10.1 Agenda files

The information to be shown is normally collected from all agenda files, the files listed in the variable org-agenda-files¹. If a directory is part of this list, all files with the extension .org in this directory will be part of the list.

Thus even if you only work with a single Org file, this file should be put into that list². You can customize org-agenda-files, but the easiest way to maintain it is through the following commands

C-c [

Add current file to the list of agenda files. The file is added to the front of the list. If it was already in the list, it is moved to the front. With a prefix argument, file is added/moved to the end.

C-c ]

Remove current file from the list of agenda files.

C-,

C-'

Cycle through agenda file list, visiting one file after the other.

M-x org-iswitchb

Command to use an iswitchb-like interface to switch to and between Org buffers.

The Org menu contains the current list of files and can be used to visit any of them.

If you would like to focus the agenda temporarily onto a file not in this list, or onto just one file in the list or even only a subtree in a file, this can be done in different ways. For a single agenda command, you may press < once or several times in the dispatcher (see Agenda dispatcher). To restrict the agenda scope for an extended period, use the following commands:

C-c C-x <

Permanently restrict the agenda to the current subtree. When with a prefix argument, or with the cursor before the first headline in a file, the agenda scope is set to the entire file. This restriction remains in effect until removed with C-c C-x >, or by typing either < or > in the agenda dispatcher. If there is a window displaying an agenda view, the new restriction takes effect immediately.

C-c C-x >

Remove the permanent restriction created by C-c C-x <.

When working with Speedbar, you can use the following commands in the Speedbar frame:

< in the speedbar frame

Permanently restrict the agenda to the item at the cursor in the Speedbar frame, either an Org file or a subtree in such a file. If there is a window displaying an agenda view, the new restriction takes effect immediately.

> in the speedbar frame

Lift the restriction again.