Structure editing: Improved item/headline conversion

    The conversion commands `C-c -' and `C-c *' are now better
    behaved and therefore more useful, I hope.

    If there is an active region, these commands will act on the
    region, otherwise on the current line.

    - C-c - :: This command turns headings or normal lines into
         items, or items into normal lines.  When there is a
         region, everything depends on the first line of the
         region:
         - if it is a item, turn all items in the region into
           normal lines.
         - if it is a headline, turn all headlines in the region
           into items.
         - if it is a normal line, turn all lines into items.
         - special case: if there is no active region and the
           current line is an item, cycle the bullet type of the
           current list.
    - C-c * :: This command turns items and normal lines into
         headings, or headings into normal lines.  When there is
         a region, everything depends on the first line of the
         region:
         - if it is a item, turn all items in the region into
           headlines.
         - if it is a headline, turn all headlines in the region
           into normal lines.
         - if it is a normal line, turn all lines into headlines.

ORGWEBPAGE/Changes.org

@@ -10,11 +10,45 @@
 #+LINK_UP: index.html
 #+LINK_HOME: http://orgmode.org
 
-* Version 6.18
+* Version 6.19 (in preparation)
+
   :PROPERTIES:
   :VISIBILITY: content
   :END:
 
+** Details
+   
+*** Improved behavior of conversion commands =C-c -= and =C-c *=
+
+    The conversion commands =C-c -= and =C-c *= are now better
+    behaved and therefore more useful, I hope.
+
+    If there is an active region, these commands will act on the
+    region, otherwise on the current line.
+
+    - C-c - :: This command turns headings or normal lines into
+         items, or items into normal lines.  When there is a
+         region, everything depends on the first line of the
+         region:
+	 - if it is a item, turn all items in the region into
+	   normal lines.
+         - if it is a headline, turn all headlines in the region
+	   into items. 
+	 - if it is a normal line, turn all lines into items.
+	 - special case: if there is no active region and the
+	   current line is an item, cycle the bullet type of the
+           current list.
+    - C-c * :: This command turns items and normal lines into
+         headings, or headings into normal lines.  When there is
+         a region, everything depends on the first line of the
+         region:
+	 - if it is a item, turn all items in the region into
+	   headlines.
+         - if it is a headline, turn all headlines in the region
+	   into normal lines. 
+	 - if it is a normal line, turn all lines into headlines.
+
+* Version 6.18
 ** Incompatible changes
 
 *** Short examples must have a space after the colon

doc/org.texi

@@ -995,10 +995,11 @@ Narrow buffer to current subtree.
 Widen buffer to remove a narrowing.
 @kindex C-c *
 @item C-c *
-Turn a normal line or plain list item into a headline (so that it
-becomes a subheading at its location).  Also turn a headline into a
-normal line by removing the stars.  If there is an active region, turn
-all lines in the region into headlines.  Or, if the first line is a
+Turn a normal line or plain list item into a headline (so that it becomes a
+subheading at its location).  Also turn a headline into a normal line by
+removing the stars.  If there is an active region, turn all lines in the
+region into headlines.  If the first line in the region was an item, turn
+only the item lines into headlines.  Finally, if the first line is a
 headline, remove the stars from all headlines in the region.
 @end table
 

doc/orgcard.tex

@@ -308,17 +308,16 @@ are preserved on all copies.
 \key{insert new heading after subtree}{C-RET}
 \key{insert new TODO entry/checkbox item}{M-S-RET}
 \key{insert TODO entry/ckbx after subtree}{C-S-RET}
-
+\key{turn (head)line into item, cycle item type}{C-c -}
+\key{turn item/line into headline}{C-c *}
 \key{promote/demote heading}{M-LEFT/RIGHT}
 \metax{promote/demote current subtree}{M-S-LEFT/RIGHT}
 
-\key{move subtree/list item up/down}{M-S-UP/DOWN}
-\key{refile subtree}{C-c C-w}
-\key{kill subtree}{C-c C-x C-w}
-\key{copy subtree}{C-c C-x M-w}
+\metax{move subtree/list item up/down}{M-S-UP/DOWN}
+\metax{refile subtree}{C-c C-w}
+\metax{kill/copy subtree}{C-c C-x C-w/M-w}
 \metax{yank subtree}{C-c C-x C-y or C-y}
-\key{narrow buffer to current subtree}{C-x n s}
-\key{widen restriction to full buffer}{C-x n w}
+\metax{narrow buffer to subtree / widen}{C-x n s/w}
 
 \section{Archiving}
 

doc/orgcard.txt

@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ insert new heading/item at current level          M-RET
 insert new heading after subtree                  C-RET
 insert new TODO entry/checkbox item               M-S-RET
 insert TODO entry/ckbx after subtree              C-S-RET
+turn (head)line into item, cycle bullet type      C-c -
+turn item/line into headline, and back into line  C-c *
+
 promote/demote current heading up one level       M-LEFT/RIGHT
 promote/demote current subtree up one level       M-S-LEFT/RIGHT
 move subtree/list item up/down                    M-S-UP/DOWN

lisp/ChangeLog

@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 2009-01-21  Carsten Dominik  <carsten.dominik@gmail.com>
 
+	* org.el (org-toggle-heading): Renamed from
+	`org-toggel-region-headings'.
+	No longer needs a region defined, but will use it if there is one.
+	(org-ctrl-c-star): Simplified, relying more on the internal
+	workings of `org-toggle-heading'.
+	(org-toggle-item): Renamed from `org-toggle-region-items'.
+	No longer needs a region defined, but will use it if there is one.
+	(org-ctrl-c-minus): Simplified, relying more on the inernal
+	workings of `org-toggle-item'.
+
 	* org-export-latex.el (org-export-latex-preprocess): Fix bug in
 	environment detection.  Also, do real changes only in unprotected
 	places.

lisp/org.el

@@ -13266,65 +13266,47 @@ context.  See the individual commands for more information."
 
 (defun org-ctrl-c-star ()
   "Compute table, or change heading status of lines.
-Calls `org-table-recalculate' or `org-toggle-region-headings',
-depending on context.  This will also turn a plain list item or a normal
-line into a subheading."
+Calls `org-table-recalculate' or `org-toggle-heading',
+depending on context."
   (interactive)
   (cond
    ((org-at-table-p)
     (call-interactively 'org-table-recalculate))
-   ((org-region-active-p)
+   (t
     ;; Convert all lines in region to list items
-    (call-interactively 'org-toggle-region-headings))
-   ((org-on-heading-p)
-    (org-toggle-region-headings (point-at-bol)
-				(min (1+ (point-at-eol)) (point-max))))
-   ((org-at-item-p)
-    ;; Convert to heading
-    (let ((level (save-match-data
-		   (save-excursion
-		     (condition-case nil
-			 (progn
-			   (org-back-to-heading t)
-			   (funcall outline-level))
-		       (error 0))))))
-      (replace-match
-       (concat (make-string (org-get-valid-level level 1) ?*) " ") t t)))
-   (t (org-toggle-region-headings (point-at-bol)
-				  (min (1+ (point-at-eol)) (point-max))))))
+    (call-interactively 'org-toggle-heading))))
 
 (defun org-ctrl-c-minus ()
   "Insert separator line in table or modify bullet status of line.
 Also turns a plain line or a region of lines into list items.
-Calls `org-table-insert-hline', `org-toggle-region-items', or
+Calls `org-table-insert-hline', `org-toggle-item', or
 `org-cycle-list-bullet', depending on context."
   (interactive)
   (cond
    ((org-at-table-p)
     (call-interactively 'org-table-insert-hline))
-   ((org-on-heading-p)
-    ;; Convert to item
-    (save-excursion
-      (beginning-of-line 1)
-      (if (looking-at "\\*+ ")
-	  (replace-match
-	   (concat (make-string
-		    (- (match-end 0) (point) (if org-odd-levels-only 2 1)) ?\ )
-		   "- ")))))
    ((org-region-active-p)
-    ;; Convert all lines in region to list items
-    (call-interactively 'org-toggle-region-items))
+    (call-interactively 'org-toggle-item))
    ((org-in-item-p)
     (call-interactively 'org-cycle-list-bullet))
-   (t (org-toggle-region-items (point-at-bol)
-			       (min (1+ (point-at-eol)) (point-max))))))
-
-(defun org-toggle-region-items (beg end)
-  "Convert all lines in region to list items.
-If the first line is already an item, convert all list items in the region
-to normal lines."
-  (interactive "r")
-  (let (l2 l)
+   (t
+    (call-interactively 'org-toggle-item))))
+
+(defun org-toggle-item ()
+  "Convert headings or normal lines to items, items to normal lines.
+If there is no active region, only the current line is considered.
+
+If the first line in the region is a headline, convert all headlines to items.
+
+If the first line in the region is an item, convert all items to normal lines.
+
+If the first line is normal text, add an item bullet to each line."
+  (interactive)
+  (let (l2 l beg end)
+    (if (org-region-active-p)
+	(setq beg (region-beginning) end (region-end))
+      (setq beg (point-at-bol)
+	    end (min (1+ (point-at-eol)) (point-max))))
     (save-excursion
       (goto-char end)
       (setq l2 (org-current-line))
@@ -13339,18 +13321,41 @@ to normal lines."
 	      (delete-region (match-beginning 2) (match-end 2))
 	      (and (looking-at "[ \t]+") (replace-match "")))
 	    (beginning-of-line 2))
-	(while (< (setq l (1+ l)) l2)
-	  (unless (org-at-item-p)
-	    (if (looking-at "\\([ \t]*\\)\\(\\S-\\)")
-		(replace-match "\\1- \\2")))
-	  (beginning-of-line 2))))))
-
-(defun org-toggle-region-headings (beg end)
-  "Convert all lines in region to list items.
-If the first line is already an item, convert all list items in the region
-to normal lines."
-  (interactive "r")
-  (let (l2 l)
+	(if (org-on-heading-p)
+	    ;; Headings, convert to items
+	    (while (< (setq l (1+ l)) l2)
+	      (if (looking-at org-outline-regexp)
+		  (replace-match "- " t t))
+	      (beginning-of-line 2))
+	  ;; normal lines, turn them into items
+	  (while (< (setq l (1+ l)) l2)
+	    (unless (org-at-item-p)
+	      (if (looking-at "\\([ \t]*\\)\\(\\S-\\)")
+		  (replace-match "\\1- \\2")))
+	    (beginning-of-line 2)))))))
+
+(defun org-toggle-heading (&optional nstars)
+  "Convert headings to normal text, or items or text to headings.
+If there is no active region, only the current line is considered.
+
+If the first line is a heading, remove the stars from all headlines
+in the region.
+
+If the first line is a plain list item, turn all plain list items into
+headings.
+
+If the first line is a normal line, turn each and every line in the region
+into a heading.
+
+When converting a line into a heading, the number of stars is chosen
+such that the lines become children of the current entry.  However, when
+a prefix argument is given, its value determines the number of stars to add."
+  (interactive "P")
+  (let (l2 l itemp beg end)
+    (if (org-region-active-p)
+	(setq beg (region-beginning) end (region-end))
+      (setq beg (point-at-bol)
+	    end (min (1+ (point-at-eol)) (point-max))))
     (save-excursion
       (goto-char end)
       (setq l2 (org-current-line))
@@ -13363,15 +13368,22 @@ to normal lines."
 	    (when (org-on-heading-p t)
 	      (and (looking-at outline-regexp) (replace-match "")))
 	    (beginning-of-line 2))
-	(let* ((stars (save-excursion
-			(re-search-backward org-complex-heading-regexp nil t)
-			(or (match-string 1) "*")))
-	       (add-stars (if org-odd-levels-only "**" "*"))
-	       (rpl (concat stars add-stars " \\2")))
+	(setq itemp (org-at-item-p))
+	(let* ((stars
+		(if nstars
+		    (make-string (prefix-numeric-value current-prefix-arg)
+				 ?*)
+		  (save-excursion
+		    (re-search-backward org-complex-heading-regexp nil t)
+		    (or (match-string 1) "*"))))
+	       (add-stars (if nstars "" (if org-odd-levels-only "**" "*")))
+	       (rpl (concat stars add-stars " ")))
 	  (while (< (setq l (1+ l)) l2)
-	    (unless (org-on-heading-p)
-	      (if (looking-at "\\([ \t]*\\)\\(\\S-\\)")
-		  (replace-match rpl)))
+	    (if itemp
+		(and (org-at-item-p) (replace-match rpl t t))
+	      (unless (org-on-heading-p)
+		(if (looking-at "\\([ \t]*\\)\\(\\S-\\)")
+		    (replace-match (concat rpl (match-string 2))))))
 	    (beginning-of-line 2)))))))
 
 (defun org-meta-return (&optional arg)