org-mode link to heading in other org-file

Question

Is there a way to link to specific topic (*) in a different org-file?
How can I quickly find and copy the relative path from the current org-file to the file that I want to link to?

Probably both straight forward but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks your help.

Brian Burns · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-17T19:58:49.203

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For #2, first you'll want to add a couple of keybindings to your init file (these are the suggested keys in the Org manual) -

(global-set-key (kbd "C-c l") 'org-store-link)
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c C-l") 'org-insert-link)

then you can hit C-c l somewhere in or on the item you want to link to, then C-c C-l where you want to place the link. It'll ask you to confirm the location and then enter a link name - you can just hit enter to accept the defaults. It will create a link like [[file:foo.org::*bar][link-name]], which displays as link-name.

See http://orgmode.org/manual/Handling-links.html for more details.

edited Jan 17 '16 at 19:58

answered Jan 17 '16 at 18:06

Brian Burns

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`C-c l` you mean in dired? – cataclysmic Jan 17 '16 at 18:22
No, you hit `C-c l` in the org file you want to link to - it'll copy the link, then you can paste it with `C-c C-l`. – Brian Burns Jan 17 '16 at 18:41
On `C-c l` I get an `is undefined ...` error. – cataclysmic Jan 17 '16 at 18:45
Ah, sorry I forgot you need to create this binding yourself, though it's the standard - I'll amend the answer. – Brian Burns Jan 17 '16 at 19:01
The OP asked about linked from one org file to another. This solution works for me within a single file, but if I switch to another one `org-insert-link` doesn't show me the stored link. – Paul Bissex Jan 24 '19 at 14:14
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@PaulBissex hmm, it works okay for me - it puts an absolute path to the originating file in the link. – Brian Burns Jan 24 '19 at 22:30
What kind of path it uses depends on the value of `org-link-file-path-type`: check its value and doc string with `C-h v org-link-file-path-type`. – NickD May 01 '23 at 17:06

score 13 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 18 '21 at 15:24

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you can reference this topic http://orgmode.org/manual/External-links.html#External-links

file:projects.org::some words text search in Org file

file:projects.org::*task title heading search in Org file
sorry, I don't know what you mean.

edited Jul 18 '21 at 15:24

NickD

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answered Jan 17 '16 at 15:42

driftcrow

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Thank you for the reply. With number 2 I mean how can I easily get the path to the file that I want to link to paste it into the link. – cataclysmic Jan 17 '16 at 16:10

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 01 '23 at 01:22

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For 1, insert a link to a header (topic), inspired by @BrianBurns' answer, I found a more convenient solution:

Go to the header of org-file, that you want to link to, M-x org-store-link (SPC n l)
Go to the position, where you want to insert the link to the above mentioned header, M-X org-insert-last-stored-link (SPC m l S)

The bindings are from doom/emacs.

answered May 01 '23 at 01:22

Yu Shen

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Also `C-c C-l` (`org-insert-link`) can be used for 2. – crocefisso May 01 '23 at 09:04

org-mode link to heading in other org-file

3 Answers3