Markdown Shortcuts & Slash Menu

Write faster with markdown shortcuts and the powerful slash command menu.

---

Overview

Speed up your writing with two powerful features:

⌨️ Markdown Shortcuts: Type special characters to instantly create blocks / Slash Menu: Command palette to insert any block type

Both methods are faster than clicking buttons and keep your hands on the keyboard!

---

Markdown Shortcuts

What Are They?

Type a pattern at the start of a line, then press Space to convert the block:

Type: # Hello        Result: Creates H1 heading
Type: - Item         Result: Creates bulleted list  
Type: [] Task        Result: Creates todo checkbox

---

Complete Shortcuts List

Type This	+ Space	Result
#	Space	Heading 1 (H1)
##	Space	Heading 2 (H2)
###	Space	Heading 3 (H3)
-	Space	Bulleted list item
*	Space	Bulleted list item
1.	Space	Numbered list item
[]	Space	Todo checkbox (unchecked)
[x]	Space	Todo checkbox (checked)
>	Space	Block quote
``` ` ``	Space	Code block
---	Enter	Divider (horizontal rule)

---

Step-by-Step Examples

Creating a Heading

1. Start with empty block or new line
2. Type: ##
3. Press: Space
4. Type your heading text
5. Result: Text becomes H2 heading

Before:  ## My Section
After:   My Section (styled as H2)

Creating a List

1. Start with empty block
2. Type: -
3. Press: Space
4. Type list item text
5. Press: Enter for next item
6. Next item is automatically bulleted

Type: - First item [Space]
      - Second item [Space]
      - Third item [Space]

Result:
• First item
• Second item
• Third item

Creating a Todo

1. Type: []
2. Press: Space
3. Type task description
4. Press: Enter for next task

Type: [] Buy milk [Space]
      [] Walk dog [Space]

Result:
☐ Buy milk
☐ Walk dog

---

Inline Formatting Shortcuts

These work anywhere in text (not just at line start):

Type This	Result	Example
**text**	Bold	**hello** → hello
*text*	Italic	*hello* → hello
__text__	Underline	__hello__ → hello
~~text~~	Strikethrough	~~hello~~ → hello
`text`	Code	`hello` → hello

How they work:

1. Type opening marker
2. Type your text
3. Type closing marker
4. Formatting applies automatically

---

The Slash Menu

What Is It?

A searchable command palette that lets you insert any block type:

Type: /
Shows: [List of all block types]
Search: h1
Shows: [Only heading options]
Select: Enter

---

How to Use

Basic Usage

1. Open menu: Type / in an empty block
2. See options: Full list of block types appears
3. Select: Click or use arrows + Enter
4. Block created: Ready to type content

With Search

1. Type / to open menu
2. Keep typing to filter: /h shows headings
3. Use arrow keys to select
4. Press Enter to insert

Type: /h      → Filters to h1, h2, h3
Type: /todo   → Jumps to todo checkbox
Type: /code   → Jumps to code block

---

Complete Command List

Type	Description	Creates
/paragraph	Regular text	Paragraph block
/h1	Large heading	Heading 1
/h2	Medium heading	Heading 2
/h3	Small heading	Heading 3
/bullet	Bulleted list	Bulleted list
/number	Numbered list	Numbered list
/todo	Checkbox	Todo item
/callout	Highlighted box	Callout
/divider	Section break	Divider
/quote	Block quote	Quote
/code	Code block	Code block
/image	Upload image	Image block

---

Navigation in Slash Menu

Keyboard controls:

• ↑ / ↓ : Move selection up/down
• Enter : Insert selected block
• Esc : Close menu without inserting
• Backspace : Clear search / close menu

Mouse:

• Hover to highlight option
• Click to insert

---

Choosing: Shortcuts vs Slash Menu

Use Markdown Shortcuts When:

✅ You know exactly what you want ✅ It's a common block type (heading, list, todo) ✅ You want maximum speed ✅ You're comfortable with markdown

Example workflow:

# Title [Space]
Intro paragraph
## Section [Space]
- Point one [Space]
- Point two [Space]
[] Action item [Space]

Use Slash Menu When:

✅ You're not sure of the exact block type ✅ You want to browse options ✅ It's a less common block (callout, divider) ✅ You prefer visual selection

Example workflow:

/h1 [Enter] → Title
Regular typing → Intro
/h2 [Enter] → Section
/call [Enter] → Important note

---

Pro Tips

Combine Both Methods

Fast writers mix both:

# Main Title              ← Shortcut
Intro text
/callout                  ← Slash menu (less common)
**Important** note        ← Inline formatting
## Next Section           ← Shortcut
- Item 1                  ← Shortcut
/image                    ← Slash menu (upload)

Learn Common Shortcuts First

Master these 5:

1. # → Heading 1
2. ## → Heading 2
3. - → Bulleted list
4. [] → Todo
5. ``` ` `` → Code block

Then gradually add more!

Use Search Effectively

Smart searching:

• Type first letter: /h (headings), /c (code/callout)
• Type full name: /todo
• Partial match works: /bul finds bullet

---

Common Workflows

Writing a Document

# Document Title [Space]
Overview paragraph here

## Introduction [Space]
More text

/divider [Enter]

## Main Content [Space]
- Key point 1 [Space]
- Key point 2 [Space]
- Key point 3 [Space]

Creating a Task List

# Sprint Tasks [Space]

## High Priority [Space]
[] Complete user testing [Space]
[] Fix critical bug [Space]
[] Deploy to production [Space]

## Medium Priority [Space]
[] Update documentation [Space]
[] Refactor code [Space]

Technical Documentation

# API Documentation [Space]

## Installation [Space]
``` ` [Space]
npm install my-package

Usage [Space]

/callout [Enter] Note: Requires Node.js 16+

Example [Space]

``` ` [Space]
const api = require('my-package');
```

---

Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

Action	Keys
Open slash menu	/
Navigate menu	↑ ↓
Select from menu	Enter
Close menu	Esc
Apply markdown	Space after pattern
Undo conversion	Cmd/Ctrl + Z

---

Troubleshooting

Shortcut not working?

Causes:

• Not at start of line (for block shortcuts)
• Didn't press Space after pattern
• Already have text before the shortcut

Solution:

• Start fresh block
• Type pattern first
• Then press Space

Slash menu not appearing?

Causes:

• Not in empty block
• Already have text in block
• Not in Edit mode

Solution:

• Press Enter to create new block
• Delete existing text first
• Switch to Edit mode

Wrong block type created?

Solution:

• Press Cmd/Ctrl + Z to undo
• Try again or use slash menu

---

Advanced Tips

Inline Formatting While Typing

Flow:

I need to **emphasize** this point and add `code` inline.

Result: I need to emphasize this point and add code inline.

Tip: Formatting applies when you type closing marker!

Chain Shortcuts

Fast list creation:

- Item 1 [Space]
  [Enter] → Automatically creates "- "
- Item 2 [Space]
  [Enter]
- Item 3 [Space]

Convert Existing Text

1. Select existing text
2. Type / to open menu
3. Choose block type
4. Text converts to new type

---

Cheat Sheet

Print and keep handy:

HEADINGS          LISTS           SPECIAL
# H1              - Bullet        [] Todo
## H2             1. Number       > Quote
### H3                            ``` Code
                                  --- Divider

INLINE FORMAT
**bold**  *italic*  __underline__  
~~strike~~  `code`

SLASH MENU
/ → Open menu
↑↓ → Navigate  
Enter → Insert
Esc → Close

---

Related Guides:

• Working with Blocks
• Editing & Formatting
• Keyboard Shortcuts Reference