how to end TODO lists in emacs org-mode

Question

I have a list of TODO items, and I\'m trying to have 2 TODO lists in the same file, but can\'t seem to end the first one.

FIRST LIST: TODAY
* TODO Item 1
  D         


        

Answer 1

Very simple, just make the two headers become list items themselves., like so:

* first todo list. 
** first item in list. 
** second item in list

* second todo list 
** first item and so on... 

This additionally gives you the ability to fold the lists.

Answer 2

You cannot do so within a single file. Org treats all content under a headline as belonging to it until you reach another headline of the same level. There is no way to end a headline short of starting a new one.

This does have a few shortcomings in that you have to use blank headlines if you want a sub-heading and then to return to the parent level without any new headline. This means the only text that does not belong to a headline is the text before the first heading, which essentially is the equivalent of an abstract.

The two solutions I can think of would be

1. Use a solution such as the one offered by daramarak

2. Use 2 separate Org files then use the Agenda as a way of keeping track of the multiple TODOs in independent lists that can still be put together to see an overview.

Answer 3

Plain lists start with '-' and they end at white-space lines:

First list
- Item 1
- Item 2

Second List
- Item 1
- Item 2

But TODO's can only be recognized in a headlines (starting with a *). I think this is a part of the org-mode design. You can quickly turn a list into headings by marking the lines and pressing C-c *. A similar but more light-weight feature to TODO's, "checkboxes", can however be used in plain lists for having a list of subtask.

List a
- [X] Item 1
- [ ] Item 2

List B
- [ ] Item 1
- [ ] Item 2

C-c C-c Toggles a list item. Also lists can be nested and show the satus of their children.

- [ ] List A
  - [ ] Item 1
  - [ ] Item 2
- [-] List B
  - [X] Item 1
  - [ ] Item 2

Another possibility is using inline tasks C-c C-x t they have a specific ending

List 1
*************** TODO Item 1
*************** END

*************** TODO Item 2
*************** END
List 2
*************** TODO Item 1
*************** END
*************** TODO Item 2
*************** END
*************** TODO 
*************** END

More discussion can be found here