Introduction

This document provides a comprehensive reference for all keybindings in Scimax VS Code. The extension brings Emacs-style org-mode functionality to Visual Studio Code, with keybindings designed to match the familiar Emacs Scimax experience.

Global Commands

Key	Action
C-S-j	Open today's journal entry
s-S-j	(Mac) Open today's journal entry
C-c m	Show Hydra main menu
C-c C-m	Show Hydra context menu
C-c d	Show database hydra menu
C-c c	Quick capture
C-c t	Quick capture TODO
C-M-v	Show database menu
C-s-v	(Mac) Show database menu
C-S-r	Reload window
s-S-r	(Mac) Reload window
M-[	Previous journal entry (in journal)
M-]	Next journal entry (in journal)
C-c S-/	Context-sensitive help
C-c S-g	Show link graph for current file

✅ Help Commands

Emacs-style help commands for discovering keybindings and commands.

Key	Action
C-h k	Describe key - type a key sequence to see its command
C-h b	List keybindings - browse all keybindings
C-h f	Describe command - select a command to see its keys
C-h v	Describe variable - view setting details
C-h a	Apropos - search documentation for keywords

C-h k (Describe Key)

Type a key sequence using either Emacs notation (C-c C-c, M-x) or VS Code notation (ctrl+c ctrl+c, alt+x) to see what command it is bound to. Shows the command ID, title, and any context conditions (when clause).

C-h b (List Keybindings)

Browse all scimax keybindings in a searchable list. Filter by typing to find keybindings. Select an entry to see full details or execute the command.

C-h f (Describe Command)

Search for a command by name and see its keybindings. Useful when you know what you want to do but not the keybinding.

C-h v (Describe Variable/Setting)

Browse all scimax settings with completion. Shows the setting type, default value, current value, and description. Actions include opening VS Code Settings to modify the value.

C-h a (Apropos)

Search the documentation for keywords. Enter one or more search terms to find relevant documentation sections. Results are ranked by relevance:

Heading matches score highest
Command and keybinding mentions score high
Keyword and content matches score lower

Select a result to see details or open the documentation file at that location.

Emacs-Style Editor Keybindings

Key	Action
M-x	Show command palette
C-x C-f	Quick open file
C-x d	Open Dired (directory editor)
C-x C-s	Save file
C-x s	Save all files
C-x k	Close active editor
C-x b	Switch to recent editor
C-x 3	Split editor right
C-x 2	Split editor down
C-x 1	Close other editors in group
C-x 0	Close all editors
C-x o	Focus next editor group
C-x	Previous editor
C-x	Next editor
C-x C-	Navigate back
C-x C-	Navigate forward
C-/	Undo
C-y	Paste
C-w	Cut (with selection)
M-w	Copy (with selection)
C-;	Toggle comment
M-c	Capitalize word and move next
M-l	Lowercase word and move next
M-u	Uppercase word and move next
M-<	Beginning of buffer
M->	End of buffer
M-S-%	Query replace (interactive)
C-	Delete word left

defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

Then restart VS Code.

Navigation

Key	Action
	Toggle fold (on heading)
S-	Cycle global fold
C-c C-j	Jump to heading
C-c C-n	Next heading
C-c C-p	Previous heading
C-c C-f	Next sibling heading
C-c C-b	Previous sibling heading
C-c u	Go to parent heading
C-	Previous source block
C-	Next source block
M-S-,	Beginning of buffer
M-S-.	End of buffer

Note: Navigation keybindings (C-c C-n, C-c C-p, C-c C-f, C-c C-b, C-c C-j) work in org-mode, markdown, and LaTeX files with consistent behavior.

Headings

Key	Action
M-	Promote heading/subtree
M-	Demote heading/subtree
M-S-	Promote subtree (not in table)
M-S-	Demote subtree (not in table)
M-	Move heading/subtree up
M-	Move heading/subtree down
C-	Insert new heading
s-	(Mac) Insert new heading
C-c @	Mark (select) subtree
C-c C-x t	Insert inline task
C-c C-x i	Add ID to heading
C-c C-w	Refile subtree to target
C-c M-w	Copy subtree to refile target

Items

Key	Action
C-c C-t	Cycle TODO state
C-c C-c	Toggle checkbox (not in src block)
C-c C-d	Insert due date (DEADLINE)
C-c C-s	Insert scheduled date (SCHEDULED)

Timestamps

Key	Action
C-c .	Insert timestamp
C-c ,	Insert inactive timestamp
C-c C-r	Add repeater to timestamp
S-	Shift timestamp up
S-	Shift timestamp down
S-	Shift timestamp left (no selection)
S-	Shift timestamp right (no selection)

Tables

Key	Action
C-c \vert	Create table
C-c S-\	Create table (alternative)
C-c -	Insert table separator row
C-c ^	Sort table by column
C-c S-6	Sort table by column (alt)
C-c C-c	Recalculate table (on TBLFM line)
C-c *	Recalculate table (alternative)
C-c S-8	Recalculate table (alt)
C-c C-e t	Export table
M-	Insert row below
M-S-	Insert row above
M-S-	Insert row above (alt)
M-S-	Insert row below (alt)
M-S-	Delete row
M-S-	Insert column right (in table)
M-S-	Delete column (in table)

Source Blocks (Babel)

Execution

Key	Action
C-	Execute source block
s-	(Mac) Execute source block
C-c C-c	Execute source block (in src block)
S-	Execute and move to next block

Navigation & Manipulation

Key	Action
C-	Previous source block
C-	Next source block
C-c C-b	Jump to source block
C-c C-v g	Jump to source block (alt)
C-c C-v n	Next source block (alt)
C-c n	Next source block
C-c C-,	Insert source block below
C-c -	Split source block at cursor
Esc a	Insert block above (in src)
Esc b	Insert block below (in src)
Esc -	Split block (in src)
S-	Execute and move to next block
M-S-	Execute and insert new block

Advanced Babel Operations

Key	Action
C-c C-v t	Tangle source blocks
C-c C-v p	Execute all blocks to point
C-c C-v i	Execute inline code
C-c C-v q	Queue block for execution

Export

Key	Action
C-c C-e	Export dispatcher (show menu)
C-c C-e h h	Export to HTML
C-c C-e h o	Export to HTML and open
C-c C-e l l	Export to LaTeX
C-c C-e l o	Export to LaTeX and open
C-c C-e l p	Export to PDF
C-c C-e l v	Open LaTeX preview
C-c C-e l s	LaTeX forward sync
C-c C-e m m	Export to Markdown

Links

Key	Action
C-c C-l	Insert link
C-c C-o	Open link
	Open link (when on link)
F10	Insert screenshot

Citations & References

Key	Action
C-c ]	Insert citation
C-c z	Insert citation from Zotero
C-u C-c ]	Insert cross-reference
S-	Transpose citation left (on citation)
S-	Transpose citation right (on citation)
S-	Sort citations (on citation)
S-	Sort citations by year (on citation)
C-S-k	Delete citation (on citation)
s-S-k	(Mac) Delete citation

Text Markup

Key	Alt Key (Mac: C-M)	Action
C-c b	M-b (C-M-b)	Bold
C-c i	M-i (C-M-i)	Italic
C-c _	M-u (C-M-u)	Underline
C-c `	M-c (C-M-c)	Code (inline)
C-c =	M-v (C-M-v)	Verbatim
C-c +	M-x (C-M-x)	Strikethrough
	M-- (C-M--)	Subscript
	M-= (C-M-=)	Superscript
C-c '		Command (Emacs-style, non-standard)

Search & Navigation

Fuzzy Search (Swiper-style)

Key	Action
C-c s	Fuzzy search in current buffer
C-c S-s	Fuzzy search in open files
C-c M-s	Fuzzy search outline/headings

Jump (Avy-style)

Key	Action
C-c j c	Jump to character
C-c j j	Jump to 2 characters
C-c j w	Jump to word
C-c j l	Jump to line
C-c j o	Jump to symbol/outline
C-c j s	Jump to subword

Projectile

Key	Action
C-c p p	Switch project
C-c p f	Find file in project
C-c p s	Search in project
C-c p d	Open project root directory
C-c p a	Add project
C-c p S-f	Find file in all known projects

✅ Database and Agenda

Key	Action
C-c a a	Agenda menu
C-c a w	Week agenda
C-c a m	Month agenda
C-c a t	TODO list
C-c a d	Deadlines
C-c d	Database hydra menu
C-c d f	Browse indexed files
C-c d s	Search database
C-c d h	Search headings
C-c d t	Show TODOs
C-c d a	Show agenda

✅ Templates

Key	Action
C-c C-t i	Quick insert template
C-c C-t n	New file from template
C-c C-t l	List templates
C-c C-t s	Create template from selection

✅ Spelling

Key	Action
C-c ;	Go to previous spelling error
C-c S-;	Go to next spelling error

Edit Marks (Track Changes)

Key	Action
C-c e i	Mark insertion
C-c e d	Mark deletion
C-c e c	Add comment
C-c e t	Mark typo
C-c e a	Accept edit mark
C-c e r	Reject edit mark
C-c e ]	Next edit mark
C-c e [	Previous edit mark
C-c e s	Show edit marks summary

✅ Mark Ring (Emacs-style)

Emacs-style mark and region commands.

Key	Action
C-Space	Set mark at point
C-g	Cancel selection
C-c Space	Push mark to ring
C-u C-Space	Pop mark from local ring
Ctrl+U Ctrl+Space	Pop from local ring (alt)
C-x C-Space	Pop mark from global ring
Ctrl+X Ctrl+Space	Pop from global ring (alt)
C-x C-x	Exchange point and mark
C-c m s	Show mark ring

Speed Commands

Speed commands are single-key shortcuts available when the cursor is at the beginning of a heading (the first character of the heading line). They must be enabled in settings (scimax.speedCommands.enabled).

Navigation Speed Commands

Key	Action
n	Next heading (same level)
p	Previous heading (same level)
f	Next sibling heading
b	Previous sibling heading
u	Parent heading (up one level)
j	Jump to heading (quick picker)
g	Goto menu (additional navigation)

Visibility Speed Commands

Key	Action
	Toggle fold (same as regular tab)
c	Cycle global fold
C	Show children only
o	Overview (collapse all)
1	Show level 1 headings
2	Show level 2 headings
3	Show level 3 headings
0	Show all headings
N	Narrow to subtree

Structure Editing Speed Commands

Key	Action
l	Promote heading only
r	Demote heading only
L	Promote subtree
R	Demote subtree
U	Move subtree up
D	Move subtree down

"TODO" & Content Speed Commands

Key	Action
t	Cycle TODO state
d	Insert DEADLINE
s	Insert SCHEDULED
e	Set effort estimate
:	Set tags
P	Set property
I	Clock in
O	Clock out

Editing Speed Commands

Key	Action
k	Kill (cut) subtree
y	Yank (paste) subtree
w	Refile subtree
W	Clone subtree
m	Mark (select) subtree
@	Mark subtree (alt)
^	Sort entries
a	Archive subtree
A	Toggle archive tag
$	Archive to sibling

Other Speed Commands

Key	Action
?	Show speed commands help
/	Show speed commands help

✅ BibTeX Speed Commands

Speed commands for BibTeX files, active at column 0 of @entry lines (e.g., @article{, @book{).

Key	Action
n	Next entry
p	Previous entry
j	Jump to entry

✅ Formatting

Key	Action
s	Sort fields
d	Downcase entry
t	Title case title
S	Sentence case title
c	Clean/format entry

✅ Wrap/Strip Braces (Case Protection)

Key	Action
C-S-]	Wrap selection or word at cursor in braces
C-S-[	Strip braces from selection or word

Wraps text in {} for case protection in BibTeX titles (e.g., {NASA}, {Python}). Works anywhere in the file, not just at entry start.

✅ Access

Key	Action
o	Open PDF
u	Open URL/DOI
N	Open notes
g	Google Scholar
x	CrossRef
w	Web of Science

✅ OpenAlex Integration

Key	Action
C	Show citing works (OpenAlex)
R	Show related works (OpenAlex)
r	Show references (OpenAlex)

✅ Actions

Key	Action
y	Copy citation key
b	Copy BibTeX entry
B	Strip braces from entry
k	Delete entry
K	Generate citation key
U	Update from web
N	Open notes for entry
A	Toggle journal abbreviation
?	Show help

✅ Toggle Speed Commands

Key	Action
C-c C-x s	Toggle speed commands on/off

✅ Additional Notes

✅ Context-Dependent Keybindings

Many keybindings are context-aware and behave differently depending on cursor position:

C-c C-c toggles checkboxes normally, executes source blocks inside code blocks, and recalculates tables on TBLFM lines
S- keys modify timestamps normally, but transpose/sort citations when on a citation
M-S-/M-S- promote/demote subtrees normally, but delete/insert columns when in a table
opens links when cursor is on a link

✅ When Conditions

Some keybindings only work in specific contexts:

Org-mode/Markdown files: Most document structure commands
On headings: Folding, promotion, demotion
In tables: Table-specific commands
In source blocks: Block execution
At heading start: Speed commands

✅ Mac vs Windows/Linux

Most keybindings use C- (Ctrl) on all platforms to match Emacs conventions. Exceptions where Mac uses s- (Cmd):

s-S-j (journal)
s- (execute/insert heading)
s-S-k (delete citation)
s-S-r (reload window)
C-s-v (database menu)

✅ LaTeX Navigation

These keybindings are active in LaTeX files (.tex):

✅ Section Navigation

Key	Action
C-c C-n	Next section
C-c C-p	Previous section
C-c C-u	Parent section
C-c C-f	Next sibling section
C-c C-b	Previous sibling section
C-c C-j	Jump to any section
C-c j	Jump to any section (alt)

✅ Structure Editing

Key	Action
Alt+Left	Promote section
Alt+Right	Demote section
Alt+Shift+Left	Promote subtree
Alt+Shift+Right	Demote subtree
Alt+Up	Move section up
Alt+Down	Move section down
C-c @	Mark (select) section

✅ Environment Commands

Key	Action
C-c C-e	Select environment
C-c e	Change environment type
C-c w	Wrap selection in environment
C-c *	Toggle starred variant
C-c %	Jump to matching begin/end
C-c l	Jump to label
C-c C-l	Add label to environment

✅ Folding

Key	Action
Tab	Toggle fold
Shift+Tab	Cycle global fold

✅ Compile and Preview

Key	Action
C-c C-c	Compile document
C-c v	View PDF (built-in panel)
C-c C-v	View PDF (external viewer)
C-c C-a	Compile and view PDF
C-c g	SyncTeX forward search
C-c C-k	Clean auxiliary files

See LaTeX Navigation and Structure for complete documentation.

✅ LaTeX Speed Commands

Speed commands active at the start of \section, \subsection, or \begin{} lines:

Section Speed Commands

Key	Action
n	Next section
p	Previous section
f	Forward sibling
b	Backward sibling
u	Up to parent
j	Jump to section
U	Move section up
D	Move section down
<	Promote section
>	Demote section
I	Insert section
N	Narrow to section
W	Widen (show all)
/	Show help

Environment Speed Commands

Key	Action
n	Next environment
p	Previous environment
j	Jump to environment
s	Select environment
c	Change environment
k	Kill environment
w	Wrap in environment
u	Unwrap environment
*	Toggle starred variant
l	Add label
C	Add caption
i	Environment info
/	Show help

✅ Quick Reference Card

✅ Most Common Commands

Command	Keybinding
Open journal	C-S-j
Execute code block	C-
Cycle TODO	C-c C-t
Insert timestamp	C-c .
Insert link	C-c C-l
Insert citation	C-c ]
Export dispatcher	C-c C-e
Jump to heading	C-c C-j
Fuzzy search	C-c s
Hydra menu	C-c m

✅ Most Common Speed Commands

Speed Key	Action
n/p	Next/Previous heading
f/b	Forward/Back sibling
u	Up to parent
j	Jump to heading
t	Cycle TODO
l/r	Promote/Demote subtree

✅ Further Help

Use C-c m to open the Hydra menu for guided command discovery
Use M-x to search all commands by name
Enable speed commands help with ? when at heading start
See Documentation Index for comprehensive guides