Skip to content

Editor Commands#

The command palette is the fastest way to insert formatting, metadata, and structural elements without leaving the keyboard. Type / after whitespace or at the start of a line to open it.

The palette is context-aware: on a task line it shows task metadata commands; everywhere else it shows formatting and insertion commands.

How It Works#

  • Trigger: type / at the start of a line, or after whitespace. Inside an existing word (foo/bar) it doesn't trigger — the / stays as literal text.
  • Filter: keep typing to narrow the list. Matching is word-prefix: /p surfaces commands whose label has a word starting with "p" (Priority, Project, Paragraph), not commands that merely contain "p" anywhere.
  • Sort: alphabetical within each context.
  • Selection: arrow keys (Mac, iPad with hardware keyboard) or tap (iOS) to pick a command. Enter / Return confirms the highlighted command.
  • Empty match: if your filter matches nothing, the palette stays open with a "No matching commands" placeholder right next to the cursor. Backspace to recover.
  • Dismiss: Escape (Mac) or tap outside (iOS). Typing a space, newline, or another / also dismisses and leaves the typed text as literal content.

The / trigger character and any typed filter text are removed when you accept or cancel — you never need to clean up after the palette.


Commands on a Task Line#

Command Action
Done Date Open date picker, inserts done:YYYY-MM-DD
Due Date Open date picker, inserts due:YYYY-MM-DD
Priority: High Inserts priority:high
Priority: Low Inserts priority:low
Priority: Medium Inserts priority:medium
Project Pick or create a project, inserts project:name

After picking a task-metadata command the palette stays open so you can chain several pieces of metadata onto the same task without retyping /.


Commands Anywhere Else#

Command Action Platform
Block Quote > line prefix All
Bullet List - line prefix All
Code Block Fenced code block with optional language All
Footnote Inserts [^N] at cursor and [^N]: definition stub at the end of the document. N is auto-numbered from existing footnotes in the note All
Heading 1 # line prefix All
Heading 2 ## line prefix All
Heading 3 ### line prefix All
Horizontal Rule Inserts --- separator All
Link Inserts [](url) with the caret placed between the brackets so you type the label first All
Numbered List 1. line prefix All
Save Snapshot Captures a named version of the current note macOS only
Table Opens the table editor All
Task - [ ] line prefix All
Today's Daily Note Inserts [[YYYYMMDD]] link to today's daily note All
Today's Date Inserts current date as YYYY-MM-DD All
Version History Opens the snapshot browser macOS only

Tips#

  • Keyboard-only workflow: every formatting action is one or two keystrokes — /h1 selects Heading 1, /li brings up Link, /td brings up Today's Date.
  • Footnote auto-numbering scans the current document for [^N] markers and picks the next integer, so adding footnotes in any order produces a clean sequence.
  • Link caret placement: after picking Link, type the label, then press → → to move past the brackets and type the URL.
  • Task metadata chaining: after selecting one of Priority / Project / Done Date / Due Date the palette stays visible. Pick another command immediately to keep stacking metadata on the same task line.
  • Literal / is safe: there's a slight pause after you type / before the palette appears. If you keep typing immediately — /usr/local/bin, https://..., 2026/05/27 — the palette never opens and the slash stays as literal text. The palette only shows up if you pause briefly after the /.