Writing in the editor
Write in Markdown, add blocks from the slash menu, move and copy blocks, draw diagrams, and find and replace text.
The editor is where you write a doc, a post or a comment. What you type is Markdown: you can type the Markdown marks yourself, or use the menus and keys, and sfora keeps the text as plain Markdown either way.
- A heading. Type ## and a space at the start of a line.
- A list. Type - and a space at the start of a line.
Type Markdown
Type these at the start of a line, then a space:
| Type | You get |
|---|---|
#, ##, ### | A heading, from the largest down |
- or * | A bulleted list |
1. | A numbered list |
[ ] | A to-do item; [x] for a done one |
> | A quote |
Type ``` to start a code block, and --- for a divider. Within a line, wrap text in **two stars** for bold, *one star* for italic, and `backticks` for code.
To format text you've already written, select it. A toolbar appears with Bold, Italic, Strikethrough, Inline code and Link.
Add a block from the slash menu
Type /. In an empty doc, the body says "Type '/' for commands".
Keep typing to narrow the list, for example /tab for Table.
Press ↵ to insert the block.
The menu offers:
- Text: Heading, Heading 2, Heading 3.
- Structure: Bulleted list, Numbered list, Todo list, Code block, Quote, Callout, Table, Divider.
- Rich blocks: Diagram, Status timeline, Board, Conversation, Data sheet, Map.
- Templates: Standup, Summary, Release notes, Shipped, Question.
The slash menu doesn't open inside a code block.
Move, copy and change a block
Point at a block. A handle (⋮⋮) appears at its left. Drag it to move the block, or click it for a menu:
- Turn into changes the block's kind, for example a paragraph into a heading or a list.
- Duplicate adds a copy below it.
- Move up and Move down move it past its neighbour.
- Copy as Markdown puts the block's Markdown on your clipboard, ready to paste anywhere.
- Delete removes it.
Each has a key, so you don't need the menu; see the table below. The keys act on the block the cursor is in.
A comment has no block handle, and ⌘CtrlD and ⌘Ctrl⇧ShiftC don't apply there.
Draw a diagram
A diagram is a code block in the Mermaid language, which sfora draws as a picture.
Type /diagram and press ↵. Or start a code block with ```mermaid.
Write the diagram, for example graph LR and then Plan --> Build.
In the block's header, click Rendered to see the picture, or Markdown to edit its text.
Status timeline, Board, Conversation, Data sheet and Map work the same way: each is a code block that sfora draws, with the same Rendered and Markdown switch. Copy in the header copies the block's text.
Find and replace
In a doc's edit view, press ⌘CtrlF. Type in Find in document…; the bar counts the matches. Press ↵ for the next match and ⇧Shift↵ for the previous one. Aa matches case, and ab matches whole words only.
To replace, press ⌘Ctrl⌥AltF with the bar open, or click Show replace. Type in Replace with…, then press ↵ to replace one match, or ⇧Shift↵ or Replace all to replace every match. Press Esc to close the bar.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘CtrlB / ⌘CtrlI | Bold / italic |
| ⌘CtrlE | Inline code |
| ⌘CtrlK | With text selected: add a link |
| ⌘Ctrl⌥Alt↑ / ⌘Ctrl⌥Alt↓ | Move the block up or down (⌘Ctrl⇧Shift↑ / ⌘Ctrl⇧Shift↓ also work) |
| ⌘CtrlD | Duplicate the block |
| ⌘Ctrl⇧ShiftC | Copy the block as Markdown |
| Tab / ⇧ShiftTab | In a list: indent or outdent the item |
| / | Open the slash menu |
| ⌘CtrlF | In a doc: find |
| ⌘Ctrl⌥AltF | In a doc, with find open: replace |
Troubleshooting
Mod+F does nothing
Find works in a doc's edit view. Switch the doc to edit (see Docs), click into the text, and press ⌘CtrlF again.
The slash menu doesn't open
The cursor is inside a code block, where / types a slash. Move the cursor to a line below the block and type it there.
A diagram shows as text
The block is set to Markdown. Click Rendered in its header. If it still doesn't draw, check the diagram's text for a typo.
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