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To insert a new TODO in org-mode, I currently move my cursor to the end of the current line and use the M-S-<RET> shortcut. If I am within a subtree, I also have to go to the end of the last tree item.

I was wondering if it is possible to create a shortcut which appends a new top-level TODO (i.e., a single *) below whatever subtree the cursor is in. Eliminating the cursor movements would be very helpful to me while brainstorming and quickly capturing thoughts.

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  • Do you always want to insert a top level heading? It seems like that might break your hierarchy if you were more than two levels down. If not, outline-up-heading followed by org-insert-heading-after-current will work. Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 23:03
  • Ah, I didn't know about org-insert-heading-after-current. Yes, that combined with outline-up-heading is probably the better route to go. org-insert-heading-after-current solves my needs a little better as it skips over sublevels within a tree as well. Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 23:44

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This function adds a new headline after the parent of the headline the cursor is on. With a prefix argument, it adds the heading arg levels up.

(defun org-insert-heading-after-parent (arg) (interactive "p") (save-excursion (outline-up-heading arg) (org-insert-heading-after-current) ))
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  • Thanks for the additional function, but in practice, I think I will likely just go with your original suggestion of using the 2 commands separately. Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 0:09
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Here's a simple function to do something similar.

(defun test () (point-to-register 'p) (search-forward-regexp "^\\* ") (org-beginning-of-line) (insert "* ") (register-to-point 'p))
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  • Thanks. That function takes care of the cursor issue, but it seems to add a new item at the same tree level as wherever the cursor is, rather than at the top level. That is certainly useful, but is it possible to instead insert a new top-level item after the current tree? This is close enough though, and I may actually end up using this function instead. Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 23:16
  • Should be simple to change, I wasn't entirely sure where you wanted it inserted. Just change outline-next-visible-heading to a command that moves beyond the current tree. Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 0:18
  • It looks like there isn't quite that command, but org-mode is conveniently plain text, so (search-forward-regexp "^\\* ") seems to do the trick. Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 0:27
  • @user2699 You might find save-excursion a easier to use way to save the point since it also saves the mark and the state of the region. Also, your progn seems unnecessary. Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 3:41

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