Create from…
What it does
Create from… turns something you already have into something new, without retyping it. Start from a message, a list, a document or a passage of text, choose what to make, check and edit a preview, then create it.
Where to start
- A message: open More actions (…) under the message and choose Create list from message. You can still choose any result in the next step.
- A list: open More list actions on the list and choose Create from….
- A document: choose Create from… in the document editor.
- Part of a document: select some text in the editor first, then choose Create from…. Only the selected text is used.
What you can create
Pick one of four results:
- A list, with one row per item.
- A document in Markdown.
- A list and a document, both at once.
- A message, saved as a draft for you to finish and post.
Then choose Preview. Nothing is created until you choose Create.
Editing the preview
The preview shows exactly what you'll get, and you can change all of it:
- Title of the new list, document or message.
- Fields for a list: rename a field, change its type, choose whether it's shown, remove it, or Add column.
- Rows for a list: edit any cell. The first 50 rows are editable, and the rest are included as they are.
- Document (Markdown) or Message (Markdown): edit the text directly.
If a value doesn't fit its field type, you're asked to fix it before anything is created. Back returns to the choice of result.
What each source becomes
| Source | As a list | As a document |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | One row per message, with Content, Author, Published and Link fields | The messages as quotes, each credited and linked |
| A list | The same fields and rows | A table of the rows, headed by the list's title |
| A document or selection | One row per bullet or numbered item, with Title and Done fields. Ticked task items are marked done. | The same text |
As a message, a list becomes its title and its first five rows, and a document or selection becomes the start of its text.
After you create
A new list or document opens straight away. If you made both, the list opens and the document is in Documents. A new message lands in your Drafts, where you can edit and post it. When posting, the usual limits and cross-posting rules apply. See Messages.