Blocks, layouts and callouts

A note is a stack of blocks: each paragraph, heading, list, table or image is one. You can grab a block to move it, change its type, or select several at once from the keyboard. This article shows how, then goes through the richer blocks: callouts, toggles, columns, tables, code, math, diagrams, table of contents, footnotes and calendars.

See every block at once

The Block showcase template holds one example of each block. Create a note from it (see Templates) and look around: it is the quickest way to see what the editor can do.

Move and change a block with the handle

Hover a block: a handle with six dots appears on its left (Drag to move, click for menu), with a + next to it.

• Drag the handle to move the block up or down.
• Click + (Add a block below) to add a block under it: the slash menu opens, see Slash commands.
• Click the handle to open the block menu.

The block menu has three parts:

• Actions: Duplicate, Move up, Move down, Copy link to block and Delete;
• Turn into: change a paragraph into a heading, a list, a quote, and back;
• Text color and Background, with Default to remove them.

On a list or a table, a Database part is added, with Turn into a database and Sort into a database…: see Databases inside your notes.

Copy link to block copies a reference to this exact block. Paste it in another note: the block shows up there and follows its changes (see Sub-pages and embedded notes). A right-click on a paragraph or a heading offers the same command.

Select blocks with the keyboard

1. Press Esc while writing: the whole block is selected.
2. Press ↑ or ↓ to select the block above or below, and Enter to write in it again.
3. Press Shift+↑ or Shift+↓ to add the next blocks to the selection. Ctrl+A selects every block of the note.

Then act on the selection:

Key	Action
Backspace or Delete	Delete the selected blocks
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X	Copy or cut them
Ctrl+Shift+↑, Ctrl+Shift+↓	Move them up or down
Ctrl+D	Duplicate them
Ctrl+Shift+0	Turn them into text
Ctrl+Shift+1, 2, 3	Turn them into a heading of level 1, 2 or 3
Ctrl+Shift+4	Turn them into a to-do list
Ctrl+Shift+5	Turn them into a bullet list
Ctrl+Shift+6	Turn them into a numbered list

Ctrl+Shift+↑, Ctrl+Shift+↓ and Ctrl+D also work on the block where your cursor is, without selecting it first.

Lists and tasks

Bullet lists, numbered lists and task lists nest: press Tab to indent an item, Shift+Tab to bring it back. A task is a checklist item: tick it when it is done. Tasks can also get a due date, a reminder and a priority, see Tasks.

Callouts

A callout is a colored box that makes a passage stand out. Insert one with /callout, or pick a type directly: Warning, Success, Error, Tip, Important, Note Box, Bug, Example or Quote Box.

• Click the icon of the callout (Change callout type) to switch to another type.
• Click the small arrow under the icon to fold the callout, and again to unfold it.
• Press Backspace at the very start of a callout to remove the box and keep its text.
• Press Ctrl+Shift+Backspace to delete the callout with everything in it.

Toggles and folding headings

A Toggle is a section that folds: its first line stays visible, the rest opens with a click. Backspace and Ctrl+Shift+Backspace work as for callouts.

Headings fold too: hover a heading and click the arrow next to it to hide the section under it.

Columns

2 Columns, 3 Columns and 4 Columns put blocks side by side. Write or drag any block into a column.

The bar above the columns offers:

• Add a column, up to four (then the button says Four columns maximum);
• Convert to text, which removes the layout and keeps every block;
• Delete layout, which deletes the layout and everything in it.

Each column also has a button to remove it: its content moves to the next column.

Tables

The Table command inserts a table of 3 × 3 cells with a header row. Press Tab to go to the next cell. When the cursor is in a table, a bar appears with Insert row above, Insert row below, Insert column left, Insert column right, Header (to turn the header row on or off), − row, − column and Delete table.

For a table whose columns have types (dates, choices, checkboxes), use a database instead: see Databases inside your notes.

Code

A Code Block colors code by language. Pick the language in the list at the top of the block (JavaScript, Python, SQL and many more), or Plain text. Copy copies the code, and the arrow on the left folds the block.

Math and diagrams

• Math Block: type a LaTeX formula, then press Ctrl+Enter to show it. Inline Math does the same inside a line, confirmed with Enter. Esc cancels, and a click on the formula edits it again.
• Mermaid Diagram: click the diagram to edit its source. A mistake in the source shows Invalid Mermaid syntax.

Some large blocks can be resized: diagrams, calendars, databases, Dataview blocks, videos and embedded notes. Drag the handle in their bottom right corner. A double-click on the handle gives the block back its original size.

Table of contents and footnotes

• Table of Contents lists the headings of the note and follows your changes. Click a line to go to that heading. With no heading, it says "Add headings to generate a table of contents".
• Footnote adds a small number in the text. Click it to write the note ("Click to add footnote content"), and hover the number to read it. On a note published as a web page, footnotes are gathered at the end.

Dates and calendars

• Date inserts a date in the text. Click it to change it.
• Calendar inserts a month grid in the note. Click the + of a day (New) to add an item with a title, a date and a color. Click an item to edit it, or drag it to another day.

Links, videos and databases

• Bookmark: paste a web address to get a card with the page title and description. Open link and Edit URL are on the card.
• Embed URL: in the desktop app, a YouTube or Vimeo video plays in the note. Other addresses become a link card.
• Database and Project board: tables, boards and calendars of rows inside the note, see Databases inside your notes.

Related articles

• Slash commands
• Format text in the editor
• Images and files in notes
• Tasks
• Databases inside your notes