Getting started with org-agenda

This is basically a shorter version of the official org-mode documentation. For more information and more advanced uses see that link.

Getting started

Assuming that org-mode is already installed the first thing we need to do is to let org-agenda know what files we intend to use for our agenda. Say you want to have two separate files. One for your personal life and one for your work life then you can use the following snippet:

  (setq org-agenda-files (list "~/org/work.org"
                               "~/org/home.org"))

To make life a little bit easier I suggest you add the following keybinding:

  (define-key global-map "\C-ca" 'org-agenda)

This will make access to org-agenda a lot more convenient using C-c a.

Open one of the files you specified in the org-agenda-files var and create a new to-do item with M-S-ret. To view all your to-dos, both home and work, call the org-agenda function and choose option t for a list of all the to-dos. Visit the marked item with ret or toggle the completion using t. Update the list using g.

To schedule a to do item use C-c -C-s and choose a date in the pop-up. View your scheduled to-dos with C-c a a. Tweak the period using v and selection the a period in the pop-up that follows.

Time-stamps

To add a time-stamp when you complete an item use the following snippet:

  (setq org-log-done t)

This will, on completing an item, insert a time-stamp under your header with something like: CLOSED: <2019-05-23 Thu 21:59>

Shortcut summary

• Create a new to-do using M-S-ret

• View agenda with C-a t

• Use t to complete an item, ret to visit it.

• Schedule with C-c C-s

• View all to-dos with C-c a t

• View scheduled to-dos with C-c a a