Markdown-style block quotes in org-mode

Question

I'm new to org-mode. I'm liking it so far. The one growing pain that I have is missing Markdown-style block quotes: I would like to start a line with > to quote it. How would I go about writing an extension (or better yet, finding one already written!) that would let me use that syntax?

Answer 1

UPDATE: As of org-mode 9.2, the org-structure-template system has changed. Inserting a template is now done via C-c C-,.

To add a shortcut for emacs-lisp in this new system, use the following snippet:

(add-to-list 'org-structure-template-alist
             '("se" . "src emacs-lisp"))

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Not really an answer to the question directly, but also too much for a comment:

I'd advise against modifying your org-mode setup like that. It moves away from what org is, and could lead to issues in the future.

You can, however, easily insert quotes by typing <q and hitting TAB, which expands a template. Many templates can be used this way, like <s for codeblocks.

Explore this functionality further with C-h v org-structure-template-alist RET.

Adding your own templates is a breeze as well. I added a template for an elisp codeblock like so:

(add-to-list 'org-structure-template-alist
             '("se" "#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp\n?\n#+END_SRC"))

The ? indicates where the point should move upon expansion. Now <se TAB expands into such a block.

Answer 2

This answer is becoming more a comment (third edit). If you feel it should be deleted, I have no problem in doing that.

I was looking for this functionality, in order to do in org mode what I do in a web based email system: quick comments to fragments of a long text. As I was using the template expansion based on <q, I found slow to add #+begin_quote ... #+end_quote many times. I think, it was not possible to add (fast) "quote" markers to surround an existing text, a kill/yank was needed. However, in the current version of org mode (see EFLS answer), it's possible (just marking the existing text), it has a default key binding C-x C-,, and it's fast, :)

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JFTR, someone could also found useful to add a colon and a space : to the beginig of each line, using rectangle-mark-mode and then string-rectangle or some of the "replace" functions. Then, interleave comments without the leading colon.

It exports in latex as a verbatim environment, and in HTML as a pre tag.

Answer 3

add (require 'org-tempo) to your init.el file

then use the following shortcuts by typing the less-than symbol <, the letter and then TAB:

a   ‘#+BEGIN_EXPORT ascii’ … ‘#+END_EXPORT’
c   ‘#+BEGIN_CENTER’ … ‘#+END_CENTER’
C   ‘#+BEGIN_COMMENT’ … ‘#+END_COMMENT’
e   ‘#+BEGIN_EXAMPLE’ … ‘#+END_EXAMPLE’
E   ‘#+BEGIN_EXPORT’ … ‘#+END_EXPORT’
h   ‘#+BEGIN_EXPORT html’ … ‘#+END_EXPORT’
l   ‘#+BEGIN_EXPORT latex’ … ‘#+END_EXPORT’
q   ‘#+BEGIN_QUOTE’ … ‘#+END_QUOTE’
s   ‘#+BEGIN_SRC’ … ‘#+END_SRC’
v   ‘#+BEGIN_VERSE’ … ‘#+END_VERSE’

see https://orgmode.org/manual/Structure-Templates.html