✅ Creating Headlines

A headline starts with one or more asterisks (*) at the beginning of a line, followed by a space:

,* Top Level Headline
,** Second Level
,*** Third Level
,**** Fourth Level

There is no hard limit on headline levels, but most documents use 3-5 levels.

✅ Headline Components

A headline can contain several components:

,* TODO [#A] Headline Title                                    :tag1:tag2:

✅ Headline Levels

Headlines can be nested to any depth:

,* Level 1: Main Section
,** Level 2: Subsection
,*** Level 3: Sub-subsection
,**** Level 4: Paragraph grouping
,***** Level 5: Fine detail

Use consistent levels throughout your document. Skipping levels (e.g., going from * to ***) works but may cause confusion.

✅ Folding with Tab

Press Tab on a headline to cycle through visibility states:

Example cycle:

1. * Heading... (folded - ellipsis shows hidden content)

2. * Heading with child headlines visible

3. * Heading with all content visible

✅ Global Cycling with Shift-Tab

Press S- anywhere in the document to cycle global visibility:

✅ Visibility Commands

Additional visibility can be controlled through speed commands (see Speed Commands):

✅ Navigation Commands

✅ Using the Outline View

The VS Code Outline view provides visual navigation:

1. Open the Outline view (sidebar or Cmd/C-S-O)

2. Click any heading to jump to it

3. Use the filter box to search headings

✅ Jump to Heading

Press C-c C-j to open a quick-pick menu of all headings. Type to filter and press Enter to jump.

✅ Speed Command Navigation

With speed commands enabled (scimax.speedCommands.enabled: true), when your cursor is at the beginning of a headline, single keys navigate:

✅ Promote/Demote Headlines

Change the level of a headline:

,** Parent                    * Parent
,*** Child 1          ->       ** Child 1
,*** Child 2                  ** Child 2

✅ Move Subtrees Up/Down

Reorder sections without changing their level:

The entire subtree (heading and all its content/children) moves together.

✅ Kill/Clone Subtrees

Speed command keys (at heading start):

✅ Insert New Headings

The command scimax.org.insertHeading inserts a new heading. The behavior depends on context:

• On a heading line: Insert new heading at same level

• In body text: Insert new heading after current section

For subheadings:

✅ Common Keywords

,#+TITLE: Document Title
,#+AUTHOR: Author Name
,#+DATE: 2026-01-13
,#+EMAIL: author@example.com

✅ Options Keyword

The #+OPTIONS: keyword controls export and display behavior:

,#+OPTIONS: toc:2 num:t H:4 ^:nil

✅ Startup Keyword

Control initial visibility:

,#+STARTUP: overview    # Start with all headings folded
,#+STARTUP: content     # Show all headings, hide body
,#+STARTUP: showall     # Show everything

✅ Property Keyword

Set default properties for source blocks:

,#+PROPERTY: header-args :exports both
,#+PROPERTY: header-args:python :session *python*

✅ Creating Properties Drawers

Properties appear in a :PROPERTIES: drawer immediately after the headline:

,* My Headline
:PROPERTIES:
:CUSTOM_ID: my-headline
:CATEGORY: work
:EFFORT: 2:00
:END:

✅ Special Properties

Certain properties have special meaning:

✅ Adding Properties

To add a property via speed commands, press P at a heading start.

You can also add properties manually by typing inside the drawer.

✅ Inherited Properties

Some properties are inherited by child headlines. The CATEGORY property, for example, applies to all children unless overridden.

✅ Standard Drawers

,* TODO My Task
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-13 Mon 09:00]--[2026-01-13 Mon 10:30] =>  1:30
- State "TODO"       from "WAITING"    [2026-01-12 Sun 14:00]
:END:

✅ Custom Drawers

Create custom drawers for any purpose. These are not exported.

Drawer names must be uppercase letters and can contain numbers and underscores.

✅ Drawer Visibility

Drawers are typically displayed collapsed. Click or use fold commands to expand/collapse them.

✅ Creating Inline Tasks

An inline task uses many stars (15+) and has a matching END marker:

,* Main Headline
Content of the headline.

,*************** TODO Quick inline task
This is an inline task that doesn't affect document structure.
It's useful for small, self-contained TODOs within prose.
,*************** END

More content continues here.

✅ Inline Task Features

Inline tasks support the same features as regular headlines:

✅ When to Use Inline Tasks

• Quick TODOs embedded in documentation

• Small tasks that don't warrant their own section

• Notes or reminders within prose

• Tasks that shouldn't appear in document outline

✅ Configuration

The minimum headline level for inline tasks is configurable. By default, headlines with 15 or more stars are treated as inline tasks.

✅ Footnote Definition Syntax

Footnotes are defined with ^[LABEL] at the start of a line:

This paragraph has a footnote reference[fn:1].

[fn:1] This is the footnote content. It can span
  multiple lines if subsequent lines are indented.

Another paragraph continues here.

✅ Footnote Labels

Footnotes can use numeric or named labels:

See the paper for details[fn:1].
This is a key concept[fn:important-note].

[fn:1] Smith et al., 2024.
[fn:important-note] A named footnote for easy reference.

✅ Multi-line Footnotes

Footnote definitions can span multiple lines with indentation:

[fn:long-note] This is a longer footnote that spans
  multiple lines. All continuation lines must be
  indented to be included in the footnote.

  You can even have multiple paragraphs by leaving
  a blank line with proper indentation.

✅ Inline Footnotes

For short footnotes, use inline syntax:

This has an inline footnote[fn:: This is the definition].

✅ Related Topics

See Links for information on footnote references.

✅ Dynamic Block Syntax

,#+BEGIN: block-name parameters
Content that will be replaced when block is updated.
,#+END:

✅ Clock Table Example

The most common dynamic block is the clock table, which summarizes time spent:

✅ Column View Examplecolumns

Column view displays properties in a table format:

✅ Dynamic Block Parameters

Common parameters for clock tables:

✅ Updating Dynamic Blocks

Dynamic blocks are updated when explicitly requested (C-c C-c on the header). The content between

✅ Document Organization

1. Start with an outline - Create your heading structure before adding content

2. Use consistent levels - Don't skip levels arbitrarily

3. Keep headings concise - Use brief, descriptive titles

4. Use tags for cross-cutting concerns - Don't rely solely on hierarchy

✅ Heading Depth Guidelines

✅ Navigation Efficiency

1. Use C-c C-j for direct jumps to any heading

2. Use outline view for visual navigation in long documents

3. Enable speed commands for rapid single-key navigation

4. Use S- to get an overview before diving in