I want to try org-mode. What's the shortest path from zero to typing?

Question

I want to give emacs' org-mode a try. What is the shortest path for me to accomplish that? Assume NO previous experience with emacs.

(I'm aware that other editors, like vim and textmate, have similar task lists. I'm specifically interested in learning about the emacs org-mode)

My laptop runs Win7 Home Premium x64

Etsukoetta

Answer 1

I use Emacs (when I'm on Windows) with the official binaries at http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/emacs/windows/emacs-22.3-barebin-i386.zip Just unzip to a directory and double click "runemacs".

In all the commands that follow, C stands for Ctrl.

Create a file ending in .org. If using recent Emacs, that will automatically start org-mode. You can create a file using C-x C-f.

Start creating outlines like this:

* Level 1
** Level 2

Collapse/Uncollapse outline levels with TAB

Todo's you can cycle by hitting C-c C-t

That's the basics, and pretty much all I know, but I already use it extensively :)

Have a look at the tutorials on http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/

Beekeeping

C-c T doesn't work for me for cycling To-Do status. did you mean C-c C-t ? – Gantry

@Gantry Hi, it should be C-c C-t with lowercase t... Cheers – Avan

Groan: The Emacs Windows initialization file "term/w32-win.el" could not be found in your Emacs installation. Emacs checked the following directories for this file: ("../lisp" "c:/emacs/emacs-24.1/site-lisp" "C:/emacs/emacs-24.1/../site-lisp" "C:/emacs/emacs-24.1/lisp" "C:/emacs/emacs-24.1/leim") When Emacs cannot find this file, it usually means that it was not installed properly, or its distribution file was not unpacked properly. See the README.W32 file in the top-level Emacs directory for more information. – Tipper

@MatthewLock, this may be fixed if you download not the recommended "barebin", but the full archive (it worked for me with the same error): ftp.gnu.org/gnu/emacs/windows/emacs-22.3-bin-i386.zip, also newest version is recommended, now here: ftp.gnu.org/gnu/emacs/windows/… – Grantham

Answer 2

I started org mode with an article in the linux journal and a very useful & simply tutorial.

David O'Toole Org tutorial

Get Organized with Emacs Org-mode

Both sources give you in my opinion a superb and fast introduction to org mode.

Speroni

Answer 3

Start org mode with M-x org-mode RET, or by visiting a file with the .org extension.

Type C-h m in an org mode buffer to see the (brief) mode description and (importantly) all of its key-bindings.

Type C-h i m org RET to read the Org Mode manual.

(Typing q will bury either of the *Help* or *info* buffers.)

Visit the web site at http://orgmode.org/ for more.

Colossae

I just know the C-h m for displaying key binding. That is certainly useful Phils! Thanks. – Aubrette

Answer 4

I found a very extensive list of youtube video regarding org-mode. See it here : Org-Mode on Youtube. Use the latest Emacs release, it already has org-mode installed. Create a file with .org extension. Now, type the title of the file, then start create these:

* Roles
** Role 1
*** Todo 1
*** Todo 2
*** Todo 3
** Role 2
*** Todo 1
*** Todo 2

While your cursor on Role1, press TAB and see the way org-mode hide/show the only relevant tree structure. Press tab again to toggle the visibility status.

Now, while you are in Role 1, type C-x n s, or the command org-narrow-to-subtree. It will only displayed Role 1. To get back, use the command widen, or C-x n w. I found it very helpful!

Lots of other great stuff in org-mode

By the way, you can easily convert and display in browser your org-file. Type : org-export-as-html-and-open. I use it a lot!

Aubrette

Answer 5

Since others already mentioned how to install and start using org-mode, I would like to point you to the excellent collection of tutorials on Worg (it is a community driven documentation effort in the form of tutorials, How tos and other articles).

Untruth

Answer 6

Everyone starts Emacs without previous experience.You just need to:

1. Install Emacs
2. Install org-mode
3. Use org-mode to write something

I think both Emacs and org-mode are well documented.So if you have any trouble, read the official documents.

That's all. Good luck.

Chromatophore

Answer 7

Org-mode beginning at the basics sounds promising, it starts with

The absolute minimum you need to know about Emacs

The absolute minimum you need to know about Emacs, to be able to do anything, is more then you need to know about many other applications. But, you might compare it to a regular toy and lego. Lego is harder to begin with (you start with a box with little plastic pieces), but in the long run, you can do more with it.

Footboy

Answer 8

I have a portable version with .emacs configure ready, which setup org mode, etc. It also included org sample file. I think that is a better start point.

http://nd.edu/~gsong/portable_emacs.html

Best,

Jorrie