Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Hi Jay, I keep all my notes out of the agenda, because it slows down building the agenda (at least with previous versions of org, it might have improved recently), which I do quite often. Instead I keep all those notes files in the variable org-agenda-text-search-extra-files, so that I am able to search on them and add them as well to the org-refile-targets. If you keep all your notes in the directory ~/org/notes, then set: #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp (setq org-agenda-text-search-extra-files (cddr (directory-files ~/org/notes t nil))) (setq org-refile-targets (list '(org-agenda-files . (:maxlevel . 1)) '(org-agenda-text-search-extra-files . (:maxlevel . 1)) '(nil . (:maxlevel . 5 #+END_SRC Best, Jorge.
Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Hi Jay, Jay Dixit di...@aya.yale.edu wrote: [...] 2. What's the best way to do this? Should I add all of my chapter.org files to the agenda using org-agenda-file-to-front? I ask because these are not TODO headings, just headings with notes and quotes, so I'm not sure if using org-agenda functionality is appropriate. 3. I am also learning to use org-agenda, so I do have a work.org file that has my TODO tasks in it. Is there a way to temporarily remove my work.orgTODO headings from the refile targets for when I'm sorting my book notes? Here are a couple other approaches you can consider. As mentioned in other responses, the best way depends on your preference for structuring your Org files. I prefer to keep project-specific files separate from my general agenda files. If I capture something in my agenda files that I want to refile to a non-agenda file, I use a few functions [1] for temporarily setting `org-refile-targets'. If you are repeatedly refiling to certain targets (but still want to keep them separate from you're global refiling targets), you can define a function that overrides `org-refile-targets' and then bind it to a key. Another solution, if you are only refiling between files within your book chapter directory, is to use a .dir-locals.el file in your book directory and set `org-refile-targets' there. ((org-mode . ((org-refile-targets . (... project settings ...) [1] https://github.com/kyleam/emacs.d/blob/b15ba9f8250c433b621da023f7607cbf29c25581/lisp/init-org.el#L221-L254 -- Kyle
Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Richard and Alan, Thanks for the feedback. It looks like this is turning into a larger discussion of how to organize a workflow for writing a book. Which is great - I could use some insight. My problem is I have dozens of disparate files, each created in a different moment of inspiration and each containing notes, strategizing, or actual writing for the book. Richard: You have all your notes in one notes.org file, and you have another file e.g. writing.org for actual writing? How do you then work - do you, say, split your frame into side-by-side windows, writing in the right window while working off of notes from the left? And to anyone using org-mode for book writing: Do you put thoughts about structure, tone, and objectives for each section along with the research notes? Do you make use commenting at all? If this is off-topic for the list, I'd be happy to discuss them off-list via email. Or if there's interest, I could create a separate list for 'org-mode for writers.' Thanks again, Jay --- Jay Dixit jaydixit.com (646) 355-8001 ᐧ
Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Hi Jay, Regarding org-refile: I just keep all my current projects in my agenda list. I then set up org-refile-targets to (org-agenda-files :maxlevel . 6). This allows me to quickly refile a subtree to any subtree in any project that I am currently working on. (I use this frequently to organize my reading list, but I also use it to organize todos and reorganize sections in my thesis). I also found that setting org-outline-complete-in-steps to nil and setting org-agenda-use-outline-path to t makes refile much quicker. I just call org-refile and then begin typing the name of the top-level header that I want. I can then use tab completion to get to any subtree I want. If you have many identical top level headers this may not be an ideal setup, but for me it works well. To make this process faster I use org-speed-commands, and I have even added a key-chord shortcut for org-refile so I do not have to be at the beginning of the headline to refile. One of my projects for today is to organize some free writing I did before I developed my current system, and this setup will make the process much quicker. Now regarding workflow. I use four files to organize my thesis and other projects. I have a Readinglist.org file that contains all of the sources for research. This is organized by topic, and tagged with various todo states (FIND READ ANNO | NOTES). I keep many of my generic notes on the topics in a few notes headlines at the beginning of each topic. A subtree view of a headline from this file might look something like this: * Moral Responsibility ** Goals for these Texts ** Important Claims Supported by Multiple Sources *** Claim 1... *** Claim 2 ... ** Important Quotes . . . ** Other Notes . . . ** Sources *** READ Kant's Account of Imputation, By Famous Kant Scholar. . . . I also use org-bibtex to keep bibtex info in each source subtree, and I can create a current bibtex file whenever I need. Then I have my Thesis-projects.org file. It has an outline of my thesis and todo states for each section. I set up an org capture template for this file, so if I think of something that I need to do while I am writing I can quickly capture a todo that links to the subtree I am working in. It goes into the inbox for this file and then at the end of the week, I organize these todos into the appropriate subtree with org-refile. I also have a GTD.org fil. It contains all the projects and todos that are not directly related to the thesis, and I have an org-capture template set up to the inbox of this file. It is not technically part of my writing workflow, but if I remember that I have to pick up groceries after my workday, I allows me to quickly capture a todo, and get back to work with a clear mind. Finally I have my Thesis.org file. It contains my thesis as well as notes specific to each chapter, and old drafts of chapters that I have not yet completely rewritten. The notes go in a COMMENT subtree at the beginning of each chapter, and the old drafts go in an Old Drafts tree tagged :noexport:. (I find it most useful to have my notes and old drafts right at hand for writing, but Richard's solution seems reasonable as well.) When it comes to actual drafting I use indirect buffers to put my notes for the chapter, or an earlier draft on one side of the screen and my current draft on the other. This allows me to keep distractions at a minimum. Additionally, I tag all todos and readings associated with a particular chapter :chap1:, :chap2:, etc. This allows me to quickly call an agenda that gives me a clear idea of what still needs done for each chapter. Hope that is helpful. All Best, Leonard ᐧ
Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Hi Jay, C-c [ and C-c ] adds and removes the current file from the agenda list. I can never remember these, so I leave the menus turned on in emacs (makes me a wimp!). BUT: do you really need to do this? It is the way I used to work, but my current book is 600+ pages and I am keeping it and all my research in a single file. By using the 'hoist' C-x n s for a subtree, writing is focussed and yet everything is where I need it. Maybe it won't work for you but I find it very convenient. Cheers, Alan On 28/04/14 08:25, Jay Dixit wrote: Hello friendly org-mode community, I'm using org-mode to research and write a nonfiction book. I have a large amount of notes and quotes that I now need to sort into separate files. I am creating separate org files, one for each chapter of my book—chapter-1.org http://chapter-1.org, chapter-2.org http://chapter-2.org, etc.—with org headings in each one for every topic/subsection. I now want to categorize my notes, moving them from where they are—i.e. in a set of long, unorganized org files with names like new-research.org http://new-research.org and more-research-and-notes.org http://more-research-and-notes.org—into the the chapter files. 1. Am I right in thinking that org-refile is the most efficient way to do this? 2. What's the best way to do this? Should I add all of my chapter.org http://chapter.org files to the agenda using org-agenda-file-to-front? I ask because these are not TODO headings, just headings with notes and quotes, so I'm not sure if using org-agenda functionality is appropriate. 3. I am also learning to use org-agenda, so I do have a work.org http://work.org file that has my TODO tasks in it. Is there a way to temporarily remove my work.org http://work.org TODO headings from the refile targets for when I'm sorting my book notes? Or is there a way to have different projects with separate sets of refile targets, one set of agenda files with refile targets for when I'm refiling TODO tasks, another set of agenda files for when I'm refiling book notes? Thanks in advance for any advice. Best, Jay --- Jay Dixit jaydixit.com http://jaydixit.com (646) 355-8001 Facebook http://facebook.com/jaydixit Twitter https://twitter.com/jaydixit The New York Writers’ Intensive http://www.newyorkwritersintensive.com Jay Dixit ᐧ -- Alan L Tyreehttp://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan Tel: 04 2748 6206 sip:typh...@iptel.org
Re: [O] using org-refile to sort research notes?
Hi Jay, Jay Dixit di...@aya.yale.edu writes: Hello friendly org-mode community, I'm using org-mode to research and write a nonfiction book. I have a large amount of notes and quotes that I now need to sort into separate files. I am creating separate org files, one for each chapter of my book— chapter-1.org, chapter-2.org, etc.—with org headings in each one for every topic/subsection. I now want to categorize my notes, moving them from where they are—i.e. in a set of long, unorganized org files with names like new-research.org and more-research-and-notes.org—into the the chapter files. 1. Am I right in thinking that org-refile is the most efficient way to do this? That sounds right to me. 2. What's the best way to do this? Should I add all of my chapter.org files to the agenda using org-agenda-file-to-front? I ask because these are not TODO headings, just headings with notes and quotes, so I'm not sure if using org-agenda functionality is appropriate. Rather than adding these files to the agenda, I would have a look at the `org-refile-targets' variable. This variable tells Org where to look for entries to refile under. If this is a one-time operation, you may be able to just set the variable a few times: adjust the variable to point to your chapter-1.org notes heading, then refile all those notes; then point it to your chapter-2.org notes heading, then refile all those notes...; etc. This will make it super easy to get the right refile target. Thanks in advance for any advice. I don't know what led you to choose the new file layout that you're moving to, but here is an alternative that you might also consider. Make your project into just two files, say book.org and notes.org; the first contains the text of the book, while the second contains the notes and tasks for each chapter. One advantage of this setup is that it would allow you to organize your notes in whatever way is most natural to them, rather than by chapter. You can then use tags to associate notes with chapters. If for example you have some quotes that belong together but are relevant to both chapters 1 and 2, you can have them in a single entry in notes.org, tagged with :ch1:ch2:. Likewise for tasks: if some tasks require you to modify multiple chapters, you just tag them multiple times. (Links may also be helpful in this setup.) I used to have a setup a lot like the one you described, but I found that tags allowed me to organize my notes and tasks with much more flexibility than using a tree-like hierarchy. There's always the question of where some note belongs when you can only file it in one place. I now use the two-file setup for writing my dissertation. I keep tasks and notes about readings I do in one file, with tags to associate them with chapters and so on, and do my actual writing in another file. This keeps both types of information clean and organized, but I can move easily between them. -- Best, Richard