# Breaking up/splitting a note

**URL:** <https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/breaking-up-splitting-a-note/1380>\
**Category:** Requests\
**Created:** [March 16, 2021, 11:14am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/breaking-up-splitting-a-note/1380 "2021-03-16T11:14:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![midas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@midas](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/midas)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:14am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/breaking-up-splitting-a-note/1380/1 "2021-03-16T11:14:09Z")

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Is there a pre-packaged function (or has someone written/know of a function) that splits off text from one org-roam note/file into a new one? The text to be sent off into a new file could be a mark-region or the node-at-point. If node, the new file would adopt title of node. If marked-region, a query is needed for new file’s title.

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**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/breaking-up-splitting-a-note/1380/2 "2021-03-16T13:31:16Z")

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@midas

Only an idea (if I were you, I would consider in this line).

I don’t know of any pre-packaged function. I guess refile does not work for this purpose as you want to create a new file, not refiling to a specific existing file.

I’d go for a manual operation first. If I felt the need for a “shortcut” or automation, then I’d just string together the functions I use for the manual workflow.

Like this (for subtree):

1. Move the point/cursor is to the top of subtree in question
2. `org-cut-subtree`
3. `org-roam-find-file` to create a new note with a certain capture template
4. `org-paste-subtree` the content
5. Manually copy and paste the heading title to file title

This sequence of manual operation does not look to be difficult to compose a custom function from; I guess just need a bit of thoughts into how Step 4 can be easily done.

For a marked region, the same principle can be applied. I would leave the title blank and make it manual process to enter one (perhaps you can move the point/cursor to it when designing an automation function).

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**Author:** ![scotto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@scotto](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/scotto)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/breaking-up-splitting-a-note/1380/3 "2021-03-16T15:33:55Z")

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If you put the text under a new headline first, then [this](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/creating-an-org-roam-note-from-an-existing-headline/978) might work.