TODO Basics (Org Mode Compact Guide)

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### 5.1 Basic TODO Functionality

Any headline becomes a TODO item when it starts with the word ‘`TODO`’, for example:

    *** TODO Write letter to Sam Fortune

The most important commands to work with TODO entries are:

`C-c C-t`

  Rotate the TODO state of the current item among

      ,-> (unmarked) -> TODO -> DONE --.
      '--------------------------------'

  The same rotation can also be done “remotely” from the agenda buffer with the `t` command key (see Agenda Commands).

`S-RIGHT`
`S-LEFT`

  Select the following/preceding TODO state, similar to cycling.

`C-c / t`

  View TODO items in a sparse tree (see Sparse Trees). Folds the entire buffer, but shows all TODO items—with not-DONE state—and the headings hierarchy above them.

`M-x org-agenda t`

  Show the global TODO list. Collects the TODO items (with not-DONE states) from all agenda files (see Agenda Views) into a single buffer. See Global TODO List, for more information.

`S-M-RET`

  Insert a new TODO entry below the current one.

Changing a TODO state can also trigger tag changes. See the docstring of the option `org-todo-state-tags-triggers` for details.