1 #+TITLE: Org-Mode Beginners Customization Guide
2 #+AUTHOR: Carsten Dominik
3 #+EMAIL: carsten.dominik@gmail.com
5 #+OPTIONS: H:3 num:nil toc:t \n:nil ::t |:t ^:t -:t f:t *:t tex:t d:(HIDE) tags:not-in-toc
7 # This file is released by its authors and contributors under the GNU
8 # Free Documentation license v1.3 or later, code examples are released
9 # under the GNU General Public License v3 or later.
13 :ID: 68EE02FB-4F09-4BDC-8577-AD4F60DE1B1B
16 #+index: Customization!Introduction
18 Org-mode is a highly customizable package. It currently contains close to
19 400 customization variables that can be changed to tweak every detail, and
20 more than 260 are known to be actually used out there.
22 However, as a beginner you do not care about this kind of flexibility. On
23 this page, we have a list of five settings that you might want to try first
24 in order to personalize your system.
26 Once you are done with that, we also have a list of some 40 variables that
27 are [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-configs/org-customization-survey-2013.html][changed by many users]].
31 #+index: Customization!Basics
33 ** Minimal customization
35 #+index: Customization!Minimal
37 The minimal customization needed to use Org-mode is -- *Nothing at all!*
38 \par Org-mode works out of the box, and besides the steps described in the
39 manual to [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Activation.html#Activation][activate]] it, /nothing is needed at all/. Just open a /.org/
40 file, press =C-c [= to tell org that this is a file you want to use in your
41 agenda, and start putting your life into plain text.
43 OK, for completeness, let's just repeat what is needed to activate
44 Org-mode in files with /.org/ extension, and a few important key
47 #+begin_src emacs-lisp
48 (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.org\\'" . org-mode))
49 (global-set-key "\C-cl" 'org-store-link)
50 (global-set-key "\C-ca" 'org-agenda)
51 ;; (global-font-lock-mode 1) Not needed in recent emacsen
54 ** Five small steps toward a personalized system
56 *** One: More TODO keywords
58 #+index: Todo Keywords
60 Define the TODO states you find useful and single letters for fast
61 selection. Customize the variable =org-todo-keywords= or simply do this
62 right in the file with[fn:1:press =C-c C-c= in the line after changing it]:
65 ,#+TODO: TODO(t) STARTED(s) WAITING(w) | DONE(d) CANCELED(c)
68 *** Two: Which tags do you use most?
72 You can always add tags freely and by hand, but if you configure the
73 most important ones along with fast-access keys, life will be better.
74 Configure the variable =org-tags-alist= or simply do this right in the
78 ,#+TAGS: home(h) work(w) @computer(c) @phone(p) errants(e)
81 *** Three: Which files are relevant for the agenda?
85 When Org compiles agenda views like the the agenda for the current
86 week (=C-c a a=) or the global TODO list (=C-c a t=), it checks all
87 files in the variable =org-agenda-files=. Instead of setting this
88 variable explicitly, it is much easier to just add and remove the
89 current buffer with =C-c [= and =C-c ]=, respectively.
91 *** Four: Find what you need to see now
93 If you need to sharpen the predefined agenda commands, define your [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Custom-agenda-views.html#Custom-agenda-views][own]]
94 Agenda commands, using the variable =org-agenda-custom-commands=.
95 This is a pretty complex variable, but if you use the customize
96 interface[fn:2: =M-x customize-variable RET
97 org-agenda-custom-commands RET=], it is not too hard. Everyone
98 ends up customizing this one after getting comfortable with Org-mode.
99 Do checkout [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-custom-agenda-commands.php][this tutorial]] on building your own custom agenda commands
102 *** Five: Capture ideas with predefined templates
106 Use =org-capture= to quickly capture ideas, tasks, and notes.
107 Populate[fn:3: M-x customize-variable RET org-capture-templates RET]
108 the variable =org-capture-templates= with templates and target
111 * Pretend to be a power-user
113 Here is a list of the variables most frequently changed by power
114 users. The variables mentioned above are repeated in this list. Yes,
115 some power users change 60 options or more, but these showed up most
116 frequently in the [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-configs/org-customization-survey-2013.html][customization survey]].
121 #+index: Agenda!Files
123 #+index: Archive!Location
125 Here are a few things about basic setup that many people change.
127 - org-directory :: Where are my Org files typically located? Org
128 acutally uses this variable only under rare circumstances, like
129 when filing remember notes in an interactive way and prompting
130 you for an Org file to put the note into.
133 - org-agenda-files :: Which [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Agenda-files.html#Agenda-files][files]] do I want to be checked for entries
134 when compiling my agenda? Many people do not customize this one,
135 but just use =C-c [= and =C-c ]= to add or remove the current
138 - org-startup-folded :: When visiting an Org file, in what [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Visibility-cycling.html#Visibility-cycling][folding
139 state]] do I first want to see it? Many use =#+STARTUP= options to
140 set this on a [[https://orgmode.org/manual/In_002dbuffer-settings.html#In_002dbuffer-settings][per-file basis]].
142 - org-archive-location :: When [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Archiving.html#Archiving][archiving]] an entry, where will it go?
144 *** Editing behavior and appearance
147 #+index: Follow links
153 Besides being an organizer, Org-mode is also a text mode for writing
154 and taking notes. The following variables that influence basic
155 editing behavior and the appearance of the buffer are often
158 - org-hide-leading-stars :: Make the outline more list-like be [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Clean-view.html#Clean-view][hiding]]
159 all leading stars but one.
161 - org-odd-levels-only :: Should [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Clean-view.html#Clean-view][2 stars]] be added per level? This
162 makes the indentation more like in a book.
164 - org-special-ctrl-a/e :: Should =C-a= and =C-e= behave specially,
165 considering the headline and not the leading stars, todo
166 keywords, or the trailing tags? About equal numbers of users set
167 this to =t= or to =reversed=
169 - org-special-ctrl-k :: Should =C-k= behave [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-faq.html#C-k-is-killing-subtrees][specially]] in headlines,
170 considering tags and visibility state?
172 - org-completion-use-ido :: Should /ido.el/ be used for completion
173 whenever it makes sense?
175 - org-return-follows-link :: Should pressing RET on a hyperlink [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Handling-links.html#Handling-links][follow]]
176 the link? People who are used to this from web browsers often
179 - org-blank-before-new-entry :: Org-mode tries to be smart about
180 inserting blank lines before [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Structure-editing.html#Structure-editing][new entries/items]], by looking at
181 what is before the previous entry/item. Customize this to
184 *** The TODO keywords
186 #+index: Todo Keywords
187 #+index: Todo Keywords!Faces
188 #+index: Todo Keywords!Dependencies
191 - org-todo-keywords :: Which [[https://orgmode.org/manual/TODO-extensions.html#TODO-extensions][TODO keywords]] should be used? Also you
192 can define keys for [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Fast-access-to-TODO-states.html#Fast-access-to-TODO-states][fast access]] here. Very many people use this,
193 or define the keywords with a =#+TODO:= setting in the buffer.
195 - org-todo-keyword-faces :: Here you can define different faces for
196 different TODO keywords.
198 - org-enforce-todo-dependencies :: Should unfinished children [[https://orgmode.org/manual/TODO-dependencies.html#TODO-dependencies][block]]
199 state changes in the parent?
201 - org-enforce-todo-checkbox-dependencies :: Should unfinished
202 checkboxes [[https://orgmode.org/manual/TODO-dependencies.html#TODO-dependencies][block]] state changes in the parent?
208 - org-tag-alist :: Which [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Tags.html#Tags][tags]] should be available? Note that tags
209 besides the configured ones can be used, but for the important
210 ones you can define keys for [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Setting-tags.html#Setting-tags][fast access]] here.
212 - org-tags-column :: How should tags be aligned in the headline?
214 - org-fast-tag-selection-single-key :: Set this to make the tags
215 interface even faster, if all you normally do is changing a single
220 #+index: Progress!Logging
223 - org-log-done :: Do you want to [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Progress-logging.html#Progress-logging][capture]] time stamps and/or notes when
224 TODO state changes, in particular when a task is DONE? A simple
225 setting that many use is =(setq org-log-done 'time)=.
227 *** Capture and Refile
232 - org-reverse-note-order :: When adding new entries (or tasks) to a
233 list, do I want the entry to be first or last in the list?
235 =org-capture= is great for fast capture of ideas, notes, and tasks. It
236 is one of the primary capture methods in Org-mode.
238 - org-capture-templates :: Prepare [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Capture-templates.html#Capture-templates][templates]] for the typical notes and
239 tasks you want to capture quickly. I believe everyone using
240 =org-capture= customizes this.
242 - org-default-notes-file :: If you do not set up templates with target
243 files, at least tell Org where to put captured notes.
245 /Refiling/ means moving entries around, for example from a capturing
246 location to the correct project.
248 - org-refile-targets :: What should be on the [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Refile-and-copy.html#Refile-and-copy][menu]] when you refile
249 tasks with =C-c C-w=?
251 - org-refile-use-outline-path :: How would you like to select refile
252 targets. Headline only, or the path along the outline hierarchy?
256 #+index: Agenda!Views
258 - org-agenda-start-on-weekday :: Should the [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Weekly_002fdaily-agenda.html#Weekly_002fdaily-agenda][agenda]] start on Monday, or
261 - org-agenda-ndays :: How many days should the default agenda show?
262 Default is 7, a whole week.
264 - org-agenda-include-diary :: Should the agenda also show [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Weekly_002fdaily-agenda.html#Weekly_002fdaily-agenda][entries]] from
267 - org-agenda-custom-commands :: Define your [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Custom-agenda-views.html#Custom-agenda-views][own]] Agenda commands.
268 Complex, advanced variable, but pretty much everyone ends up
269 configuring it. Use customize to configure it, this is the best
270 and safest way. Do checkout [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-custom-agenda-commands.php][this tutorial]] on building your own
271 custom agenda commands as well.
273 - org-agenda-sorting-strategy :: How should things be [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Sorting-agenda-items.html#Sorting-agenda-items][sorted]] in the
274 agenda display. Even though I think the defaults are very usable,
275 power users tend to tweak this.
277 - org-stuck-projects :: How to find projects that need [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Stuck-projects.html#Stuck-projects][attention]]?
279 To reduce clutter in the task list for today, many users like to
280 remove tasks from the daily list right when they are done. The
281 following variables give detailed control to what kind of entries this
284 - org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done :: Scheduled entries. Many users
287 - org-agenda-skip-deadline-if-done :: Deadlines. Many users turn
290 - org-agenda-skip-timestamp-if-done :: Entries with any timestamp,
291 appointments just like scheduled and deadline entries.
292 Relatively few users select this one.
294 People who use Org like a [[http://www.newartisans.com/2007/08/using-org-mode-as-a-day-planner.html][day planner]], who [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Deadlines-and-scheduling.html#Deadlines-and-scheduling][schedule]] all tasks to
295 specific dates, often like to not have scheduled tasks listed in their
296 global TODO list, because scheduling it already means to have taking
297 care of it in a sense, and because they know they will run into these
298 tasks in the agenda anyway.
300 - org-agenda-todo-ignore-deadlines :: Don't show deadline tasks in
303 - org-agenda-todo-ignore-with-date :: Don't show any tasks with a date
304 in the global TODO list.
306 - org-agenda-todo-ignore-scheduled :: Don't show scheduled tasks
307 in the global TODO list.
309 *** Export/Publishing setup
312 #+index: Publish!Setup
314 - org-export-with-LaTeX-fragments :: Should [[https://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX-fragments.html#LaTeX-fragments][LaTeX fragments]] be
315 converted to inline images for HTML output?
317 - org-export-html-style :: Customize the default [[https://orgmode.org/manual/CSS-support.html#CSS-support][style]] for HTML
320 - org-publish-project-alist :: Set up projects that allow many files
321 to be exported and [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Publishing.html#Publishing][published]] with a single command.
323 * Become a true power user
325 If you want to become a true power user, [[https://orgmode.org/list/FD50CA36-A385-4C80-8E86-E3BE9F352B0A@uva.nl][see]] for yourself what some users
326 do. The Emacs customization system[fn:5:=M-x org-customize RET=] organizes
327 all variables into a structure that can be used to easily [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org-customize.html][find the one
328 particular option]] you might be looking for. Also, the [[https://orgmode.org/manual/][Org-mode manual]] and
329 the [[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-faq.html][FAQ]] mention many variables in the appropriate context.