|Denny}, and that are scheduled
7088 on or after October 11, 2008.
7090 Accessing TODO, LEVEL, and CATEGORY during a search is fast. Accessing any
7091 other properties will slow down the search. However, once you have paid the
7092 price by accessing one property, testing additional properties is cheap
7095 You can configure Org-mode to use property inheritance during a search, but
7096 beware that this can slow down searches considerably. See @ref{Property
7097 inheritance}, for details.
7099 For backward compatibility, and also for typing speed, there is also a
7100 different way to test TODO states in a search. For this, terminate the
7101 tags/property part of the search string (which may include several terms
7102 connected with @samp{|}) with a @samp{/} and then specify a Boolean
7103 expression just for TODO keywords. The syntax is then similar to that for
7104 tags, but should be applied with care: for example, a positive selection on
7105 several TODO keywords cannot meaningfully be combined with boolean AND.
7106 However, @emph{negative selection} combined with AND can be meaningful. To
7107 make sure that only lines are checked that actually have any TODO keyword
7108 (resulting in a speed-up), use @kbd{C-c a M}, or equivalently start the TODO
7109 part after the slash with @samp{!}. Using @kbd{C-c a M} or @samp{/!} will
7110 not match TODO keywords in a DONE state. Examples:
7114 Same as @samp{work+TODO="WAITING"}
7115 @item work/!-WAITING-NEXT
7116 Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines that are neither @samp{WAITING}
7118 @item work/!+WAITING|+NEXT
7119 Select @samp{:work:}-tagged TODO lines that are either @samp{WAITING} or
7123 @node Timeline, Search view, Matching tags and properties, Built-in agenda views
7124 @subsection Timeline for a single file
7125 @cindex timeline, single file
7126 @cindex time-sorted view
7128 The timeline summarizes all time-stamped items from a single Org-mode
7129 file in a @emph{time-sorted view}. The main purpose of this command is
7130 to give an overview over events in a project.
7135 Show a time-sorted view of the Org file, with all time-stamped items.
7136 When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, all unfinished TODO entries
7137 (scheduled or not) are also listed under the current date.
7141 The commands available in the timeline buffer are listed in
7142 @ref{Agenda commands}.
7144 @node Search view, Stuck projects, Timeline, Built-in agenda views
7145 @subsection Search view
7148 @cindex searching, for text
7150 This agenda view is a general text search facility for Org-mode entries.
7151 It is particularly useful to find notes.
7156 This is a special search that lets you select entries by matching a substring
7157 or specific words using a boolean logic.
7159 For example, the search string @samp{computer equipment} will find entries
7160 that contain @samp{computer equipment} as a substring. If the two words are
7161 separated by more space or a line break, the search will still match.
7162 Search view can also search for specific keywords in the entry, using Boolean
7163 logic. The search string @samp{+computer +wifi -ethernet -@{8\.11[bg]@}}
7164 will search for note entries that contain the keywords @code{computer}
7165 and @code{wifi}, but not the keyword @code{ethernet}, and which are also
7166 not matched by the regular expression @code{8\.11[bg]}, meaning to
7167 exclude both 8.11b and 8.11g. The first @samp{+} is necessary to turn on
7168 word search, other @samp{+} characters are optional. For more details, see
7169 the docstring of the command @code{org-search-view}.
7171 @vindex org-agenda-text-search-extra-files
7172 Note that in addition to the agenda files, this command will also search
7173 the files listed in @code{org-agenda-text-search-extra-files}.
7175 @node Stuck projects, , Search view, Built-in agenda views
7176 @subsection Stuck projects
7178 If you are following a system like David Allen's GTD to organize your
7179 work, one of the ``duties'' you have is a regular review to make sure
7180 that all projects move along. A @emph{stuck} project is a project that
7181 has no defined next actions, so it will never show up in the TODO lists
7182 Org-mode produces. During the review, you need to identify such
7183 projects and define next actions for them.
7188 List projects that are stuck.
7191 @vindex org-stuck-projects
7192 Customize the variable @code{org-stuck-projects} to define what a stuck
7193 project is and how to find it.
7196 You almost certainly will have to configure this view before it will
7197 work for you. The built-in default assumes that all your projects are
7198 level-2 headlines, and that a project is not stuck if it has at least
7199 one entry marked with a TODO keyword TODO or NEXT or NEXTACTION.
7201 Let's assume that you, in your own way of using Org-mode, identify
7202 projects with a tag PROJECT, and that you use a TODO keyword MAYBE to
7203 indicate a project that should not be considered yet. Let's further
7204 assume that the TODO keyword DONE marks finished projects, and that NEXT
7205 and TODO indicate next actions. The tag @@SHOP indicates shopping and
7206 is a next action even without the NEXT tag. Finally, if the project
7207 contains the special word IGNORE anywhere, it should not be listed
7208 either. In this case you would start by identifying eligible projects
7209 with a tags/todo match@footnote{@xref{Tag searches}.}
7210 @samp{+PROJECT/-MAYBE-DONE}, and then check for TODO, NEXT, @@SHOP, and
7211 IGNORE in the subtree to identify projects that are not stuck. The
7212 correct customization for this is
7215 (setq org-stuck-projects
7216 '("+PROJECT/-MAYBE-DONE" ("NEXT" "TODO") ("@@SHOP")
7220 Note that if a project is identified as non-stuck, the subtree of this entry
7221 will still be searched for stuck projects.
7223 @node Presentation and sorting, Agenda commands, Built-in agenda views, Agenda Views
7224 @section Presentation and sorting
7225 @cindex presentation, of agenda items
7227 @vindex org-agenda-prefix-format
7228 Before displaying items in an agenda view, Org-mode visually prepares
7229 the items and sorts them. Each item occupies a single line. The line
7230 starts with a @emph{prefix} that contains the @emph{category}
7231 (@pxref{Categories}) of the item and other important information. You can
7232 customize the prefix using the option @code{org-agenda-prefix-format}.
7233 The prefix is followed by a cleaned-up version of the outline headline
7234 associated with the item.
7237 * Categories:: Not all tasks are equal
7238 * Time-of-day specifications:: How the agenda knows the time
7239 * Sorting of agenda items:: The order of things
7242 @node Categories, Time-of-day specifications, Presentation and sorting, Presentation and sorting
7243 @subsection Categories
7246 The category is a broad label assigned to each agenda item. By default,
7247 the category is simply derived from the file name, but you can also
7248 specify it with a special line in the buffer, like this@footnote{For
7249 backward compatibility, the following also works: if there are several
7250 such lines in a file, each specifies the category for the text below it.
7251 The first category also applies to any text before the first CATEGORY
7252 line. However, using this method is @emph{strongly} deprecated as it is
7253 incompatible with the outline structure of the document. The correct
7254 method for setting multiple categories in a buffer is using a
7262 @cindex property, CATEGORY
7263 If you would like to have a special CATEGORY for a single entry or a
7264 (sub)tree, give the entry a @code{:CATEGORY:} property with the
7265 special category you want to apply as the value.
7268 The display in the agenda buffer looks best if the category is not
7269 longer than 10 characters.
7271 @node Time-of-day specifications, Sorting of agenda items, Categories, Presentation and sorting
7272 @subsection Time-of-day specifications
7273 @cindex time-of-day specification
7275 Org-mode checks each agenda item for a time-of-day specification. The
7276 time can be part of the timestamp that triggered inclusion into the
7277 agenda, for example as in @w{@samp{<2005-05-10 Tue 19:00>}}. Time
7278 ranges can be specified with two timestamps, like
7280 @w{@samp{<2005-05-10 Tue 20:30>--<2005-05-10 Tue 22:15>}}.
7282 In the headline of the entry itself, a time(range) may also appear as
7283 plain text (like @samp{12:45} or a @samp{8:30-1pm}). If the agenda
7284 integrates the Emacs diary (@pxref{Weekly/daily agenda}), time
7285 specifications in diary entries are recognized as well.
7287 For agenda display, Org-mode extracts the time and displays it in a
7288 standard 24 hour format as part of the prefix. The example times in
7289 the previous paragraphs would end up in the agenda like this:
7292 8:30-13:00 Arthur Dent lies in front of the bulldozer
7293 12:45...... Ford Prefect arrives and takes Arthur to the pub
7294 19:00...... The Vogon reads his poem
7295 20:30-22:15 Marvin escorts the Hitchhikers to the bridge
7299 If the agenda is in single-day mode, or for the display of today, the
7300 timed entries are embedded in a time grid, like
7303 8:00...... ------------------
7304 8:30-13:00 Arthur Dent lies in front of the bulldozer
7305 10:00...... ------------------
7306 12:00...... ------------------
7307 12:45...... Ford Prefect arrives and takes Arthur to the pub
7308 14:00...... ------------------
7309 16:00...... ------------------
7310 18:00...... ------------------
7311 19:00...... The Vogon reads his poem
7312 20:00...... ------------------
7313 20:30-22:15 Marvin escorts the Hitchhikers to the bridge
7316 @vindex org-agenda-use-time-grid
7317 @vindex org-agenda-time-grid
7318 The time grid can be turned on and off with the variable
7319 @code{org-agenda-use-time-grid}, and can be configured with
7320 @code{org-agenda-time-grid}.
7322 @node Sorting of agenda items, , Time-of-day specifications, Presentation and sorting
7323 @subsection Sorting of agenda items
7324 @cindex sorting, of agenda items
7325 @cindex priorities, of agenda items
7326 Before being inserted into a view, the items are sorted. How this is
7327 done depends on the type of view.
7330 @vindex org-agenda-files
7331 For the daily/weekly agenda, the items for each day are sorted. The
7332 default order is to first collect all items containing an explicit
7333 time-of-day specification. These entries will be shown at the beginning
7334 of the list, as a @emph{schedule} for the day. After that, items remain
7335 grouped in categories, in the sequence given by @code{org-agenda-files}.
7336 Within each category, items are sorted by priority (@pxref{Priorities}),
7337 which is composed of the base priority (2000 for priority @samp{A}, 1000
7338 for @samp{B}, and 0 for @samp{C}), plus additional increments for
7339 overdue scheduled or deadline items.
7341 For the TODO list, items remain in the order of categories, but within
7342 each category, sorting takes place according to priority
7343 (@pxref{Priorities}). The priority used for sorting derives from the
7344 priority cookie, with additions depending on how close an item is to its due
7347 For tags matches, items are not sorted at all, but just appear in the
7348 sequence in which they are found in the agenda files.
7351 @vindex org-agenda-sorting-strategy
7352 Sorting can be customized using the variable
7353 @code{org-agenda-sorting-strategy}, and may also include criteria based on
7354 the estimated effort of an entry (@pxref{Effort estimates}).
7356 @node Agenda commands, Custom agenda views, Presentation and sorting, Agenda Views
7357 @section Commands in the agenda buffer
7358 @cindex commands, in agenda buffer
7360 Entries in the agenda buffer are linked back to the Org file or diary
7361 file where they originate. You are not allowed to edit the agenda
7362 buffer itself, but commands are provided to show and jump to the
7363 original entry location, and to edit the Org files ``remotely'' from
7364 the agenda buffer. In this way, all information is stored only once,
7365 removing the risk that your agenda and note files may diverge.
7367 Some commands can be executed with mouse clicks on agenda lines. For
7368 the other commands, the cursor needs to be in the desired line.
7371 @tsubheading{Motion}
7372 @cindex motion commands in agenda
7375 Next line (same as @key{up} and @kbd{C-p}).
7378 Previous line (same as @key{down} and @kbd{C-n}).
7379 @tsubheading{View/Go to Org file}
7384 Display the original location of the item in another window.
7385 With prefix arg, make sure that the entire entry is made visible in the
7386 outline, not only the heading.
7390 Display original location and recenter that window.
7398 Go to the original location of the item in another window. Under Emacs
7399 22, @kbd{mouse-1} will also works for this.
7403 Go to the original location of the item and delete other windows.
7407 @vindex org-agenda-start-with-follow-mode
7408 Toggle Follow mode. In Follow mode, as you move the cursor through
7409 the agenda buffer, the other window always shows the corresponding
7410 location in the Org file. The initial setting for this mode in new
7411 agenda buffers can be set with the variable
7412 @code{org-agenda-start-with-follow-mode}.
7416 Display the entire subtree of the current item in an indirect buffer. With a
7417 numeric prefix argument N, go up to level N and then take that tree. If N is
7418 negative, go up that many levels. With a @kbd{C-u} prefix, do not remove the
7419 previously used indirect buffer.
7423 Follow a link in the entry. This will offer a selection of any links in the
7424 text belonging to the referenced Org node. If there is only one link, it
7425 will be followed without a selection prompt.
7427 @tsubheading{Change display}
7428 @cindex display changing, in agenda
7431 Delete other windows.
7439 @item v d @ @r{or short} @ d
7440 @itemx v w @ @r{or short} @ w
7443 Switch to day/week/month/year view. When switching to day or week view,
7444 this setting becomes the default for subsequent agenda commands. Since
7445 month and year views are slow to create, they do not become the default.
7446 A numeric prefix argument may be used to jump directly to a specific day
7447 of the year, ISO week, month, or year, respectively. For example,
7448 @kbd{32 d} jumps to February 1st, @kbd{9 w} to ISO week number 9. When
7449 setting day, week, or month view, a year may be encoded in the prefix
7450 argument as well. For example, @kbd{200712 w} will jump to week 12 in
7451 2007. If such a year specification has only one or two digits, it will
7452 be mapped to the interval 1938-2037.
7456 @vindex org-agenda-ndays
7457 Go forward in time to display the following @code{org-agenda-ndays} days.
7458 For example, if the display covers a week, switch to the following week.
7459 With prefix arg, go forward that many times @code{org-agenda-ndays} days.
7463 Go backward in time to display earlier dates.
7471 Prompt for a date and go there.
7475 Toggle the inclusion of diary entries. See @ref{Weekly/daily agenda}.
7480 @item v l @ @r{or short} @ l
7481 @vindex org-log-done
7482 @vindex org-agenda-log-mode-items
7483 Toggle Logbook mode. In Logbook mode, entries that were marked DONE while
7484 logging was on (variable @code{org-log-done}) are shown in the agenda, as are
7485 entries that have been clocked on that day. You can configure the entry
7486 types that should be included in log mode using the variable
7487 @code{org-agenda-log-mode-items}. When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, show
7488 all possible logbook entries, including state changes. When called with two
7489 prefix args @kbd{C-u C-u}, show only logging information, nothing else.
7490 @kbd{v L} is equivalent to @kbd{C-u v l}.
7494 @item v [ @ @r{or short} @ [
7495 Include inactive timestamps into the current view. Only for weekly/daily
7496 agenda and timeline views.
7502 Toggle Archives mode. In Archives mode, trees that are marked
7503 @code{ARCHIVED} are also scanned when producing the agenda. When you use the
7504 capital @kbd{A}, even all archive files are included. To exit archives mode,
7505 press @kbd{v a} again.
7509 @item v R @ @r{or short} @ R
7510 @vindex org-agenda-start-with-clockreport-mode
7511 Toggle Clockreport mode. In Clockreport mode, the daily/weekly agenda will
7512 always show a table with the clocked times for the timespan and file scope
7513 covered by the current agenda view. The initial setting for this mode in new
7514 agenda buffers can be set with the variable
7515 @code{org-agenda-start-with-clockreport-mode}.
7519 @item v E @ @r{or short} @ E
7520 @vindex org-agenda-start-with-entry-text-mode
7521 @vindex org-agenda-entry-text-maxlines
7522 Toggle entry text mode. In entry text mode, a number of lines from the Org
7523 outline node referenced by an agenda line will be displayed below the line.
7524 The maximum number of lines is given by the variable
7525 @code{org-agenda-entry-text-maxlines}. Calling this command with a numeric
7526 prefix argument will temporarily modify that number to the prefix value.
7530 @vindex org-agenda-use-time-grid
7531 @vindex org-agenda-time-grid
7532 Toggle the time grid on and off. See also the variables
7533 @code{org-agenda-use-time-grid} and @code{org-agenda-time-grid}.
7537 Recreate the agenda buffer, for example to reflect the changes after
7538 modification of the timestamps of items with @kbd{S-@key{left}} and
7539 @kbd{S-@key{right}}. When the buffer is the global TODO list, a prefix
7540 argument is interpreted to create a selective list for a specific TODO
7550 Save all Org buffers in the current Emacs session, and also the locations of
7555 @vindex org-columns-default-format
7556 Invoke column view (@pxref{Column view}) in the agenda buffer. The column
7557 view format is taken from the entry at point, or (if there is no entry at
7558 point), from the first entry in the agenda view. So whatever the format for
7559 that entry would be in the original buffer (taken from a property, from a
7560 @code{#+COLUMNS} line, or from the default variable
7561 @code{org-columns-default-format}), will be used in the agenda.
7565 Remove the restriction lock on the agenda, if it is currently restricted to a
7566 file or subtree (@pxref{Agenda files}).
7568 @tsubheading{Secondary filtering and query editing}
7569 @cindex filtering, by tag and effort, in agenda
7570 @cindex tag filtering, in agenda
7571 @cindex effort filtering, in agenda
7572 @cindex query editing, in agenda
7576 @vindex org-agenda-filter-preset
7577 Filter the current agenda view with respect to a tag and/or effort estimates.
7578 The difference between this and a custom agenda command is that filtering is
7579 very fast, so that you can switch quickly between different filters without
7580 having to recreate the agenda@footnote{Custom commands can preset a filter by
7581 binding the variable @code{org-agenda-filter-preset} as an option. This
7582 filter will then be applied to the view and persist as a basic filter through
7583 refreshes and more secondary filtering.}
7585 You will be prompted for a tag selection letter, SPC will mean any tag at
7586 all. Pressing @key{TAB} at that prompt will offer use completion to select a
7587 tag (including any tags that do not have a selection character). The command
7588 then hides all entries that do not contain or inherit this tag. When called
7589 with prefix arg, remove the entries that @emph{do} have the tag. A second
7590 @kbd{/} at the prompt will turn off the filter and unhide any hidden entries.
7591 If the first key you press is either @kbd{+} or @kbd{-}, the previous filter
7592 will be narrowed by requiring or forbidding the selected additional tag.
7593 Instead of pressing @kbd{+} or @kbd{-} after @kbd{/}, you can also
7594 immediately use the @kbd{\} command.
7596 @vindex org-sort-agenda-noeffort-is-high
7597 In order to filter for effort estimates, you should set-up allowed
7598 efforts globally, for example
7600 (setq org-global-properties
7601 '(("Effort_ALL". "0 0:10 0:30 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00")))
7603 You can then filter for an effort by first typing an operator, one of
7604 @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, and @kbd{=}, and then the one-digit index of an effort
7605 estimate in your array of allowed values, where @kbd{0} means the 10th value.
7606 The filter will then restrict to entries with effort smaller-or-equal, equal,
7607 or larger-or-equal than the selected value. If the digits 0-9 are not used
7608 as fast access keys to tags, you can also simply press the index digit
7609 directly without an operator. In this case, @kbd{<} will be assumed. For
7610 application of the operator, entries without a defined effort will be treated
7611 according to the value of @code{org-sort-agenda-noeffort-is-high}. To filter
7612 for tasks without effort definition, press @kbd{?} as the operator.
7614 Org also supports automatic, context-aware tag filtering. If the variable
7615 @code{org-agenda-auto-exclude-function} is set to a user-defined function,
7616 that function can decide which tags should be excluded from the agenda
7617 automatically. Once this is set, the @kbd{/} command then accepts @kbd{RET}
7618 as a sub-option key and runs the auto exclusion logic. For example, let's
7619 say you use a @code{Net} tag to identify tasks which need network access, an
7620 @code{Errand} tag for errands in town, and a @code{Call} tag for making phone
7621 calls. You could auto-exclude these tags based on the availability of the
7622 Internet, and outside of business hours, with something like this:
7626 (defun org-my-auto-exclude-function (tag)
7628 ((string= tag "Net")
7629 (/= 0 (call-process "/sbin/ping" nil nil nil
7630 "-c1" "-q" "-t1" "mail.gnu.org")))
7631 ((or (string= tag "Errand") (string= tag "Call"))
7632 (let ((hour (nth 2 (decode-time))))
7633 (or (< hour 8) (> hour 21)))))
7636 (setq org-agenda-auto-exclude-function 'org-my-auto-exclude-function)
7642 Narrow the current agenda filter by an additional condition. When called with
7643 prefix arg, remove the entries that @emph{do} have the tag, or that do match
7644 the effort criterion. You can achieve the same effect by pressing @kbd{+} or
7645 @kbd{-} as the first key after the @kbd{/} command.
7653 @item @r{in} search view
7654 add new search words (@kbd{[} and @kbd{]}) or new regular expressions
7655 (@kbd{@{} and @kbd{@}}) to the query string. The opening bracket/brace will
7656 add a positive search term prefixed by @samp{+}, indicating that this search
7657 term @i{must} occur/match in the entry. The closing bracket/brace will add a
7658 negative search term which @i{must not} occur/match in the entry for it to be
7663 @tsubheading{Remote editing}
7664 @cindex remote editing, from agenda
7669 @cindex undoing remote-editing events
7670 @cindex remote editing, undo
7673 Undo a change due to a remote editing command. The change is undone
7674 both in the agenda buffer and in the remote buffer.
7678 Change the TODO state of the item, both in the agenda and in the
7681 @kindex C-S-@key{right}
7682 @kindex C-S-@key{left}
7683 @item C-S-@key{right}@r{/}@key{left}
7684 Switch to the next/previous set of TODO keywords.
7688 @vindex org-agenda-confirm-kill
7689 Delete the current agenda item along with the entire subtree belonging
7690 to it in the original Org file. If the text to be deleted remotely
7691 is longer than one line, the kill needs to be confirmed by the user. See
7692 variable @code{org-agenda-confirm-kill}.
7696 Refile the entry at point.
7700 @item C-c C-x C-a @ @r{or short} @ a
7701 @vindex org-archive-default-command
7702 Archive the subtree corresponding to the entry at point using the default
7703 archiving command set in @code{org-archive-default-command}. When using the
7704 @code{a} key, confirmation will be required.
7708 Toggle the ARCHIVE tag for the current headline.
7712 Move the subtree corresponding to the current entry to its @emph{archive
7717 @item C-c C-x C-s @ @r{or short} @ $
7718 Archive the subtree corresponding to the current headline. This means the
7719 entry will be moved to the configured archive location, most likely a
7724 @vindex org-agenda-show-inherited-tags
7725 Show all tags associated with the current item. This is useful if you have
7726 turned off @code{org-agenda-show-inherited-tags}, but still want to see all
7727 tags of a headline occasionally.
7731 Set tags for the current headline. If there is an active region in the
7732 agenda, change a tag for all headings in the region.
7736 Set the priority for the current item. Org-mode prompts for the
7737 priority character. If you reply with @key{SPC}, the priority cookie
7738 is removed from the entry.
7742 Display weighted priority of current item.
7748 Increase the priority of the current item. The priority is changed in
7749 the original buffer, but the agenda is not resorted. Use the @kbd{r}
7753 @kindex S-@key{down}
7756 Decrease the priority of the current item.
7760 @item z @ @r{or also} @ C-c C-z
7761 @vindex org-log-into-drawer
7762 Add a note to the entry. This note will be recorded, and then files to the
7763 same location where state change notes are put. Depending on
7764 @code{org-log-into-drawer}, this maybe inside a drawer.
7768 Dispatcher for all command related to attachments.
7772 Schedule this item, with prefix arg remove the scheduling timestamp
7776 Set a deadline for this item, with prefix arg remove the deadline.
7780 Agenda actions, to set dates for selected items to the cursor date.
7781 This command also works in the calendar! The command prompts for an
7784 m @r{Mark the entry at point for action. You can also make entries}
7785 @r{in Org files with @kbd{C-c C-x C-k}.}
7786 d @r{Set the deadline of the marked entry to the date at point.}
7787 s @r{Schedule the marked entry at the date at point.}
7788 r @r{Call @code{org-capture} with the cursor date as default date.}
7791 Press @kbd{r} afterward to refresh the agenda and see the effect of the
7794 @kindex S-@key{right}
7796 Change the timestamp associated with the current line by one day into the
7797 future. With a numeric prefix argument, change it by that many days. For
7798 example, @kbd{3 6 5 S-@key{right}} will change it by a year. With a
7799 @kbd{C-u} prefix, change the time by one hour. If you immediately repeat the
7800 command, it will continue to change hours even without the prefix arg. With
7801 a double @kbd{C-u C-u} prefix, do the same for changing minutes. The stamp
7802 is changed in the original Org file, but the change is not directly reflected
7803 in the agenda buffer. Use @kbd{r} or @kbd{g} to update the buffer.
7805 @kindex S-@key{left}
7807 Change the timestamp associated with the current line by one day
7812 Change the timestamp associated with the current line. The key @kbd{>} has
7813 been chosen, because it is the same as @kbd{S-.} on my keyboard.
7817 Start the clock on the current item. If a clock is running already, it
7822 Stop the previously started clock.
7826 Cancel the currently running clock.
7830 Jump to the running clock in another window.
7832 @tsubheading{Bulk remote editing selected entries}
7833 @cindex remote editing, bulk, from agenda
7837 Mark the entry at point for bulk action.
7841 Unmark entry for bulk action.
7845 Unmark all marked entries for bulk action.
7849 Bulk action: act on all marked entries in the agenda. This will prompt for
7850 another key to select the action to be applied. The prefix arg to @kbd{B}
7851 will be passed through to the @kbd{s} and @kbd{d} commands, to bulk-remove
7852 these special timestamps.
7854 r @r{Prompt for a single refile target and move all entries. The entries}
7855 @r{will no longer be in the agenda, refresh (@kbd{g}) to bring them back.}
7856 $ @r{Archive all selected entries.}
7857 A @r{Archive entries by moving them to their respective archive siblings.}
7858 t @r{Change TODO state. This prompts for a single TODO keyword and}
7859 @r{changes the state of all selected entries, bypassing blocking and}
7860 @r{suppressing logging notes (but not time stamps).}
7861 + @r{Add a tag to all selected entries.}
7862 - @r{Remove a tag from all selected entries.}
7863 s @r{Schedule all items to a new date. To shift existing schedule dates}
7864 @r{by a fixed number of days, use something starting with double plus}
7865 @r{at the prompt, for example @samp{++8d} or @samp{++2w}.}
7866 d @r{Set deadline to a specific date.}
7870 @tsubheading{Calendar commands}
7871 @cindex calendar commands, from agenda
7874 Open the Emacs calendar and move to the date at the agenda cursor.
7877 When in the calendar, compute and show the Org-mode agenda for the
7880 @cindex diary entries, creating from agenda
7883 @vindex org-agenda-diary-file
7884 Insert a new entry into the diary, using the date at the cursor and (for
7885 block entries) the date at the mark. This will add to the Emacs diary
7886 file@footnote{This file is parsed for the agenda when
7887 @code{org-agenda-include-diary} is set.}, in a way similar to the @kbd{i}
7888 command in the calendar. The diary file will pop up in another window, where
7889 you can add the entry.
7891 If you configure @code{org-agenda-diary-file} to point to an Org-mode file,
7892 Org will create entries (in org-mode syntax) in that file instead. Most
7893 entries will be stored in a date-based outline tree that will later make it
7894 easy to archive appointments from previous months/years. The tree will be
7895 built under an entry with a @code{DATE_TREE} property, or else with years as
7896 top-level entries. Emacs will prompt you for the entry text - if you specify
7897 it, the entry will be created in @code{org-agenda-diary-file} without further
7898 interaction. If you directly press @key{RET} at the prompt without typing
7899 text, the target file will be shown in another window for you to finish the
7900 entry there. See also the @kbd{k r} command.
7904 Show the phases of the moon for the three months around current date.
7908 Show sunrise and sunset times. The geographical location must be set
7909 with calendar variables, see the documentation for the Emacs calendar.
7913 Convert the date at cursor into many other cultural and historic
7918 Show holidays for three months around the cursor date.
7920 @item M-x org-export-icalendar-combine-agenda-files
7921 Export a single iCalendar file containing entries from all agenda files.
7922 This is a globally available command, and also available in the agenda menu.
7924 @tsubheading{Exporting to a file}
7927 @cindex exporting agenda views
7928 @cindex agenda views, exporting
7929 @vindex org-agenda-exporter-settings
7930 Write the agenda view to a file. Depending on the extension of the selected
7931 file name, the view will be exported as HTML (extension @file{.html} or
7932 @file{.htm}), Postscript (extension @file{.ps}), PDF (extension @file{.pdf}),
7933 and plain text (any other extension). When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix
7934 argument, immediately open the newly created file. Use the variable
7935 @code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} to set options for @file{ps-print} and
7936 for @file{htmlize} to be used during export.
7938 @tsubheading{Quit and Exit}
7941 Quit agenda, remove the agenda buffer.
7944 @cindex agenda files, removing buffers
7946 Exit agenda, remove the agenda buffer and all buffers loaded by Emacs
7947 for the compilation of the agenda. Buffers created by the user to
7948 visit Org files will not be removed.
7952 @node Custom agenda views, Exporting Agenda Views, Agenda commands, Agenda Views
7953 @section Custom agenda views
7954 @cindex custom agenda views
7955 @cindex agenda views, custom
7957 Custom agenda commands serve two purposes: to store and quickly access
7958 frequently used TODO and tags searches, and to create special composite
7959 agenda buffers. Custom agenda commands will be accessible through the
7960 dispatcher (@pxref{Agenda dispatcher}), just like the default commands.
7963 * Storing searches:: Type once, use often
7964 * Block agenda:: All the stuff you need in a single buffer
7965 * Setting Options:: Changing the rules
7968 @node Storing searches, Block agenda, Custom agenda views, Custom agenda views
7969 @subsection Storing searches
7971 The first application of custom searches is the definition of keyboard
7972 shortcuts for frequently used searches, either creating an agenda
7973 buffer, or a sparse tree (the latter covering of course only the current
7976 @vindex org-agenda-custom-commands
7977 Custom commands are configured in the variable
7978 @code{org-agenda-custom-commands}. You can customize this variable, for
7979 example by pressing @kbd{C-c a C}. You can also directly set it with
7980 Emacs Lisp in @file{.emacs}. The following example contains all valid
7985 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
7986 '(("w" todo "WAITING")
7987 ("W" todo-tree "WAITING")
7988 ("u" tags "+boss-urgent")
7989 ("v" tags-todo "+boss-urgent")
7990 ("U" tags-tree "+boss-urgent")
7991 ("f" occur-tree "\\<FIXME\\>")
7992 ("h" . "HOME+Name tags searches") ; description for "h" prefix
7993 ("hl" tags "+home+Lisa")
7994 ("hp" tags "+home+Peter")
7995 ("hk" tags "+home+Kim")))
8000 The initial string in each entry defines the keys you have to press
8001 after the dispatcher command @kbd{C-c a} in order to access the command.
8002 Usually this will be just a single character, but if you have many
8003 similar commands, you can also define two-letter combinations where the
8004 first character is the same in several combinations and serves as a
8005 prefix key@footnote{You can provide a description for a prefix key by
8006 inserting a cons cell with the prefix and the description.}. The second
8007 parameter is the search type, followed by the string or regular
8008 expression to be used for the matching. The example above will
8013 as a global search for TODO entries with @samp{WAITING} as the TODO
8016 as the same search, but only in the current buffer and displaying the
8017 results as a sparse tree
8019 as a global tags search for headlines marked @samp{:boss:} but not
8022 as the same search as @kbd{C-c a u}, but limiting the search to
8023 headlines that are also TODO items
8025 as the same search as @kbd{C-c a u}, but only in the current buffer and
8026 displaying the result as a sparse tree
8028 to create a sparse tree (again: current buffer only) with all entries
8029 containing the word @samp{FIXME}
8031 as a prefix command for a HOME tags search where you have to press an
8032 additional key (@kbd{l}, @kbd{p} or @kbd{k}) to select a name (Lisa,
8033 Peter, or Kim) as additional tag to match.
8036 @node Block agenda, Setting Options, Storing searches, Custom agenda views
8037 @subsection Block agenda
8038 @cindex block agenda
8039 @cindex agenda, with block views
8041 Another possibility is the construction of agenda views that comprise
8042 the results of @emph{several} commands, each of which creates a block in
8043 the agenda buffer. The available commands include @code{agenda} for the
8044 daily or weekly agenda (as created with @kbd{C-c a a}), @code{alltodo}
8045 for the global TODO list (as constructed with @kbd{C-c a t}), and the
8046 matching commands discussed above: @code{todo}, @code{tags}, and
8047 @code{tags-todo}. Here are two examples:
8051 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
8052 '(("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
8056 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
8064 This will define @kbd{C-c a h} to create a multi-block view for stuff
8065 you need to attend to at home. The resulting agenda buffer will contain
8066 your agenda for the current week, all TODO items that carry the tag
8067 @samp{home}, and also all lines tagged with @samp{garden}. Finally the
8068 command @kbd{C-c a o} provides a similar view for office tasks.
8070 @node Setting Options, , Block agenda, Custom agenda views
8071 @subsection Setting options for custom commands
8072 @cindex options, for custom agenda views
8074 @vindex org-agenda-custom-commands
8075 Org-mode contains a number of variables regulating agenda construction
8076 and display. The global variables define the behavior for all agenda
8077 commands, including the custom commands. However, if you want to change
8078 some settings just for a single custom view, you can do so. Setting
8079 options requires inserting a list of variable names and values at the
8080 right spot in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands}. For example:
8084 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
8085 '(("w" todo "WAITING"
8086 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-down))
8087 (org-agenda-prefix-format " Mixed: ")))
8088 ("U" tags-tree "+boss-urgent"
8089 ((org-show-following-heading nil)
8090 (org-show-hierarchy-above nil)))
8092 ((org-agenda-files '("~org/notes.org"))
8093 (org-agenda-text-search-extra-files nil)))))
8098 Now the @kbd{C-c a w} command will sort the collected entries only by
8099 priority, and the prefix format is modified to just say @samp{ Mixed: }
8100 instead of giving the category of the entry. The sparse tags tree of
8101 @kbd{C-c a U} will now turn out ultra-compact, because neither the
8102 headline hierarchy above the match, nor the headline following the match
8103 will be shown. The command @kbd{C-c a N} will do a text search limited
8104 to only a single file.
8106 @vindex org-agenda-custom-commands
8107 For command sets creating a block agenda,
8108 @code{org-agenda-custom-commands} has two separate spots for setting
8109 options. You can add options that should be valid for just a single
8110 command in the set, and options that should be valid for all commands in
8111 the set. The former are just added to the command entry, the latter
8112 must come after the list of command entries. Going back to the block
8113 agenda example (@pxref{Block agenda}), let's change the sorting strategy
8114 for the @kbd{C-c a h} commands to @code{priority-down}, but let's sort
8115 the results for GARDEN tags query in the opposite order,
8116 @code{priority-up}. This would look like this:
8120 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
8121 '(("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
8125 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-up)))))
8126 ((org-agenda-sorting-strategy '(priority-down))))
8127 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
8134 As you see, the values and parentheses setting is a little complex.
8135 When in doubt, use the customize interface to set this variable---it
8136 fully supports its structure. Just one caveat: when setting options in
8137 this interface, the @emph{values} are just Lisp expressions. So if the
8138 value is a string, you need to add the double-quotes around the value
8142 @node Exporting Agenda Views, Agenda column view, Custom agenda views, Agenda Views
8143 @section Exporting Agenda Views
8144 @cindex agenda views, exporting
8146 If you are away from your computer, it can be very useful to have a printed
8147 version of some agenda views to carry around. Org-mode can export custom
8148 agenda views as plain text, HTML@footnote{You need to install Hrvoje Niksic's
8149 @file{htmlize.el}.}, Postscript, PDF@footnote{To create PDF output, the
8150 ghostscript @file{ps2pdf} utility must be installed on the system. Selecting
8151 a PDF file with also create the postscript file.}, and iCalendar files. If
8152 you want to do this only occasionally, use the command
8157 @cindex exporting agenda views
8158 @cindex agenda views, exporting
8159 @vindex org-agenda-exporter-settings
8160 Write the agenda view to a file. Depending on the extension of the selected
8161 file name, the view will be exported as HTML (extension @file{.html} or
8162 @file{.htm}), Postscript (extension @file{.ps}), iCalendar (extension
8163 @file{.ics}), or plain text (any other extension). Use the variable
8164 @code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} to set options for @file{ps-print} and
8165 for @file{htmlize} to be used during export, for example
8167 @vindex org-agenda-add-entry-text-maxlines
8168 @vindex htmlize-output-type
8169 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
8170 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
8172 (setq org-agenda-exporter-settings
8173 '((ps-number-of-columns 2)
8174 (ps-landscape-mode t)
8175 (org-agenda-add-entry-text-maxlines 5)
8176 (htmlize-output-type 'css)))
8180 If you need to export certain agenda views frequently, you can associate
8181 any custom agenda command with a list of output file names
8182 @footnote{If you want to store standard views like the weekly agenda
8183 or the global TODO list as well, you need to define custom commands for
8184 them in order to be able to specify file names.}. Here is an example
8185 that first defines custom commands for the agenda and the global
8186 TODO list, together with a number of files to which to export them.
8187 Then we define two block agenda commands and specify file names for them
8188 as well. File names can be relative to the current working directory,
8193 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
8194 '(("X" agenda "" nil ("agenda.html" "agenda.ps"))
8195 ("Y" alltodo "" nil ("todo.html" "todo.txt" "todo.ps"))
8196 ("h" "Agenda and Home-related tasks"
8201 ("~/views/home.html"))
8202 ("o" "Agenda and Office-related tasks"
8207 ("~/views/office.ps" "~/calendars/office.ics"))))
8211 The extension of the file name determines the type of export. If it is
8212 @file{.html}, Org-mode will use the @file{htmlize.el} package to convert
8213 the buffer to HTML and save it to this file name. If the extension is
8214 @file{.ps}, @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} is used to produce
8215 Postscript output. If the extension is @file{.ics}, iCalendar export is
8216 run export over all files that were used to construct the agenda, and
8217 limit the export to entries listed in the agenda. Any other
8218 extension produces a plain ASCII file.
8220 The export files are @emph{not} created when you use one of those
8221 commands interactively because this might use too much overhead.
8222 Instead, there is a special command to produce @emph{all} specified
8228 Export all agenda views that have export file names associated with
8232 You can use the options section of the custom agenda commands to also
8233 set options for the export commands. For example:
8236 (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
8238 ((ps-number-of-columns 2)
8239 (ps-landscape-mode t)
8240 (org-agenda-prefix-format " [ ] ")
8241 (org-agenda-with-colors nil)
8242 (org-agenda-remove-tags t))
8247 This command sets two options for the Postscript exporter, to make it
8248 print in two columns in landscape format---the resulting page can be cut
8249 in two and then used in a paper agenda. The remaining settings modify
8250 the agenda prefix to omit category and scheduling information, and
8251 instead include a checkbox to check off items. We also remove the tags
8252 to make the lines compact, and we don't want to use colors for the
8253 black-and-white printer. Settings specified in
8254 @code{org-agenda-exporter-settings} will also apply, but the settings
8255 in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands} take precedence.
8258 From the command line you may also use
8260 emacs -f org-batch-store-agenda-views -kill
8263 or, if you need to modify some parameters@footnote{Quoting depends on the
8264 system you use, please check the FAQ for examples.}
8266 emacs -eval '(org-batch-store-agenda-views \
8267 org-agenda-ndays 30 \
8268 org-agenda-start-day "2007-11-01" \
8269 org-agenda-include-diary nil \
8270 org-agenda-files (quote ("~/org/project.org")))' \
8274 which will create the agenda views restricted to the file
8275 @file{~/org/project.org}, without diary entries and with a 30-day
8278 You can also extract agenda information in a way that allows further
8279 processing by other programs. See @ref{Extracting agenda information}, for
8283 @node Agenda column view, , Exporting Agenda Views, Agenda Views
8284 @section Using column view in the agenda
8285 @cindex column view, in agenda
8286 @cindex agenda, column view
8288 Column view (@pxref{Column view}) is normally used to view and edit
8289 properties embedded in the hierarchical structure of an Org file. It can be
8290 quite useful to use column view also from the agenda, where entries are
8291 collected by certain criteria.
8296 Turn on column view in the agenda.
8299 To understand how to use this properly, it is important to realize that the
8300 entries in the agenda are no longer in their proper outline environment.
8301 This causes the following issues:
8305 @vindex org-columns-default-format
8306 @vindex org-overriding-columns-format
8307 Org needs to make a decision which @code{COLUMNS} format to use. Since the
8308 entries in the agenda are collected from different files, and different files
8309 may have different @code{COLUMNS} formats, this is a non-trivial problem.
8310 Org first checks if the variable @code{org-overriding-columns-format} is
8311 currently set, and if so, takes the format from there. Otherwise it takes
8312 the format associated with the first item in the agenda, or, if that item
8313 does not have a specific format (defined in a property, or in its file), it
8314 uses @code{org-columns-default-format}.
8316 @cindex property, special, CLOCKSUM
8317 If any of the columns has a summary type defined (@pxref{Column attributes}),
8318 turning on column view in the agenda will visit all relevant agenda files and
8319 make sure that the computations of this property are up to date. This is
8320 also true for the special @code{CLOCKSUM} property. Org will then sum the
8321 values displayed in the agenda. In the daily/weekly agenda, the sums will
8322 cover a single day, in all other views they cover the entire block. It is
8323 vital to realize that the agenda may show the same entry @emph{twice} (for
8324 example as scheduled and as a deadline), and it may show two entries from the
8325 same hierarchy (for example a @emph{parent} and its @emph{child}). In these
8326 cases, the summation in the agenda will lead to incorrect results because
8327 some values will count double.
8329 When the column view in the agenda shows the @code{CLOCKSUM}, that is always
8330 the entire clocked time for this item. So even in the daily/weekly agenda,
8331 the clocksum listed in column view may originate from times outside the
8332 current view. This has the advantage that you can compare these values with
8333 a column listing the planned total effort for a task---one of the major
8334 applications for column view in the agenda. If you want information about
8335 clocked time in the displayed period use clock table mode (press @kbd{R} in
8340 @node Markup, Exporting, Agenda Views, Top
8341 @chapter Markup for rich export
8343 When exporting Org-mode documents, the exporter tries to reflect the
8344 structure of the document as accurately as possible in the backend. Since
8345 export targets like HTML, La@TeX{}, or DocBook allow much richer formatting,
8346 Org-mode has rules on how to prepare text for rich export. This section
8347 summarizes the markup rules used in an Org-mode buffer.
8350 * Structural markup elements:: The basic structure as seen by the exporter
8351 * Images and tables:: Tables and Images will be included
8352 * Literal examples:: Source code examples with special formatting
8353 * Include files:: Include additional files into a document
8354 * Index entries:: Making an index
8355 * Macro replacement:: Use macros to create complex output
8356 * Embedded LaTeX:: LaTeX can be freely used inside Org documents
8359 @node Structural markup elements, Images and tables, Markup, Markup
8360 @section Structural markup elements
8363 * Document title:: Where the title is taken from
8364 * Headings and sections:: The document structure as seen by the exporter
8365 * Table of contents:: The if and where of the table of contents
8366 * Initial text:: Text before the first heading?
8368 * Paragraphs:: Paragraphs
8369 * Footnote markup:: Footnotes
8370 * Emphasis and monospace:: Bold, italic, etc.
8371 * Horizontal rules:: Make a line
8372 * Comment lines:: What will *not* be exported
8375 @node Document title, Headings and sections, Structural markup elements, Structural markup elements
8376 @subheading Document title
8377 @cindex document title, markup rules
8380 The title of the exported document is taken from the special line
8384 #+TITLE: This is the title of the document
8388 If this line does not exist, the title is derived from the first non-empty,
8389 non-comment line in the buffer. If no such line exists, or if you have
8390 turned off exporting of the text before the first headline (see below), the
8391 title will be the file name without extension.
8393 @cindex property, EXPORT_TITLE
8394 If you are exporting only a subtree by marking is as the region, the heading
8395 of the subtree will become the title of the document. If the subtree has a
8396 property @code{EXPORT_TITLE}, that will take precedence.
8398 @node Headings and sections, Table of contents, Document title, Structural markup elements
8399 @subheading Headings and sections
8400 @cindex headings and sections, markup rules
8402 @vindex org-export-headline-levels
8403 The outline structure of the document as described in @ref{Document
8404 Structure}, forms the basis for defining sections of the exported document.
8405 However, since the outline structure is also used for (for example) lists of
8406 tasks, only the first three outline levels will be used as headings. Deeper
8407 levels will become itemized lists. You can change the location of this
8408 switch globally by setting the variable @code{org-export-headline-levels}, or on a
8409 per-file basis with a line
8416 @node Table of contents, Initial text, Headings and sections, Structural markup elements
8417 @subheading Table of contents
8418 @cindex table of contents, markup rules
8420 @vindex org-export-with-toc
8421 The table of contents is normally inserted directly before the first headline
8422 of the file. If you would like to get it to a different location, insert the
8423 string @code{[TABLE-OF-CONTENTS]} on a line by itself at the desired
8424 location. The depth of the table of contents is by default the same as the
8425 number of headline levels, but you can choose a smaller number, or turn off
8426 the table of contents entirely, by configuring the variable
8427 @code{org-export-with-toc}, or on a per-file basis with a line like
8430 #+OPTIONS: toc:2 (only to two levels in TOC)
8431 #+OPTIONS: toc:nil (no TOC at all)
8434 @node Initial text, Lists, Table of contents, Structural markup elements
8435 @subheading Text before the first headline
8436 @cindex text before first headline, markup rules
8439 Org-mode normally exports the text before the first headline, and even uses
8440 the first line as the document title. The text will be fully marked up. If
8441 you need to include literal HTML, La@TeX{}, or DocBook code, use the special
8442 constructs described below in the sections for the individual exporters.
8444 @vindex org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading
8445 Some people like to use the space before the first headline for setup and
8446 internal links and therefore would like to control the exported text before
8447 the first headline in a different way. You can do so by setting the variable
8448 @code{org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading} to @code{t}. On a per-file
8449 basis, you can get the same effect with @samp{#+OPTIONS: skip:t}.
8452 If you still want to have some text before the first headline, use the
8453 @code{#+TEXT} construct:
8457 #+TEXT: This text will go before the *first* headline.
8458 #+TEXT: [TABLE-OF-CONTENTS]
8459 #+TEXT: This goes between the table of contents and the first headline
8462 @node Lists, Paragraphs, Initial text, Structural markup elements
8464 @cindex lists, markup rules
8466 Plain lists as described in @ref{Plain lists}, are translated to the backend's
8467 syntax for such lists. Most backends support unordered, ordered, and
8470 @node Paragraphs, Footnote markup, Lists, Structural markup elements
8471 @subheading Paragraphs, line breaks, and quoting
8472 @cindex paragraphs, markup rules
8474 Paragraphs are separated by at least one empty line. If you need to enforce
8475 a line break within a paragraph, use @samp{\\} at the end of a line.
8477 To keep the line breaks in a region, but otherwise use normal formatting, you
8478 can use this construct, which can also be used to format poetry.
8480 @cindex #+BEGIN_VERSE
8483 Great clouds overhead
8484 Tiny black birds rise and fall
8491 When quoting a passage from another document, it is customary to format this
8492 as a paragraph that is indented on both the left and the right margin. You
8493 can include quotations in Org-mode documents like this:
8495 @cindex #+BEGIN_QUOTE
8498 Everything should be made as simple as possible,
8499 but not any simpler -- Albert Einstein
8503 If you would like to center some text, do it like this:
8504 @cindex #+BEGIN_CENTER
8507 Everything should be made as simple as possible, \\
8513 @node Footnote markup, Emphasis and monospace, Paragraphs, Structural markup elements
8514 @subheading Footnote markup
8515 @cindex footnotes, markup rules
8516 @cindex @file{footnote.el}
8518 Footnotes defined in the way described in @ref{Footnotes}, will be exported by
8519 all backends. Org allows multiple references to the same note, and
8520 different backends support this to varying degrees.
8522 @node Emphasis and monospace, Horizontal rules, Footnote markup, Structural markup elements
8523 @subheading Emphasis and monospace
8525 @cindex underlined text, markup rules
8526 @cindex bold text, markup rules
8527 @cindex italic text, markup rules
8528 @cindex verbatim text, markup rules
8529 @cindex code text, markup rules
8530 @cindex strike-through text, markup rules
8531 You can make words @b{*bold*}, @i{/italic/}, _underlined_, @code{=code=}
8532 and @code{~verbatim~}, and, if you must, @samp{+strike-through+}. Text
8533 in the code and verbatim string is not processed for Org-mode specific
8534 syntax, it is exported verbatim.
8536 @node Horizontal rules, Comment lines, Emphasis and monospace, Structural markup elements
8537 @subheading Horizontal rules
8538 @cindex horizontal rules, markup rules
8539 A line consisting of only dashes, and at least 5 of them, will be
8540 exported as a horizontal line (@samp{<hr/>} in HTML).
8542 @node Comment lines, , Horizontal rules, Structural markup elements
8543 @subheading Comment lines
8544 @cindex comment lines
8545 @cindex exporting, not
8546 @cindex #+BEGIN_COMMENT
8548 Lines starting with @samp{#} in column zero are treated as comments and will
8549 never be exported. If you want an indented line to be treated as a comment,
8550 start it with @samp{#+ }. Also entire subtrees starting with the word
8551 @samp{COMMENT} will never be exported. Finally, regions surrounded by
8552 @samp{#+BEGIN_COMMENT} ... @samp{#+END_COMMENT} will not be exported.
8557 Toggle the COMMENT keyword at the beginning of an entry.
8561 @node Images and tables, Literal examples, Structural markup elements, Markup
8562 @section Images and Tables
8564 @cindex tables, markup rules
8567 Both the native Org-mode tables (@pxref{Tables}) and tables formatted with
8568 the @file{table.el} package will be exported properly. For Org-mode tables,
8569 the lines before the first horizontal separator line will become table header
8570 lines. You can use the following lines somewhere before the table to assign
8571 a caption and a label for cross references, and in the text you can refer to
8572 the object with @code{\ref@{tab:basic-data@}}:
8575 #+CAPTION: This is the caption for the next table (or link)
8576 #+LABEL: tbl:basic-data
8581 @cindex inlined images, markup rules
8582 Some backends (HTML, La@TeX{}, and DocBook) allow you to directly include
8583 images into the exported document. Org does this, if a link to an image
8584 files does not have a description part, for example @code{[[./img/a.jpg]]}.
8585 If you wish to define a caption for the image and maybe a label for internal
8586 cross references, make sure that the link is on a line by itself and precede
8587 it with @code{#+CAPTION} and @code{#+LABEL} as follows:
8590 #+CAPTION: This is the caption for the next figure link (or table)
8591 #+LABEL: fig:SED-HR4049
8595 You may also define additional attributes for the figure. As this is
8596 backend-specific, see the sections about the individual backends for more
8600 @node Literal examples, Include files, Images and tables, Markup
8601 @section Literal examples
8602 @cindex literal examples, markup rules
8603 @cindex code line references, markup rules
8605 You can include literal examples that should not be subjected to
8606 markup. Such examples will be typeset in monospace, so this is well suited
8607 for source code and similar examples.
8608 @cindex #+BEGIN_EXAMPLE
8612 Some example from a text file.
8616 Note that such blocks may be @i{indented} in order to align nicely with
8617 indented text and in particular with plain list structure (@pxref{Plain
8618 lists}). For simplicity when using small examples, you can also start the
8619 example lines with a colon followed by a space. There may also be additional
8620 whitespace before the colon:
8624 : Some example from a text file.
8627 @cindex formatting source code, markup rules
8628 If the example is source code from a programming language, or any other text
8629 that can be marked up by font-lock in Emacs, you can ask for the example to
8630 look like the fontified Emacs buffer@footnote{Currently this works for the
8631 HTML backend, and requires the @file{htmlize.el} package version 1.34 or
8632 later. It also works for LaTeX with the listings package, if you turn on the
8633 option @code{org-export-latex-listings} and make sure that the listings
8634 package is included by the LaTeX header.}. This is done with the @samp{src}
8635 block, where you also need to specify the name of the major mode that should
8636 be used to fontify the example:
8640 #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
8641 (defun org-xor (a b)
8647 Both in @code{example} and in @code{src} snippets, you can add a @code{-n}
8648 switch to the end of the @code{BEGIN} line, to get the lines of the example
8649 numbered. If you use a @code{+n} switch, the numbering from the previous
8650 numbered snippet will be continued in the current one. In literal examples,
8651 Org will interpret strings like @samp{(ref:name)} as labels, and use them as
8652 targets for special hyperlinks like @code{[[(name)]]} (i.e. the reference name
8653 enclosed in single parenthesis). In HTML, hovering the mouse over such a
8654 link will remote-highlight the corresponding code line, which is kind of
8657 You can also add a @code{-r} switch which @i{removes} the labels from the
8658 source code@footnote{Adding @code{-k} to @code{-n -r} will @i{keep} the
8659 labels in the source code while using line numbers for the links, which might
8660 be useful to explain those in an org-mode example code.}. With the @code{-n}
8661 switch, links to these references will be labeled by the line numbers from
8662 the code listing, otherwise links will use the labels with no parentheses.
8666 #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp -n -r
8667 (save-excursion (ref:sc)
8668 (goto-char (point-min)) (ref:jump)
8670 In line [[(sc)]] we remember the current position. [[(jump)][Line (jump)]]
8674 @vindex org-coderef-label-format
8675 If the syntax for the label format conflicts with the language syntax, use a
8676 @code{-l} switch to change the format, for example @samp{#+BEGIN_SRC pascal
8677 -n -r -l "((%s))"}. See also the variable @code{org-coderef-label-format}.
8679 HTML export also allows examples to be published as text areas, @xref{Text
8680 areas in HTML export}.
8685 Edit the source code example at point in its native mode. This works by
8686 switching to a temporary buffer with the source code. You need to exit by
8687 pressing @kbd{C-c '} again@footnote{Upon exit, lines starting with @samp{*}
8688 or @samp{#} will get a comma prepended, to keep them from being interpreted
8689 by Org as outline nodes or special comments. These commas will be stripped
8690 for editing with @kbd{C-c '}, and also for export.}, the edited version will
8691 then replace the old version in the Org buffer. Fixed-width regions
8692 (where each line starts with a colon followed by a space) will be edited
8693 using @code{artist-mode}@footnote{You may select a different-mode with the
8694 variable @code{org-edit-fixed-width-region-mode}.} to allow creating ASCII
8695 drawings easily. Using this command in an empty line will create a new
8699 Calling @code{org-store-link} while editing a source code example in a
8700 temporary buffer created with @kbd{C-c '} will prompt for a label, make sure
8701 that it is unique in the current buffer, and insert it with the proper
8702 formatting like @samp{(ref:label)} at the end of the current line. Then the
8703 label is stored as a link @samp{(label)}, for retrieval with @kbd{C-c C-l}.
8707 @node Include files, Index entries, Literal examples, Markup
8708 @section Include files
8709 @cindex include files, markup rules
8711 During export, you can include the content of another file. For example, to
8712 include your @file{.emacs} file, you could use:
8716 #+INCLUDE: "~/.emacs" src emacs-lisp
8719 The optional second and third parameter are the markup (e.g. @samp{quote},
8720 @samp{example}, or @samp{src}), and, if the markup is @samp{src}, the
8721 language for formatting the contents. The markup is optional, if it is not
8722 given, the text will be assumed to be in Org-mode format and will be
8723 processed normally. The include line will also allow additional keyword
8724 parameters @code{:prefix1} and @code{:prefix} to specify prefixes for the
8725 first line and for each following line, as well as any options accepted by
8726 the selected markup. For example, to include a file as an item, use
8729 #+INCLUDE: "~/snippets/xx" :prefix1 " + " :prefix " "
8735 Visit the include file at point.
8738 @node Index entries, Macro replacement, Include files, Markup
8739 @section Index entries
8740 @cindex index entries, for publishing
8742 You can specify entries that will be used for generating an index during
8743 publishing. This is done by lines starting with @code{#+INDEX}. An entry
8744 the contains an exclamation mark will create a sub item. See @ref{Generating
8745 an index} for more information.
8750 #+INDEX: Application!CV
8756 @node Macro replacement, Embedded LaTeX, Index entries, Markup
8757 @section Macro replacement
8758 @cindex macro replacement, during export
8761 You can define text snippets with
8764 #+MACRO: name replacement text $1, $2 are arguments
8767 @noindent which can be referenced anywhere in the document (even in
8768 code examples) with @code{@{@{@{name(arg1,arg2)@}@}@}}. In addition to
8769 defined macros, @code{@{@{@{title@}@}@}}, @code{@{@{@{author@}@}@}}, etc.,
8770 will reference information set by the @code{#+TITLE:}, @code{#+AUTHOR:}, and
8771 similar lines. Also, @code{@{@{@{date(@var{FORMAT})@}@}@}} and
8772 @code{@{@{@{modification-time(@var{FORMAT})@}@}@}} refer to current date time
8773 and to the modification time of the file being exported, respectively.
8774 @var{FORMAT} should be a format string understood by
8775 @code{format-time-string}.
8777 Macro expansion takes place during export, and some people use it to
8778 construct complex HTML code.
8781 @node Embedded LaTeX, , Macro replacement, Markup
8782 @section Embedded La@TeX{}
8783 @cindex @TeX{} interpretation
8784 @cindex La@TeX{} interpretation
8786 Plain ASCII is normally sufficient for almost all note taking. One
8787 exception, however, are scientific notes which need to be able to contain
8788 mathematical symbols and the occasional formula. La@TeX{}@footnote{La@TeX{}
8789 is a macro system based on Donald E. Knuth's @TeX{} system. Many of the
8790 features described here as ``La@TeX{}'' are really from @TeX{}, but for
8791 simplicity I am blurring this distinction.} is widely used to typeset
8792 scientific documents. Org-mode supports embedding La@TeX{} code into its
8793 files, because many academics are used to reading La@TeX{} source code, and
8794 because it can be readily processed into images for HTML production.
8796 It is not necessary to mark La@TeX{} macros and code in any special way.
8797 If you observe a few conventions, Org-mode knows how to find it and what
8801 * Special symbols:: Greek letters and other symbols
8802 * Subscripts and superscripts:: Simple syntax for raising/lowering text
8803 * LaTeX fragments:: Complex formulas made easy
8804 * Previewing LaTeX fragments:: What will this snippet look like?
8805 * CDLaTeX mode:: Speed up entering of formulas
8808 @node Special symbols, Subscripts and superscripts, Embedded LaTeX, Embedded LaTeX
8809 @subsection Special symbols
8810 @cindex math symbols
8811 @cindex special symbols
8812 @cindex @TeX{} macros
8813 @cindex La@TeX{} fragments, markup rules
8814 @cindex HTML entities
8815 @cindex La@TeX{} entities
8817 You can use La@TeX{} macros to insert special symbols like @samp{\alpha} to
8818 indicate the Greek letter, or @samp{\to} to indicate an arrow. Completion
8819 for these macros is available, just type @samp{\} and maybe a few letters,
8820 and press @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to see possible completions. Unlike La@TeX{}
8821 code, Org-mode allows these macros to be present without surrounding math
8822 delimiters, for example:
8825 Angles are written as Greek letters \alpha, \beta and \gamma.
8828 @vindex org-entities
8829 During export, these symbols will be transformed into the native format of
8830 the exporter backend. Strings like @code{\alpha} will be exported as
8831 @code{α} in the HTML output, and as @code{$\alpha$} in the La@TeX{}
8832 output. Similarly, @code{\nbsp} will become @code{ } in HTML and
8833 @code{~} in La@TeX{}. If you need such a symbol inside a word, terminate it
8834 like this: @samp{\Aacute@{@}stor}.
8836 A large number of entities is provided, with names taken from both HTML and
8837 La@TeX{}, see the variable @code{org-entities} for the complete list.
8838 @samp{\-} is treated as a shy hyphen, and @samp{--}, @samp{---}, and
8839 @samp{...} are all converted into special commands creating hyphens of
8840 different lengths or a compact set of dots.
8842 If you would like to see entities displayed as utf8 characters, use the
8843 following command@footnote{You can turn this on by default by setting the
8844 variable @code{org-pretty-entities}, or on a per-file base with the
8845 @code{#+STARTUP} option @code{entitiespretty}.}:
8850 Toggle display of entities as UTF8 characters. This does not change the
8851 buffer content which remains plain ASCII, but it overlays the UTF8 character
8852 for display purposes only.
8855 @node Subscripts and superscripts, LaTeX fragments, Special symbols, Embedded LaTeX
8856 @subsection Subscripts and superscripts
8860 Just like in La@TeX{}, @samp{^} and @samp{_} are used to indicate super-
8861 and subscripts. Again, these can be used without embedding them in
8862 math-mode delimiters. To increase the readability of ASCII text, it is
8863 not necessary (but OK) to surround multi-character sub- and superscripts
8864 with curly braces. For example
8867 The mass if the sun is M_sun = 1.989 x 10^30 kg. The radius of
8868 the sun is R_@{sun@} = 6.96 x 10^8 m.
8871 @vindex org-export-with-sub-superscripts
8872 To avoid interpretation as raised or lowered text, you can quote @samp{^} and
8873 @samp{_} with a backslash: @samp{\^} and @samp{\_}. If you write a text
8874 where the underscore is often used in a different context, Org's convention
8875 to always interpret these as subscripts can get in your way. Configure the
8876 variable @code{org-export-with-sub-superscripts} to globally change this
8877 convention, or use, on a per-file basis:
8886 In addition to showing entities as UTF8 characters, this command will also
8887 format sub- and superscripts in a WYSIWYM way.
8890 @node LaTeX fragments, Previewing LaTeX fragments, Subscripts and superscripts, Embedded LaTeX
8891 @subsection La@TeX{} fragments
8892 @cindex La@TeX{} fragments
8894 @vindex org-format-latex-header
8895 With symbols, sub- and superscripts, HTML is pretty much at its end when
8896 it comes to representing mathematical formulas@footnote{Yes, there is
8897 MathML, but that is not yet fully supported by many browsers, and there
8898 is no decent converter for turning La@TeX{} or ASCII representations of
8899 formulas into MathML. So for the time being, converting formulas into
8900 images seems the way to go.}. More complex expressions need a dedicated
8901 formula processor. To this end, Org-mode can contain arbitrary La@TeX{}
8902 fragments. It provides commands to preview the typeset result of these
8903 fragments, and upon export to HTML, all fragments will be converted to
8904 images and inlined into the HTML document@footnote{The La@TeX{} export
8905 will not use images for displaying La@TeX{} fragments but include these
8906 fragments directly into the La@TeX{} code.}. For this to work you
8907 need to be on a system with a working La@TeX{} installation. You also
8908 need the @file{dvipng} program, available at
8909 @url{http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvipng/}. The La@TeX{} header that
8910 will be used when processing a fragment can be configured with the
8911 variable @code{org-format-latex-header}.
8913 La@TeX{} fragments don't need any special marking at all. The following
8914 snippets will be identified as La@TeX{} source code:
8917 Environments of any kind. The only requirement is that the
8918 @code{\begin} statement appears on a new line, preceded by only
8921 Text within the usual La@TeX{} math delimiters. To avoid conflicts with
8922 currency specifications, single @samp{$} characters are only recognized as
8923 math delimiters if the enclosed text contains at most two line breaks, is
8924 directly attached to the @samp{$} characters with no whitespace in between,
8925 and if the closing @samp{$} is followed by whitespace, punctuation or a dash.
8926 For the other delimiters, there is no such restriction, so when in doubt, use
8927 @samp{\(...\)} as inline math delimiters.
8930 @noindent For example:
8933 \begin@{equation@} % arbitrary environments,
8934 x=\sqrt@{b@} % even tables, figures
8935 \end@{equation@} % etc
8937 If $a^2=b$ and \( b=2 \), then the solution must be
8938 either $$ a=+\sqrt@{2@} $$ or \[ a=-\sqrt@{2@} \].
8942 @vindex org-format-latex-options
8943 If you need any of the delimiter ASCII sequences for other purposes, you
8944 can configure the option @code{org-format-latex-options} to deselect the
8945 ones you do not wish to have interpreted by the La@TeX{} converter.
8947 @node Previewing LaTeX fragments, CDLaTeX mode, LaTeX fragments, Embedded LaTeX
8948 @subsection Previewing LaTeX fragments
8949 @cindex LaTeX fragments, preview
8951 La@TeX{} fragments can be processed to produce preview images of the
8952 typeset expressions:
8957 Produce a preview image of the La@TeX{} fragment at point and overlay it
8958 over the source code. If there is no fragment at point, process all
8959 fragments in the current entry (between two headlines). When called
8960 with a prefix argument, process the entire subtree. When called with
8961 two prefix arguments, or when the cursor is before the first headline,
8962 process the entire buffer.
8965 Remove the overlay preview images.
8968 @vindex org-format-latex-options
8969 You can customize the variable @code{org-format-latex-options} to influence
8970 some aspects of the preview. In particular, the @code{:scale} (and for HTML
8971 export, @code{:html-scale}) property can be used to adjust the size of the
8974 During HTML export (@pxref{HTML export}), all La@TeX{} fragments are
8975 converted into images and inlined into the document if the following
8979 (setq org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments t)
8982 @node CDLaTeX mode, , Previewing LaTeX fragments, Embedded LaTeX
8983 @subsection Using CDLa@TeX{} to enter math
8986 CDLa@TeX{} mode is a minor mode that is normally used in combination with a
8987 major La@TeX{} mode like AUC@TeX{} in order to speed-up insertion of
8988 environments and math templates. Inside Org-mode, you can make use of
8989 some of the features of CDLa@TeX{} mode. You need to install
8990 @file{cdlatex.el} and @file{texmathp.el} (the latter comes also with
8991 AUC@TeX{}) from @url{http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik/Tools/cdlatex}.
8992 Don't use CDLa@TeX{} mode itself under Org-mode, but use the light
8993 version @code{org-cdlatex-mode} that comes as part of Org-mode. Turn it
8994 on for the current buffer with @code{M-x org-cdlatex-mode}, or for all
8998 (add-hook 'org-mode-hook 'turn-on-org-cdlatex)
9001 When this mode is enabled, the following features are present (for more
9002 details see the documentation of CDLa@TeX{} mode):
9006 Environment templates can be inserted with @kbd{C-c @{}.
9009 The @key{TAB} key will do template expansion if the cursor is inside a
9010 La@TeX{} fragment@footnote{Org-mode has a method to test if the cursor is
9011 inside such a fragment, see the documentation of the function
9012 @code{org-inside-LaTeX-fragment-p}.}. For example, @key{TAB} will
9013 expand @code{fr} to @code{\frac@{@}@{@}} and position the cursor
9014 correctly inside the first brace. Another @key{TAB} will get you into
9015 the second brace. Even outside fragments, @key{TAB} will expand
9016 environment abbreviations at the beginning of a line. For example, if
9017 you write @samp{equ} at the beginning of a line and press @key{TAB},
9018 this abbreviation will be expanded to an @code{equation} environment.
9019 To get a list of all abbreviations, type @kbd{M-x cdlatex-command-help}.
9023 @vindex cdlatex-simplify-sub-super-scripts
9024 Pressing @kbd{_} and @kbd{^} inside a La@TeX{} fragment will insert these
9025 characters together with a pair of braces. If you use @key{TAB} to move
9026 out of the braces, and if the braces surround only a single character or
9027 macro, they are removed again (depending on the variable
9028 @code{cdlatex-simplify-sub-super-scripts}).
9031 Pressing the backquote @kbd{`} followed by a character inserts math
9032 macros, also outside La@TeX{} fragments. If you wait more than 1.5 seconds
9033 after the backquote, a help window will pop up.
9036 Pressing the single-quote @kbd{'} followed by another character modifies
9037 the symbol before point with an accent or a font. If you wait more than
9038 1.5 seconds after the backquote, a help window will pop up. Character
9039 modification will work only inside La@TeX{} fragments, outside the quote
9043 @node Exporting, Publishing, Markup, Top
9047 Org-mode documents can be exported into a variety of other formats. For
9048 printing and sharing of notes, ASCII export produces a readable and simple
9049 version of an Org file. HTML export allows you to publish a notes file on
9050 the web, while the XOXO format provides a solid base for exchange with a
9051 broad range of other applications. La@TeX{} export lets you use Org-mode and
9052 its structured editing functions to easily create La@TeX{} files. DocBook
9053 export makes it possible to convert Org files to many other formats using
9054 DocBook tools. For project management you can create gantt and resource
9055 charts by using TaskJuggler export. To incorporate entries with associated
9056 times like deadlines or appointments into a desktop calendar program like
9057 iCal, Org-mode can also produce extracts in the iCalendar format. Currently
9058 Org-mode only supports export, not import of these different formats.
9060 Org supports export of selected regions when @code{transient-mark-mode} is
9061 enabled (default in Emacs 23).
9064 * Selective export:: Using tags to select and exclude trees
9065 * Export options:: Per-file export settings
9066 * The export dispatcher:: How to access exporter commands
9067 * ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export:: Exporting to flat files with encoding
9068 * HTML export:: Exporting to HTML
9069 * LaTeX and PDF export:: Exporting to La@TeX{}, and processing to PDF
9070 * DocBook export:: Exporting to DocBook
9071 * TaskJuggler export:: Exporting to TaskJuggler
9072 * Freemind export:: Exporting to Freemind mind maps
9073 * XOXO export:: Exporting to XOXO
9074 * iCalendar export:: Exporting in iCalendar format
9077 @node Selective export, Export options, Exporting, Exporting
9078 @section Selective export
9079 @cindex export, selective by tags
9081 @vindex org-export-select-tags
9082 @vindex org-export-exclude-tags
9083 You may use tags to select the parts of a document that should be exported,
9084 or to exclude parts from export. This behavior is governed by two variables:
9085 @code{org-export-select-tags} and @code{org-export-exclude-tags}.
9087 Org first checks if any of the @emph{select} tags is present in the buffer.
9088 If yes, all trees that do not carry one of these tags will be excluded. If a
9089 selected tree is a subtree, the heading hierarchy above it will also be
9090 selected for export, but not the text below those headings.
9093 If none of the select tags is found, the whole buffer will be selected for
9097 Finally, all subtrees that are marked by any of the @emph{exclude} tags will
9098 be removed from the export buffer.
9100 @node Export options, The export dispatcher, Selective export, Exporting
9101 @section Export options
9102 @cindex options, for export
9104 @cindex completion, of option keywords
9105 The exporter recognizes special lines in the buffer which provide
9106 additional information. These lines may be put anywhere in the file.
9107 The whole set of lines can be inserted into the buffer with @kbd{C-c
9108 C-e t}. For individual lines, a good way to make sure the keyword is
9109 correct is to type @samp{#+} and then use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} completion
9110 (@pxref{Completion}). For a summary of other in-buffer settings not
9111 specifically related to export, see @ref{In-buffer settings}.
9112 In particular, note that you can place commonly-used (export) options in
9113 a separate file which can be included using @code{#+SETUPFILE}.
9118 Insert template with export options, see example below.
9125 @cindex #+DESCRIPTION
9133 @cindex #+EXPORT_SELECT_TAGS
9134 @cindex #+EXPORT_EXCLUDE_TAGS
9136 @cindex #+LATEX_HEADER
9137 @vindex user-full-name
9138 @vindex user-mail-address
9139 @vindex org-export-default-language
9141 #+TITLE: the title to be shown (default is the buffer name)
9142 #+AUTHOR: the author (default taken from @code{user-full-name})
9143 #+DATE: a date, fixed, of a format string for @code{format-time-string}
9144 #+EMAIL: his/her email address (default from @code{user-mail-address})
9145 #+DESCRIPTION: the page description, e.g. for the XHTML meta tag
9146 #+KEYWORDS: the page keywords, e.g. for the XHTML meta tag
9147 #+LANGUAGE: language for HTML, e.g. @samp{en} (@code{org-export-default-language})
9148 #+TEXT: Some descriptive text to be inserted at the beginning.
9149 #+TEXT: Several lines may be given.
9150 #+OPTIONS: H:2 num:t toc:t \n:nil @@:t ::t |:t ^:t f:t TeX:t ...
9151 #+BIND: lisp-var lisp-val, e.g.: org-export-latex-low-levels itemize
9152 @r{You need to confirm using these, or configure @code{org-export-allow-BIND}}
9153 #+LINK_UP: the ``up'' link of an exported page
9154 #+LINK_HOME: the ``home'' link of an exported page
9155 #+LATEX_HEADER: extra line(s) for the LaTeX header, like \usepackage@{xyz@}
9156 #+EXPORT_SELECT_TAGS: Tags that select a tree for export
9157 #+EXPORT_EXCLUDE_TAGS: Tags that exclude a tree from export
9158 #+XSLT: the XSLT stylesheet used by DocBook exporter to generate FO file
9162 The OPTIONS line is a compact@footnote{If you want to configure many options
9163 this way, you can use several OPTIONS lines.} form to specify export settings. Here
9165 @cindex headline levels
9166 @cindex section-numbers
9167 @cindex table of contents
9168 @cindex line-break preservation
9169 @cindex quoted HTML tags
9170 @cindex fixed-width sections
9172 @cindex @TeX{}-like syntax for sub- and superscripts
9174 @cindex special strings
9175 @cindex emphasized text
9176 @cindex @TeX{} macros
9177 @cindex La@TeX{} fragments
9178 @cindex author info, in export
9179 @cindex time info, in export
9181 H: @r{set the number of headline levels for export}
9182 num: @r{turn on/off section-numbers}
9183 toc: @r{turn on/off table of contents, or set level limit (integer)}
9184 \n: @r{turn on/off line-break-preservation (DOES NOT WORK)}
9185 @@: @r{turn on/off quoted HTML tags}
9186 :: @r{turn on/off fixed-width sections}
9187 |: @r{turn on/off tables}
9188 ^: @r{turn on/off @TeX{}-like syntax for sub- and superscripts. If}
9189 @r{you write "^:@{@}", @code{a_@{b@}} will be interpreted, but}
9190 @r{the simple @code{a_b} will be left as it is.}
9191 -: @r{turn on/off conversion of special strings.}
9192 f: @r{turn on/off footnotes like this[1].}
9193 todo: @r{turn on/off inclusion of TODO keywords into exported text}
9194 pri: @r{turn on/off priority cookies}
9195 tags: @r{turn on/off inclusion of tags, may also be @code{not-in-toc}}
9196 <: @r{turn on/off inclusion of any time/date stamps like DEADLINES}
9197 *: @r{turn on/off emphasized text (bold, italic, underlined)}
9198 TeX: @r{turn on/off simple @TeX{} macros in plain text}
9199 LaTeX: @r{turn on/off La@TeX{} fragments}
9200 skip: @r{turn on/off skipping the text before the first heading}
9201 author: @r{turn on/off inclusion of author name/email into exported file}
9202 email: @r{turn on/off inclusion of author email into exported file}
9203 creator: @r{turn on/off inclusion of creator info into exported file}
9204 timestamp: @r{turn on/off inclusion creation time into exported file}
9205 d: @r{turn on/off inclusion of drawers}
9208 These options take effect in both the HTML and La@TeX{} export, except
9209 for @code{TeX} and @code{LaTeX}, which are respectively @code{t} and
9210 @code{nil} for the La@TeX{} export.
9212 When exporting only a single subtree by selecting it with @kbd{C-c @@} before
9213 calling an export command, the subtree can overrule some of the file's export
9214 settings with properties @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}, @code{EXPORT_TITLE},
9215 @code{EXPORT_TEXT}, @code{EXPORT_AUTHOR}, @code{EXPORT_DATE}, and
9216 @code{EXPORT_OPTIONS}.
9218 @node The export dispatcher, ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export, Export options, Exporting
9219 @section The export dispatcher
9220 @cindex dispatcher, for export commands
9222 All export commands can be reached using the export dispatcher, which is a
9223 prefix key that prompts for an additional key specifying the command.
9224 Normally the entire file is exported, but if there is an active region that
9225 contains one outline tree, the first heading is used as document title and
9226 the subtrees are exported.
9231 @vindex org-export-run-in-background
9232 Dispatcher for export and publishing commands. Displays a help-window
9233 listing the additional key(s) needed to launch an export or publishing
9234 command. The prefix arg is passed through to the exporter. A double prefix
9235 @kbd{C-u C-u} causes most commands to be executed in the background, in a
9236 separate Emacs process@footnote{To make this behavior the default, customize
9237 the variable @code{org-export-run-in-background}.}.
9240 Like @kbd{C-c C-e}, but only export the text that is currently visible
9241 (i.e. not hidden by outline visibility).
9242 @kindex C-u C-u C-c C-e
9243 @item C-u C-u C-c C-e
9244 @vindex org-export-run-in-background
9245 Call an the exporter, but reverse the setting of
9246 @code{org-export-run-in-background}, i.e. request background processing if
9247 not set, or force processing in the current Emacs process if set.
9250 @node ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export, HTML export, The export dispatcher, Exporting
9251 @section ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export
9252 @cindex ASCII export
9253 @cindex Latin-1 export
9254 @cindex UTF-8 export
9256 ASCII export produces a simple and very readable version of an Org-mode
9257 file, containing only plain ASCII. Latin-1 and UTF-8 export augment the file
9258 with special characters and symbols available in these encodings.
9260 @cindex region, active
9261 @cindex active region
9262 @cindex transient-mark-mode
9266 @cindex property, EXPORT_FILE_NAME
9267 Export as ASCII file. For an Org file, @file{myfile.org}, the ASCII file
9268 will be @file{myfile.txt}. The file will be overwritten without
9269 warning. If there is an active region@footnote{This requires
9270 @code{transient-mark-mode} be turned on.}, only the region will be
9271 exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
9272 current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will
9273 become the document title. If the tree head entry has or inherits an
9274 @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME} property, that name will be used for the
9278 Export to a temporary buffer, do not create a file.
9281 @item C-c C-e n @ @ @r{and} @ @ C-c C-e N
9282 Like the above commands, but use Latin-1 encoding.
9285 @item C-c C-e u @ @ @r{and} @ @ C-c C-e U
9286 Like the above commands, but use UTF-8 encoding.
9290 @item C-c C-e v a @ @ @r{and} @ @ C-c C-e v n @ @ @r{and} @ @ C-c C-e v u
9291 Export only the visible part of the document.
9294 @cindex headline levels, for exporting
9295 In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become
9296 headlines, defining a general document structure. Additional levels
9297 will be exported as itemized lists. If you want that transition to occur
9298 at a different level, specify it with a prefix argument. For example,
9305 creates only top level headlines and does the rest as items. When
9306 headlines are converted to items, the indentation of the text following
9307 the headline is changed to fit nicely under the item. This is done with
9308 the assumption that the first body line indicates the base indentation of
9309 the body text. Any indentation larger than this is adjusted to preserve
9310 the layout relative to the first line. Should there be lines with less
9311 indentation than the first, these are left alone.
9313 @vindex org-export-ascii-links-to-notes
9314 Links will be exported in a footnote-like style, with the descriptive part in
9315 the text and the link in a note before the next heading. See the variable
9316 @code{org-export-ascii-links-to-notes} for details and other options.
9318 @node HTML export, LaTeX and PDF export, ASCII/Latin-1/UTF-8 export, Exporting
9319 @section HTML export
9322 Org-mode contains an HTML (XHTML 1.0 strict) exporter with extensive
9323 HTML formatting, in ways similar to John Gruber's @emph{markdown}
9324 language, but with additional support for tables.
9327 * HTML Export commands:: How to invoke HTML export
9328 * Quoting HTML tags:: Using direct HTML in Org-mode
9329 * Links in HTML export:: How links will be interpreted and formatted
9330 * Tables in HTML export:: How to modify the formatting of tables
9331 * Images in HTML export:: How to insert figures into HTML output
9332 * Text areas in HTML export:: An alternative way to show an example
9333 * CSS support:: Changing the appearance of the output
9334 * Javascript support:: Info and Folding in a web browser
9337 @node HTML Export commands, Quoting HTML tags, HTML export, HTML export
9338 @subsection HTML export commands
9340 @cindex region, active
9341 @cindex active region
9342 @cindex transient-mark-mode
9346 @cindex property, EXPORT_FILE_NAME
9347 Export as HTML file @file{myfile.html}. For an Org file @file{myfile.org},
9348 the ASCII file will be @file{myfile.html}. The file will be overwritten
9349 without warning. If there is an active region@footnote{This requires
9350 @code{transient-mark-mode} be turned on.}, only the region will be
9351 exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
9352 current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will become the document
9353 title. If the tree head entry has, or inherits, an @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}
9354 property, that name will be used for the export.
9357 Export as HTML file and immediately open it with a browser.
9360 Export to a temporary buffer, do not create a file.
9363 Export the active region to a temporary buffer. With a prefix argument, do
9364 not produce the file header and footer, but just the plain HTML section for
9365 the region. This is good for cut-and-paste operations.
9374 Export only the visible part of the document.
9375 @item M-x org-export-region-as-html
9376 Convert the region to HTML under the assumption that it was Org-mode
9377 syntax before. This is a global command that can be invoked in any
9379 @item M-x org-replace-region-by-HTML
9380 Replace the active region (assumed to be in Org-mode syntax) by HTML
9384 @cindex headline levels, for exporting
9385 In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become headlines,
9386 defining a general document structure. Additional levels will be exported as
9387 itemized lists. If you want that transition to occur at a different level,
9388 specify it with a numeric prefix argument. For example,
9395 creates two levels of headings and does the rest as items.
9397 @node Quoting HTML tags, Links in HTML export, HTML Export commands, HTML export
9398 @subsection Quoting HTML tags
9400 Plain @samp{<} and @samp{>} are always transformed to @samp{<} and
9401 @samp{>} in HTML export. If you want to include simple HTML tags
9402 which should be interpreted as such, mark them with @samp{@@} as in
9403 @samp{@@<b>bold text@@</b>}. Note that this really works only for
9404 simple tags. For more extensive HTML that should be copied verbatim to
9405 the exported file use either
9408 @cindex #+BEGIN_HTML
9410 #+HTML: Literal HTML code for export
9414 @cindex #+BEGIN_HTML
9418 All lines between these markers are exported literally
9423 @node Links in HTML export, Tables in HTML export, Quoting HTML tags, HTML export
9424 @subsection Links in HTML export
9426 @cindex links, in HTML export
9427 @cindex internal links, in HTML export
9428 @cindex external links, in HTML export
9429 Internal links (@pxref{Internal links}) will continue to work in HTML. This
9430 includes automatic links created by radio targets (@pxref{Radio
9431 targets}). Links to external files will still work if the target file is on
9432 the same @i{relative} path as the published Org file. Links to other
9433 @file{.org} files will be translated into HTML links under the assumption
9434 that an HTML version also exists of the linked file, at the same relative
9435 path. @samp{id:} links can then be used to jump to specific entries across
9436 files. For information related to linking files while publishing them to a
9437 publishing directory see @ref{Publishing links}.
9439 If you want to specify attributes for links, you can do so using a special
9440 @code{#+ATTR_HTML} line to define attributes that will be added to the
9441 @code{<a>} or @code{<img>} tags. Here is an example that sets @code{title}
9442 and @code{style} attributes for a link:
9446 #+ATTR_HTML: title="The Org-mode homepage" style="color:red;"
9447 [[http://orgmode.org]]
9450 @node Tables in HTML export, Images in HTML export, Links in HTML export, HTML export
9452 @cindex tables, in HTML
9453 @vindex org-export-html-table-tag
9455 Org-mode tables are exported to HTML using the table tag defined in
9456 @code{org-export-html-table-tag}. The default setting makes tables without
9457 cell borders and frame. If you would like to change this for individual
9458 tables, place somthing like the following before the table:
9463 #+CAPTION: This is a table with lines around and between cells
9464 #+ATTR_HTML: border="2" rules="all" frame="all"
9467 @node Images in HTML export, Text areas in HTML export, Tables in HTML export, HTML export
9468 @subsection Images in HTML export
9470 @cindex images, inline in HTML
9471 @cindex inlining images in HTML
9472 @vindex org-export-html-inline-images
9473 HTML export can inline images given as links in the Org file, and
9474 it can make an image the clickable part of a link. By
9475 default@footnote{But see the variable
9476 @code{org-export-html-inline-images}.}, images are inlined if a link does
9477 not have a description. So @samp{[[file:myimg.jpg]]} will be inlined,
9478 while @samp{[[file:myimg.jpg][the image]]} will just produce a link
9479 @samp{the image} that points to the image. If the description part
9480 itself is a @code{file:} link or a @code{http:} URL pointing to an
9481 image, this image will be inlined and activated so that clicking on the
9482 image will activate the link. For example, to include a thumbnail that
9483 will link to a high resolution version of the image, you could use:
9486 [[file:highres.jpg][file:thumb.jpg]]
9489 If you need to add attributes to an inlines image, use a @code{#+ATTR_HTML}.
9490 In the example below we specify the @code{alt} and @code{title} attributes to
9491 support text viewers and accessibility, and align it to the right.
9496 #+CAPTION: A black cat stalking a spider
9497 #+ATTR_HTML: alt="cat/spider image" title="Action!" align="right"
9502 and you could use @code{http} addresses just as well.
9504 @node Text areas in HTML export, CSS support, Images in HTML export, HTML export
9505 @subsection Text areas in HTML export
9507 @cindex text areas, in HTML
9508 An alternative way to publish literal code examples in HTML is to use text
9509 areas, where the example can even be edited before pasting it into an
9510 application. It is triggered by a @code{-t} switch at an @code{example} or
9511 @code{src} block. Using this switch disables any options for syntax and
9512 label highlighting, and line numbering, which may be present. You may also
9513 use @code{-h} and @code{-w} switches to specify the height and width of the
9514 text area, which default to the number of lines in the example, and 80,
9515 respectively. For example
9518 #+BEGIN_EXAMPLE -t -w 40
9519 (defun org-xor (a b)
9526 @node CSS support, Javascript support, Text areas in HTML export, HTML export
9527 @subsection CSS support
9528 @cindex CSS, for HTML export
9529 @cindex HTML export, CSS
9531 @vindex org-export-html-todo-kwd-class-prefix
9532 @vindex org-export-html-tag-class-prefix
9533 You can also give style information for the exported file. The HTML exporter
9534 assigns the following special CSS classes@footnote{If the classes on TODO
9535 keywords and tags lead to conflicts, use the variables
9536 @code{org-export-html-todo-kwd-class-prefix} and
9537 @code{org-export-html-tag-class-prefix} to make them unique.} to appropriate
9538 parts of the document---your style specifications may change these, in
9539 addition to any of the standard classes like for headlines, tables, etc.
9541 p.author @r{author information, including email}
9542 p.date @r{publishing date}
9543 p.creator @r{creator info, about org-mode version}
9544 .title @r{document title}
9545 .todo @r{TODO keywords, all not-done states}
9546 .done @r{the DONE keywords, all stated the count as done}
9547 .WAITING @r{each TODO keyword also uses a class named after itself}
9548 .timestamp @r{timestamp}
9549 .timestamp-kwd @r{keyword associated with a timestamp, like SCHEDULED}
9550 .timestamp-wrapper @r{span around keyword plus timestamp}
9551 .tag @r{tag in a headline}
9552 ._HOME @r{each tag uses itself as a class, "@@" replaced by "_"}
9553 .target @r{target for links}
9554 .linenr @r{the line number in a code example}
9555 .code-highlighted @r{for highlighting referenced code lines}
9556 div.outline-N @r{div for outline level N (headline plus text))}
9557 div.outline-text-N @r{extra div for text at outline level N}
9558 .section-number-N @r{section number in headlines, different for each level}
9559 div.figure @r{how to format an inlined image}
9560 pre.src @r{formatted source code}
9561 pre.example @r{normal example}
9562 p.verse @r{verse paragraph}
9563 div.footnotes @r{footnote section headline}
9564 p.footnote @r{footnote definition paragraph, containing a footnote}
9565 .footref @r{a footnote reference number (always a <sup>)}
9566 .footnum @r{footnote number in footnote definition (always <sup>)}
9569 @vindex org-export-html-style-default
9570 @vindex org-export-html-style-include-default
9571 @vindex org-export-html-style
9572 @vindex org-export-html-extra
9573 @vindex org-export-html-style-default
9574 Each exported file contains a compact default style that defines these
9575 classes in a basic way@footnote{This style is defined in the constant
9576 @code{org-export-html-style-default}, which you should not modify. To turn
9577 inclusion of these defaults off, customize
9578 @code{org-export-html-style-include-default}}. You may overwrite these
9579 settings, or add to them by using the variables @code{org-export-html-style}
9580 (for Org-wide settings) and @code{org-export-html-style-extra} (for more
9581 granular settings, like file-local settings). To set the latter variable
9582 individually for each file, you can use
9586 #+STYLE: <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet.css" />
9590 For longer style definitions, you can use several such lines. You could also
9591 directly write a @code{<style>} @code{</style>} section in this way, without
9592 referring to an external file.
9594 @c FIXME: More about header and footer styles
9595 @c FIXME: Talk about links and targets.
9597 @node Javascript support, , CSS support, HTML export
9598 @subsection Javascript supported display of web pages
9600 @cindex Rose, Sebastian
9601 Sebastian Rose has written a JavaScript program especially designed to
9602 enhance the web viewing experience of HTML files created with Org. This
9603 program allows you to view large files in two different ways. The first one
9604 is an @emph{Info}-like mode where each section is displayed separately and
9605 navigation can be done with the @kbd{n} and @kbd{p} keys (and some other keys
9606 as well, press @kbd{?} for an overview of the available keys). The second
9607 view type is a @emph{folding} view much like Org provides inside Emacs. The
9608 script is available at @url{http://orgmode.org/org-info.js} and you can find
9609 the documentation for it at @url{http://orgmode.org/worg/code/org-info-js/}.
9610 We host the script at our site, but if you use it a lot, you might
9611 not want to be dependent on @url{orgmode.org} and prefer to install a local
9612 copy on your own web server.
9614 To use the script, you need to make sure that the @file{org-jsinfo.el} module
9615 gets loaded. It should be loaded by default, but you can try @kbd{M-x
9616 customize-variable @key{RET} org-modules @key{RET}} to convince yourself that
9617 this is indeed the case. All it then takes to make use of the program is
9618 adding a single line to the Org file:
9620 @cindex #+INFOJS_OPT
9622 #+INFOJS_OPT: view:info toc:nil
9626 If this line is found, the HTML header will automatically contain the code
9627 needed to invoke the script. Using the line above, you can set the following
9631 path: @r{The path to the script. The default is to grab the script from}
9632 @r{@url{http://orgmode.org/org-info.js}, but you might want to have}
9633 @r{a local copy and use a path like @samp{../scripts/org-info.js}.}
9634 view: @r{Initial view when website is first shown. Possible values are:}
9635 info @r{Info-like interface with one section per page.}
9636 overview @r{Folding interface, initially showing only top-level.}
9637 content @r{Folding interface, starting with all headlines visible.}
9638 showall @r{Folding interface, all headlines and text visible.}
9639 sdepth: @r{Maximum headline level that will still become an independent}
9640 @r{section for info and folding modes. The default is taken from}
9641 @r{@code{org-export-headline-levels} (= the @code{H} switch in @code{#+OPTIONS}).}
9642 @r{If this is smaller than in @code{org-export-headline-levels}, each}
9643 @r{info/folding section can still contain child headlines.}
9644 toc: @r{Should the table of content @emph{initially} be visible?}
9645 @r{Even when @code{nil}, you can always get to the "toc" with @kbd{i}.}
9646 tdepth: @r{The depth of the table of contents. The defaults are taken from}
9647 @r{the variables @code{org-export-headline-levels} and @code{org-export-with-toc}.}
9648 ftoc: @r{Does the css of the page specify a fixed position for the "toc"?}
9649 @r{If yes, the toc will never be displayed as a section.}
9650 ltoc: @r{Should there be short contents (children) in each section?}
9651 @r{Make this @code{above} if the section should be above initial text.}
9652 mouse: @r{Headings are highlighted when the mouse is over them. Should be}
9653 @r{@samp{underline} (default) or a background color like @samp{#cccccc}.}
9654 buttons: @r{Should view-toggle buttons be everywhere? When @code{nil} (the}
9655 @r{default), only one such button will be present.}
9658 @vindex org-infojs-options
9659 @vindex org-export-html-use-infojs
9660 You can choose default values for these options by customizing the variable
9661 @code{org-infojs-options}. If you always want to apply the script to your
9662 pages, configure the variable @code{org-export-html-use-infojs}.
9664 @node LaTeX and PDF export, DocBook export, HTML export, Exporting
9665 @section La@TeX{} and PDF export
9666 @cindex La@TeX{} export
9668 @cindex Guerry, Bastien
9670 Org-mode contains a La@TeX{} exporter written by Bastien Guerry. With
9671 further processing@footnote{The default LaTeX output is designed for
9672 processing with pdftex or latex. It includes packages that are not
9673 compatible with xetex and possibly luatex. See the variables
9674 @code{org-export-latex-default-packages-alist} and
9675 @code{org-export-latex-packages-alist}.}, this backend is also used to
9676 produce PDF output. Since the La@TeX{} output uses @file{hyperref} to
9677 implement links and cross references, the PDF output file will be fully
9681 * LaTeX/PDF export commands:: Which key invokes which commands
9682 * Header and sectioning:: Setting up the export file structure
9683 * Quoting LaTeX code:: Incorporating literal La@TeX{} code
9684 * Tables in LaTeX export:: Options for exporting tables to La@TeX{}
9685 * Images in LaTeX export:: How to insert figures into La@TeX{} output
9686 * Beamer class export:: Turning the file into a presentation
9689 @node LaTeX/PDF export commands, Header and sectioning, LaTeX and PDF export, LaTeX and PDF export
9690 @subsection La@TeX{} export commands
9692 @cindex region, active
9693 @cindex active region
9694 @cindex transient-mark-mode
9698 @cindex property EXPORT_FILE_NAME
9699 Export as La@TeX{} file @file{myfile.tex}. For an Org file
9700 @file{myfile.org}, the ASCII file will be @file{myfile.tex}. The file will
9701 be overwritten without warning. If there is an active region@footnote{This
9702 requires @code{transient-mark-mode} be turned on.}, only the region will be
9703 exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
9704 current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will become the document
9705 title. If the tree head entry has or inherits an @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}
9706 property, that name will be used for the export.
9709 Export to a temporary buffer, do not create a file.
9714 Export only the visible part of the document.
9715 @item M-x org-export-region-as-latex
9716 Convert the region to La@TeX{} under the assumption that it was Org-mode
9717 syntax before. This is a global command that can be invoked in any
9719 @item M-x org-replace-region-by-latex
9720 Replace the active region (assumed to be in Org-mode syntax) by La@TeX{}
9724 Export as La@TeX{} and then process to PDF.
9727 Export as La@TeX{} and then process to PDF, then open the resulting PDF file.
9730 @cindex headline levels, for exporting
9731 @vindex org-latex-low-levels
9732 In the exported version, the first 3 outline levels will become
9733 headlines, defining a general document structure. Additional levels
9734 will be exported as description lists. The exporter can ignore them or
9735 convert them to a custom string depending on
9736 @code{org-latex-low-levels}.
9738 If you want that transition to occur at a different level, specify it
9739 with a numeric prefix argument. For example,
9746 creates two levels of headings and does the rest as items.
9748 @node Header and sectioning, Quoting LaTeX code, LaTeX/PDF export commands, LaTeX and PDF export
9749 @subsection Header and sectioning structure
9750 @cindex La@TeX{} class
9751 @cindex La@TeX{} sectioning structure
9752 @cindex La@TeX{} header
9753 @cindex header, for LaTeX files
9754 @cindex sectioning structure, for LaTeX export
9756 By default, the La@TeX{} output uses the class @code{article}.
9758 @vindex org-export-latex-default-class
9759 @vindex org-export-latex-classes
9760 @vindex org-export-latex-default-packages-alist
9761 @vindex org-export-latex-packages-alist
9762 @cindex #+LATEX_HEADER
9763 @cindex #+LATEX_CLASS
9764 @cindex #+LATEX_CLASS_OPTIONS
9765 @cindex property, LATEX_CLASS
9766 @cindex property, LATEX_CLASS_OPTIONS
9767 You can change this globally by setting a different value for
9768 @code{org-export-latex-default-class} or locally by adding an option like
9769 @code{#+LaTeX_CLASS: myclass} in your file, or with a @code{:LaTeX_CLASS:}
9770 property that applies when exporting a region containing only this (sub)tree.
9771 The class must be listed in @code{org-export-latex-classes}. This variable
9772 defines a header template for each class@footnote{Into which the values of
9773 @code{org-export-latex-default-packages-alist} and
9774 @code{org-export-latex-packages-alist} are spliced.}, and allows you to
9775 define the sectioning structure for each class. You can also define your own
9776 classes there. @code{#+LaTeX_CLASS_OPTIONS} or a @code{LaTeX_CLASS_OPTIONS}
9777 property can specify the options for the @code{\documentclass} macro. You
9778 can also use @code{#+LATEX_HEADER: \usepackage@{xyz@}} to add lines to the
9779 header. See the docstring of @code{org-export-latex-classes} for more
9782 @node Quoting LaTeX code, Tables in LaTeX export, Header and sectioning, LaTeX and PDF export
9783 @subsection Quoting La@TeX{} code
9785 Embedded La@TeX{} as described in @ref{Embedded LaTeX}, will be correctly
9786 inserted into the La@TeX{} file. This includes simple macros like
9787 @samp{\ref@{LABEL@}} to create a cross reference to a figure. Furthermore,
9788 you can add special code that should only be present in La@TeX{} export with
9789 the following constructs:
9792 @cindex #+BEGIN_LaTeX
9794 #+LaTeX: Literal LaTeX code for export
9798 @cindex #+BEGIN_LaTeX
9802 All lines between these markers are exported literally
9807 @node Tables in LaTeX export, Images in LaTeX export, Quoting LaTeX code, LaTeX and PDF export
9808 @subsection Tables in La@TeX{} export
9809 @cindex tables, in La@TeX{} export
9811 For La@TeX{} export of a table, you can specify a label and a caption
9812 (@pxref{Images and tables}). You can also use the @code{ATTR_LaTeX} line to
9813 request a @code{longtable} environment for the table, so that it may span
9814 several pages, or provide the @code{multicolumn} keyword that will make the
9815 table span the page in a multicolumn environment (@code{table*} environment).
9816 Finally, you can set the alignment string:
9820 @cindex #+ATTR_LaTeX
9822 #+CAPTION: A long table
9824 #+ATTR_LaTeX: longtable align=l|lp@{3cm@}r|l
9830 @node Images in LaTeX export, Beamer class export, Tables in LaTeX export, LaTeX and PDF export
9831 @subsection Images in La@TeX{} export
9832 @cindex images, inline in La@TeX{}
9833 @cindex inlining images in La@TeX{}
9835 Images that are linked to without a description part in the link, like
9836 @samp{[[file:img.jpg]]} or @samp{[[./img.jpg]]} will be inserted into the PDF
9837 output file resulting from La@TeX{} processing. Org will use an
9838 @code{\includegraphics} macro to insert the image. If you have specified a
9839 caption and/or a label as described in @ref{Images and tables}, the figure
9840 will be wrapped into a @code{figure} environment and thus become a floating
9841 element. You can use an @code{#+ATTR_LaTeX:} line to specify the various
9842 options that can be used in the optional argument of the
9843 @code{\includegraphics} macro. To modify the placement option of the
9844 @code{figure} environment, add something like @samp{placement=[h!]} to the
9847 If you would like to let text flow around the image, add the word @samp{wrap}
9848 to the @code{#+ATTR_LaTeX:} line, which will make the figure occupy the left
9849 half of the page. To fine-tune, the @code{placement} field will be the set
9850 of additional arguments needed by the @code{wrapfigure} environment. Note
9851 that if you change the size of the image, you need to use compatible settings
9852 for @code{\includegraphics} and @code{wrapfigure}.
9856 @cindex #+ATTR_LaTeX
9858 #+CAPTION: The black-body emission of the disk around HR 4049
9859 #+LABEL: fig:SED-HR4049
9860 #+ATTR_LaTeX: width=5cm,angle=90
9861 [[./img/sed-hr4049.pdf]]
9863 #+ATTR_LaTeX: width=0.38\textwidth wrap placement=@{r@}@{0.4\textwidth@}
9867 If you need references to a label created in this way, write
9868 @samp{\ref@{fig:SED-HR4049@}} just like in La@TeX{}.
9870 @node Beamer class export, , Images in LaTeX export, LaTeX and PDF export
9871 @subsection Beamer class export
9873 The LaTeX class @file{beamer} allows production of high quality presentations
9874 using LaTeX and pdf processing. Org-mode has special support for turning an
9875 Org-mode file or tree into a @file{beamer} presentation.
9877 When the LaTeX class for the current buffer (as set with @code{#+LaTeX_CLASS:
9878 beamer}) or subtree (set with a @code{LaTeX_CLASS} property) is
9879 @code{beamer}, a special export mode will turn the file or tree into a beamer
9880 presentation. Any tree with not-too-deep level nesting should in principle be
9881 exportable as a beamer presentation. By default, the top-level entries (or
9882 the first level below the selected subtree heading) will be turned into
9883 frames, and the outline structure below this level will become itemize lists.
9884 You can also configure the variable @code{org-beamer-frame-level} to a
9885 different level - then the hierarchy above frames will produce the sectioning
9886 structure of the presentation.
9888 A template for useful in-buffer settings or properties can be inserted into
9889 the buffer with @kbd{M-x org-beamer-settings-template}. Among other things,
9890 this will install a column view format which is very handy for editing
9891 special properties used by beamer.
9893 You can influence the structure of the presentation using the following
9898 The environment that should be used to format this entry. Valid environments
9899 are defined in the constant @code{org-beamer-environments-default}, and you
9900 can define more in @code{org-beamer-environments-extra}. If this property is
9901 set, the entry will also get a @code{:B_environment:} tag to make this
9902 visible. This tag has no semantic meaning, it is only a visual aid.
9903 @item BEAMER_envargs
9904 The beamer-special arguments that should be used for the environment, like
9905 @code{[t]} or @code{[<+->]} of @code{<2-3>}. If the @code{BEAMER_col}
9906 property is also set, something like @code{C[t]} can be added here as well to
9907 set an options argument for the implied @code{columns} environment.
9908 @code{c[t]} will set an option for the implied @code{column} environment.
9910 The width of a column that should start with this entry. If this property is
9911 set, the entry will also get a @code{:BMCOL:} property to make this visible.
9912 Also this tag is only a visual aid. When this is a plain number, it will be
9913 interpreted as a fraction of @code{\textwidth}. Otherwise it will be assumed
9914 that you have specified the units, like @samp{3cm}. The first such property
9915 in a frame will start a @code{columns} environment to surround the columns.
9916 This environment is closed when an entry has a @code{BEAMER_col} property
9917 with value 0 or 1, or automatically at the end of the frame.
9919 Additional commands that should be inserted after the environment has been
9920 opened. For example, when creating a frame, this can be used to specify
9924 Frames will automatically receive a @code{fragile} option if they contain
9925 source code that uses the verbatim environment. Special @file{beamer}
9926 specific code can be inserted using @code{#+BEAMER:} and
9927 @code{#+BEGIN_beamer...#+end_beamer} constructs, similar to other export
9928 backends, but with the difference that @code{#+LaTeX:} stuff will be included
9929 in the presentation as well.
9931 Outline nodes with @code{BEAMER_env} property value @samp{note} or
9932 @samp{noteNH} will be formatted as beamer notes, i,e, they will be wrapped
9933 into @code{\note@{...@}}. The former will include the heading as part of the
9934 note text, the latter will ignore the heading of that node. To simplify note
9935 generation, it is actually enough to mark the note with a @emph{tag} (either
9936 @code{:B_note:} or @code{:B_noteNH:}) instead of creating the
9937 @code{BEAMER_env} property.
9939 You can turn on a special minor mode @code{org-beamer-mode} for editing
9949 In @code{org-beamer-mode}, this key offers fast selection of a beamer
9950 environment or the @code{BEAMER_col} property.
9953 Column view provides a great way to set the environment of a node and other
9954 important parameters. Make sure you are using a COLUMN format that is geared
9955 toward this special purpose. The command @kbd{M-x
9956 org-beamer-settings-template} defines such a format.
9958 Here is a simple example Org document that is intended for beamer export.
9961 #+LaTeX_CLASS: beamer
9962 #+TITLE: Example Presentation
9963 #+AUTHOR: Carsten Dominik
9964 #+LaTeX_CLASS_OPTIONS: [presentation]
9965 #+BEAMER_FRAME_LEVEL: 2
9966 #+BEAMER_HEADER_EXTRA: \usetheme@{Madrid@}\usecolortheme@{default@}
9967 #+COLUMNS: %35ITEM %10BEAMER_env(Env) %10BEAMER_envargs(Args) %4BEAMER_col(Col) %8BEAMER_extra(Ex)
9969 * This is the first structural section
9971 ** Frame 1 \\ with a subtitle
9972 *** Thanks to Eric Fraga :BMCOL:B_block:
9975 :BEAMER_envargs: C[t]
9978 for the first viable beamer setup in Org
9979 *** Thanks to everyone else :BMCOL:B_block:
9983 :BEAMER_envargs: <2->
9985 for contributing to the discussion
9986 **** This will be formatted as a beamer note :B_note:
9987 ** Frame 2 \\ where we will not use columns
9988 *** Request :B_block:
9989 Please test this stuff!
9995 For more information, see the documentation on Worg.
9997 @node DocBook export, TaskJuggler export, LaTeX and PDF export, Exporting
9998 @section DocBook export
9999 @cindex DocBook export
10001 @cindex Cui, Baoqiu
10003 Org contains a DocBook exporter written by Baoqiu Cui. Once an Org file is
10004 exported to DocBook format, it can be further processed to produce other
10005 formats, including PDF, HTML, man pages, etc., using many available DocBook
10006 tools and stylesheets.
10008 Currently DocBook exporter only supports DocBook V5.0.
10011 * DocBook export commands:: How to invoke DocBook export
10012 * Quoting DocBook code:: Incorporating DocBook code in Org files
10013 * Recursive sections:: Recursive sections in DocBook
10014 * Tables in DocBook export:: Tables are exported as HTML tables
10015 * Images in DocBook export:: How to insert figures into DocBook output
10016 * Special characters:: How to handle special characters
10019 @node DocBook export commands, Quoting DocBook code, DocBook export, DocBook export
10020 @subsection DocBook export commands
10022 @cindex region, active
10023 @cindex active region
10024 @cindex transient-mark-mode
10028 @cindex property EXPORT_FILE_NAME
10029 Export as DocBook file. For an Org file, @file{myfile.org}, the DocBook XML
10030 file will be @file{myfile.xml}. The file will be overwritten without
10031 warning. If there is an active region@footnote{This requires
10032 @code{transient-mark-mode} to be turned on}, only the region will be
10033 exported. If the selected region is a single tree@footnote{To select the
10034 current subtree, use @kbd{C-c @@}.}, the tree head will become the document
10035 title. If the tree head entry has, or inherits, an @code{EXPORT_FILE_NAME}
10036 property, that name will be used for the export.
10039 Export as DocBook file, process to PDF, then open the resulting PDF file.
10041 @vindex org-export-docbook-xslt-proc-command
10042 @vindex org-export-docbook-xsl-fo-proc-command
10043 Note that, in order to produce PDF output based on exported DocBook file, you
10044 need to have XSLT processor and XSL-FO processor software installed on your
10045 system. Check variables @code{org-export-docbook-xslt-proc-command} and
10046 @code{org-export-docbook-xsl-fo-proc-command}.
10048 @vindex org-export-docbook-xslt-stylesheet
10049 The stylesheet argument @code{%s} in variable
10050 @code{org-export-docbook-xslt-proc-command} is replaced by the value of
10051 variable @code{org-export-docbook-xslt-stylesheet}, which needs to be set by
10052 the user. You can also overrule this global setting on a per-file basis by
10053 adding an in-buffer setting @code{#+XSLT:} to the Org file.
10055 @kindex C-c C-e v D
10057 Export only the visible part of the document.
10060 @node Quoting DocBook code, Recursive sections, DocBook export commands, DocBook export
10061 @subsection Quoting DocBook code
10063 You can quote DocBook code in Org files and copy it verbatim into exported
10064 DocBook file with the following constructs:
10067 @cindex #+BEGIN_DOCBOOK
10069 #+DOCBOOK: Literal DocBook code for export
10073 @cindex #+BEGIN_DOCBOOK
10077 All lines between these markers are exported by DocBook exporter
10082 For example, you can use the following lines to include a DocBook warning
10083 admonition. As to what this warning says, you should pay attention to the
10084 document context when quoting DocBook code in Org files. You may make
10085 exported DocBook XML files invalid by not quoting DocBook code correctly.
10090 <para>You should know what you are doing when quoting DocBook XML code
10091 in your Org file. Invalid DocBook XML file may be generated by
10092 DocBook exporter if you are not careful!</para>
10097 @node Recursive sections, Tables in DocBook export, Quoting DocBook code, DocBook export
10098 @subsection Recursive sections
10099 @cindex DocBook recursive sections
10101 DocBook exporter exports Org files as articles using the @code{article}
10102 element in DocBook. Recursive sections, i.e. @code{section} elements, are
10103 used in exported articles. Top level headlines in Org files are exported as
10104 top level sections, and lower level headlines are exported as nested
10105 sections. The entire structure of Org files will be exported completely, no
10106 matter how many nested levels of headlines there are.
10108 Using recursive sections makes it easy to port and reuse exported DocBook
10109 code in other DocBook document types like @code{book} or @code{set}.
10111 @node Tables in DocBook export, Images in DocBook export, Recursive sections, DocBook export
10112 @subsection Tables in DocBook export
10113 @cindex tables, in DocBook export
10115 Tables in Org files are exported as HTML tables, which have been supported since
10118 If a table does not have a caption, an informal table is generated using the
10119 @code{informaltable} element; otherwise, a formal table will be generated
10120 using the @code{table} element.
10122 @node Images in DocBook export, Special characters, Tables in DocBook export, DocBook export
10123 @subsection Images in DocBook export
10124 @cindex images, inline in DocBook
10125 @cindex inlining images in DocBook
10127 Images that are linked to without a description part in the link, like
10128 @samp{[[file:img.jpg]]} or @samp{[[./img.jpg]]}, will be exported to DocBook
10129 using @code{mediaobject} elements. Each @code{mediaobject} element contains
10130 an @code{imageobject} that wraps an @code{imagedata} element. If you have
10131 specified a caption for an image as described in @ref{Images and tables}, a
10132 @code{caption} element will be added in @code{mediaobject}. If a label is
10133 also specified, it will be exported as an @code{xml:id} attribute of the
10134 @code{mediaobject} element.
10136 @vindex org-export-docbook-default-image-attributes
10137 Image attributes supported by the @code{imagedata} element, like @code{align}
10138 or @code{width}, can be specified in two ways: you can either customize
10139 variable @code{org-export-docbook-default-image-attributes} or use the
10140 @code{#+ATTR_DOCBOOK:} line. Attributes specified in variable
10141 @code{org-export-docbook-default-image-attributes} are applied to all inline
10142 images in the Org file to be exported (unless they are overridden by image
10143 attributes specified in @code{#+ATTR_DOCBOOK:} lines).
10145 The @code{#+ATTR_DOCBOOK:} line can be used to specify additional image
10146 attributes or override default image attributes for individual images. If
10147 the same attribute appears in both the @code{#+ATTR_DOCBOOK:} line and
10148 variable @code{org-export-docbook-default-image-attributes}, the former
10149 takes precedence. Here is an example about how image attributes can be
10154 @cindex #+ATTR_DOCBOOK
10156 #+CAPTION: The logo of Org-mode
10157 #+LABEL: unicorn-svg
10158 #+ATTR_DOCBOOK: scalefit="1" width="100%" depth="100%"
10159 [[./img/org-mode-unicorn.svg]]
10162 @vindex org-export-docbook-inline-image-extensions
10163 By default, DocBook exporter recognizes the following image file types:
10164 @file{jpeg}, @file{jpg}, @file{png}, @file{gif}, and @file{svg}. You can
10165 customize variable @code{org-export-docbook-inline-image-extensions} to add
10166 more types to this list as long as DocBook supports them.
10168 @node Special characters, , Images in DocBook export, DocBook export
10169 @subsection Special characters in DocBook export
10170 @cindex Special characters in DocBook export
10172 @vindex org-export-docbook-doctype
10173 @vindex org-entities
10174 Special characters that are written in @TeX{}-like syntax, such as @code{\alpha},
10175 @code{\Gamma}, and @code{\Zeta}, are supported by DocBook exporter. These
10176 characters are rewritten to XML entities, like @code{α},
10177 @code{Γ}, and @code{Ζ}, based on the list saved in variable
10178 @code{org-entities}. As long as the generated DocBook file includes the
10179 corresponding entities, these special characters are recognized.
10181 You can customize variable @code{org-export-docbook-doctype} to include the
10182 entities you need. For example, you can set variable
10183 @code{org-export-docbook-doctype} to the following value to recognize all
10184 special characters included in XHTML entities:
10187 "<!DOCTYPE article [
10188 <!ENTITY % xhtml1-symbol PUBLIC
10189 \"-//W3C//ENTITIES Symbol for HTML//EN//XML\"
10190 \"http://www.w3.org/2003/entities/2007/xhtml1-symbol.ent\"
10197 @node TaskJuggler export, Freemind export, DocBook export, Exporting
10198 @section TaskJuggler export
10199 @cindex TaskJuggler export
10200 @cindex Project management
10202 @uref{http://www.taskjuggler.org/, TaskJuggler} is a project management tool.
10203 It provides an optimizing scheduler that computes your project time lines and
10204 resource assignments based on the project outline and the constraints that
10207 The TaskJuggler exporter is a bit different from other exporters, such as the
10208 HTML and LaTeX exporters for example, in that it does not export all the
10209 nodes of a document or strictly follow the order of the nodes in the
10212 Instead the TaskJuggler exporter looks for a tree that defines the tasks and
10213 a optionally tree that defines the resources for this project. It then
10214 creates a TaskJuggler file based on these trees and the attributes defined in
10217 @subsection TaskJuggler export commands
10222 Export as TaskJuggler file.
10226 Export as TaskJuggler file and then open the file with TaskJugglerUI.
10231 @vindex org-export-taskjuggler-project-tag
10232 Create your tasks as you usually do with Org-mode. Assign efforts to each
10233 task using properties (it's easiest to do this in the column view). You
10234 should end up with something similar to the example by Peter Jones in
10235 @url{http://www.contextualdevelopment.com/static/artifacts/articles/2008/project-planning/project-planning.org}.
10236 Now mark the top node of your tasks with a tag named
10237 @code{:taskjuggler_project:} (or whatever you customized
10238 @code{org-export-taskjuggler-project-tag} to). You are now ready to export
10239 the project plan with @kbd{C-c C-e J} which will export the project plan and
10240 open a gantt chart in TaskJugglerUI.
10242 @subsection Resources
10244 @vindex org-export-taskjuggler-resource-tag
10245 Next you can define resources and assign those to work on specific tasks. You
10246 can group your resources hierarchically. Tag the top node of the resources
10247 with @code{:taskjuggler_resource:} (or whatever you customized
10248 @code{org-export-taskjuggler-resource-tag} to). You can optionally assign an
10249 identifier (named @samp{resource_id}) to the resources (using the standard
10250 Org properties commands, @pxref{Property syntax}) or you can let the exporter
10251 generate identifiers automatically (the exporter picks the first word of the
10252 headline as the identifier as long as it is unique, see the documentation of
10253 @code{org-taskjuggler-get-unique-id}). Using that identifier you can then
10254 allocate resources to tasks. This is again done with the @samp{allocate}
10255 property on the tasks. Do this in column view or when on the task type
10256 @kbd{C-c C-x p allocate @key{RET} <resource_id> @key{RET}}.
10258 Once the allocations are done you can again export to TaskJuggler and check
10259 in the Resource Allocation Graph which person is working on what task at what
10262 @subsection Export of properties
10264 The exporter also takes TODO state information into consideration, i.e. if a
10265 task is marked as done it will have the corresponding attribute in
10266 TaskJuggler (@samp{complete 100}). Also it will export any property on a task
10267 resource or resource node which is known to TaskJuggler, such as
10268 @samp{limits}, @samp{vacation}, @samp{shift}, @samp{booking},
10269 @samp{efficiency}, @samp{journalentry}, @samp{rate} for resources or
10270 @samp{account}, @samp{start}, @samp{note}, @samp{duration}, @samp{end},
10271 @samp{journalentry}, @samp{milestone}, @samp{reference}, @samp{responsible},
10272 @samp{scheduling}, etc for tasks.
10274 @subsection Dependencies
10276 The exporter will handle dependencies that are defined in the tasks either
10277 with the @samp{ORDERED} attribute (@pxref{TODO dependencies}), with the
10278 @samp{BLOCKER} attribute (see org-depend.el) or alternatively with a
10279 @samp{depends} attribute. Both the @samp{BLOCKER} and the @samp{depends}
10280 attribute can be either @samp{previous-sibling} or a reference to an
10281 identifier (named @samp{task_id}) which is defined for another task in the
10282 project. @samp{BLOCKER} and the @samp{depends} attribute can define multiple
10283 dependencies separated by either space or comma. You can also specify
10284 optional attributes on the dependency by simply appending it. The following
10285 examples should illustrate this:
10290 :task_id: preparation
10293 * Training material
10295 :task_id: training_material
10298 ** Markup Guidelines
10302 ** Workflow Guidelines
10309 :BLOCKER: training_material @{ gapduration 1d @} preparation
10313 @subsection Reports
10315 @vindex org-export-taskjuggler-default-reports
10316 TaskJuggler can produce many kinds of reports (e.g. gantt chart, resource
10317 allocation, etc). The user defines what kind of reports should be generated
10318 for a project in the TaskJuggler file. The exporter will automatically insert
10319 some default reports in the file. These defaults are defined in
10320 @code{org-export-taskjuggler-default-reports}. They can be modified using
10321 customize along with a number of other options. For a more complete list, see
10322 @kbd{M-x customize-group @key{RET} org-export-taskjuggler @key{RET}}.
10324 For more information and examples see the Org-taskjuggler tutorial at
10325 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-taskjuggler.php}.
10327 @node Freemind export, XOXO export, TaskJuggler export, Exporting
10328 @section Freemind export
10329 @cindex Freemind export
10332 The freemind exporter was written by Lennart Borgman.
10337 Export as Freemind mind map @file{myfile.mm}.
10340 @node XOXO export, iCalendar export, Freemind export, Exporting
10341 @section XOXO export
10342 @cindex XOXO export
10344 Org-mode contains an exporter that produces XOXO-style output.
10345 Currently, this exporter only handles the general outline structure and
10346 does not interpret any additional Org-mode features.
10351 Export as XOXO file @file{myfile.html}.
10354 Export only the visible part of the document.
10357 @node iCalendar export, , XOXO export, Exporting
10358 @section iCalendar export
10359 @cindex iCalendar export
10361 @vindex org-icalendar-include-todo
10362 @vindex org-icalendar-use-deadline
10363 @vindex org-icalendar-use-scheduled
10364 @vindex org-icalendar-categories
10365 Some people use Org-mode for keeping track of projects, but still prefer a
10366 standard calendar application for anniversaries and appointments. In this
10367 case it can be useful to show deadlines and other time-stamped items in Org
10368 files in the calendar application. Org-mode can export calendar information
10369 in the standard iCalendar format. If you also want to have TODO entries
10370 included in the export, configure the variable
10371 @code{org-icalendar-include-todo}. Plain timestamps are exported as VEVENT,
10372 and TODO items as VTODO. It will also create events from deadlines that are
10373 in non-TODO items. Deadlines and scheduling dates in TODO items will be used
10374 to set the start and due dates for the TODO entry@footnote{See the variables
10375 @code{org-icalendar-use-deadline} and @code{org-icalendar-use-scheduled}.}.
10376 As categories, it will use the tags locally defined in the heading, and the
10377 file/tree category@footnote{To add inherited tags or the TODO state,
10378 configure the variable @code{org-icalendar-categories}.}.
10380 @vindex org-icalendar-store-UID
10381 @cindex property, ID
10382 The iCalendar standard requires each entry to have a globally unique
10383 identifier (UID). Org creates these identifiers during export. If you set
10384 the variable @code{org-icalendar-store-UID}, the UID will be stored in the
10385 @code{:ID:} property of the entry and re-used next time you report this
10386 entry. Since a single entry can give rise to multiple iCalendar entries (as
10387 a timestamp, a deadline, a scheduled item, and as a TODO item), Org adds
10388 prefixes to the UID, depending on what triggered the inclusion of the entry.
10389 In this way the UID remains unique, but a synchronization program can still
10390 figure out from which entry all the different instances originate.
10395 Create iCalendar entries for the current file and store them in the same
10396 directory, using a file extension @file{.ics}.
10399 @vindex org-agenda-files
10400 Like @kbd{C-c C-e i}, but do this for all files in
10401 @code{org-agenda-files}. For each of these files, a separate iCalendar
10402 file will be written.
10405 @vindex org-combined-agenda-icalendar-file
10406 Create a single large iCalendar file from all files in
10407 @code{org-agenda-files} and write it to the file given by
10408 @code{org-combined-agenda-icalendar-file}.
10411 @vindex org-use-property-inheritance
10412 @vindex org-icalendar-include-body
10413 @cindex property, SUMMARY
10414 @cindex property, DESCRIPTION
10415 @cindex property, LOCATION
10416 The export will honor SUMMARY, DESCRIPTION and LOCATION@footnote{The LOCATION
10417 property can be inherited from higher in the hierarchy if you configure
10418 @code{org-use-property-inheritance} accordingly.} properties if the selected
10419 entries have them. If not, the summary will be derived from the headline,
10420 and the description from the body (limited to
10421 @code{org-icalendar-include-body} characters).
10423 How this calendar is best read and updated, depends on the application
10424 you are using. The FAQ covers this issue.
10426 @node Publishing, Working With Source Code, Exporting, Top
10427 @chapter Publishing
10429 @cindex O'Toole, David
10431 Org includes a publishing management system that allows you to configure
10432 automatic HTML conversion of @emph{projects} composed of interlinked org
10433 files. You can also configure Org to automatically upload your exported HTML
10434 pages and related attachments, such as images and source code files, to a web
10437 You can also use Org to convert files into PDF, or even combine HTML and PDF
10438 conversion so that files are available in both formats on the server.
10440 Publishing has been contributed to Org by David O'Toole.
10443 * Configuration:: Defining projects
10444 * Uploading files:: How to get files up on the server
10445 * Sample configuration:: Example projects
10446 * Triggering publication:: Publication commands
10449 @node Configuration, Uploading files, Publishing, Publishing
10450 @section Configuration
10452 Publishing needs significant configuration to specify files, destination
10453 and many other properties of a project.
10456 * Project alist:: The central configuration variable
10457 * Sources and destinations:: From here to there
10458 * Selecting files:: What files are part of the project?
10459 * Publishing action:: Setting the function doing the publishing
10460 * Publishing options:: Tweaking HTML export
10461 * Publishing links:: Which links keep working after publishing?
10462 * Sitemap:: Generating a list of all pages
10463 * Generating an index:: An index that reaches across pages
10466 @node Project alist, Sources and destinations, Configuration, Configuration
10467 @subsection The variable @code{org-publish-project-alist}
10468 @cindex org-publish-project-alist
10469 @cindex projects, for publishing
10471 @vindex org-publish-project-alist
10472 Publishing is configured almost entirely through setting the value of one
10473 variable, called @code{org-publish-project-alist}. Each element of the list
10474 configures one project, and may be in one of the two following forms:
10477 ("project-name" :property value :property value ...)
10479 ("project-name" :components ("project-name" "project-name" ...))
10483 In both cases, projects are configured by specifying property values. A
10484 project defines the set of files that will be published, as well as the
10485 publishing configuration to use when publishing those files. When a project
10486 takes the second form listed above, the individual members of the
10487 @code{:components} property are taken to be sub-projects, which group
10488 together files requiring different publishing options. When you publish such
10489 a ``meta-project'', all the components will also be published, in the
10492 @node Sources and destinations, Selecting files, Project alist, Configuration
10493 @subsection Sources and destinations for files
10494 @cindex directories, for publishing
10496 Most properties are optional, but some should always be set. In
10497 particular, Org needs to know where to look for source files,
10498 and where to put published files.
10500 @multitable @columnfractions 0.3 0.7
10501 @item @code{:base-directory}
10502 @tab Directory containing publishing source files
10503 @item @code{:publishing-directory}
10504 @tab Directory where output files will be published. You can directly
10505 publish to a webserver using a file name syntax appropriate for
10506 the Emacs @file{tramp} package. Or you can publish to a local directory and
10507 use external tools to upload your website (@pxref{Uploading files}).
10508 @item @code{:preparation-function}
10509 @tab Function or list of functions to be called before starting the
10510 publishing process, for example, to run @code{make} for updating files to be
10511 published. The project property list is scoped into this call as the
10512 variable @code{project-plist}.
10513 @item @code{:completion-function}
10514 @tab Function or list of functions called after finishing the publishing
10515 process, for example, to change permissions of the resulting files. The
10516 project property list is scoped into this call as the variable
10517 @code{project-plist}.
10521 @node Selecting files, Publishing action, Sources and destinations, Configuration
10522 @subsection Selecting files
10523 @cindex files, selecting for publishing
10525 By default, all files with extension @file{.org} in the base directory
10526 are considered part of the project. This can be modified by setting the
10528 @multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
10529 @item @code{:base-extension}
10530 @tab Extension (without the dot!) of source files. This actually is a
10531 regular expression. Set this to the symbol @code{any} if you want to get all
10532 files in @code{:base-directory}, even without extension.
10534 @item @code{:exclude}
10535 @tab Regular expression to match file names that should not be
10536 published, even though they have been selected on the basis of their
10539 @item @code{:include}
10540 @tab List of files to be included regardless of @code{:base-extension}
10541 and @code{:exclude}.
10544 @node Publishing action, Publishing options, Selecting files, Configuration
10545 @subsection Publishing action
10546 @cindex action, for publishing
10548 Publishing means that a file is copied to the destination directory and
10549 possibly transformed in the process. The default transformation is to export
10550 Org files as HTML files, and this is done by the function
10551 @code{org-publish-org-to-html} which calls the HTML exporter (@pxref{HTML
10552 export}). But you also can publish your content as PDF files using
10553 @code{org-publish-org-to-pdf}. If you want to publish the Org file itself,
10554 but with @i{archived}, @i{commented}, and @i{tag-excluded} trees removed, use
10555 @code{org-publish-org-to-org} and set the parameters @code{:plain-source}
10556 and/or @code{:htmlized-source}. This will produce @file{file.org} and
10557 @file{file.org.html} in the publishing
10558 directory@footnote{@file{file-source.org} and @file{file-source.org.html} if
10559 source and publishing directories are equal. Note that with this kind of
10560 setup, you need to add @code{:exclude "-source\\.org"} to the project
10561 definition in @code{org-publish-project-alist} to avoid that the published
10562 source files will be considered as new org files the next time the project is
10563 published.}. Other files like images only
10564 need to be copied to the publishing destination, for this you may use
10565 @code{org-publish-attachment}. For non-Org files, you always need to
10566 specify the publishing function:
10568 @multitable @columnfractions 0.3 0.7
10569 @item @code{:publishing-function}
10570 @tab Function executing the publication of a file. This may also be a
10571 list of functions, which will all be called in turn.
10572 @item @code{:plain-source}
10573 @tab Non-nil means, publish plain source.
10574 @item @code{:htmlized-source}
10575 @tab Non-nil means, publish htmlized source.
10578 The function must accept three arguments: a property list containing at least
10579 a @code{:publishing-directory} property, the name of the file to be
10580 published, and the path to the publishing directory of the output file. It
10581 should take the specified file, make the necessary transformation (if any)
10582 and place the result into the destination folder.
10584 @node Publishing options, Publishing links, Publishing action, Configuration
10585 @subsection Options for the HTML/La@TeX{} exporters
10586 @cindex options, for publishing
10588 The property list can be used to set many export options for the HTML
10589 and La@TeX{} exporters. In most cases, these properties correspond to user
10590 variables in Org. The table below lists these properties along
10591 with the variable they belong to. See the documentation string for the
10592 respective variable for details.
10594 @vindex org-export-html-link-up
10595 @vindex org-export-html-link-home
10596 @vindex org-export-default-language
10597 @vindex org-display-custom-times
10598 @vindex org-export-headline-levels
10599 @vindex org-export-with-section-numbers
10600 @vindex org-export-section-number-format
10601 @vindex org-export-with-toc
10602 @vindex org-export-preserve-breaks
10603 @vindex org-export-with-archived-trees
10604 @vindex org-export-with-emphasize
10605 @vindex org-export-with-sub-superscripts
10606 @vindex org-export-with-special-strings
10607 @vindex org-export-with-footnotes
10608 @vindex org-export-with-drawers
10609 @vindex org-export-with-tags
10610 @vindex org-export-with-todo-keywords
10611 @vindex org-export-with-priority
10612 @vindex org-export-with-TeX-macros
10613 @vindex org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments
10614 @vindex org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading
10615 @vindex org-export-with-fixed-width
10616 @vindex org-export-with-timestamps
10617 @vindex org-export-author-info
10618 @vindex org-export-email
10619 @vindex org-export-creator-info
10620 @vindex org-export-with-tables
10621 @vindex org-export-highlight-first-table-line
10622 @vindex org-export-html-style-include-default
10623 @vindex org-export-html-style
10624 @vindex org-export-html-style-extra
10625 @vindex org-export-html-link-org-files-as-html
10626 @vindex org-export-html-inline-images
10627 @vindex org-export-html-extension
10628 @vindex org-export-html-table-tag
10629 @vindex org-export-html-expand
10630 @vindex org-export-html-with-timestamp
10631 @vindex org-export-publishing-directory
10632 @vindex org-export-html-preamble
10633 @vindex org-export-html-postamble
10634 @vindex org-export-html-auto-preamble
10635 @vindex org-export-html-auto-postamble
10636 @vindex user-full-name
10637 @vindex user-mail-address
10638 @vindex org-export-select-tags
10639 @vindex org-export-exclude-tags
10641 @multitable @columnfractions 0.32 0.68
10642 @item @code{:link-up} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-up}
10643 @item @code{:link-home} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-home}
10644 @item @code{:language} @tab @code{org-export-default-language}
10645 @item @code{:customtime} @tab @code{org-display-custom-times}
10646 @item @code{:headline-levels} @tab @code{org-export-headline-levels}
10647 @item @code{:section-numbers} @tab @code{org-export-with-section-numbers}
10648 @item @code{:section-number-format} @tab @code{org-export-section-number-format}
10649 @item @code{:table-of-contents} @tab @code{org-export-with-toc}
10650 @item @code{:preserve-breaks} @tab @code{org-export-preserve-breaks}
10651 @item @code{:archived-trees} @tab @code{org-export-with-archived-trees}
10652 @item @code{:emphasize} @tab @code{org-export-with-emphasize}
10653 @item @code{:sub-superscript} @tab @code{org-export-with-sub-superscripts}
10654 @item @code{:special-strings} @tab @code{org-export-with-special-strings}
10655 @item @code{:footnotes} @tab @code{org-export-with-footnotes}
10656 @item @code{:drawers} @tab @code{org-export-with-drawers}
10657 @item @code{:tags} @tab @code{org-export-with-tags}
10658 @item @code{:todo-keywords} @tab @code{org-export-with-todo-keywords}
10659 @item @code{:priority} @tab @code{org-export-with-priority}
10660 @item @code{:TeX-macros} @tab @code{org-export-with-TeX-macros}
10661 @item @code{:LaTeX-fragments} @tab @code{org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments}
10662 @item @code{:latex-listings} @tab @code{org-export-latex-listings}
10663 @item @code{:skip-before-1st-heading} @tab @code{org-export-skip-text-before-1st-heading}
10664 @item @code{:fixed-width} @tab @code{org-export-with-fixed-width}
10665 @item @code{:timestamps} @tab @code{org-export-with-timestamps}
10666 @item @code{:author-info} @tab @code{org-export-author-info}
10667 @item @code{:email-info} @tab @code{org-export-email-info}
10668 @item @code{:creator-info} @tab @code{org-export-creator-info}
10669 @item @code{:tables} @tab @code{org-export-with-tables}
10670 @item @code{:table-auto-headline} @tab @code{org-export-highlight-first-table-line}
10671 @item @code{:style-include-default} @tab @code{org-export-html-style-include-default}
10672 @item @code{:style} @tab @code{org-export-html-style}
10673 @item @code{:style-extra} @tab @code{org-export-html-style-extra}
10674 @item @code{:convert-org-links} @tab @code{org-export-html-link-org-files-as-html}
10675 @item @code{:inline-images} @tab @code{org-export-html-inline-images}
10676 @item @code{:html-extension} @tab @code{org-export-html-extension}
10677 @item @code{:xml-declaration} @tab @code{org-export-html-xml-declaration}
10678 @item @code{:html-table-tag} @tab @code{org-export-html-table-tag}
10679 @item @code{:expand-quoted-html} @tab @code{org-export-html-expand}
10680 @item @code{:timestamp} @tab @code{org-export-html-with-timestamp}
10681 @item @code{:publishing-directory} @tab @code{org-export-publishing-directory}
10682 @item @code{:preamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-preamble}
10683 @item @code{:postamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-postamble}
10684 @item @code{:auto-preamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-auto-preamble}
10685 @item @code{:auto-postamble} @tab @code{org-export-html-auto-postamble}
10686 @item @code{:author} @tab @code{user-full-name}
10687 @item @code{:email} @tab @code{user-mail-address} : @code{addr;addr;..}
10688 @item @code{:select-tags} @tab @code{org-export-select-tags}
10689 @item @code{:exclude-tags} @tab @code{org-export-exclude-tags}
10690 @item @code{:latex-image-options} @tab @code{org-export-latex-image-default-option}
10693 Most of the @code{org-export-with-*} variables have the same effect in
10694 both HTML and La@TeX{} exporters, except for @code{:TeX-macros} and
10695 @code{:LaTeX-fragments}, respectively @code{nil} and @code{t} in the
10698 @vindex org-publish-project-alist
10699 When a property is given a value in @code{org-publish-project-alist},
10700 its setting overrides the value of the corresponding user variable (if
10701 any) during publishing. Options set within a file (@pxref{Export
10702 options}), however, override everything.
10704 @node Publishing links, Sitemap, Publishing options, Configuration
10705 @subsection Links between published files
10706 @cindex links, publishing
10708 To create a link from one Org file to another, you would use
10709 something like @samp{[[file:foo.org][The foo]]} or simply
10710 @samp{file:foo.org.} (@pxref{Hyperlinks}). When published, this link
10711 becomes a link to @file{foo.html}. In this way, you can interlink the
10712 pages of your "org web" project and the links will work as expected when
10713 you publish them to HTML. If you also publish the Org source file and want
10714 to link to that, use an @code{http:} link instead of a @code{file:} link,
10715 because @code{file:} links are converted to link to the corresponding
10718 You may also link to related files, such as images. Provided you are careful
10719 with relative file names, and provided you have also configured Org to upload
10720 the related files, these links will work too. See @ref{Complex example}, for
10721 an example of this usage.
10723 Sometimes an Org file to be published may contain links that are
10724 only valid in your production environment, but not in the publishing
10725 location. In this case, use the property
10727 @multitable @columnfractions 0.4 0.6
10728 @item @code{:link-validation-function}
10729 @tab Function to validate links
10733 to define a function for checking link validity. This function must
10734 accept two arguments, the file name and a directory relative to which
10735 the file name is interpreted in the production environment. If this
10736 function returns @code{nil}, then the HTML generator will only insert a
10737 description into the HTML file, but no link. One option for this
10738 function is @code{org-publish-validate-link} which checks if the given
10739 file is part of any project in @code{org-publish-project-alist}.
10741 @node Sitemap, Generating an index, Publishing links, Configuration
10742 @subsection Generating a sitemap
10743 @cindex sitemap, of published pages
10745 The following properties may be used to control publishing of
10746 a map of files for a given project.
10748 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.65
10749 @item @code{:auto-sitemap}
10750 @tab When non-nil, publish a sitemap during @code{org-publish-current-project}
10751 or @code{org-publish-all}.
10753 @item @code{:sitemap-filename}
10754 @tab Filename for output of sitemap. Defaults to @file{sitemap.org} (which
10755 becomes @file{sitemap.html}).
10757 @item @code{:sitemap-title}
10758 @tab Title of sitemap page. Defaults to name of file.
10760 @item @code{:sitemap-function}
10761 @tab Plug-in function to use for generation of the sitemap.
10762 Defaults to @code{org-publish-org-sitemap}, which generates a plain list
10763 of links to all files in the project.
10765 @item @code{:sitemap-sort-folders}
10766 @tab Where folders should appear in the sitemap. Set this to @code{first}
10767 (default) or @code{last} to display folders first or last,
10768 respectively. Any other value will mix files and folders.
10770 @item @code{:sitemap-alphabetically}
10771 @tab The site map is normally sorted alphabetically. Set this explicitly to
10772 @code{nil} to turn off sorting.
10774 @item @code{:sitemap-ignore-case}
10775 @tab Should sorting be case-sensitive? Default @code{nil}.
10779 @node Generating an index, , Sitemap, Configuration
10780 @subsection Generating an index
10781 @cindex index, in a publishing project
10783 Org-mode can generate an index across the files of a publishing project.
10785 @multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
10786 @item @code{:makeindex}
10787 @tab When non-nil, generate in index in the file @file{theindex.org} and
10788 publish it as @file{theindex.html}.
10791 The file will be create when first publishing a project with the
10792 @code{:makeindex} set. The file only contains a statement @code{#+include:
10793 "theindex.inc"}. You can then built around this include statement by adding
10794 a title, style information etc.
10796 @node Uploading files, Sample configuration, Configuration, Publishing
10797 @section Uploading files
10801 For those people already utilizing third party sync tools such as
10802 @command{rsync} or @command{unison}, it might be preferable not to use the built in
10803 @i{remote} publishing facilities of Org-mode which rely heavily on
10804 Tramp. Tramp, while very useful and powerful, tends not to be
10805 so efficient for multiple file transfer and has been known to cause problems
10808 Specialized synchronization utilities offer several advantages. In addition
10809 to timestamp comparison, they also do content and permissions/attribute
10810 checks. For this reason you might prefer to publish your web to a local
10811 directory (possibly even @i{in place} with your Org files) and then use
10812 @file{unison} or @file{rsync} to do the synchronization with the remote host.
10814 Since Unison (for example) can be configured as to which files to transfer to
10815 a certain remote destination, it can greatly simplify the project publishing
10816 definition. Simply keep all files in the correct location, process your Org
10817 files with @code{org-publish} and let the synchronization tool do the rest.
10818 You do not need, in this scenario, to include attachments such as @file{jpg},
10819 @file{css} or @file{gif} files in the project definition since the 3rd party
10822 Publishing to a local directory is also much faster than to a remote one, so
10823 that you can afford more easily to republish entire projects. If you set
10824 @code{org-publish-use-timestamps-flag} to @code{nil}, you gain the main
10825 benefit of re-including any changed external files such as source example
10826 files you might include with @code{#+INCLUDE}. The timestamp mechanism in
10827 Org is not smart enough to detect if included files have been modified.
10829 @node Sample configuration, Triggering publication, Uploading files, Publishing
10830 @section Sample configuration
10832 Below we provide two example configurations. The first one is a simple
10833 project publishing only a set of Org files. The second example is
10834 more complex, with a multi-component project.
10837 * Simple example:: One-component publishing
10838 * Complex example:: A multi-component publishing example
10841 @node Simple example, Complex example, Sample configuration, Sample configuration
10842 @subsection Example: simple publishing configuration
10844 This example publishes a set of Org files to the @file{public_html}
10845 directory on the local machine.
10848 (setq org-publish-project-alist
10850 :base-directory "~/org/"
10851 :publishing-directory "~/public_html"
10852 :section-numbers nil
10853 :table-of-contents nil
10854 :style "<link rel=\"stylesheet\"
10855 href=\"../other/mystyle.css\"
10856 type=\"text/css\"/>")))
10859 @node Complex example, , Simple example, Sample configuration
10860 @subsection Example: complex publishing configuration
10862 This more complicated example publishes an entire website, including
10863 Org files converted to HTML, image files, Emacs Lisp source code, and
10864 style sheets. The publishing directory is remote and private files are
10867 To ensure that links are preserved, care should be taken to replicate
10868 your directory structure on the web server, and to use relative file
10869 paths. For example, if your Org files are kept in @file{~/org} and your
10870 publishable images in @file{~/images}, you would link to an image with
10873 file:../images/myimage.png
10876 On the web server, the relative path to the image should be the
10877 same. You can accomplish this by setting up an "images" folder in the
10878 right place on the web server, and publishing images to it.
10881 (setq org-publish-project-alist
10883 :base-directory "~/org/"
10884 :base-extension "org"
10885 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/notebook/"
10886 :publishing-function org-publish-org-to-html
10887 :exclude "PrivatePage.org" ;; regexp
10889 :section-numbers nil
10890 :table-of-contents nil
10891 :style "<link rel=\"stylesheet\"
10892 href=\"../other/mystyle.css\" type=\"text/css\"/>"
10894 :auto-postamble nil)
10897 :base-directory "~/images/"
10898 :base-extension "jpg\\|gif\\|png"
10899 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/images/"
10900 :publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
10903 :base-directory "~/other/"
10904 :base-extension "css\\|el"
10905 :publishing-directory "/ssh:user@@host:~/html/other/"
10906 :publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
10907 ("website" :components ("orgfiles" "images" "other"))))
10910 @node Triggering publication, , Sample configuration, Publishing
10911 @section Triggering publication
10913 Once properly configured, Org can publish with the following commands:
10918 Prompt for a specific project and publish all files that belong to it.
10921 Publish the project containing the current file.
10924 Publish only the current file.
10927 Publish every project.
10930 @vindex org-publish-use-timestamps-flag
10931 Org uses timestamps to track when a file has changed. The above functions
10932 normally only publish changed files. You can override this and force
10933 publishing of all files by giving a prefix argument to any of the commands
10934 above, or by customizing the variable @code{org-publish-use-timestamps-flag}.
10935 This may be necessary in particular if files include other files via
10936 @code{#+SETUPFILE:} or @code{#+INCLUDE:}.
10938 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
10939 @comment Working With Source Code, Miscellaneous, Publishing, Top
10941 @node Working With Source Code, Miscellaneous, Publishing, Top
10942 @chapter Working with source code
10943 @cindex Schulte, Eric
10944 @cindex Davison, Dan
10945 @cindex source code, working with
10947 Source code can be included in Org-mode documents using a @samp{src} block,
10951 #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
10952 (defun org-xor (a b)
10958 Org-mode provides a number of features for working with live source code,
10959 including editing of code blocks in their native major-mode, evaluation of
10960 code blocks, tangling of code blocks, and exporting code blocks and
10961 their results in several formats. This functionality was contributed by Dan
10962 Davison and Eric Schulte, and was originally named Org-babel.
10964 The following sections describe Org-mode's code block handling facilities.
10967 * Structure of code blocks:: Code block syntax described
10968 * Editing source code:: Language major-mode editing
10969 * Exporting code blocks:: Export contents and/or results
10970 * Extracting source code:: Create pure source code files
10971 * Evaluating code blocks:: Place results of evaluation in the Org-mode buffer
10972 * Library of Babel:: Use and contribute to a library of useful code blocks
10973 * Languages:: List of supported code block languages
10974 * Header arguments:: Configure code block functionality
10975 * Results of evaluation:: How evaluation results are handled
10976 * Noweb reference syntax:: Literate programming in Org-mode
10977 * Key bindings and useful functions:: Work quickly with code blocks
10978 * Batch execution:: Call functions from the command line
10981 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
10982 @comment Structure of code blocks, Editing source code, Working With Source Code, Working With Source Code
10984 @node Structure of code blocks, Editing source code, Working With Source Code, Working With Source Code
10985 @section Structure of code blocks
10986 @cindex code block, structure
10987 @cindex source code, block structure
10989 The structure of code blocks is as follows:
10993 #+begin_src <language> <switches> <header arguments>
11000 This name is associated with the code block. This is similar to the
11001 @samp{#+tblname} lines that can be used to name tables in Org-mode files.
11002 Referencing the name of a code block makes it possible to evaluate the
11003 block from other places in the file, other files, or from Org-mode table
11004 formulas (see @ref{The spreadsheet}).
11006 The language of the code in the block.
11008 Switches controling exportation of the code block (see switches discussion in
11009 @ref{Literal examples})
11010 @item <header arguments>
11011 Optional header arguments control many aspects of evaluation, export and
11012 tangling of code blocks. See the @ref{Header arguments}
11013 section. Header arguments can also be set on a per-buffer or per-subtree
11014 basis using properties.
11019 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
11020 @comment Editing source code, Exporting code blocks, Structure of code blocks, Working With Source Code
11022 @node Editing source code, Exporting code blocks, Structure of code blocks, Working With Source Code
11023 @section Editing source code
11024 @cindex code block, editing
11025 @cindex source code, editing
11028 Use @kbd{C-c '} to edit the current code block. This brings up
11029 a language major-mode edit buffer containing the body of the code
11030 block. Saving this buffer will write the new contents back to the Org
11031 buffer. Use @kbd{C-c '} again to exit.
11033 The @code{org-src-mode} minor mode will be active in the edit buffer. The
11034 following variables can be used to configure the behavior of the edit
11035 buffer. See also the customization group @code{org-edit-structure} for
11036 further configuration options.
11039 @item org-src-lang-modes
11040 If an Emacs major-mode named @code{<lang>-mode} exists, where
11041 @code{<lang>} is the language named in the header line of the code block,
11042 then the edit buffer will be placed in that major-mode. This variable
11043 can be used to map arbitrary language names to existing major modes.
11044 @item org-src-window-setup
11045 Controls the way Emacs windows are rearranged when the edit buffer is created.
11046 @item org-src-preserve-indentation
11047 This variable is especially useful for tangling languages such as
11048 python, in which whitespace indentation in the output is critical.
11049 @item org-src-ask-before-returning-to-edit-buffer
11050 By default, Org will ask before returning to an open edit buffer. Set
11051 this variable to nil to switch without asking.
11054 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
11055 @comment Exporting code blocks, Extracting source code, Editing source code, Working With Source Code
11057 @node Exporting code blocks, Extracting source code, Editing source code, Working With Source Code
11058 @section Exporting code blocks
11059 @cindex code block, exporting
11060 @cindex source code, exporting
11062 It is possible to export the @emph{contents} of code blocks, the
11063 @emph{results} of code block evaluation, @emph{neither}, or @emph{both}. For
11064 most languages, the default exports the contents of code blocks. However, for
11065 some languages (e.g. @code{ditaa}) the default exports the results of code
11066 block evaluation. For information on exporting code block bodies, see
11067 @ref{Literal examples}.
11069 The @code{:exports} header argument can be used to specify export
11072 @subsubheading Header arguments:
11074 @item :exports code
11075 The default in most languages. The body of the code block is exported, as
11076 described in @ref{Literal examples}.
11077 @item :exports results
11078 The code block will be evaluated and the results will be placed in the
11079 Org-mode buffer for export, either updating previous results of the code
11080 block located anywhere in the buffer or, if no previous results exist,
11081 placing the results immediately after the code block. The body of the code
11082 block will not be exported.
11083 @item :exports both
11084 Both the code block and its results will be exported.
11085 @item :exports none
11086 Neither the code block nor its results will be exported.
11089 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
11090 @comment Extracting source code, Evaluating code blocks, Exporting code blocks, Working With Source Code
11091 @node Extracting source code, Evaluating code blocks, Exporting code blocks, Working With Source Code
11092 @section Extracting source code
11093 @cindex source code, extracting
11094 @cindex code block, extracting source code
11096 Creating pure source code files by extracting code from source blocks is
11097 referred to as ``tangling''---a term adopted from the literate programming
11098 community. During ``tangling'' of code blocks their bodies are expanded
11099 using @code{org-babel-expand-src-block} which can expand both variable and
11100 ``noweb'' style references (see @ref{Noweb reference syntax}).
11102 @subsubheading Header arguments
11105 The default. The code block is not included in the tangled output.
11107 Include the code block in the tangled output. The output file name is the
11108 name of the org file with the extension @samp{.org} replaced by the extension
11109 for the block language.
11110 @item :tangle filename
11111 Include the code block in the tangled output to file @samp{filename}.
11115 @subsubheading Functions
11117 @item org-babel-tangle @kbd{C-c C-v t}
11118 Tangle the current file.
11119 @item org-babel-tangle-file
11120 Choose a file to tangle.
11123 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
11124 @comment Evaluating code blocks, , Extracting source code, Working With Source Code
11126 @node Evaluating code blocks, Library of Babel, Extracting source code, Working With Source Code
11127 @section Evaluating code blocks
11128 @cindex code block, evaluating
11129 @cindex source code, evaluating
11132 Whenever code is evaluated there is a potential for that code to do harm.
11133 Org-mode provides a number of safeguards to ensure that it only evaluates
11134 code with explicit confirmation from the user. For information on these
11135 safeguards (and on how to disable them) see @ref{Code evaluation security}.
11138 Code blocks can be evaluated and the results placed in the Org-mode buffer.
11139 By default, evaluation is only turned on for @code{emacs-lisp} code blocks,
11140 however support exists for evaluating blocks in many languages. See
11141 @ref{Languages} for a list of supported languages. See @ref{Structure of
11142 code blocks} for information on the syntax used to define a code block.
11145 There are a number of ways to evaluate code blocks. The simplest is to
11146 press @kbd{C-c C-c} or @kbd{C-c C-v e} with the point on a code block. This
11147 will call the @code{org-babel-execute-src-block} function to evaluate the
11148 block and insert its results into the Org-mode buffer.
11151 The @code{org-babel-no-eval-on-ctrl-c-ctrl-c} variable can be used to remove
11152 code evaluation from the @kbd{C-c C-c} key binding.
11155 It is also possible to evaluate named code blocks from anywhere in an
11156 Org-mode buffer or an Org-mode table. @code{#+call} (or synonymously
11157 @code{#+function} or @code{#+lob}) lines can be used to remotely execute code
11158 blocks located in the current Org-mode buffer or in the ``Library of Babel''
11159 (see @ref{Library of Babel}). These lines use the following syntax.
11162 #+call: <name>(<arguments>) <header arguments>
11163 #+function: <name>(<arguments>) <header arguments>
11164 #+lob: <name>(<arguments>) <header arguments>
11169 The name of the code block to be evaluated.
11171 Arguments specified in this section will be passed to the code block.
11172 @item <header arguments>
11173 Header arguments can be placed after the function invocation. See
11174 @ref{Header arguments} for more information on header arguments.
11178 @node Library of Babel, Languages, Evaluating code blocks, Working With Source Code
11179 @section Library of Babel
11180 @cindex babel, library of
11181 @cindex source code, library
11182 @cindex code block, library
11184 The ``Library of Babel'' is a library of code blocks
11185 that can be called from any Org-mode file. The library is housed in an
11186 Org-mode file located in the @samp{contrib} directory of Org-mode.
11187 Org-mode users can deposit functions they believe to be generally
11188 useful in the library.
11190 Code blocks defined in the ``Library of Babel'' can be called remotely as if
11191 they were in the current Org-mode buffer (see @ref{Evaluating code blocks}
11192 for information on the syntax of remote code block evaluation).
11195 Code blocks located in any Org-mode file can be loaded into the ``Library of
11196 Babel'' with the @code{org-babel-lob-ingest} function, bound to @kbd{C-c C-v
11199 @node Languages, Header arguments, Library of Babel, Working With Source Code
11201 @cindex babel, languages
11202 @cindex source code, languages
11203 @cindex code block, languages
11205 Code blocks in the following languages are supported.
11207 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.3 0.22 0.2
11208 @item @b{Language} @tab @b{Identifier} @tab @b{Language} @tab @b{Identifier}
11209 @item Asymptote @tab asymptote @tab C @tab C
11210 @item C @tab C++ @tab Clojure @tab clojure
11211 @item css @tab css @tab ditaa @tab ditaa
11212 @item Graphviz @tab dot @tab Emacs Lisp @tab emacs-lisp
11213 @item gnuplot @tab gnuplot @tab Haskell @tab haskell
11214 @item Matlab @tab matlab @tab LaTeX @tab latex
11215 @item Objective Caml @tab ocaml @tab Octave @tab octave
11216 @item OZ @tab oz @tab Perl @tab perl
11217 @item Python @tab python @tab R @tab R
11218 @item Ruby @tab ruby @tab Sass @tab sass
11219 @item GNU Screen @tab screen @tab shell @tab sh
11220 @item SQL @tab sql @tab Sqlite @tab sqlite
11223 Language specific documentation is available for some languages. If
11224 available, it can be found at
11225 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/languages}.
11227 The @code{org-babel-load-languages} controls which languages are enabled for
11228 evaluation (by default only @code{emacs-lisp} is enabled). This variable can
11229 be set using the customization interface or by adding code like the following
11230 to your emacs configuration.
11233 The following disables @code{emacs-lisp} evaluation and enables evaluation of
11234 @code{R} code blocks.
11238 (org-babel-do-load-languages
11239 'org-babel-load-languages
11240 '((emacs-lisp . nil)
11244 It is also possible to enable support for a language by loading the related
11245 elisp file with @code{require}.
11248 The following adds support for evaluating @code{clojure} code blocks.
11252 (require 'ob-clojure)
11255 @node Header arguments, Results of evaluation, Languages, Working With Source Code
11256 @section Header arguments
11257 @cindex code block, header arguments
11258 @cindex source code, block header arguments
11260 Code block functionality can be configured with header arguments. This
11261 section provides an overview of the use of header arguments, and then
11262 describes each header argument in detail.
11265 * Using header arguments:: Different ways to set header arguments
11266 * Specific header arguments:: List of header arguments
11269 @node Using header arguments, Specific header arguments, Header arguments, Header arguments
11270 @subsection Using header arguments
11272 The values of header arguments can be set in five different ways, each more
11273 specific (and having higher priority) than the last.
11275 * System-wide header arguments:: Set global default values
11276 * Language-specific header arguments:: Set default values by language
11277 * Buffer-wide header arguments:: Set default values for a specific buffer
11278 * Header arguments in Org-mode properties:: Set default values for a buffer or heading
11279 * Code block specific header arguments:: The most common way to set values
11283 @node System-wide header arguments, Language-specific header arguments, Using header arguments, Using header arguments
11284 @subsubheading System-wide header arguments
11285 @vindex org-babel-default-header-args
11286 System-wide values of header arguments can be specified by customizing the
11287 @code{org-babel-default-header-args} variable:
11291 :results => "replace"
11298 @c org-babel-default-header-args is a variable defined in `org-babel.el'.
11300 @c ((:session . "none")
11301 @c (:results . "replace")
11302 @c (:exports . "code")
11304 @c (:noweb . "no"))
11308 @c Default arguments to use when evaluating a code block.
11311 For example, the following example could be used to set the default value of
11312 @code{:noweb} header arguments to @code{yes}. This would have the effect of
11313 expanding @code{:noweb} references by default when evaluating source code
11317 (setq org-babel-default-header-args
11318 (cons '(:noweb . "yes")
11319 (assq-delete-all :noweb org-babel-default-header-args)))
11322 @node Language-specific header arguments, Buffer-wide header arguments, System-wide header arguments, Using header arguments
11323 @subsubheading Language-specific header arguments
11324 Each language can define its own set of default header arguments. See the
11325 language-specific documentation available online at
11326 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel}.
11328 @node Buffer-wide header arguments, Header arguments in Org-mode properties, Language-specific header arguments, Using header arguments
11329 @subsubheading Buffer-wide header arguments
11330 Buffer-wide header arguments may be specified through the use of a special
11331 line placed anywhere in an Org-mode file. The line consists of the
11332 @code{#+BABEL:} keyword followed by a series of header arguments which may be
11333 specified using the standard header argument syntax.
11335 For example the following would set @code{session} to @code{*R*}, and
11336 @code{results} to @code{silent} for every code block in the buffer, ensuring
11337 that all execution took place in the same session, and no results would be
11338 inserted into the buffer.
11341 #+BABEL: :session *R* :results silent
11344 @node Header arguments in Org-mode properties, Code block specific header arguments, Buffer-wide header arguments, Using header arguments
11345 @subsubheading Header arguments in Org-mode properties
11347 Header arguments are also read from Org-mode properties (see @ref{Property
11348 syntax}), which can be set on a buffer-wide or per-heading basis. An example
11349 of setting a header argument for all code blocks in a buffer is
11352 #+property: tangle yes
11355 When properties are used to set default header arguments, they are looked up
11356 with inheritance, so the value of the @code{:cache} header argument will default
11357 to @code{yes} in all code blocks in the subtree rooted at the following
11368 @vindex org-babel-default-header-args
11369 Properties defined in this way override the properties set in
11370 @code{org-babel-default-header-args}. It is convenient to use the
11371 @code{org-set-property} function bound to @kbd{C-c C-x p} to set properties
11372 in Org-mode documents.
11374 @node Code block specific header arguments, , Header arguments in Org-mode properties, Using header arguments
11375 @subsubheading Code block specific header arguments
11377 The most common way to assign values to header arguments is at the
11378 code block level. This can be done by listing a sequence of header
11379 arguments and their values as part of the @code{#+begin_src} line.
11380 Properties set in this way override both the values of
11381 @code{org-babel-default-header-args} and header arguments specified as
11382 properties. In the following example, the @code{:results} header argument
11383 is set to @code{silent}, meaning the results of execution will not be
11384 inserted in the buffer, and the @code{:exports} header argument is set to
11385 @code{code}, meaning only the body of the code block will be
11386 preserved on export to HTML or LaTeX.
11389 #+source: factorial
11390 #+begin_src haskell :results silent :exports code :var n=0
11392 fac n = n * fac (n-1)
11396 Similarly, it is possible to set header arguments for inline code blocks:
11399 src_haskell[:exports both]@{fac 5@}
11402 Header arguments for ``Library of Babel'' or function call lines can be set as shown below:
11405 #+call: factorial(n=5) :exports results
11408 @node Specific header arguments, , Using header arguments, Header arguments
11409 @subsection Specific header arguments
11410 The following header arguments are defined:
11413 * var:: Pass arguments to code blocks
11414 * results:: Specify the type of results and how they will be collectd and handled
11415 * file:: Specify a path for file output
11416 * dir and remote execution:: Specify the default directory for code block execution
11417 * exports:: Export code and/or results
11418 * tangle:: Toggle tangling and specify file name
11419 * no-expand:: Turn off variable assignment and noweb expansion during tangling
11420 * session:: Preserve the state of code evaluation
11421 * noweb:: Toggle expansion of noweb references
11422 * cache:: Avoid re-evaluating unchanged code blocks
11423 * hlines:: Handle horizontal lines in tables
11424 * colnames:: Handle column names in tables
11425 * rownames:: Handle row names in tables
11426 * shebang:: Make tangled files executable
11429 @node var, results, Specific header arguments, Specific header arguments
11430 @subsubsection @code{:var}
11431 The @code{:var} header argument is used to pass arguments to
11432 code blocks. The specifics of how arguments are included
11433 in a code block vary by language; these are
11434 addressed in the language-specific documentation. However, the
11435 syntax used to specify arguments is the same across all
11436 languages. The values passed to arguments can be
11438 @item literal values
11439 @item values from org-mode tables
11440 @item the results of other code blocks
11443 These values can be indexed in a manner similar to arrays---see the argument
11444 ``indexable variable values'' heading below.
11446 The following syntax is used to pass arguments to code blocks using the
11447 @code{:var} header argument.
11453 where @code{assign} can take one of the following forms
11456 @item literal value
11457 either a string @code{"string"} or a number @code{9}.
11462 #+tblname: example-table
11468 #+source: table-length
11469 #+begin_src emacs-lisp :var table=example-table
11473 #+results: table-length
11477 a code block name, as assigned by @code{#+srcname:}, followed by
11481 #+begin_src emacs-lisp :var length=table-length()
11489 In addition, an argument can be passed to the code block referenced
11490 by @code{:var}. The argument is passed within the parentheses following the
11495 #+begin_src emacs-lisp :var input=8
11503 #+begin_src emacs-lisp :var input=double(input=1)
11512 @subsubheading Alternate argument syntax
11513 It is also possible to specify arguments in a potentially more natural way
11514 using the @code{#+source:} line of a code block. As in the following
11515 example arguments can be packed inside of parenthesis, separated by commas,
11516 following the source name.
11519 #+source: double(input=0, x=2)
11520 #+begin_src emacs-lisp
11525 @subsubheading Indexable variable values
11526 It is possible to assign a portion of a value to a variable in a source
11527 block. The following example assigns the second and third rows of the table
11528 @code{example-table} to the variable @code{data}:
11531 :var data=example-table[1:2]
11534 Note: ranges are indexed using the @code{:} operator.
11536 Note: indices are 0 based.
11538 The following example assigns the second column of the first row of
11539 @code{example-table} to @code{data}:
11542 :var data=example-table[0,1]
11545 It is possible to index into the results of code blocks as well as
11546 tables. Any number of dimensions can be indexed. Dimensions are separated
11547 from one another by commas.
11549 For more information on indexing behavior see the documentation for the
11550 @code{org-babel-ref-index-list} function, provided below.
11553 org-babel-ref-index-list is a Lisp function in `org-babel-ref.el'.
11555 (org-babel-ref-index-list index lis)
11557 Return the subset of LIS indexed by INDEX. If INDEX is
11558 separated by ,s then each PORTION is assumed to index into the
11559 next deepest nesting or dimension. A valid PORTION can consist
11560 of either an integer index, or two integers separated by a : in
11561 which case the entire range is returned.
11564 @node results, file, var, Specific header arguments
11565 @subsubsection @code{:results}
11567 There are three classes of @code{:results} header argument. Only one option of
11568 each type may be supplied per code block.
11572 @b{collection} header arguments specify how the results should be collected
11573 from the code block
11575 @b{type} header arguments specify what type of result the code block will
11576 return---which has implications for how they will be inserted into the
11579 @b{handling} header arguments specify how the results of evaluating the code
11580 block should be handled.
11583 @subsubheading Collection
11584 The following options are mutually exclusive, and specify how the results
11585 should be collected from the code block.
11589 This is the default. The result is the value of the last statement in the
11590 code block. This header argument places the evaluation in functional
11591 mode. Note that in some languages, e.g., python, use of this result type
11592 requires that a @code{return} statement be included in the body of the source
11593 code block. E.g., @code{:results value}.
11594 @item @code{output}
11595 The result is the collection of everything printed to STDOUT during the
11596 execution of the code block. This header argument places the
11597 evaluation in scripting mode. E.g., @code{:results output}.
11600 @subsubheading Type
11602 The following options are mutually exclusive and specify what type of results
11603 the code block will return. By default, results are inserted as either a
11604 table or scalar depending on their value.
11607 @item @code{table}, @code{vector}
11608 The results should be interpreted as an Org-mode table. If a single value is
11609 returned, it will be converted into a table with one row and one column.
11610 E.g., @code{:results value table}.
11611 @item @code{scalar}, @code{verbatim}
11612 The results should be interpreted literally---they will not be
11613 converted into a table. The results will be inserted into the Org-mode
11614 buffer as quoted text. E.g., @code{:results value verbatim}.
11616 The results will be interpreted as the path to a file, and will be inserted
11617 into the Org-mode buffer as a file link. E.g., @code{:results value file}.
11618 @item @code{raw}, @code{org}
11619 The results are interpreted as raw Org-mode code and are inserted directly
11620 into the buffer. If the results look like a table they will be aligned as
11621 such by Org-mode. E.g., @code{:results value raw}.
11623 Results are assumed to be HTML and will be enclosed in a @code{begin_html}
11624 block. E.g., @code{:results value html}.
11626 Results assumed to be LaTeX and are enclosed in a @code{begin_latex} block.
11627 E.g., @code{:results value latex}.
11629 Result are assumed to be parseable code and are enclosed in a code block.
11630 E.g., @code{:results value code}.
11632 The result is converted to pretty-printed code and is enclosed in a code
11633 block. This option currently supports Emacs Lisp, python, and ruby. E.g.,
11634 @code{:results value pp}.
11637 @subsubheading Handling
11638 The following results options indicate what happens with the
11639 results once they are collected.
11642 @item @code{silent}
11643 The results will be echoed in the minibuffer but will not be inserted into
11644 the Org-mode buffer. E.g., @code{:results output silent}.
11645 @item @code{replace}
11646 The default value. Any existing results will be removed, and the new results
11647 will be inserted into the Org-mode buffer in their place. E.g.,
11648 @code{:results output replace}.
11649 @item @code{append}
11650 If there are pre-existing results of the code block then the new results will
11651 be appended to the existing results. Otherwise the new results will be
11652 inserted as with @code{replace}.
11653 @item @code{prepend}
11654 If there are pre-existing results of the code block then the new results will
11655 be prepended to the existing results. Otherwise the new results will be
11656 inserted as with @code{replace}.
11659 @node file, dir and remote execution, results, Specific header arguments
11660 @subsubsection @code{:file}
11662 The header argument @code{:file} is used to specify a path for file output.
11663 An Org-mode style @code{file:} link is inserted into the buffer as the result
11664 (see @ref{Link format}). Common examples are graphical output from R,
11665 gnuplot, ditaa and LaTeX code blocks.
11667 Note that for some languages, including R, gnuplot, LaTeX and ditaa,
11668 graphical output is sent to the specified file without the file being
11669 referenced explicitly in the code block. See the documentation for the
11670 individual languages for details. In contrast, general purpose languages such
11671 as python and ruby require that the code explicitly create output
11672 corresponding to the path indicated by @code{:file}.
11675 @node dir and remote execution, exports, file, Specific header arguments
11676 @subsubsection @code{:dir} and remote execution
11678 While the @code{:file} header argument can be used to specify the path to the
11679 output file, @code{:dir} specifies the default directory during code block
11680 execution. If it is absent, then the directory associated with the current
11681 buffer is used. In other words, supplying @code{:dir path} temporarily has
11682 the same effect as changing the current directory with @kbd{M-x cd path}, and
11683 then not supplying @code{:dir}. Under the surface, @code{:dir} simply sets
11684 the value of the Emacs variable @code{default-directory}.
11686 When using @code{:dir}, you should supply a relative path for file output
11687 (e.g. @code{:file myfile.jpg} or @code{:file results/myfile.jpg}) in which
11688 case that path will be interpreted relative to the default directory.
11690 In other words, if you want your plot to go into a folder called Work in your
11691 home directory, you could use
11694 #+begin_src R :file myplot.png :dir ~/Work
11695 matplot(matrix(rnorm(100), 10), type="l")
11699 @subsubheading Remote execution
11700 A directory on a remote machine can be specified using tramp file syntax, in
11701 which case the code will be evaluated on the remote machine. An example is
11704 #+begin_src R :file plot.png :dir /dand@@yakuba.princeton.edu:
11705 plot(1:10, main=system("hostname", intern=TRUE))
11709 Text results will be returned to the local Org-mode buffer as usual, and file
11710 output will be created on the remote machine with relative paths interpreted
11711 relative to the remote directory. An Org-mode link to the remote file will be
11714 So, in the above example a plot will be created on the remote machine,
11715 and a link of the following form will be inserted in the org buffer:
11718 [[file:/scp:dand@@yakuba.princeton.edu:/home/dand/plot.png][plot.png]]
11721 Most of this functionality follows immediately from the fact that @code{:dir}
11722 sets the value of the Emacs variable @code{default-directory}, thanks to
11723 tramp. Those using XEmacs, or GNU Emacs prior to version 23 may need to
11724 install tramp separately in order for the these features to work correctly.
11726 @subsubheading Further points
11730 If @code{:dir} is used in conjunction with @code{:session}, although it will
11731 determine the starting directory for a new session as expected, no attempt is
11732 currently made to alter the directory associated with an existing session.
11734 @code{:dir} should typically not be used to create files during export with
11735 @code{:exports results} or @code{:exports both}. The reason is that, in order
11736 to retain portability of exported material between machines, during export
11737 links inserted into the buffer will *not* be expanded against @code{default
11738 directory}. Therefore, if @code{default-directory} is altered using
11739 @code{:dir}, it is probable that the file will be created in a location to
11740 which the link does not point.
11743 @node exports, tangle, dir and remote execution, Specific header arguments
11744 @subsubsection @code{:exports}
11746 The @code{:exports} header argument specifies what should be included in HTML
11747 or LaTeX exports of the Org-mode file.
11751 The default. The body of code is included into the exported file. E.g.,
11752 @code{:exports code}.
11753 @item @code{results}
11754 The result of evaluating the code is included in the exported file. E.g.,
11755 @code{:exports results}.
11757 Both the code and results are included in the exported file. E.g.,
11758 @code{:exports both}.
11760 Nothing is included in the exported file. E.g., @code{:exports none}.
11763 @node tangle, no-expand, exports, Specific header arguments
11764 @subsubsection @code{:tangle}
11766 The @code{:tangle} header argument specifies whether or not the code
11767 block should be included in tangled extraction of source code files.
11771 The code block is exported to a source code file named after the
11772 basename (name w/o extension) of the Org-mode file. E.g., @code{:tangle
11775 The default. The code block is not exported to a source code file.
11776 E.g., @code{:tangle no}.
11778 Any other string passed to the @code{:tangle} header argument is interpreted
11779 as a file basename to which the block will be exported. E.g., @code{:tangle
11783 @node no-expand, session, tangle, Specific header arguments
11784 @subsubsection @code{:no-expand}
11786 By default, code blocks are expanded with @code{org-babel-expand-src-block}
11787 during tangling. This has the effect of assigning values to variables
11788 specified with @code{:var} (see @ref{var}), and of replacing ``noweb''
11789 references (see @ref{Noweb reference syntax}) with their targets. The
11790 @code{:no-expand} header argument can be used to turn off this behavior.
11792 @node session, noweb, no-expand, Specific header arguments
11793 @subsubsection @code{:session}
11795 The @code{:session} header argument starts a session for an interpreted
11796 language where state is preserved. This applies particularly to the
11797 supported languages python, R and ruby.
11799 By default, a session is not started.
11801 A string passed to the @code{:session} header argument will give the session
11802 a name. This makes it possible to run concurrent sessions for each
11803 interpreted language.
11805 @node noweb, cache, session, Specific header arguments
11806 @subsubsection @code{:noweb}
11808 The @code{:noweb} header argument controls expansion of ``noweb'' style (see
11809 @ref{Noweb reference syntax}) references in a code block. This header
11810 argument can have one of two values: @code{yes} or @code{no}.
11814 The default. No ``noweb'' syntax specific action is taken on evaluating
11815 code blocks, However, noweb references will still be expanded during
11818 All ``noweb'' syntax references in the body of the code block will be
11819 expanded before the block is evaluated.
11822 @subsubheading Noweb prefix lines
11823 Noweb insertions are now placed behind the line prefix of the
11824 @code{<<reference>>}.
11825 This behavior is illustrated in the following example. Because the
11826 @code{<<example>>} noweb reference appears behind the SQL comment syntax,
11827 each line of the expanded noweb reference will be commented.
11840 -- multi-line body of example
11843 Note that noweb replacement text that does not contain any newlines will not
11844 be affected by this change, so it is still possible to use inline noweb
11847 @node cache, hlines, noweb, Specific header arguments
11848 @subsubsection @code{:cache}
11850 The @code{:cache} header argument controls the use of in-buffer caching of
11851 the results of evaluating code blocks. It can be used to avoid re-evaluating
11852 unchanged code blocks. This header argument can have one of two
11853 values: @code{yes} or @code{no}.
11857 The default. No caching takes place, and the code block will be evaluated
11858 every time it is called.
11860 Every time the code block is run a sha1 hash of the code and arguments
11861 passed to the block will be generated. This hash is packed into the
11862 @code{#+results:} line and will be checked on subsequent
11863 executions of the code block. If the code block has not
11864 changed since the last time it was evaluated, it will not be re-evaluated.
11867 @node hlines, colnames, cache, Specific header arguments
11868 @subsubsection @code{:hlines}
11870 Tables are frequently represented with one or more horizontal lines, or
11871 hlines. The @code{:hlines} argument to a code block accepts the
11872 values @code{yes} or @code{no}, with a default value of @code{no}.
11876 Strips horizontal lines from the input table. In most languages this is the
11877 desired effect because an @code{hline} symbol is interpreted as an unbound
11878 variable and raises an error. Setting @code{:hlines no} or relying on the
11879 default value yields the following results.
11882 #+tblname: many-cols
11889 #+source: echo-table
11890 #+begin_src python :var tab=many-cols
11894 #+results: echo-table
11901 Leaves hlines in the table. Setting @code{:hlines yes} has this effect.
11904 #+tblname: many-cols
11911 #+source: echo-table
11912 #+begin_src python :var tab=many-cols :hlines yes
11916 #+results: echo-table
11925 @node colnames, rownames, hlines, Specific header arguments
11926 @subsubsection @code{:colnames}
11928 The @code{:colnames} header argument accepts the values @code{yes},
11929 @code{no}, or @code{nil} for unassigned. The default value is @code{nil}.
11933 If an input table looks like it has column names
11934 (because its second row is an hline), then the column
11935 names will be removed from the table before
11936 processing, then reapplied to the results.
11939 #+tblname: less-cols
11945 #+srcname: echo-table-again
11946 #+begin_src python :var tab=less-cols
11947 return [[val + '*' for val in row] for row in tab]
11950 #+results: echo-table-again
11958 No column name pre-processing takes place
11961 Column names are removed and reapplied as with @code{nil} even if the table
11962 does not ``look like'' it has column names (i.e. the second row is not an
11966 @node rownames, shebang, colnames, Specific header arguments
11967 @subsubsection @code{:rownames}
11969 The @code{:rownames} header argument can take on the values @code{yes}
11970 or @code{no}, with a default value of @code{no}.
11974 No row name pre-processing will take place.
11977 The first column of the table is removed from the table before processing,
11978 and is then reapplied to the results.
11981 #+tblname: with-rownames
11982 | one | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
11983 | two | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
11985 #+srcname: echo-table-once-again
11986 #+begin_src python :var tab=with-rownames :rownames yes
11987 return [[val + 10 for val in row] for row in tab]
11990 #+results: echo-table-once-again
11991 | one | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
11992 | two | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
11996 @node shebang, , rownames, Specific header arguments
11997 @subsubsection @code{:shebang}
11999 Setting the @code{:shebang} header argument to a string value
12000 (e.g. @code{:shebang "#!/bin/bash"}) causes the string to be inserted as the
12001 first line of any tangled file holding the code block, and the file
12002 permissions of the tangled file are set to make it executable.
12004 @node Results of evaluation, Noweb reference syntax, Header arguments, Working With Source Code
12005 @section Results of evaluation
12006 @cindex code block, results of evaluation
12007 @cindex source code, results of evaluation
12009 The way in which results are handled depends on whether a session is invoked,
12010 as well as on whether @code{:results value} or @code{:results output} is
12011 used. The following table shows the possibilities:
12013 @multitable @columnfractions 0.26 0.33 0.41
12014 @item @tab @b{Non-session} @tab @b{Session}
12015 @item @code{:results value} @tab value of last expression @tab value of last expression
12016 @item @code{:results output} @tab contents of STDOUT @tab concatenation of interpreter output
12019 Note: With @code{:results value}, the result in both @code{:session} and
12020 non-session is returned to Org-mode as a table (a one- or two-dimensional
12021 vector of strings or numbers) when appropriate.
12023 @subsection Non-session
12024 @subsubsection @code{:results value}
12025 This is the default. Internally, the value is obtained by wrapping the code
12026 in a function definition in the external language, and evaluating that
12027 function. Therefore, code should be written as if it were the body of such a
12028 function. In particular, note that python does not automatically return a
12029 value from a function unless a @code{return} statement is present, and so a
12030 @samp{return} statement will usually be required in python.
12032 This is the only one of the four evaluation contexts in which the code is
12033 automatically wrapped in a function definition.
12035 @subsubsection @code{:results output}
12036 The code is passed to the interpreter as an external process, and the
12037 contents of the standard output stream are returned as text. (In certain
12038 languages this also contains the error output stream; this is an area for
12041 @subsection @code{:session}
12042 @subsubsection @code{:results value}
12043 The code is passed to the interpreter running as an interactive Emacs
12044 inferior process. The result returned is the result of the last evaluation
12045 performed by the interpreter. (This is obtained in a language-specific
12046 manner: the value of the variable @code{_} in python and ruby, and the value
12047 of @code{.Last.value} in R).
12049 @subsubsection @code{:results output}
12050 The code is passed to the interpreter running as an interactive Emacs
12051 inferior process. The result returned is the concatenation of the sequence of
12052 (text) output from the interactive interpreter. Notice that this is not
12053 necessarily the same as what would be sent to @code{STDOUT} if the same code
12054 were passed to a non-interactive interpreter running as an external
12055 process. For example, compare the following two blocks:
12058 #+begin_src python :results output
12069 In non-session mode, the '2' is not printed and does not appear.
12071 #+begin_src python :results output :session
12083 But in @code{:session} mode, the interactive interpreter receives input '2'
12084 and prints out its value, '2'. (Indeed, the other print statements are
12087 @node Noweb reference syntax, Key bindings and useful functions, Results of evaluation, Working With Source Code
12088 @section Noweb reference syntax
12089 @cindex code block, noweb reference
12090 @cindex syntax, noweb
12091 @cindex source code, noweb reference
12093 The ``noweb'' (see @uref{http://www.cs.tufts.edu/~nr/noweb/}) Literate
12094 Programming system allows named blocks of code to be referenced by using the
12095 familiar Noweb syntax:
12098 <<code-block-name>>
12101 When a code block is tangled or evaluated, whether or not ``noweb''
12102 references are expanded depends upon the value of the @code{:noweb} header
12103 argument. If @code{:noweb yes}, then a Noweb reference is expanded before
12104 evaluation. If @code{:noweb no}, the default, then the reference is not
12105 expanded before evaluation.
12107 Note: the default value, @code{:noweb no}, was chosen to ensure that
12108 correct code is not broken in a language, such as Ruby, where
12109 @code{<<arg>>} is a syntactically valid construct. If @code{<<arg>>} is not
12110 syntactically valid in languages that you use, then please consider setting
12113 @node Key bindings and useful functions, Batch execution, Noweb reference syntax, Working With Source Code
12114 @section Key bindings and useful functions
12115 @cindex code block, key bindings
12117 Many common Org-mode key sequences are re-bound depending on
12120 Within a code block, the following key bindings
12123 @multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
12125 @item @kbd{C-c C-c} @tab org-babel-execute-src-block
12127 @item @kbd{C-c C-o} @tab org-babel-open-src-block-result
12129 @item @kbd{C-@key{up}} @tab org-babel-load-in-session
12131 @item @kbd{M-@key{down}} @tab org-babel-pop-to-session
12134 In an Org-mode buffer, the following key bindings are active:
12136 @multitable @columnfractions 0.45 0.55
12138 @kindex C-c C-v C-a
12139 @item @kbd{C-c C-v a} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-a} @tab org-babel-sha1-hash
12141 @kindex C-c C-v C-b
12142 @item @kbd{C-c C-v b} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-b} @tab org-babel-execute-buffer
12144 @kindex C-c C-v C-f
12145 @item @kbd{C-c C-v f} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-f} @tab org-babel-tangle-file
12147 @item @kbd{C-c C-v g} @tab org-babel-goto-named-source-block
12149 @item @kbd{C-c C-v h} @tab org-babel-describe-bindings
12151 @kindex C-c C-v C-l
12152 @item @kbd{C-c C-v l} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-l} @tab org-babel-lob-ingest
12154 @kindex C-c C-v C-p
12155 @item @kbd{C-c C-v p} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-p} @tab org-babel-expand-src-block
12157 @kindex C-c C-v C-s
12158 @item @kbd{C-c C-v s} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-s} @tab org-babel-execute-subtree
12160 @kindex C-c C-v C-t
12161 @item @kbd{C-c C-v t} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-t} @tab org-babel-tangle
12163 @kindex C-c C-v C-z
12164 @item @kbd{C-c C-v z} @ @ @r{or} @ @ @kbd{C-c C-v C-z} @tab org-babel-switch-to-session
12167 @c When possible these keybindings were extended to work when the control key is
12168 @c kept pressed, resulting in the following additional keybindings.
12170 @c @multitable @columnfractions 0.25 0.75
12171 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-a} @tab org-babel-sha1-hash
12172 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-b} @tab org-babel-execute-buffer
12173 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-f} @tab org-babel-tangle-file
12174 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-l} @tab org-babel-lob-ingest
12175 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-p} @tab org-babel-expand-src-block
12176 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-s} @tab org-babel-execute-subtree
12177 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-t} @tab org-babel-tangle
12178 @c @item @kbd{C-c C-v C-z} @tab org-babel-switch-to-session
12181 @node Batch execution, , Key bindings and useful functions, Working With Source Code
12182 @section Batch execution
12183 @cindex code block, batch execution
12184 @cindex source code, batch execution
12186 It is possible to call functions from the command line. This shell
12187 script calls @code{org-babel-tangle} on every one of its arguments.
12189 Be sure to adjust the paths to fit your system.
12193 # -*- mode: shell-script -*-
12195 # tangle a file with org-mode
12200 # wrap each argument in the code required to call tangle on it
12202 FILES="$FILES \"$i\""
12207 (add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name \"~/src/org/lisp/\"))
12208 (add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name \"~/src/org/contrib/lisp/\"))
12209 (require 'org)(require 'org-exp)(require 'ob)(require 'ob-tangle)
12210 (mapc (lambda (file)
12211 (find-file (expand-file-name file \"$DIR\"))
12213 (kill-buffer)) '($FILES)))"
12216 @node Miscellaneous, Hacking, Working With Source Code, Top
12217 @chapter Miscellaneous
12220 * Completion:: M-TAB knows what you need
12221 * Speed keys:: Electic commands at the beginning of a headline
12222 * Code evaluation security:: Org mode files evaluate inline code
12223 * Customization:: Adapting Org to your taste
12224 * In-buffer settings:: Overview of the #+KEYWORDS
12225 * The very busy C-c C-c key:: When in doubt, press C-c C-c
12226 * Clean view:: Getting rid of leading stars in the outline
12227 * TTY keys:: Using Org on a tty
12228 * Interaction:: Other Emacs packages
12232 @node Completion, Speed keys, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous
12233 @section Completion
12234 @cindex completion, of @TeX{} symbols
12235 @cindex completion, of TODO keywords
12236 @cindex completion, of dictionary words
12237 @cindex completion, of option keywords
12238 @cindex completion, of tags
12239 @cindex completion, of property keys
12240 @cindex completion, of link abbreviations
12241 @cindex @TeX{} symbol completion
12242 @cindex TODO keywords completion
12243 @cindex dictionary word completion
12244 @cindex option keyword completion
12245 @cindex tag completion
12246 @cindex link abbreviations, completion of
12248 Emacs would not be Emacs without completion, and Org-mode uses it whenever it
12249 makes sense. If you prefer an @i{iswitchb}- or @i{ido}-like interface for
12250 some of the completion prompts, you can specify your preference by setting at
12251 most one of the variables @code{org-completion-use-iswitchb}
12252 @code{org-completion-use-ido}.
12254 Org supports in-buffer completion. This type of completion does
12255 not make use of the minibuffer. You simply type a few letters into
12256 the buffer and use the key to complete text right there.
12259 @kindex M-@key{TAB}
12261 Complete word at point
12264 At the beginning of a headline, complete TODO keywords.
12266 After @samp{\}, complete @TeX{} symbols supported by the exporter.
12268 After @samp{*}, complete headlines in the current buffer so that they
12269 can be used in search links like @samp{[[*find this headline]]}.
12271 After @samp{:} in a headline, complete tags. The list of tags is taken
12272 from the variable @code{org-tag-alist} (possibly set through the
12273 @samp{#+TAGS} in-buffer option, @pxref{Setting tags}), or it is created
12274 dynamically from all tags used in the current buffer.
12276 After @samp{:} and not in a headline, complete property keys. The list
12277 of keys is constructed dynamically from all keys used in the current
12280 After @samp{[}, complete link abbreviations (@pxref{Link abbreviations}).
12282 After @samp{#+}, complete the special keywords like @samp{TYP_TODO} or
12283 @samp{OPTIONS} which set file-specific options for Org-mode. When the
12284 option keyword is already complete, pressing @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} again
12285 will insert example settings for this keyword.
12287 In the line after @samp{#+STARTUP: }, complete startup keywords,
12288 i.e. valid keys for this line.
12290 Elsewhere, complete dictionary words using Ispell.
12294 @node Speed keys, Code evaluation security, Completion, Miscellaneous
12295 @section Speed keys
12297 @vindex org-use-speed-commands
12298 @vindex org-speed-commands-user
12300 Single keys can be made to execute commands when the cursor is at the
12301 beginning of a headline, i.e. before the first star. Configure the variable
12302 @code{org-use-speed-commands} to activate this feature. There is a
12303 pre-defined list of commands, and you can add more such commands using the
12304 variable @code{org-speed-commands-user}. Speed keys do not only speed up
12305 navigation and other commands, but they also provide an alternative way to
12306 execute commands bound to keys that are not or not easily available on a tty,
12307 or on a small mobile device with a limited keyboard.
12309 To see which commands are available, activate the feature and press @kbd{?}
12310 with the cursor at the beginning of a headline.
12312 @node Code evaluation security, Customization, Speed keys, Miscellaneous
12313 @section Code evaluation and security issues
12315 Org provides tool to work with the code snippets, including evaluating them.
12317 Running code on your machine always comes with a security risk. Badly
12318 written or malicious code can be executed on purpose or by accident. Org has
12319 default settings which will only evaluate such code if you give explicit
12320 permission to do so, and as a casual user of these features you should leave
12321 these precautions intact.
12323 For people who regularly work with such code, the confirmation prompts can
12324 become annoying, and you might want to turn them off. This can be done, but
12325 you must be aware of the risks that are involved.
12327 Code evaluation can happen under the following circumstances:
12330 @item Source code blocks
12331 Source code blocks can be evaluated during export, or when pressing @kbd{C-c
12332 C-c} in the block. The most important thing to realize here is that Org mode
12333 files which contain code snippets are in a certain sense like executable
12334 files. So you should accept them and load them into Emacs only from trusted
12335 sources - just like you would do with a program you install on your computer.
12337 Make sure you know what you are doing before customizing the variables
12338 which take of the default security brakes.
12340 @defopt org-confirm-babel-evaluate
12341 When set to t user is queried before code block evaluation
12344 @item Following @code{shell} and @code{elisp} links
12345 Org has two link types that can directly evaluate code (@pxref{External
12346 links}). These links can be problematic because the code to be evaluated his
12349 @defopt org-confirm-shell-link-function
12350 Function to queries user about shell link execution.
12352 @defopt org-confirm-elisp-link-function
12353 Functions to query user for Emacs Lisp link execution.
12356 @item Following @code{shell} and @code{elisp} links
12357 Org has two link types that can directly evaluate code (@pxref{External
12358 links}). These links can be problematic because the code to be evaluated his
12359 not visible. @b{Security advice:} Do not use these links, use source code
12360 blocks which make the associated actions much more transparent.
12362 @item Formulas in tables
12363 Formulas in tables (@pxref{The spreadsheet}) are code that is evaluated
12364 either by the @i{calc} interpreter, or by the @i{Emacs Lisp} interpreter.
12367 @node Customization, In-buffer settings, Code evaluation security, Miscellaneous
12368 @section Customization
12369 @cindex customization
12370 @cindex options, for customization
12371 @cindex variables, for customization
12373 There are more than 180 variables that can be used to customize
12374 Org. For the sake of compactness of the manual, I am not
12375 describing the variables here. A structured overview of customization
12376 variables is available with @kbd{M-x org-customize}. Or select
12377 @code{Browse Org Group} from the @code{Org->Customization} menu. Many
12378 settings can also be activated on a per-file basis, by putting special
12379 lines into the buffer (@pxref{In-buffer settings}).
12381 @node In-buffer settings, The very busy C-c C-c key, Customization, Miscellaneous
12382 @section Summary of in-buffer settings
12383 @cindex in-buffer settings
12384 @cindex special keywords
12386 Org-mode uses special lines in the buffer to define settings on a
12387 per-file basis. These lines start with a @samp{#+} followed by a
12388 keyword, a colon, and then individual words defining a setting. Several
12389 setting words can be in the same line, but you can also have multiple
12390 lines for the keyword. While these settings are described throughout
12391 the manual, here is a summary. After changing any of those lines in the
12392 buffer, press @kbd{C-c C-c} with the cursor still in the line to
12393 activate the changes immediately. Otherwise they become effective only
12394 when the file is visited again in a new Emacs session.
12396 @vindex org-archive-location
12398 @item #+ARCHIVE: %s_done::
12399 This line sets the archive location for the agenda file. It applies for
12400 all subsequent lines until the next @samp{#+ARCHIVE} line, or the end
12401 of the file. The first such line also applies to any entries before it.
12402 The corresponding variable is @code{org-archive-location}.
12404 This line sets the category for the agenda file. The category applies
12405 for all subsequent lines until the next @samp{#+CATEGORY} line, or the
12406 end of the file. The first such line also applies to any entries before it.
12407 @item #+COLUMNS: %25ITEM .....
12408 @cindex property, COLUMNS
12409 Set the default format for columns view. This format applies when
12410 columns view is invoked in locations where no @code{COLUMNS} property
12412 @item #+CONSTANTS: name1=value1 ...
12413 @vindex org-table-formula-constants
12414 @vindex org-table-formula
12415 Set file-local values for constants to be used in table formulas. This
12416 line set the local variable @code{org-table-formula-constants-local}.
12417 The global version of this variable is
12418 @code{org-table-formula-constants}.
12419 @item #+FILETAGS: :tag1:tag2:tag3:
12420 Set tags that can be inherited by any entry in the file, including the
12422 @item #+DRAWERS: NAME1 .....
12423 @vindex org-drawers
12424 Set the file-local set of drawers. The corresponding global variable is
12425 @code{org-drawers}.
12426 @item #+LINK: linkword replace
12427 @vindex org-link-abbrev-alist
12428 These lines (several are allowed) specify link abbreviations.
12429 @xref{Link abbreviations}. The corresponding variable is
12430 @code{org-link-abbrev-alist}.
12431 @item #+PRIORITIES: highest lowest default
12432 @vindex org-highest-priority
12433 @vindex org-lowest-priority
12434 @vindex org-default-priority
12435 This line sets the limits and the default for the priorities. All three
12436 must be either letters A-Z or numbers 0-9. The highest priority must
12437 have a lower ASCII number that the lowest priority.
12438 @item #+PROPERTY: Property_Name Value
12439 This line sets a default inheritance value for entries in the current
12440 buffer, most useful for specifying the allowed values of a property.
12441 @cindex #+SETUPFILE
12442 @item #+SETUPFILE: file
12443 This line defines a file that holds more in-buffer setup. Normally this is
12444 entirely ignored. Only when the buffer is parsed for option-setting lines
12445 (i.e. when starting Org-mode for a file, when pressing @kbd{C-c C-c} in a
12446 settings line, or when exporting), then the contents of this file are parsed
12447 as if they had been included in the buffer. In particular, the file can be
12448 any other Org-mode file with internal setup. You can visit the file the
12449 cursor is in the line with @kbd{C-c '}.
12452 This line sets options to be used at startup of Org-mode, when an
12453 Org file is being visited.
12455 The first set of options deals with the initial visibility of the outline
12456 tree. The corresponding variable for global default settings is
12457 @code{org-startup-folded}, with a default value @code{t}, which means
12459 @vindex org-startup-folded
12460 @cindex @code{overview}, STARTUP keyword
12461 @cindex @code{content}, STARTUP keyword
12462 @cindex @code{showall}, STARTUP keyword
12463 @cindex @code{showeverything}, STARTUP keyword
12465 overview @r{top-level headlines only}
12466 content @r{all headlines}
12467 showall @r{no folding of any entries}
12468 showeverything @r{show even drawer contents}
12471 @vindex org-startup-indented
12472 @cindex @code{indent}, STARTUP keyword
12473 @cindex @code{noindent}, STARTUP keyword
12474 Dynamic virtual indentation is controlled by the variable
12475 @code{org-startup-indented}@footnote{Emacs 23 and Org-mode 6.29 are required}
12477 indent @r{start with @code{org-indent-mode} turned on}
12478 noindent @r{start with @code{org-indent-mode} turned off}
12481 @vindex org-startup-align-all-tables
12482 Then there are options for aligning tables upon visiting a file. This
12483 is useful in files containing narrowed table columns. The corresponding
12484 variable is @code{org-startup-align-all-tables}, with a default value
12486 @cindex @code{align}, STARTUP keyword
12487 @cindex @code{noalign}, STARTUP keyword
12489 align @r{align all tables}
12490 noalign @r{don't align tables on startup}
12492 @vindex org-log-done
12493 @vindex org-log-note-clock-out
12494 @vindex org-log-repeat
12495 Logging the closing and reopening of TODO items and clock intervals can be
12496 configured using these options (see variables @code{org-log-done},
12497 @code{org-log-note-clock-out} and @code{org-log-repeat})
12498 @cindex @code{logdone}, STARTUP keyword
12499 @cindex @code{lognotedone}, STARTUP keyword
12500 @cindex @code{nologdone}, STARTUP keyword
12501 @cindex @code{lognoteclock-out}, STARTUP keyword
12502 @cindex @code{nolognoteclock-out}, STARTUP keyword
12503 @cindex @code{logrepeat}, STARTUP keyword
12504 @cindex @code{lognoterepeat}, STARTUP keyword
12505 @cindex @code{nologrepeat}, STARTUP keyword
12506 @cindex @code{logreschedule}, STARTUP keyword
12507 @cindex @code{lognotereschedule}, STARTUP keyword
12508 @cindex @code{nologreschedule}, STARTUP keyword
12509 @cindex @code{logredeadline}, STARTUP keyword
12510 @cindex @code{lognoteredeadline}, STARTUP keyword
12511 @cindex @code{nologredeadline}, STARTUP keyword
12512 @cindex @code{logrefile}, STARTUP keyword
12513 @cindex @code{lognoterefile}, STARTUP keyword
12514 @cindex @code{nologrefile}, STARTUP keyword
12516 logdone @r{record a timestamp when an item is marked DONE}
12517 lognotedone @r{record timestamp and a note when DONE}
12518 nologdone @r{don't record when items are marked DONE}
12519 logrepeat @r{record a time when reinstating a repeating item}
12520 lognoterepeat @r{record a note when reinstating a repeating item}
12521 nologrepeat @r{do not record when reinstating repeating item}
12522 lognoteclock-out @r{record a note when clocking out}
12523 nolognoteclock-out @r{don't record a note when clocking out}
12524 logreschedule @r{record a timestamp when scheduling time changes}
12525 lognotereschedule @r{record a note when scheduling time changes}
12526 nologreschedule @r{do not record when a scheduling date changes}
12527 logredeadline @r{record a timestamp when deadline changes}
12528 lognoteredeadline @r{record a note when deadline changes}
12529 nologredeadline @r{do not record when a deadline date changes}
12530 logrefile @r{record a timestamp when refiling}
12531 lognoterefile @r{record a note when refiling}
12532 nologrefile @r{do not record when refiling}
12534 @vindex org-hide-leading-stars
12535 @vindex org-odd-levels-only
12536 Here are the options for hiding leading stars in outline headings, and for
12537 indenting outlines. The corresponding variables are
12538 @code{org-hide-leading-stars} and @code{org-odd-levels-only}, both with a
12539 default setting @code{nil} (meaning @code{showstars} and @code{oddeven}).
12540 @cindex @code{hidestars}, STARTUP keyword
12541 @cindex @code{showstars}, STARTUP keyword
12542 @cindex @code{odd}, STARTUP keyword
12543 @cindex @code{even}, STARTUP keyword
12545 hidestars @r{make all but one of the stars starting a headline invisible.}
12546 showstars @r{show all stars starting a headline}
12547 indent @r{virtual indentation according to outline level}
12548 noindent @r{no virtual indentation according to outline level}
12549 odd @r{allow only odd outline levels (1,3,...)}
12550 oddeven @r{allow all outline levels}
12552 @vindex org-put-time-stamp-overlays
12553 @vindex org-time-stamp-overlay-formats
12554 To turn on custom format overlays over timestamps (variables
12555 @code{org-put-time-stamp-overlays} and
12556 @code{org-time-stamp-overlay-formats}), use
12557 @cindex @code{customtime}, STARTUP keyword
12559 customtime @r{overlay custom time format}
12561 @vindex constants-unit-system
12562 The following options influence the table spreadsheet (variable
12563 @code{constants-unit-system}).
12564 @cindex @code{constcgs}, STARTUP keyword
12565 @cindex @code{constSI}, STARTUP keyword
12567 constcgs @r{@file{constants.el} should use the c-g-s unit system}
12568 constSI @r{@file{constants.el} should use the SI unit system}
12570 @vindex org-footnote-define-inline
12571 @vindex org-footnote-auto-label
12572 @vindex org-footnote-auto-adjust
12573 To influence footnote settings, use the following keywords. The
12574 corresponding variables are @code{org-footnote-define-inline},
12575 @code{org-footnote-auto-label}, and @code{org-footnote-auto-adjust}.
12576 @cindex @code{fninline}, STARTUP keyword
12577 @cindex @code{nofninline}, STARTUP keyword
12578 @cindex @code{fnlocal}, STARTUP keyword
12579 @cindex @code{fnprompt}, STARTUP keyword
12580 @cindex @code{fnauto}, STARTUP keyword
12581 @cindex @code{fnconfirm}, STARTUP keyword
12582 @cindex @code{fnplain}, STARTUP keyword
12583 @cindex @code{fnadjust}, STARTUP keyword
12584 @cindex @code{nofnadjust}, STARTUP keyword
12586 fninline @r{define footnotes inline}
12587 fnnoinline @r{define footnotes in separate section}
12588 fnlocal @r{define footnotes near first reference, but not inline}
12589 fnprompt @r{prompt for footnote labels}
12590 fnauto @r{create [fn:1]-like labels automatically (default)}
12591 fnconfirm @r{offer automatic label for editing or confirmation}
12592 fnplain @r{create [1]-like labels automatically}
12593 fnadjust @r{automatically renumber and sort footnotes}
12594 nofnadjust @r{do not renumber and sort automatically}
12596 @cindex org-hide-block-startup
12597 To hide blocks on startup, use these keywords. The corresponding variable is
12598 @code{org-hide-block-startup}.
12599 @cindex @code{hideblocks}, STARTUP keyword
12600 @cindex @code{nohideblocks}, STARTUP keyword
12602 hideblocks @r{Hide all begin/end blocks on startup}
12603 nohideblocks @r{Do not hide blocks on startup}
12605 @cindex org-pretty-entities
12606 The the display of entities as UTF8 characters is governed by the variable
12607 @code{org-pretty-entities} and the keywords
12608 @cindex @code{entitiespretty}, STARTUP keyword
12609 @cindex @code{entitiesplain}, STARTUP keyword
12611 entitiespretty @r{Show entities as UTF8 characters where possible}
12612 entitiesplain @r{Leave entities plain}
12614 @item #+TAGS: TAG1(c1) TAG2(c2)
12615 @vindex org-tag-alist
12616 These lines (several such lines are allowed) specify the valid tags in
12617 this file, and (potentially) the corresponding @emph{fast tag selection}
12618 keys. The corresponding variable is @code{org-tag-alist}.
12620 This line contains the formulas for the table directly above the line.
12621 @item #+TITLE:, #+AUTHOR:, #+EMAIL:, #+LANGUAGE:, #+TEXT:, #+DATE:,
12622 @itemx #+OPTIONS:, #+BIND:, #+XSLT:,
12623 @itemx #+DESCRIPTION:, #+KEYWORDS:,
12624 @itemx #+LATEX_HEADER:, #+STYLE:, #+LINK_UP:, #+LINK_HOME:,
12625 @itemx #+EXPORT_SELECT_TAGS:, #+EXPORT_EXCLUDE_TAGS:
12626 These lines provide settings for exporting files. For more details see
12627 @ref{Export options}.
12628 @item #+TODO: #+SEQ_TODO: #+TYP_TODO:
12629 @vindex org-todo-keywords
12630 These lines set the TODO keywords and their interpretation in the
12631 current file. The corresponding variable is @code{org-todo-keywords}.
12634 @node The very busy C-c C-c key, Clean view, In-buffer settings, Miscellaneous
12635 @section The very busy C-c C-c key
12637 @cindex C-c C-c, overview
12639 The key @kbd{C-c C-c} has many purposes in Org, which are all
12640 mentioned scattered throughout this manual. One specific function of
12641 this key is to add @emph{tags} to a headline (@pxref{Tags}). In many
12642 other circumstances it means something like @emph{``Hey Org, look
12643 here and update according to what you see here''}. Here is a summary of
12644 what this means in different contexts.
12648 If there are highlights in the buffer from the creation of a sparse
12649 tree, or from clock display, remove these highlights.
12651 If the cursor is in one of the special @code{#+KEYWORD} lines, this
12652 triggers scanning the buffer for these lines and updating the
12655 If the cursor is inside a table, realign the table. This command
12656 works even if the automatic table editor has been turned off.
12658 If the cursor is on a @code{#+TBLFM} line, re-apply the formulas to
12661 If the current buffer is a capture buffer, close the note and file it.
12662 With a prefix argument, file it, without further interaction, to the
12665 If the cursor is on a @code{<<<target>>>}, update radio targets and
12666 corresponding links in this buffer.
12668 If the cursor is in a property line or at the start or end of a property
12669 drawer, offer property commands.
12671 If the cursor is at a footnote reference, go to the corresponding
12672 definition, and vice versa.
12674 If the cursor is on a statistics cookie, update it.
12676 If the cursor is in a plain list item with a checkbox, toggle the status
12679 If the cursor is on a numbered item in a plain list, renumber the
12682 If the cursor is on the @code{#+BEGIN} line of a dynamic block, the
12686 @node Clean view, TTY keys, The very busy C-c C-c key, Miscellaneous
12687 @section A cleaner outline view
12688 @cindex hiding leading stars
12689 @cindex dynamic indentation
12690 @cindex odd-levels-only outlines
12691 @cindex clean outline view
12693 Some people find it noisy and distracting that the Org headlines start with a
12694 potentially large number of stars, and that text below the headlines is not
12695 indented. While this is no problem when writing a @emph{book-like} document
12696 where the outline headings are really section headings, in a more
12697 @emph{list-oriented} outline, indented structure is a lot cleaner:
12701 * Top level headline | * Top level headline
12702 ** Second level | * Second level
12703 *** 3rd level | * 3rd level
12704 some text | some text
12705 *** 3rd level | * 3rd level
12706 more text | more text
12707 * Another top level headline | * Another top level headline
12713 If you are using at least Emacs 23.2 and version 6.29 of Org, this kind of
12714 view can be achieved dynamically at display time using
12715 @code{org-indent-mode}. @i{Using this with earlier versions of Emacs can
12716 lead to crashes.} In this minor
12717 mode, all lines are prefixed for display with the necessary amount of
12718 space@footnote{@code{org-indent-mode} also sets the @code{wrap-prefix}
12719 property, such that @code{visual-line-mode} (or purely setting
12720 @code{word-wrap}) wraps long lines (including headlines) correctly indented.
12721 }. Also headlines are prefixed with additional stars, so that the amount of
12722 indentation shifts by two@footnote{See the variable
12723 @code{org-indent-indentation-per-level}.} spaces per level. All headline
12724 stars but the last one are made invisible using the @code{org-hide}
12725 face@footnote{Turning on @code{org-indent-mode} sets
12726 @code{org-hide-leading-stars} to @code{t} and @code{org-adapt-indentation} to
12727 @code{nil}.} - see below under @samp{2.} for more information on how this
12728 works. You can turn on @code{org-indent-mode} for all files by customizing
12729 the variable @code{org-startup-indented}, or you can turn it on for
12730 individual files using
12736 If you want a similar effect in earlier version of Emacs and/or Org, or if
12737 you want the indentation to be hard space characters so that the plain text
12738 file looks as similar as possible to the Emacs display, Org supports you in
12743 @emph{Indentation of text below headlines}@*
12744 You may indent text below each headline to make the left boundary line up
12745 with the headline, like
12749 more text, now indented
12752 @vindex org-adapt-indentation
12753 Org supports this with paragraph filling, line wrapping, and structure
12754 editing@footnote{See also the variable @code{org-adapt-indentation}.},
12755 preserving or adapting the indentation as appropriate.
12758 @vindex org-hide-leading-stars
12759 @emph{Hiding leading stars}@* You can modify the display in such a way that
12760 all leading stars become invisible. To do this in a global way, configure
12761 the variable @code{org-hide-leading-stars} or change this on a per-file basis
12765 #+STARTUP: hidestars
12766 #+STARTUP: showstars
12769 With hidden stars, the tree becomes:
12773 * Top level headline
12781 @vindex org-hide @r{(face)}
12782 The leading stars are not truly replaced by whitespace, they are only
12783 fontified with the face @code{org-hide} that uses the background color as
12784 font color. If you are not using either white or black background, you may
12785 have to customize this face to get the wanted effect. Another possibility is
12786 to set this font such that the extra stars are @i{almost} invisible, for
12787 example using the color @code{grey90} on a white background.
12790 @vindex org-odd-levels-only
12791 Things become cleaner still if you skip all the even levels and use only odd
12792 levels 1, 3, 5..., effectively adding two stars to go from one outline level
12793 to the next@footnote{When you need to specify a level for a property search
12794 or refile targets, @samp{LEVEL=2} will correspond to 3 stars, etc@.}. In this
12795 way we get the outline view shown at the beginning of this section. In order
12796 to make the structure editing and export commands handle this convention
12797 correctly, configure the variable @code{org-odd-levels-only}, or set this on
12798 a per-file basis with one of the following lines:
12805 You can convert an Org file from single-star-per-level to the
12806 double-star-per-level convention with @kbd{M-x org-convert-to-odd-levels
12807 RET} in that file. The reverse operation is @kbd{M-x
12808 org-convert-to-oddeven-levels}.
12811 @node TTY keys, Interaction, Clean view, Miscellaneous
12812 @section Using Org on a tty
12813 @cindex tty key bindings
12815 Because Org contains a large number of commands, by default many of
12816 Org's core commands are bound to keys that are generally not
12817 accessible on a tty, such as the cursor keys (@key{left}, @key{right},
12818 @key{up}, @key{down}), @key{TAB} and @key{RET}, in particular when used
12819 together with modifiers like @key{Meta} and/or @key{Shift}. To access
12820 these commands on a tty when special keys are unavailable, the following
12821 alternative bindings can be used. The tty bindings below will likely be
12822 more cumbersome; you may find for some of the bindings below that a
12823 customized workaround suits you better. For example, changing a timestamp
12824 is really only fun with @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} keys, whereas on a
12825 tty you would rather use @kbd{C-c .} to re-insert the timestamp.
12827 @multitable @columnfractions 0.15 0.2 0.1 0.2
12828 @item @b{Default} @tab @b{Alternative 1} @tab @b{Speed key} @tab @b{Alternative 2}
12829 @item @kbd{S-@key{TAB}} @tab @kbd{C-u @key{TAB}} @tab @kbd{C} @tab
12830 @item @kbd{M-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x l} @tab @kbd{l} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{left}}
12831 @item @kbd{M-S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x L} @tab @kbd{L} @tab
12832 @item @kbd{M-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x r} @tab @kbd{r} @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{right}}
12833 @item @kbd{M-S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x R} @tab @kbd{R} @tab
12834 @item @kbd{M-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x u} @tab @kbd{ } @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{up}}
12835 @item @kbd{M-S-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x U} @tab @kbd{U} @tab
12836 @item @kbd{M-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x d} @tab @kbd{ } @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{down}}
12837 @item @kbd{M-S-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x D} @tab @kbd{D} @tab
12838 @item @kbd{S-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x c} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12839 @item @kbd{M-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x m} @tab @kbd{ } @tab @kbd{@key{Esc} @key{RET}}
12840 @item @kbd{M-S-@key{RET}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x M} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12841 @item @kbd{S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{left}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12842 @item @kbd{S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{right}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12843 @item @kbd{S-@key{up}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{up}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12844 @item @kbd{S-@key{down}} @tab @kbd{C-c @key{down}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12845 @item @kbd{C-S-@key{left}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x @key{left}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12846 @item @kbd{C-S-@key{right}} @tab @kbd{C-c C-x @key{right}} @tab @kbd{ } @tab
12850 @node Interaction, , TTY keys, Miscellaneous
12851 @section Interaction with other packages
12852 @cindex packages, interaction with other
12853 Org lives in the world of GNU Emacs and interacts in various ways
12854 with other code out there.
12857 * Cooperation:: Packages Org cooperates with
12858 * Conflicts:: Packages that lead to conflicts
12861 @node Cooperation, Conflicts, Interaction, Interaction
12862 @subsection Packages that Org cooperates with
12865 @cindex @file{calc.el}
12866 @cindex Gillespie, Dave
12867 @item @file{calc.el} by Dave Gillespie
12868 Org uses the Calc package for implementing spreadsheet
12869 functionality in its tables (@pxref{The spreadsheet}). Org
12870 checks for the availability of Calc by looking for the function
12871 @code{calc-eval} which will have been autoloaded during setup if Calc has
12872 been installed properly. As of Emacs 22, Calc is part of the Emacs
12873 distribution. Another possibility for interaction between the two
12874 packages is using Calc for embedded calculations. @xref{Embedded Mode,
12875 , Embedded Mode, Calc, GNU Emacs Calc Manual}.
12876 @item @file{constants.el} by Carsten Dominik
12877 @cindex @file{constants.el}
12878 @cindex Dominik, Carsten
12879 @vindex org-table-formula-constants
12880 In a table formula (@pxref{The spreadsheet}), it is possible to use
12881 names for natural constants or units. Instead of defining your own
12882 constants in the variable @code{org-table-formula-constants}, install
12883 the @file{constants} package which defines a large number of constants
12884 and units, and lets you use unit prefixes like @samp{M} for
12885 @samp{Mega}, etc@. You will need version 2.0 of this package, available
12886 at @url{http://www.astro.uva.nl/~dominik/Tools}. Org checks for
12887 the function @code{constants-get}, which has to be autoloaded in your
12888 setup. See the installation instructions in the file
12889 @file{constants.el}.
12890 @item @file{cdlatex.el} by Carsten Dominik
12891 @cindex @file{cdlatex.el}
12892 @cindex Dominik, Carsten
12893 Org-mode can make use of the CDLa@TeX{} package to efficiently enter
12894 La@TeX{} fragments into Org files. See @ref{CDLaTeX mode}.
12895 @item @file{imenu.el} by Ake Stenhoff and Lars Lindberg
12896 @cindex @file{imenu.el}
12897 Imenu allows menu access to an index of items in a file. Org-mode
12898 supports Imenu---all you need to do to get the index is the following:
12900 (add-hook 'org-mode-hook
12901 (lambda () (imenu-add-to-menubar "Imenu")))
12903 @vindex org-imenu-depth
12904 By default the index is two levels deep---you can modify the depth using
12905 the option @code{org-imenu-depth}.
12906 @item @file{remember.el} by John Wiegley
12907 @cindex @file{remember.el}
12908 @cindex Wiegley, John
12909 Org used to use this package for capture, but no longer does.
12910 @item @file{speedbar.el} by Eric M. Ludlam
12911 @cindex @file{speedbar.el}
12912 @cindex Ludlam, Eric M.
12913 Speedbar is a package that creates a special frame displaying files and
12914 index items in files. Org-mode supports Speedbar and allows you to
12915 drill into Org files directly from the Speedbar. It also allows you to
12916 restrict the scope of agenda commands to a file or a subtree by using
12917 the command @kbd{<} in the Speedbar frame.
12918 @cindex @file{table.el}
12919 @item @file{table.el} by Takaaki Ota
12921 @cindex table editor, @file{table.el}
12922 @cindex @file{table.el}
12923 @cindex Ota, Takaaki
12925 Complex ASCII tables with automatic line wrapping, column- and row-spanning,
12926 and alignment can be created using the Emacs table package by Takaaki Ota
12927 (@uref{http://sourceforge.net/projects/table}, and also part of Emacs 22).
12928 Org-mode will recognize these tables and export them properly. Because of
12929 interference with other Org-mode functionality, you unfortunately cannot edit
12930 these tables directly in the buffer. Instead, you need to use the command
12931 @kbd{C-c '} to edit them, similar to source code snippets.
12936 Edit a @file{table.el} table. Works when the cursor is in a table.el table.
12940 Insert a @file{table.el} table. If there is already a table at point, this
12941 command converts it between the @file{table.el} format and the Org-mode
12942 format. See the documentation string of the command
12943 @code{org-convert-table} for the restrictions under which this is
12946 @file{table.el} is part of Emacs since Emacs 22.
12947 @item @file{footnote.el} by Steven L. Baur
12948 @cindex @file{footnote.el}
12949 @cindex Baur, Steven L.
12950 Org-mode recognizes numerical footnotes as provided by this package.
12951 However, Org-mode also has its own footnote support (@pxref{Footnotes}),
12952 which makes using @file{footnote.el} unnecessary.
12955 @node Conflicts, , Cooperation, Interaction
12956 @subsection Packages that lead to conflicts with Org-mode
12960 @cindex @code{shift-selection-mode}
12961 @vindex org-support-shift-select
12962 In Emacs 23, @code{shift-selection-mode} is on by default, meaning that
12963 cursor motions combined with the shift key should start or enlarge regions.
12964 This conflicts with the use of @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} commands in Org to change
12965 timestamps, TODO keywords, priorities, and item bullet types if the cursor is
12966 at such a location. By default, @kbd{S-@key{cursor}} commands outside
12967 special contexts don't do anything, but you can customize the variable
12968 @code{org-support-shift-select}. Org-mode then tries to accommodate shift
12969 selection by (i) using it outside of the special contexts where special
12970 commands apply, and by (ii) extending an existing active region even if the
12971 cursor moves across a special context.
12973 @item @file{CUA.el} by Kim. F. Storm
12974 @cindex @file{CUA.el}
12975 @cindex Storm, Kim. F.
12976 @vindex org-replace-disputed-keys
12977 Key bindings in Org conflict with the @kbd{S-<cursor>} keys used by CUA mode
12978 (as well as @code{pc-select-mode} and @code{s-region-mode}) to select and extend the
12979 region. In fact, Emacs 23 has this built-in in the form of
12980 @code{shift-selection-mode}, see previous paragraph. If you are using Emacs
12981 23, you probably don't want to use another package for this purpose. However,
12982 if you prefer to leave these keys to a different package while working in
12983 Org-mode, configure the variable @code{org-replace-disputed-keys}. When set,
12984 Org will move the following key bindings in Org files, and in the agenda
12985 buffer (but not during date selection).
12988 S-UP -> M-p S-DOWN -> M-n
12989 S-LEFT -> M-- S-RIGHT -> M-+
12990 C-S-LEFT -> M-S-- C-S-RIGHT -> M-S-+
12993 @vindex org-disputed-keys
12994 Yes, these are unfortunately more difficult to remember. If you want
12995 to have other replacement keys, look at the variable
12996 @code{org-disputed-keys}.
12998 @item @file{yasnippet.el}
12999 @cindex @file{yasnippet.el}
13000 The way Org-mode binds the TAB key (binding to @code{[tab]} instead of
13001 @code{"\t"}) overrules yasnippets' access to this key. The following code
13002 fixed this problem:
13005 (add-hook 'org-mode-hook
13007 (org-set-local 'yas/trigger-key [tab])
13008 (define-key yas/keymap [tab] 'yas/next-field-group)))
13011 @item @file{windmove.el} by Hovav Shacham
13012 @cindex @file{windmove.el}
13013 This package also uses the @kbd{S-<cursor>} keys, so everything written
13014 in the paragraph above about CUA mode also applies here. If you want make
13015 the windmove function active in locations where Org-mode does not have
13016 special functionality on @kbd{S-@key{cursor}}, add this to your
13020 ;; Make windmove work in org-mode:
13021 (add-hook 'org-shiftup-final-hook 'windmove-up)
13022 (add-hook 'org-shiftleft-final-hook 'windmove-left)
13023 (add-hook 'org-shiftdown-final-hook 'windmove-down)
13024 (add-hook 'org-shiftright-final-hook 'windmove-right)
13027 @item @file{viper.el} by Michael Kifer
13028 @cindex @file{viper.el}
13030 Viper uses @kbd{C-c /} and therefore makes this key not access the
13031 corresponding Org-mode command @code{org-sparse-tree}. You need to find
13032 another key for this command, or override the key in
13033 @code{viper-vi-global-user-map} with
13036 (define-key viper-vi-global-user-map "C-c /" 'org-sparse-tree)
13042 @node Hacking, MobileOrg, Miscellaneous, Top
13046 This appendix covers some aspects where users can extend the functionality of
13050 * Hooks:: Who to reach into Org's internals
13051 * Add-on packages:: Available extensions
13052 * Adding hyperlink types:: New custom link types
13053 * Context-sensitive commands:: How to add functionality to such commands
13054 * Tables in arbitrary syntax:: Orgtbl for La@TeX{} and other programs
13055 * Dynamic blocks:: Automatically filled blocks
13056 * Special agenda views:: Customized views
13057 * Extracting agenda information:: Postprocessing of agenda information
13058 * Using the property API:: Writing programs that use entry properties
13059 * Using the mapping API:: Mapping over all or selected entries
13062 @node Hooks, Add-on packages, Hacking, Hacking
13066 Org has a large number of hook variables that can be used to add
13067 functionality. This appendix about hacking is going to illustrate the
13068 use of some of them. A complete list of all hooks with documentation is
13069 maintained by the Worg project and can be found at
13070 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-configs/org-hooks.php}.
13072 @node Add-on packages, Adding hyperlink types, Hooks, Hacking
13073 @section Add-on packages
13074 @cindex add-on packages
13076 A large number of add-on packages have been written by various authors.
13077 These packages are not part of Emacs, but they are distributed as contributed
13078 packages with the separate release available at the Org-mode home page at
13079 @uref{http://orgmode.org}. The list of contributed packages, along with
13080 documentation about each package, is maintained by the Worg project at
13081 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/}.
13085 @node Adding hyperlink types, Context-sensitive commands, Add-on packages, Hacking
13086 @section Adding hyperlink types
13087 @cindex hyperlinks, adding new types
13089 Org has a large number of hyperlink types built-in
13090 (@pxref{Hyperlinks}). If you would like to add new link types, Org
13091 provides an interface for doing so. Let's look at an example file,
13092 @file{org-man.el}, that will add support for creating links like
13093 @samp{[[man:printf][The printf manpage]]} to show Unix manual pages inside
13097 ;;; org-man.el - Support for links to manpages in Org
13101 (org-add-link-type "man" 'org-man-open)
13102 (add-hook 'org-store-link-functions 'org-man-store-link)
13104 (defcustom org-man-command 'man
13105 "The Emacs command to be used to display a man page."
13107 :type '(choice (const man) (const woman)))
13109 (defun org-man-open (path)
13110 "Visit the manpage on PATH.
13111 PATH should be a topic that can be thrown at the man command."
13112 (funcall org-man-command path))
13114 (defun org-man-store-link ()
13115 "Store a link to a manpage."
13116 (when (memq major-mode '(Man-mode woman-mode))
13117 ;; This is a man page, we do make this link
13118 (let* ((page (org-man-get-page-name))
13119 (link (concat "man:" page))
13120 (description (format "Manpage for %s" page)))
13121 (org-store-link-props
13124 :description description))))
13126 (defun org-man-get-page-name ()
13127 "Extract the page name from the buffer name."
13128 ;; This works for both `Man-mode' and `woman-mode'.
13129 (if (string-match " \\(\\S-+\\)\\*" (buffer-name))
13130 (match-string 1 (buffer-name))
13131 (error "Cannot create link to this man page")))
13135 ;;; org-man.el ends here
13139 You would activate this new link type in @file{.emacs} with
13146 Let's go through the file and see what it does.
13149 It does @code{(require 'org)} to make sure that @file{org.el} has been
13152 The next line calls @code{org-add-link-type} to define a new link type
13153 with prefix @samp{man}. The call also contains the name of a function
13154 that will be called to follow such a link.
13156 @vindex org-store-link-functions
13157 The next line adds a function to @code{org-store-link-functions}, in
13158 order to allow the command @kbd{C-c l} to record a useful link in a
13159 buffer displaying a man page.
13162 The rest of the file defines the necessary variables and functions.
13163 First there is a customization variable that determines which Emacs
13164 command should be used to display man pages. There are two options,
13165 @code{man} and @code{woman}. Then the function to follow a link is
13166 defined. It gets the link path as an argument---in this case the link
13167 path is just a topic for the manual command. The function calls the
13168 value of @code{org-man-command} to display the man page.
13170 Finally the function @code{org-man-store-link} is defined. When you try
13171 to store a link with @kbd{C-c l}, this function will be called to
13172 try to make a link. The function must first decide if it is supposed to
13173 create the link for this buffer type; we do this by checking the value
13174 of the variable @code{major-mode}. If not, the function must exit and
13175 return the value @code{nil}. If yes, the link is created by getting the
13176 manual topic from the buffer name and prefixing it with the string
13177 @samp{man:}. Then it must call the command @code{org-store-link-props}
13178 and set the @code{:type} and @code{:link} properties. Optionally you
13179 can also set the @code{:description} property to provide a default for
13180 the link description when the link is later inserted into an Org
13181 buffer with @kbd{C-c C-l}.
13183 When is makes sense for your new link type, you may also define a function
13184 @code{org-PREFIX-complete-link} that implements special (e.g. completion)
13185 support for inserting such a link with @kbd{C-c C-l}. Such a function should
13186 not accept any arguments, and return the full link with prefix.
13188 @node Context-sensitive commands, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Adding hyperlink types, Hacking
13189 @section Context-sensitive commands
13190 @cindex context-sensitive commands, hooks
13191 @cindex add-ons, context-sensitive commands
13192 @vindex org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c-hook
13194 Org has several commands that act differently depending on context. The most
13195 important example it the @kbd{C-c C-c} (@pxref{The very busy C-c C-c key}).
13196 Also the @kbd{M-cursor} and @kbd{M-S-cursor} keys have this property.
13198 Add-ons can tap into this functionality by providing a function that detects
13199 special context for that add-on and executes functionality appropriate for
13200 the context. Here is an example from Dan Davison's @file{org-R.el} which
13201 allows you to evaluate commands based on the @file{R} programming language. For
13202 this package, special contexts are lines that start with @code{#+R:} or
13206 (defun org-R-apply-maybe ()
13207 "Detect if this is context for org-R and execute R commands."
13208 (if (save-excursion
13209 (beginning-of-line 1)
13210 (looking-at "#\\+RR?:"))
13211 (progn (call-interactively 'org-R-apply)
13212 t) ;; to signal that we took action
13213 nil)) ;; to signal that we did not
13215 (add-hook 'org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c-hook 'org-R-apply-maybe)
13218 The function first checks if the cursor is in such a line. If that is the
13219 case, @code{org-R-apply} is called and the function returns @code{t} to
13220 signal that action was taken, and @kbd{C-c C-c} will stop looking for other
13221 contexts. If the function finds it should do nothing locally, it returns @code{nil} so that other, similar functions can have a try.
13224 @node Tables in arbitrary syntax, Dynamic blocks, Context-sensitive commands, Hacking
13225 @section Tables and lists in arbitrary syntax
13226 @cindex tables, in other modes
13227 @cindex lists, in other modes
13228 @cindex Orgtbl mode
13230 Since Orgtbl mode can be used as a minor mode in arbitrary buffers, a
13231 frequent feature request has been to make it work with native tables in
13232 specific languages, for example La@TeX{}. However, this is extremely
13233 hard to do in a general way, would lead to a customization nightmare,
13234 and would take away much of the simplicity of the Orgtbl-mode table
13238 This appendix describes a different approach. We keep the Orgtbl mode
13239 table in its native format (the @i{source table}), and use a custom
13240 function to @i{translate} the table to the correct syntax, and to
13241 @i{install} it in the right location (the @i{target table}). This puts
13242 the burden of writing conversion functions on the user, but it allows
13243 for a very flexible system.
13245 Bastien added the ability to do the same with lists. You can use Org's
13246 facilities to edit and structure lists by turning @code{orgstruct-mode}
13247 on, then locally exporting such lists in another format (HTML, La@TeX{}
13252 * Radio tables:: Sending and receiving radio tables
13253 * A LaTeX example:: Step by step, almost a tutorial
13254 * Translator functions:: Copy and modify
13255 * Radio lists:: Doing the same for lists
13258 @node Radio tables, A LaTeX example, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Tables in arbitrary syntax
13259 @subsection Radio tables
13260 @cindex radio tables
13262 To define the location of the target table, you first need to create two
13263 lines that are comments in the current mode, but contain magic words for
13264 Orgtbl mode to find. Orgtbl mode will insert the translated table
13265 between these lines, replacing whatever was there before. For example:
13268 /* BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL table_name */
13269 /* END RECEIVE ORGTBL table_name */
13273 Just above the source table, we put a special line that tells
13274 Orgtbl mode how to translate this table and where to install it. For
13278 #+ORGTBL: SEND table_name translation_function arguments....
13282 @code{table_name} is the reference name for the table that is also used
13283 in the receiver lines. @code{translation_function} is the Lisp function
13284 that does the translation. Furthermore, the line can contain a list of
13285 arguments (alternating key and value) at the end. The arguments will be
13286 passed as a property list to the translation function for
13287 interpretation. A few standard parameters are already recognized and
13288 acted upon before the translation function is called:
13292 Skip the first N lines of the table. Hlines do count as separate lines for
13295 @item :skipcols (n1 n2 ...)
13296 List of columns that should be skipped. If the table has a column with
13297 calculation marks, that column is automatically discarded as well.
13298 Please note that the translator function sees the table @emph{after} the
13299 removal of these columns, the function never knows that there have been
13300 additional columns.
13304 The one problem remaining is how to keep the source table in the buffer
13305 without disturbing the normal workings of the file, for example during
13306 compilation of a C file or processing of a La@TeX{} file. There are a
13307 number of different solutions:
13311 The table could be placed in a block comment if that is supported by the
13312 language. For example, in C mode you could wrap the table between
13313 @samp{/*} and @samp{*/} lines.
13315 Sometimes it is possible to put the table after some kind of @i{END}
13316 statement, for example @samp{\bye} in @TeX{} and @samp{\end@{document@}}
13319 You can just comment the table line-by-line whenever you want to process
13320 the file, and uncomment it whenever you need to edit the table. This
13321 only sounds tedious---the command @kbd{M-x orgtbl-toggle-comment}
13322 makes this comment-toggling very easy, in particular if you bind it to a
13326 @node A LaTeX example, Translator functions, Radio tables, Tables in arbitrary syntax
13327 @subsection A La@TeX{} example of radio tables
13328 @cindex La@TeX{}, and Orgtbl mode
13330 The best way to wrap the source table in La@TeX{} is to use the
13331 @code{comment} environment provided by @file{comment.sty}. It has to be
13332 activated by placing @code{\usepackage@{comment@}} into the document
13333 header. Orgtbl mode can insert a radio table skeleton@footnote{By
13334 default this works only for La@TeX{}, HTML, and Texinfo. Configure the
13335 variable @code{orgtbl-radio-tables} to install templates for other
13336 modes.} with the command @kbd{M-x orgtbl-insert-radio-table}. You will
13337 be prompted for a table name, let's say we use @samp{salesfigures}. You
13338 will then get the following template:
13340 @cindex #+ORGTBL, SEND
13342 % BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13343 % END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13345 #+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex
13351 @vindex La@TeX{}-verbatim-environments
13352 The @code{#+ORGTBL: SEND} line tells Orgtbl mode to use the function
13353 @code{orgtbl-to-latex} to convert the table into La@TeX{} and to put it
13354 into the receiver location with name @code{salesfigures}. You may now
13355 fill in the table, feel free to use the spreadsheet features@footnote{If
13356 the @samp{#+TBLFM} line contains an odd number of dollar characters,
13357 this may cause problems with font-lock in La@TeX{} mode. As shown in the
13358 example you can fix this by adding an extra line inside the
13359 @code{comment} environment that is used to balance the dollar
13360 expressions. If you are using AUC@TeX{} with the font-latex library, a
13361 much better solution is to add the @code{comment} environment to the
13362 variable @code{LaTeX-verbatim-environments}.}:
13365 % BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13366 % END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13368 #+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex
13369 | Month | Days | Nr sold | per day |
13370 |-------+------+---------+---------|
13371 | Jan | 23 | 55 | 2.4 |
13372 | Feb | 21 | 16 | 0.8 |
13373 | March | 22 | 278 | 12.6 |
13374 #+TBLFM: $4=$3/$2;%.1f
13375 % $ (optional extra dollar to keep font-lock happy, see footnote)
13380 When you are done, press @kbd{C-c C-c} in the table to get the converted
13381 table inserted between the two marker lines.
13383 Now let's assume you want to make the table header by hand, because you
13384 want to control how columns are aligned, etc@. In this case we make sure
13385 that the table translator skips the first 2 lines of the source
13386 table, and tell the command to work as a @i{splice}, i.e. to not produce
13387 header and footer commands of the target table:
13390 \begin@{tabular@}@{lrrr@}
13391 Month & \multicolumn@{1@}@{c@}@{Days@} & Nr.\ sold & per day\\
13392 % BEGIN RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13393 % END RECEIVE ORGTBL salesfigures
13397 #+ORGTBL: SEND salesfigures orgtbl-to-latex :splice t :skip 2
13398 | Month | Days | Nr sold | per day |
13399 |-------+------+---------+---------|
13400 | Jan | 23 | 55 | 2.4 |
13401 | Feb | 21 | 16 | 0.8 |
13402 | March | 22 | 278 | 12.6 |
13403 #+TBLFM: $4=$3/$2;%.1f
13407 The La@TeX{} translator function @code{orgtbl-to-latex} is already part of
13408 Orgtbl mode. It uses a @code{tabular} environment to typeset the table
13409 and marks horizontal lines with @code{\hline}. Furthermore, it
13410 interprets the following parameters (see also @pxref{Translator functions}):
13413 @item :splice nil/t
13414 When set to t, return only table body lines, don't wrap them into a
13415 tabular environment. Default is nil.
13418 A format to be used to wrap each field, it should contain @code{%s} for the
13419 original field value. For example, to wrap each field value in dollars,
13420 you could use @code{:fmt "$%s$"}. This may also be a property list with
13421 column numbers and formats. for example @code{:fmt (2 "$%s$" 4 "%s\\%%")}.
13422 A function of one argument can be used in place of the strings; the
13423 function must return a formatted string.
13426 Use this format to print numbers with exponentials. The format should
13427 have @code{%s} twice for inserting mantissa and exponent, for example
13428 @code{"%s\\times10^@{%s@}"}. The default is @code{"%s\\,(%s)"}. This
13429 may also be a property list with column numbers and formats, for example
13430 @code{:efmt (2 "$%s\\times10^@{%s@}$" 4 "$%s\\cdot10^@{%s@}$")}. After
13431 @code{efmt} has been applied to a value, @code{fmt} will also be
13432 applied. Similar to @code{fmt}, functions of two arguments can be
13433 supplied instead of strings.
13436 @node Translator functions, Radio lists, A LaTeX example, Tables in arbitrary syntax
13437 @subsection Translator functions
13438 @cindex HTML, and Orgtbl mode
13439 @cindex translator function
13441 Orgtbl mode has several translator functions built-in: @code{orgtbl-to-csv}
13442 (comma-separated values), @code{orgtbl-to-tsv} (TAB-separated values)
13443 @code{orgtbl-to-latex}, @code{orgtbl-to-html}, and @code{orgtbl-to-texinfo}.
13444 Except for @code{orgtbl-to-html}@footnote{The HTML translator uses the same
13445 code that produces tables during HTML export.}, these all use a generic
13446 translator, @code{orgtbl-to-generic}. For example, @code{orgtbl-to-latex}
13447 itself is a very short function that computes the column definitions for the
13448 @code{tabular} environment, defines a few field and line separators and then
13449 hands processing over to the generic translator. Here is the entire code:
13453 (defun orgtbl-to-latex (table params)
13454 "Convert the Orgtbl mode TABLE to LaTeX."
13455 (let* ((alignment (mapconcat (lambda (x) (if x "r" "l"))
13456 org-table-last-alignment ""))
13459 :tstart (concat "\\begin@{tabular@}@{" alignment "@}")
13460 :tend "\\end@{tabular@}"
13461 :lstart "" :lend " \\\\" :sep " & "
13462 :efmt "%s\\,(%s)" :hline "\\hline")))
13463 (orgtbl-to-generic table (org-combine-plists params2 params))))
13467 As you can see, the properties passed into the function (variable
13468 @var{PARAMS}) are combined with the ones newly defined in the function
13469 (variable @var{PARAMS2}). The ones passed into the function (i.e. the
13470 ones set by the @samp{ORGTBL SEND} line) take precedence. So if you
13471 would like to use the La@TeX{} translator, but wanted the line endings to
13472 be @samp{\\[2mm]} instead of the default @samp{\\}, you could just
13473 overrule the default with
13476 #+ORGTBL: SEND test orgtbl-to-latex :lend " \\\\[2mm]"
13479 For a new language, you can either write your own converter function in
13480 analogy with the La@TeX{} translator, or you can use the generic function
13481 directly. For example, if you have a language where a table is started
13482 with @samp{!BTBL!}, ended with @samp{!ETBL!}, and where table lines are
13483 started with @samp{!BL!}, ended with @samp{!EL!}, and where the field
13484 separator is a TAB, you could call the generic translator like this (on
13488 #+ORGTBL: SEND test orgtbl-to-generic :tstart "!BTBL!" :tend "!ETBL!"
13489 :lstart "!BL! " :lend " !EL!" :sep "\t"
13493 Please check the documentation string of the function
13494 @code{orgtbl-to-generic} for a full list of parameters understood by
13495 that function, and remember that you can pass each of them into
13496 @code{orgtbl-to-latex}, @code{orgtbl-to-texinfo}, and any other function
13497 using the generic function.
13499 Of course you can also write a completely new function doing complicated
13500 things the generic translator cannot do. A translator function takes
13501 two arguments. The first argument is the table, a list of lines, each
13502 line either the symbol @code{hline} or a list of fields. The second
13503 argument is the property list containing all parameters specified in the
13504 @samp{#+ORGTBL: SEND} line. The function must return a single string
13505 containing the formatted table. If you write a generally useful
13506 translator, please post it on @email{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org} so that
13507 others can benefit from your work.
13509 @node Radio lists, , Translator functions, Tables in arbitrary syntax
13510 @subsection Radio lists
13511 @cindex radio lists
13512 @cindex org-list-insert-radio-list
13514 Sending and receiving radio lists works exactly the same way than sending and
13515 receiving radio tables (@pxref{Radio tables}). As for radio tables, you can
13516 insert radio lists templates in HTML, La@TeX{} and Texinfo modes by calling
13517 @code{org-list-insert-radio-list}.
13519 Here are the differences with radio tables:
13523 Use @code{ORGLST} instead of @code{ORGTBL}.
13525 The available translation functions for radio lists don't take
13528 @kbd{C-c C-c} will work when pressed on the first item of the list.
13531 Here is a La@TeX{} example. Let's say that you have this in your
13536 % BEGIN RECEIVE ORGLST to-buy
13537 % END RECEIVE ORGLST to-buy
13539 #+ORGLIST: SEND to-buy orgtbl-to-latex
13548 Pressing `C-c C-c' on @code{a new house} and will insert the converted
13549 La@TeX{} list between the two marker lines.
13551 @node Dynamic blocks, Special agenda views, Tables in arbitrary syntax, Hacking
13552 @section Dynamic blocks
13553 @cindex dynamic blocks
13555 Org documents can contain @emph{dynamic blocks}. These are
13556 specially marked regions that are updated by some user-written function.
13557 A good example for such a block is the clock table inserted by the
13558 command @kbd{C-c C-x C-r} (@pxref{Clocking work time}).
13560 Dynamic block are enclosed by a BEGIN-END structure that assigns a name
13561 to the block and can also specify parameters for the function producing
13562 the content of the block.
13564 #+BEGIN:dynamic block
13566 #+BEGIN: myblock :parameter1 value1 :parameter2 value2 ...
13571 Dynamic blocks are updated with the following commands
13574 @kindex C-c C-x C-u
13576 Update dynamic block at point.
13577 @kindex C-u C-c C-x C-u
13578 @item C-u C-c C-x C-u
13579 Update all dynamic blocks in the current file.
13582 Updating a dynamic block means to remove all the text between BEGIN and
13583 END, parse the BEGIN line for parameters and then call the specific
13584 writer function for this block to insert the new content. If you want
13585 to use the original content in the writer function, you can use the
13586 extra parameter @code{:content}.
13588 For a block with name @code{myblock}, the writer function is
13589 @code{org-dblock-write:myblock} with as only parameter a property list
13590 with the parameters given in the begin line. Here is a trivial example
13591 of a block that keeps track of when the block update function was last
13595 #+BEGIN: block-update-time :format "on %m/%d/%Y at %H:%M"
13601 The corresponding block writer function could look like this:
13604 (defun org-dblock-write:block-update-time (params)
13605 (let ((fmt (or (plist-get params :format) "%d. %m. %Y")))
13606 (insert "Last block update at: "
13607 (format-time-string fmt (current-time)))))
13610 If you want to make sure that all dynamic blocks are always up-to-date,
13611 you could add the function @code{org-update-all-dblocks} to a hook, for
13612 example @code{before-save-hook}. @code{org-update-all-dblocks} is
13613 written in a way such that it does nothing in buffers that are not in
13616 @node Special agenda views, Extracting agenda information, Dynamic blocks, Hacking
13617 @section Special agenda views
13618 @cindex agenda views, user-defined
13620 Org provides a special hook that can be used to narrow down the
13621 selection made by any of the agenda views. You may specify a function
13622 that is used at each match to verify if the match should indeed be part
13623 of the agenda view, and if not, how much should be skipped.
13625 Let's say you want to produce a list of projects that contain a WAITING
13626 tag anywhere in the project tree. Let's further assume that you have
13627 marked all tree headings that define a project with the TODO keyword
13628 PROJECT. In this case you would run a TODO search for the keyword
13629 PROJECT, but skip the match unless there is a WAITING tag anywhere in
13630 the subtree belonging to the project line.
13632 To achieve this, you must write a function that searches the subtree for
13633 the tag. If the tag is found, the function must return @code{nil} to
13634 indicate that this match should not be skipped. If there is no such
13635 tag, return the location of the end of the subtree, to indicate that
13636 search should continue from there.
13639 (defun my-skip-unless-waiting ()
13640 "Skip trees that are not waiting"
13641 (let ((subtree-end (save-excursion (org-end-of-subtree t))))
13642 (if (re-search-forward ":waiting:" subtree-end t)
13643 nil ; tag found, do not skip
13644 subtree-end))) ; tag not found, continue after end of subtree
13647 Now you may use this function in an agenda custom command, for example
13651 (org-add-agenda-custom-command
13652 '("b" todo "PROJECT"
13653 ((org-agenda-skip-function 'my-skip-unless-waiting)
13654 (org-agenda-overriding-header "Projects waiting for something: "))))
13657 @vindex org-agenda-overriding-header
13658 Note that this also binds @code{org-agenda-overriding-header} to get a
13659 meaningful header in the agenda view.
13661 @vindex org-odd-levels-only
13662 @vindex org-agenda-skip-function
13663 A general way to create custom searches is to base them on a search for
13664 entries with a certain level limit. If you want to study all entries with
13665 your custom search function, simply do a search for
13666 @samp{LEVEL>0}@footnote{Note that, when using @code{org-odd-levels-only}, a
13667 level number corresponds to order in the hierarchy, not to the number of
13668 stars.}, and then use @code{org-agenda-skip-function} to select the entries
13669 you really want to have.
13671 You may also put a Lisp form into @code{org-agenda-skip-function}. In
13672 particular, you may use the functions @code{org-agenda-skip-entry-if}
13673 and @code{org-agenda-skip-subtree-if} in this form, for example:
13676 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'scheduled)
13677 Skip current entry if it has been scheduled.
13678 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'notscheduled)
13679 Skip current entry if it has not been scheduled.
13680 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'deadline)
13681 Skip current entry if it has a deadline.
13682 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'scheduled 'deadline)
13683 Skip current entry if it has a deadline, or if it is scheduled.
13684 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'todo '("TODO" "WAITING"))
13685 Skip current entry if the TODO keyword is TODO or WAITING.
13686 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'todo 'done)
13687 Skip current entry if the TODO keyword marks a DONE state.
13688 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry-if 'timestamp)
13689 Skip current entry if it has any timestamp, may also be deadline or scheduled.
13690 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry 'regexp "regular expression")
13691 Skip current entry if the regular expression matches in the entry.
13692 @item '(org-agenda-skip-entry 'notregexp "regular expression")
13693 Skip current entry unless the regular expression matches.
13694 @item '(org-agenda-skip-subtree-if 'regexp "regular expression")
13695 Same as above, but check and skip the entire subtree.
13698 Therefore we could also have written the search for WAITING projects
13699 like this, even without defining a special function:
13702 (org-add-agenda-custom-command
13703 '("b" todo "PROJECT"
13704 ((org-agenda-skip-function '(org-agenda-skip-subtree-if
13705 'regexp ":waiting:"))
13706 (org-agenda-overriding-header "Projects waiting for something: "))))
13709 @node Extracting agenda information, Using the property API, Special agenda views, Hacking
13710 @section Extracting agenda information
13711 @cindex agenda, pipe
13712 @cindex Scripts, for agenda processing
13714 @vindex org-agenda-custom-commands
13715 Org provides commands to access agenda information for the command
13716 line in Emacs batch mode. This extracted information can be sent
13717 directly to a printer, or it can be read by a program that does further
13718 processing of the data. The first of these commands is the function
13719 @code{org-batch-agenda}, that produces an agenda view and sends it as
13720 ASCII text to STDOUT. The command takes a single string as parameter.
13721 If the string has length 1, it is used as a key to one of the commands
13722 you have configured in @code{org-agenda-custom-commands}, basically any
13723 key you can use after @kbd{C-c a}. For example, to directly print the
13724 current TODO list, you could use
13727 emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -eval '(org-batch-agenda "t")' | lpr
13730 If the parameter is a string with 2 or more characters, it is used as a
13731 tags/TODO match string. For example, to print your local shopping list
13732 (all items with the tag @samp{shop}, but excluding the tag
13733 @samp{NewYork}), you could use
13736 emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs \
13737 -eval '(org-batch-agenda "+shop-NewYork")' | lpr
13741 You may also modify parameters on the fly like this:
13744 emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs \
13745 -eval '(org-batch-agenda "a" \
13746 org-agenda-ndays 30 \
13747 org-agenda-include-diary nil \
13748 org-agenda-files (quote ("~/org/project.org")))' \
13753 which will produce a 30-day agenda, fully restricted to the Org file
13754 @file{~/org/projects.org}, not even including the diary.
13756 If you want to process the agenda data in more sophisticated ways, you
13757 can use the command @code{org-batch-agenda-csv} to get a comma-separated
13758 list of values for each agenda item. Each line in the output will
13759 contain a number of fields separated by commas. The fields in a line
13763 category @r{The category of the item}
13764 head @r{The headline, without TODO keyword, TAGS and PRIORITY}
13765 type @r{The type of the agenda entry, can be}
13766 todo @r{selected in TODO match}
13767 tagsmatch @r{selected in tags match}
13768 diary @r{imported from diary}
13769 deadline @r{a deadline}
13770 scheduled @r{scheduled}
13771 timestamp @r{appointment, selected by timestamp}
13772 closed @r{entry was closed on date}
13773 upcoming-deadline @r{warning about nearing deadline}
13774 past-scheduled @r{forwarded scheduled item}
13775 block @r{entry has date block including date}
13776 todo @r{The TODO keyword, if any}
13777 tags @r{All tags including inherited ones, separated by colons}
13778 date @r{The relevant date, like 2007-2-14}
13779 time @r{The time, like 15:00-16:50}
13780 extra @r{String with extra planning info}
13781 priority-l @r{The priority letter if any was given}
13782 priority-n @r{The computed numerical priority}
13786 Time and date will only be given if a timestamp (or deadline/scheduled)
13787 led to the selection of the item.
13789 A CSV list like this is very easy to use in a post-processing script.
13790 For example, here is a Perl program that gets the TODO list from
13791 Emacs/Org and prints all the items, preceded by a checkbox:
13796 # define the Emacs command to run
13797 $cmd = "emacs -batch -l ~/.emacs -eval '(org-batch-agenda-csv \"t\")'";
13799 # run it and capture the output
13800 $agenda = qx@{$cmd 2>/dev/null@};
13802 # loop over all lines
13803 foreach $line (split(/\n/,$agenda)) @{
13804 # get the individual values
13805 ($category,$head,$type,$todo,$tags,$date,$time,$extra,
13806 $priority_l,$priority_n) = split(/,/,$line);
13807 # process and print
13808 print "[ ] $head\n";
13812 @node Using the property API, Using the mapping API, Extracting agenda information, Hacking
13813 @section Using the property API
13814 @cindex API, for properties
13815 @cindex properties, API
13817 Here is a description of the functions that can be used to work with
13820 @defun org-entry-properties &optional pom which
13821 Get all properties of the entry at point-or-marker POM.@*
13822 This includes the TODO keyword, the tags, time strings for deadline,
13823 scheduled, and clocking, and any additional properties defined in the
13824 entry. The return value is an alist, keys may occur multiple times
13825 if the property key was used several times.@*
13826 POM may also be nil, in which case the current entry is used.
13827 If WHICH is nil or `all', get all properties. If WHICH is
13828 `special' or `standard', only get that subclass.
13830 @vindex org-use-property-inheritance
13831 @defun org-entry-get pom property &optional inherit
13832 Get value of PROPERTY for entry at point-or-marker POM. By default,
13833 this only looks at properties defined locally in the entry. If INHERIT
13834 is non-nil and the entry does not have the property, then also check
13835 higher levels of the hierarchy. If INHERIT is the symbol
13836 @code{selective}, use inheritance if and only if the setting of
13837 @code{org-use-property-inheritance} selects PROPERTY for inheritance.
13840 @defun org-entry-delete pom property
13841 Delete the property PROPERTY from entry at point-or-marker POM.
13844 @defun org-entry-put pom property value
13845 Set PROPERTY to VALUE for entry at point-or-marker POM.
13848 @defun org-buffer-property-keys &optional include-specials
13849 Get all property keys in the current buffer.
13852 @defun org-insert-property-drawer
13853 Insert a property drawer at point.
13856 @defun org-entry-put-multivalued-property pom property &rest values
13857 Set PROPERTY at point-or-marker POM to VALUES. VALUES should be a list of
13858 strings. They will be concatenated, with spaces as separators.
13861 @defun org-entry-get-multivalued-property pom property
13862 Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
13863 values and return the values as a list of strings.
13866 @defun org-entry-add-to-multivalued-property pom property value
13867 Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
13868 values and make sure that VALUE is in this list.
13871 @defun org-entry-remove-from-multivalued-property pom property value
13872 Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
13873 values and make sure that VALUE is @emph{not} in this list.
13876 @defun org-entry-member-in-multivalued-property pom property value
13877 Treat the value of the property PROPERTY as a whitespace-separated list of
13878 values and check if VALUE is in this list.
13881 @defopt org-property-allowed-value-functions
13882 Hook for functions supplying allowed values for specific.
13883 The functions must take a single argument, the name of the property, and
13884 return a flat list of allowed values. If @samp{:ETC} is one of
13885 the values, use the values as completion help, but allow also other values
13886 to be entered. The functions must return @code{nil} if they are not
13887 responsible for this property.
13890 @node Using the mapping API, , Using the property API, Hacking
13891 @section Using the mapping API
13892 @cindex API, for mapping
13893 @cindex mapping entries, API
13895 Org has sophisticated mapping capabilities to find all entries satisfying
13896 certain criteria. Internally, this functionality is used to produce agenda
13897 views, but there is also an API that can be used to execute arbitrary
13898 functions for each or selected entries. The main entry point for this API
13901 @defun org-map-entries func &optional match scope &rest skip
13902 Call FUNC at each headline selected by MATCH in SCOPE.
13904 FUNC is a function or a Lisp form. The function will be called without
13905 arguments, with the cursor positioned at the beginning of the headline.
13906 The return values of all calls to the function will be collected and
13907 returned as a list.
13909 The call to FUNC will be wrapped into a save-excursion form, so FUNC
13910 does not need to preserve point. After evaluation, the cursor will be
13911 moved to the end of the line (presumably of the headline of the
13912 processed entry) and search continues from there. Under some
13913 circumstances, this may not produce the wanted results. For example,
13914 if you have removed (e.g. archived) the current (sub)tree it could
13915 mean that the next entry will be skipped entirely. In such cases, you
13916 can specify the position from where search should continue by making
13917 FUNC set the variable `org-map-continue-from' to the desired buffer
13920 MATCH is a tags/property/todo match as it is used in the agenda match view.
13921 Only headlines that are matched by this query will be considered during
13922 the iteration. When MATCH is nil or t, all headlines will be
13923 visited by the iteration.
13925 SCOPE determines the scope of this command. It can be any of:
13928 nil @r{the current buffer, respecting the restriction if any}
13929 tree @r{the subtree started with the entry at point}
13930 file @r{the current buffer, without restriction}
13932 @r{the current buffer, and any archives associated with it}
13933 agenda @r{all agenda files}
13934 agenda-with-archives
13935 @r{all agenda files with any archive files associated with them}
13937 @r{if this is a list, all files in the list will be scanned}
13940 The remaining args are treated as settings for the skipping facilities of
13941 the scanner. The following items can be given here:
13943 @vindex org-agenda-skip-function
13945 archive @r{skip trees with the archive tag}
13946 comment @r{skip trees with the COMMENT keyword}
13947 function or Lisp form
13948 @r{will be used as value for @code{org-agenda-skip-function},}
13949 @r{so whenever the function returns t, FUNC}
13950 @r{will not be called for that entry and search will}
13951 @r{continue from the point where the function leaves it}
13955 The function given to that mapping routine can really do anything you like.
13956 It can use the property API (@pxref{Using the property API}) to gather more
13957 information about the entry, or in order to change metadata in the entry.
13958 Here are a couple of functions that might be handy:
13960 @defun org-todo &optional arg
13961 Change the TODO state of the entry, see the docstring of the functions for
13962 the many possible values for the argument ARG.
13965 @defun org-priority &optional action
13966 Change the priority of the entry, see the docstring of this function for the
13967 possible values for ACTION.
13970 @defun org-toggle-tag tag &optional onoff
13971 Toggle the tag TAG in the current entry. Setting ONOFF to either @code{on}
13972 or @code{off} will not toggle tag, but ensure that it is either on or off.
13976 Promote the current entry.
13980 Demote the current entry.
13983 Here is a simple example that will turn all entries in the current file with
13984 a tag @code{TOMORROW} into TODO entries with the keyword @code{UPCOMING}.
13985 Entries in comment trees and in archive trees will be ignored.
13989 '(org-todo "UPCOMING")
13990 "+TOMORROW" 'file 'archive 'comment)
13993 The following example counts the number of entries with TODO keyword
13994 @code{WAITING}, in all agenda files.
13997 (length (org-map-entries t "/+WAITING" 'agenda))
14000 @node MobileOrg, History and Acknowledgments, Hacking, Top
14001 @appendix MobileOrg
14005 @uref{http://mobileorg.ncogni.to/, MobileOrg} is an application for the
14006 @i{iPhone/iPod Touch} series of devices, developed by Richard Moreland.
14007 @i{MobileOrg} offers offline viewing and capture support for an Org-mode
14008 system rooted on a ``real'' computer. It does also allow you to record
14009 changes to existing entries. Android users should check out
14010 @uref{http://wiki.github.com/matburt/mobileorg-android/, MobileOrg Android}
14013 This appendix describes the support Org has for creating agenda views in a
14014 format that can be displayed by @i{MobileOrg}, and for integrating notes
14015 captured and changes made by @i{MobileOrg} into the main system.
14017 For changing tags and TODO states in MobileOrg, you should have set up the
14018 customization variables @code{org-todo-keywords} and @code{org-tags-alist} to
14019 cover all important tags and TODO keywords, even if individual files use only
14020 part of these. MobileOrg will also offer you states and tags set up with
14021 in-buffer settings, but it will understand the logistics of TODO state
14022 @i{sets} (@pxref{Per-file keywords}) and @i{mutually exclusive} tags
14023 (@pxref{Setting tags}) only for those set in these variables.
14026 * Setting up the staging area:: Where to interact with the mobile device
14027 * Pushing to MobileOrg:: Uploading Org files and agendas
14028 * Pulling from MobileOrg:: Integrating captured and flagged items
14031 @node Setting up the staging area, Pushing to MobileOrg, MobileOrg, MobileOrg
14032 @section Setting up the staging area
14034 MobileOrg needs to interact with Emacs through directory on a
14035 server@footnote{If you are using a public server, you might prefer to encrypt
14036 the files on the server. This can be done with Org-mode 6.35 and, hopefully,
14037 with MobileOrg 1.4 (please check before trying to use this). On the Emacs
14038 side, configure the variables @code{org-mobile-use-encryption} and
14039 @code{org-mobile-encryption-password}.}. The easiest way to create that
14040 directory is to use a free @uref{http://dropbox.com,Dropbox.com}
14041 account@footnote{If you cannot use Dropbox, or if your version of MobileOrg
14042 does not support it, you can use a webdav server. For more information,
14043 check out the the documentation of MobileOrg and also this
14044 @uref{http://orgmode.org/worg/org-faq.php#mobileorg_webdav, FAQ entry}.}.
14045 When MobileOrg first connects to your Dropbox, it will create a directory
14046 @i{MobileOrg} inside the Dropbox. After the directory has been created, tell
14050 (setq org-mobile-directory "~/Dropbox/MobileOrg")
14053 Org-mode has commands to put files for @i{MobileOrg} into that directory,
14054 and to read captured notes from there.
14056 @node Pushing to MobileOrg, Pulling from MobileOrg, Setting up the staging area, MobileOrg
14057 @section Pushing to MobileOrg
14059 This operation copies all files currently listed in @code{org-mobile-files}
14060 to the directory @code{org-mobile-directory}. By default this list contains
14061 all agenda files (as listed in @code{org-agenda-files}), but additional files
14062 can be included by customizing @code{org-mobiles-files}. File names will be
14063 staged with path relative to @code{org-directory}, so all files should be
14064 inside this directory. The push operation also creates a special Org file
14065 @file{agendas.org} with all custom agenda view defined by the
14066 user@footnote{While creating the agendas, Org-mode will force (see the
14067 variable @code{org-mobile-force-id-on-agenda-items}) ID properties on all
14068 referenced entries, so that these entries can be uniquely
14069 identified if @i{MobileOrg} flags them for further action.}. Finally, Org
14070 writes the file @file{index.org}, containing links to all other files.
14071 @i{MobileOrg} first reads this file from the server, and then downloads all
14072 agendas and Org files listed in it. To speed up the download, MobileOrg will
14073 only read files whose checksums@footnote{stored automatically in the file
14074 @file{checksums.dat}} have changed.
14076 @node Pulling from MobileOrg, , Pushing to MobileOrg, MobileOrg
14077 @section Pulling from MobileOrg
14079 When @i{MobileOrg} synchronizes with the server, it not only pulls the Org
14080 files for viewing. It also appends captured entries and pointers to flagged
14081 and changed entries to the file @file{mobileorg.org} on the server. Org has
14082 a @emph{pull} operation that integrates this information into an inbox file
14083 and operates on the pointers to flagged entries. Here is how it works:
14087 Org moves all entries found in
14088 @file{mobileorg.org}@footnote{@file{mobileorg.org} will be empty after this
14089 operation.} and appends them to the file pointed to by the variable
14090 @code{org-mobile-inbox-for-pull}. Each captured entry and each editing event
14091 will be a top-level entry in the inbox file.
14093 After moving the entries, Org will attempt to implement the changes made in
14094 @i{MobileOrg}. Some changes are applied directly and without user
14095 interaction. Examples are all changes to tags, TODO state, headline and body
14096 text that can be cleanly applied. Entries that have been flagged for further
14097 action will receive a tag @code{:FLAGGED:}, so that they can be easily found
14098 again. When there is a problem finding an entry or applying the change, the
14099 pointer entry will remain in the inbox and will be marked with an error
14100 message. You need to later resolve these issues by hand.
14102 Org will then generate an agenda view with all flagged entries. The user
14103 should then go through these entries and do whatever actions are necessary.
14104 If a note has been stored while flagging an entry in @i{MobileOrg}, that note
14105 will be displayed in the echo area when the cursor is on the corresponding
14110 Pressing @kbd{?} in that special agenda will display the full flagging note in
14111 another window and also push it onto the kill ring. So you could use @kbd{?
14112 z C-y C-c C-c} to store that flagging note as a normal note in the entry.
14113 Pressing @kbd{?} twice in succession will offer to remove the
14114 @code{:FLAGGED:} tag along with the recorded flagging note (which is stored
14115 in a property). In this way you indicate, that the intended processing for
14116 this flagged entry is finished.
14121 If you are not able to process all flagged entries directly, you can always
14122 return to this agenda view using @kbd{C-c a ?}. Note, however, that there is
14123 a subtle difference. The view created automatically by @kbd{M-x
14124 org-mobile-pull @key{RET}} is guaranteed to search all files that have been
14125 addressed by the last pull. This might include a file that is not currently
14126 in your list of agenda files. If you later use @kbd{C-c a ?} to regenerate
14127 the view, only the current agenda files will be searched.
14129 @node History and Acknowledgments, Main Index, MobileOrg, Top
14130 @appendix History and acknowledgments
14131 @cindex acknowledgements
14135 Org was born in 2003, out of frustration over the user interface of the Emacs
14136 Outline mode. I was trying to organize my notes and projects, and using
14137 Emacs seemed to be the natural way to go. However, having to remember eleven
14138 different commands with two or three keys per command, only to hide and show
14139 parts of the outline tree, that seemed entirely unacceptable to me. Also,
14140 when using outlines to take notes, I constantly wanted to restructure the
14141 tree, organizing it parallel to my thoughts and plans. @emph{Visibility
14142 cycling} and @emph{structure editing} were originally implemented in the
14143 package @file{outline-magic.el}, but quickly moved to the more general
14144 @file{org.el}. As this environment became comfortable for project planning,
14145 the next step was adding @emph{TODO entries}, basic @emph{timestamps}, and
14146 @emph{table support}. These areas highlighted the two main goals that Org
14147 still has today: to be a new, outline-based, plain text mode with innovative
14148 and intuitive editing features, and to incorporate project planning
14149 functionality directly into a notes file.
14151 Since the first release, literally thousands of emails to me or to
14152 @email{emacs-orgmode@@gnu.org} have provided a constant stream of bug
14153 reports, feedback, new ideas, and sometimes patches and add-on code.
14154 Many thanks to everyone who has helped to improve this package. I am
14155 trying to keep here a list of the people who had significant influence
14156 in shaping one or more aspects of Org. The list may not be
14157 complete, if I have forgotten someone, please accept my apologies and
14160 Before I get to this list, a few special mentions are in order:
14163 @item Bastien Guerry
14164 Bastien has written a large number of extensions to Org (most of them
14165 integrated into the core by now), including the LaTeX exporter and the plain
14166 list parser. More importantly, maybe, was his help and support when Org got
14167 first started, he was very important during this phase. Also, he invented
14168 Worg, helped establishing the Web presence of Org, and sponsors hosting costs
14169 for the orgmode.org website.
14170 @item Eric Schulte and Dan Davison
14171 Eric and Dan are jointly responsible for the Org-babel system, which turns
14172 Org into a multi-language environment for evaluating code and doing literate
14173 programming and reproducible research.
14175 John has also contributed a number of great ideas and patches
14176 directly to Org, including the attachment system (@file{org-attach.el}),
14177 integration with Apple Mail (@file{org-mac-message.el}), hierarchical
14178 dependencies of TODO items, habit tracking (@file{org-habits.el}), and
14179 encryption (@file{org-crypt.el}). Also, the capture system is really an
14180 extended copy of his great @file{remember.el}.
14181 @item Sebastian Rose
14182 Without Sebastian, the HTML/XHTML publishing of Org would be the pitiful work
14183 of an ignorant amateur. Sebastian has pushed this part of Org onto a much
14184 higher level. He also wrote @file{org-info.js}, a Java script for displaying
14185 webpages derived from Org using an Info-like or a folding interface with
14186 single-key navigation.
14189 @noindent OK, now to the full list of contributions! Again, please let me
14190 know what I am missing here!
14195 @i{Russel Adams} came up with the idea for drawers.
14197 @i{Thomas Baumann} wrote @file{org-bbdb.el} and @file{org-mhe.el}.
14199 @i{Christophe Bataillon} created the great unicorn logo that we use on the
14202 @i{Alex Bochannek} provided a patch for rounding timestamps.
14204 @i{Jan Böcker} wrote @file{org-docview.el}.
14206 @i{Brad Bozarth} showed how to pull RSS feed data into Org-mode files.
14208 @i{Tom Breton} wrote @file{org-choose.el}.
14210 @i{Charles Cave}'s suggestion sparked the implementation of templates
14211 for Remember, which are now templates for capture.
14213 @i{Pavel Chalmoviansky} influenced the agenda treatment of items with
14216 @i{Gregory Chernov} patched support for Lisp forms into table
14217 calculations and improved XEmacs compatibility, in particular by porting
14218 @file{nouline.el} to XEmacs.
14220 @i{Sacha Chua} suggested copying some linking code from Planner.
14222 @i{Baoqiu Cui} contributed the DocBook exporter.
14224 @i{Eddward DeVilla} proposed and tested checkbox statistics. He also
14225 came up with the idea of properties, and that there should be an API for
14228 @i{Nick Dokos} tracked down several nasty bugs.
14230 @i{Kees Dullemond} used to edit projects lists directly in HTML and so
14231 inspired some of the early development, including HTML export. He also
14232 asked for a way to narrow wide table columns.
14234 @i{Thomas S. Dye} contributed documentation on Worg and helped integrating
14235 the Org-Babel documentation into the manual.
14237 @i{Christian Egli} converted the documentation into Texinfo format,
14238 patched CSS formatting into the HTML exporter, and inspired the agenda.
14240 @i{David Emery} provided a patch for custom CSS support in exported
14243 @i{Nic Ferrier} contributed mailcap and XOXO support.
14245 @i{Miguel A. Figueroa-Villanueva} implemented hierarchical checkboxes.
14247 @i{John Foerch} figured out how to make incremental search show context
14248 around a match in a hidden outline tree.
14250 @i{Raimar Finken} wrote @file{org-git-line.el}.
14252 @i{Mikael Fornius} works as a mailing list moderator.
14254 @i{Austin Frank} works as a mailing list moderator.
14256 @i{Niels Giesen} had the idea to automatically archive DONE trees.
14258 @i{Kai Grossjohann} pointed out key-binding conflicts with other packages.
14260 @i{Bernt Hansen} has driven much of the support for auto-repeating tasks,
14261 task state change logging, and the clocktable. His clear explanations have
14262 been critical when we started to adopt the Git version control system.
14264 @i{Manuel Hermenegildo} has contributed various ideas, small fixes and
14267 @i{Phil Jackson} wrote @file{org-irc.el}.
14269 @i{Scott Jaderholm} proposed footnotes, control over whitespace between
14270 folded entries, and column view for properties.
14272 @i{Matt Jones} wrote @i{MobileOrg Android}.
14274 @i{Tokuya Kameshima} wrote @file{org-wl.el} and @file{org-mew.el}.
14276 @i{Shidai Liu} ("Leo") asked for embedded La@TeX{} and tested it. He also
14277 provided frequent feedback and some patches.
14279 @i{Matt Lundin} has proposed last-row references for table formulas and named
14280 invisible anchors. He has also worked a lot on the FAQ.
14282 @i{Jason F. McBrayer} suggested agenda export to CSV format.
14284 @i{Max Mikhanosha} came up with the idea of refiling.
14286 @i{Dmitri Minaev} sent a patch to set priority limits on a per-file
14289 @i{Stefan Monnier} provided a patch to keep the Emacs-Lisp compiler
14292 @i{Richard Moreland} wrote @i{MobileOrg} for the iPhone.
14294 @i{Rick Moynihan} proposed allowing multiple TODO sequences in a file
14295 and being able to quickly restrict the agenda to a subtree.
14297 @i{Todd Neal} provided patches for links to Info files and Elisp forms.
14299 @i{Greg Newman} refreshed the unicorn logo into its current form.
14301 @i{Tim O'Callaghan} suggested in-file links, search options for general
14302 file links, and TAGS.
14304 @i{Osamu Okano} wrote @file{orgcard2ref.pl}, a perl program to create a text
14305 version of the reference card.
14307 @i{Takeshi Okano} translated the manual and David O'Toole's tutorial
14310 @i{Oliver Oppitz} suggested multi-state TODO items.
14312 @i{Scott Otterson} sparked the introduction of descriptive text for
14313 links, among other things.
14315 @i{Pete Phillips} helped during the development of the TAGS feature, and
14316 provided frequent feedback.
14318 @i{Martin Pohlack} provided the code snippet to bundle character insertion
14319 into bundles of 20 for undo.
14321 @i{T.V. Raman} reported bugs and suggested improvements.
14323 @i{Matthias Rempe} (Oelde) provided ideas, Windows support, and quality
14326 @i{Paul Rivier} provided the basic implementation of named footnotes. He
14327 also acted as mailing list moderator for some time.
14329 @i{Kevin Rogers} contributed code to access VM files on remote hosts.
14331 @i{Frank Ruell} solved the mystery of the @code{keymapp nil} bug, a
14332 conflict with @file{allout.el}.
14334 @i{Jason Riedy} generalized the send-receive mechanism for Orgtbl tables with
14337 @i{Philip Rooke} created the Org reference card, provided lots
14338 of feedback, developed and applied standards to the Org documentation.
14340 @i{Christian Schlauer} proposed angular brackets around links, among
14343 @i{Paul Sexton} wrote @file{org-ctags.el}.
14345 Linking to VM/BBDB/Gnus was first inspired by @i{Tom Shannon}'s
14346 @file{organizer-mode.el}.
14348 @i{Ilya Shlyakhter} proposed the Archive Sibling, line numbering in literal
14349 examples, and remote highlighting for referenced code lines.
14351 @i{Stathis Sideris} wrote the @file{ditaa.jar} ASCII to PNG converter that is
14352 now packaged into Org's @file{contrib} directory.
14354 @i{Daniel Sinder} came up with the idea of internal archiving by locking
14357 @i{Dale Smith} proposed link abbreviations.
14359 @i{James TD Smith} has contributed a large number of patches for useful
14360 tweaks and features.
14362 @i{Adam Spiers} asked for global linking commands, inspired the link
14363 extension system, added support for mairix, and proposed the mapping API.
14365 @i{Ulf Stegemann} created the table to translate special symbols to HTML,
14366 LaTeX, UTF-8, Latin-1 and ASCII.
14368 @i{Andy Stewart} contributed code to @file{org-w3m.el}, to copy HTML content
14369 with links transformation to Org syntax.
14371 @i{David O'Toole} wrote @file{org-publish.el} and drafted the manual
14372 chapter about publishing.
14374 @i{Stefan Vollmar} organized a video-recorded talk at the
14375 Max-Planck-Institute for Neurology. He also inspired the creation of a
14376 concept index for HTML export.
14378 @i{J@"urgen Vollmer} contributed code generating the table of contents
14381 @i{Samuel Wales} has provided important feedback and bug reports.
14383 @i{Chris Wallace} provided a patch implementing the @samp{QUOTE}
14386 @i{David Wainberg} suggested archiving, and improvements to the linking
14389 @i{Carsten Wimmer} suggested some changes and helped fix a bug in
14392 @i{Roland Winkler} requested additional key bindings to make Org
14395 @i{Piotr Zielinski} wrote @file{org-mouse.el}, proposed agenda blocks
14396 and contributed various ideas and code snippets.
14400 @node Main Index, Key Index, History and Acknowledgments, Top
14401 @unnumbered Concept index
14405 @node Key Index, Variable Index, Main Index, Top
14406 @unnumbered Key index
14410 @node Variable Index, , Key Index, Top
14411 @unnumbered Variable index
14413 This is not a complete index of variables and faces, only the ones that are
14414 mentioned in the manual. For a more complete list, use @kbd{M-x
14415 org-customize @key{RET}} and then click yourself through the tree.
14422 arch-tag: 7893d1Fe-cc57-4d13-b5e5-f494a1CBC7ac
14425 @c Local variables:
14430 @c LocalWords: webdavhost pre