# Control over headings turning into nodes

**URL:** <https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217>\
**Category:** Requests\
**Created:** [November 13, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217 "2021-11-13T14:33:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![magthe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/magthe/32/851_2.png) [@magthe](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/magthe)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217/1 "2021-11-13T14:33:27Z")

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I’ve noticed that sometimes a heading turns into a node, ie it gets a property drawer with an ID. I’m not sure when/why this happens and I usually don’t notice until I close Emacs and I’m told a buffer needs saving.

What’s causing this, and how can I control it (turn it off)?

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**Author:** ![solrach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@solrach](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/solrach)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217/2 "2021-11-13T15:07:01Z")

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To transform a header into a node you have to assign it an id,  
In your case, maybe:

- there is a shortcut associated to org-insert-id that you accidentally executed, or
- you captured a link and org-store-link is configured to assign an id when it is executed.

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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:** [November 13, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217/3 "2021-11-13T15:31:15Z")

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@magthe

> [@solrach](#):
>
> you captured a link and org-store-link is configured to assign an id when it is executed.

As @solrach says , this variable might be the cause:  
`org-id-link-to-org-use-id`. See if it isn’t set to `t`…

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**Author:** ![magthe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/magthe/32/851_2.png) [@magthe](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/magthe)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 6:41am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/control-over-headings-turning-into-nodes/2217/4 "2021-11-14T06:41:33Z")

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It was indeed the case that `org-id-link-to-org-use-id` set to `t`. Now I’ve set it to `'use-existing` and I’ll see if I like that behaviour better.