Move org-mode subtree to another subtree using arrows

Question

With this tree structure:

* A
** A.1
** A.2
** A.3
a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
* B
* C
** C.1
*** C.1.1
*** C.1.2
*** C.1.3
** C.2
** C.3

… I can move C.1 (with its children) up and down with M-↑ and M-↓. Easy.

If I use M-S-↑ and M-S-↓, only the C.1 node is moved, without its children. Easy, too, however the Manual claims in http://orgmode.org/manual/Structure-editing.html:

M-S-<up> (org-move-subtree-up)

Move subtree up (swap with previous subtree of same level).

M-S-<down> (org-move-subtree-down)

Move subtree down (swap with next subtree of same level).

… so, really, it should be the other way round. Nevermind, though.

Also, using M-S-↑↓, the C.1 node can be moved out of its parent, C. When this happens, the C.1 node always keeps its level (** in this case), no matter where it ends up.

Now, what I want to achieve is to move the whole C.1 subtree, the whole branch with all the children, similarly, out of C, while keeping its ** level.

This could be done with org-refile or killing the subtree C-c C-x C-w and yanking it at some new point, however, nothing beats the ↓ ↑ experience (especially when I’ve got to move hundreds of such trees after importing my notes from Wunderlist).

_{Using GNU Emacs 25.0.50.1 and Org-mode version 8.3.2 (8.3.2-10-g00dacd-elpa).}

Answer 1

Try This

Using arrow keys to edit a nested tree structure can be confusing but is worth learning.

1. Place the cursor on C.1 line.

   Note: The cursor will remain on C.1 line unless otherwise noted.

   * A
   ** A.1
   ** A.2
   ** A.3
   a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
   * B
   * C
   ** C.1
   *** C.1.1
   *** C.1.2
   *** C.1.3
   ** C.2
   ** C.3
   

2. Move C.1 down to bottom of C with by typing M-↓ repeatedly to preserve C.2 and C.3 branches.

   Outline should look like:

   * A
   ** A.1
   ** A.2
   ** A.3
   a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
   * B
   * C
   ** C.2
   ** C.3
   ** C.1
   *** C.1.1
   *** C.1.2
   *** C.1.3
   

3. Outdent entire C.1 subtree by typing M-S-←.

   Outline should look like:

   * A
   ** A.1
   ** A.2
   ** A.3
   a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
   * B
   * C
   ** C.2
   ** C.3
   * C.1
   ** C.1.1
   ** C.1.2
   ** C.1.3
   

4. Move C.1 subtree above C subtree by typing M-↑

   Outline should look like:

   * A
   ** A.1
   ** A.2
   ** A.3
   a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
   * B
   * C.1
   ** C.1.1
   ** C.1.2
   ** C.1.3
   * C
   ** C.2
   ** C.3
   

5. Indent C.1 subtree under another subtree, e.g. B, by typing M-S-→

   Outline should look like:

   * A
   ** A.1
   ** A.2
   ** A.3
   a3a3a3a3a3a3a3
   * B
   ** C.1
   *** C.1.1
   *** C.1.2
   *** C.1.3
   * C
   ** C.2
   ** C.3
   

I'll add some additional tips and examples to my answer soon.

Tested using

GNU Emacs 24.4.1 (x86_64-apple-darwin14.0.0, NS apple-appkit-1343.14)

org-version: 8.3.1

Answer 2

I used org-cut-subtree and org-yank to accomplish this.

GNU Emacs 27.1 Org mode version 9.3