Write and format text
Every place you write in Kioku uses the same editor: a Topic or Extract in Browse, the editor windows, and the Card editor’s fields. What you learn here works in all of them.
Keys are written for macOS. On Windows and Linux, Cmd is Ctrl and Option is Alt.
Reading or writing
Section titled “Reading or writing”Some places are for reading first. A Topic in Review and the Reader’s notes open to read, and single keys act on what you select:
| Key | While reading |
|---|---|
| X | Make an Extract from the selection |
| Z | Make a Cloze from the selection |
| M | Highlight the selection |
| I | Mark the selection to ignore on re-reading |
| Delete | Cut the selection out of the Topic |
| Enter | Start writing (or select Edit) |
While you write, letters always type. Press Esc (or select Done) to go back to reading. If you type while reading, Kioku says how to start writing instead of doing nothing.
Everywhere else, the text is always ready to write in, and Kioku’s own actions take Option: Option+X makes an Extract and Option+Z a Cloze. See Highlight, extract, and cloze.
Format text
Section titled “Format text”Select text and a menu appears over it, with bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, code, and link. In a Topic or Extract it also offers highlight colors, Extract, and Cloze. The toolbar above the text has the same formatting, plus the paragraph’s style, lists, Insert, and undo and redo. Every button names its shortcut.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| Cmd+B / I / U | Bold, italic, underline |
| Cmd+Shift+S | Strikethrough |
| Cmd+E | Code |
| Cmd+Shift+H | Highlight (in a Topic or Extract) |
| Option+Cmd+0 to 3 | Text, Heading 1, 2, or 3 |
| Cmd+Shift+8 / 7 | Bullet list, numbered list |
| Cmd+Shift+B | Quote |
| Option+Cmd+C | Code block |
| Cmd+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z | Undo, redo |
Markdown works as you type, too: #, ## or ### and a space for a heading, - for a bullet list, 1. for a numbered list, > for a quote, three backticks for code, and --- for a divider.
Quotes, dashes and ellipses become typographic as you type: ", -- and ... become “ ”, — and …. Press Backspace straight after to undo one.
Add a block with ”/”
Section titled “Add a block with ”/””Type / at the start of a line, or after a space, to open a menu of what the line can become: text, headings, lists, a quote, code, a divider, an image, an audio file, or a recording. Keep typing to filter it (/head, /list, /pic). Use the arrow keys and Enter or Tab to choose, or Esc to close it and keep the ”/”. A ”/” inside a word, like “and/or”, is just a ”/”.
Add a link
Section titled “Add a link”Select the text and press Cmd+K, or select Link in the menu over it. Type or paste the address and press Enter. An address without https:// gets it added.
Clicking a link while you write puts the cursor in it and shows where it goes, with Open, Edit, and Remove. To open a link while writing, Cmd-click it. With the cursor in a link, Cmd+K edits it.
Add pictures and sound
Section titled “Add pictures and sound”- Insert in the toolbar adds an image (Image…), a recording from your computer (Audio file…), a new recording from the microphone (Record audio), or a divider.
- Paste a screenshot or a copied image file to add it where the cursor is.
- Drop an image or audio file from your computer onto the text to add it where it lands.
Pictures and sound are stored in your Collection, so they stay when the original file moves or the web page changes. Images can be PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, or AVIF, up to 25 MB. For audio formats and limits, see Add audio to any Card. If something can’t be added, Kioku says which file and why.
Copying text from Word or Pages also copies a picture of it. Kioku pastes the text.
Saving
Section titled “Saving”Topics and Extracts save as you write. The line under the text says Saving… or Saved, with a word count. If a save fails, it says Couldn’t save with Retry, and your text stays in the editor; Kioku also tries again as you keep writing.
Write a Card
Section titled “Write a Card”The Card editor puts the cursor in the field to write in: the back, when the front is already filled. Press Cmd+Enter to create the Card, or to save one you’re editing. If you close it with something written, Kioku asks before discarding it. For each type of Card, see Card types.
From the keyboard
Section titled “From the keyboard”- Option+F10 moves to the menu over the selection, or to the toolbar. The arrow keys move along it, and Esc goes back to the text.
- Esc always closes the nearest thing first: the ”/” menu, the link field, or a menu. It doesn’t close the Card editor or end your Review session behind them.
- Right-click the text for cut, copy, paste, and spelling suggestions. Learn Spelling adds a word to the dictionary.
- In a Topic or Extract, Option+\ cuts everything before the cursor and Option+. everything after it, as in SuperMemo.