Emacs: Outline, org-mode Intro

Org-mode is a markup language, and associated system, for outline, todo, schedule, note-taking.

Org-mode began in 2004.

Org-mode is bundled with emacs since emacs 22 (year 2007). [see Emacs Version History] This page is a basic tutorial.

Open a file, then Alt+x org-mode to start it.

Org Mode as Markup

First, Org Mode is a markup language, similar to Markdown, but more rich.

Have a look at the markup first.

• Emacs: Org Mode Markup Cheatsheet

Org Mode as Outline Feature

Org Mode is also an outline editor. It lets you organize your notes/writings by headings (such as chapter, section, subsections), and view just the headings, or restructure headings.

Sample Org Mode File

Here's a sample org mode file.

* on the Musicality of Mathematics

** Abstract

Over the past thousand years, humanity has worked on on music and math.

** the Meaning of Musicality

One of the central problem is the definition of musicality.

** the Meaning of Math

The meaning of math is a ancient question. Here, we take a meta-physiology approach.

* on the Philosophy of Musicality

** Introduction

Of course, talk is cheap. But, is it, really? But before we can talk about it, we have to think about it. Does it imply thinking is cheaper?

Here we prove the fundamental theorem of musicality.

* the Absca Project

“I'm going to be lucky today, and my methodology is happy-go-lucky” —anonymous.

A wise man has said, but, we cut it directly by introducing the Absca project.

** Components of the Absca System

xyz.

** Absca System and Logic

* the Relation of Absca, Musicality, and Math

xyz.

Copy and paste the above in a file and save it as test.org

Now, open the file. File ending in .org opens in org mode by default.

Create New Headline

Alt+Enter (org-meta-return)

Insert a new heading at the cursor position.

Ctrl+Enter (org-insert-heading-respect-content)

Insert a new heading at the end of the current branch.

Show/Hide Headlines

Tab (org-cycle)

Show/hide the heading's content. The cursor must be on the heading. Press it again to cycle show/hide its subsections.

Shift+Tab (org-shifttab)

Cycle show/hide heading content of the whole file.

Move Headline (And Its Content)

Here are commands that move heading and its content.

Alt+Shift+↑ (org-shiftmetaup)

Move branch up but keep in same level.

Alt+Shift+↓ (org-shiftmetadown)

Move branch down but keep in same level.

Alt+Shift+← (org-shiftmetaleft)

Move branch up a level.

Alt+Shift+→ (org-shiftmetaright)

Move branch down a level.

Promote/Demote Headline

Here's a command that moves just the heading (not moving its content and sub-headings.).

Alt+← (org-metaleft)

promote a heading one level.

Alt+→ (org-metaright)

demote a heading one level.

Use Graphical Menu

When in org-mode, there's a menu named “Org”. Try it. From the menu, you can learn the most useful commands and the key shortcuts.

Reference

• https://orgmode.org/