Chapter 10: Capture Templates - Frictionless Note-Taking

Bind a global capture key (add to your config):

(global-set-key (kbd "C-c c") 'org-capture)

Now from anywhere in Emacs:

1. C-c c - Opens capture menu
2. Choose template (we’ll define these)
3. Type note
4. C-c C-c - Save and return to what you were doing

The note files automatically to your inbox. You barely broke focus.

Add to config:

(setq org-capture-templates
      '(("t" "TODO" entry (file+headline "~/org/inbox.org" "Tasks")
         "* TODO %?\n  %i\n  %a")))

Let’s decode:

• "t" - The key to trigger this template
• "TODO" - Description shown in capture menu
• entry - Create a new heading
• (file+headline "~/org/inbox.org" "Tasks") - File location and heading
• "* TODO %?\n %i\n %a" - The template text

The % symbols are placeholders:

• %? - Cursor position after template expands
• %i - Initial region content (if you selected text before capturing)
• %a - Link to where you were when you captured

Press C-c c t, type your task, press C-c C-c. Boom. Captured.

[2025-01-15 Wed 14:23] #+end_example

• Milk
• Eggs
• [Your new item]

#+end_example

#+end_example

Customize template behavior:

("t" "Task" entry (file+headline "~/org/inbox.org" "Tasks")
 "* TODO %?\n  %U"
 :empty-lines 1        ; Add blank line after entry
 :clock-in t           ; Start clock when capturing
 :clock-resume t       ; Resume previous clock when done
 :immediate-finish t   ; Don't prompt for editing
 :jump-to-captured t   ; Jump to captured entry when done
 :kill-buffer t        ; Kill capture buffer when done
 :prepend t            ; Insert at beginning of target
 :unnarrowed t)        ; Show full file, not just target

Mix and match options for each template.

Group related templates:

(setq org-capture-templates
      '(("w" "Work")
        ("wt" "Work Task" entry (file+headline "~/org/work.org" "Tasks")
         "* TODO %?")
        ("wm" "Work Meeting" entry (file+datetree "~/org/work.org")
         "* %^{Meeting} %U\n  %?")

        ("p" "Personal")
        ("pt" "Personal Task" entry (file+headline "~/org/personal.org" "Tasks")
         "* TODO %?")
        ("pj" "Journal" entry (file+datetree "~/org/journal.org")
         "* %U\n  %?")))

C-c c w shows work options, C-c c p shows personal options.

Use elisp to make templates context-aware:

("t" "Task" entry
 (file+headline
  (lambda () (if (string-match "work" (or (buffer-file-name) ""))
                 "~/org/work.org"
               "~/org/personal.org"))
  "Tasks")
 "* TODO %?")

Capturing from work files? Goes to work.org. From personal files? Goes to personal.org.

Run code before/after capture:

(add-hook 'org-capture-before-finalize-hook
          (lambda ()
            (save-excursion
              (org-back-to-heading)
              (org-set-tags ":captured:"))))

Auto-tag all captured items.

Or:

(add-hook 'org-capture-after-finalize-hook
          (lambda ()
            (shell-command "notify-send 'Org Capture' 'Item captured!'")))

Desktop notification on capture.

Started capture but changed your mind?

• C-c C-k - Kill capture (nothing saved)
• C-c C-w - Refile instead (save but different location)

Want to capture from your browser, terminal, or anywhere?

Install org-protocol and set up browser bookmarklet:

javascript:location.href='org-protocol://capture?template=l&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title)

Click bookmarklet → Emacs pops up → capture template → back to browser. Web to Org in seconds.

Or use emacsclient:

#!/bin/bash
emacsclient -n "org-protocol://capture?template=t&body=$1"

Terminal to Org.

1. Set up basic capture templates (task, note, journal at minimum)
2. Bind C-c c globally to org-capture
3. Practice capturing from different contexts (agenda, code files, etc.)
4. Create at least one template with prompts (%^{...})
5. Set up a datetree-based template
6. Try capturing with selected text (region)
7. Experiment with different template options (:clock-in, :empty-lines, etc.)

The best capture system is invisible. You have a thought, press two keys, type briefly, done. Back to work. No context switches, no app switching, no “where should this go?”

Org-Mode’s capture templates remove friction from note-taking. Every thought can be preserved without disrupting flow.

The question isn’t “should I capture this?” It’s “why wouldn’t I?”

You’ve organized notes, tracked time, captured thoughts. Now let’s add executable code to your documents. Yes, your plain text notes can run programs. Welcome to literate programming with Org-Mode.