Red Green Repeat Adventures of a Spec Driven Junkie

Loving org-mode: Hierarchy Manipulation

Previously, I shared my love of tabs in org-mode.

Another reason why I love org-mode: hierarchy manipulation.

I love creating hierarchical lists - items categorized and nested.

At the same time, when I want to indent or outdent of items, I can work with the whole group at once. Indenting or outdenting as a group.

The key to indent or outdent group of items:

M-shift <right arrow key>/<left arrow key>

Given list:

- 1. start of list of things
  - 1.1
    - 1.1.1
    - 1.1.2
    - 1.1.3
      - 1.1.3.1
  - 1.2
    - 1.2.1
    - 1.2.2
  - 1.3
    - 1.3.1
    - 1.3.2
      - 1.3.2.1
      - 1.3.2.2
    - 1.3.3
- 2.0
  - 2.1
  - 2.2

To indent items 1.2 to be part of 1.1 - move to 1.2 and enter: M-shift <right arrow> to get:

- 1. start of list of things
  - 1.1
    - 1.1.1
    - 1.1.2
    - 1.1.3
      - 1.1.3.1
    - 1.2
      - 1.2.1
      - 1.2.2
  - 1.3
    - 1.3.1
    - 1.3.2
      - 1.3.2.1
      - 1.3.2.2
    - 1.3.3
- 2.0
  - 2.1
  - 2.2

Voila! And to make section 1.3 a top section, move cursor to 1.3 and enter: M-shift <left arrow> to get:

- 1. start of list of things
  - 1.1
    - 1.1.1
    - 1.1.2
    - 1.1.3
      - 1.1.3.1
    - 1.2
      - 1.2.1
      - 1.2.2
- 1.3
  - 1.3.1
  - 1.3.2
    - 1.3.2.1
    - 1.3.2.2
  - 1.3.3
- 2.0
  - 2.1
  - 2.2

All sub-items maintain their position within the hierarchy.

If you want to indent/outdent a single item, omit: shift key, to indent or outdent single item:

M <right arrow key>/<left arrow key>

Isn’t that easy??

Additional articles on why I love org-mode: