Unlock Efficiency: 5 Tana Commands to Superpower Your Day Node & Capture Inbox
I am in love with Tana Commands. I think that’s not a secret anymore.
Ever since the Tana Commands and AI release came out in March I haven’t really looked back.
I’ve been building commands for myself and for various users for the past six months. During this time, I’ve personally witnessed the growing adoption of the “commands for everything” philosophy that I’ve been advocating. It’s been incredibly gratifying to see.
After conducting four workshops and investing hundreds of hours in commands development, I believe I have a good understanding of which commands have been most beneficial for my daily operations.
I’d like to share some of these insights with you here. Some of these commands were discussed during my workshops, and you can also find additional information in the replay of “Tana Commands Workshop 2,” available on YouTube.
Tana Commands for expanding nodes
Do you find yourself constantly opening various search nodes or dashboards in your day node? You’re not alone—welcome to my world! Particularly if you have a busy day node template (which isn’t the case for me, but I’ve seen many), having a command to “expand this + that” can be a game-changer.
This one is quite straightforward. I run a command on all child nodes of the #day supertag. Specifically, I run a command line command callled “Expand all” on the “Priorities” and “Habits” nodes within my template. Note that I use a node filter to ensure the command is executed only on these two specific nodes.
In my particular situation, the #habits node would also be expanded during this process. However, since I prefer to keep that node collapsed, I’ve included a second step that executes the command line command “Collapse children” specifically on the Habits node. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
Tana Commands for opening Capture inbox as a side panel
Another incredibly useful command is the one that opens the Capture inbox in a side panel, rather than in your main panel. While you can achieve the same result by holding down the CMD button and clicking the capture icon on the sidebar, many users find that having quick access to this feature from their day node is essential for maintaining a smooth workflow.
This is another straightforward example. I execute the command line command “Dock node on right” specifically on my Capture inbox node. Take note that I use node context to ensure that the command is run exclusively on that particular node.
Tana Commands for cleaning up your day node
After a long day, you’ve likely created numerous new nodes, causing your day node to become cluttered and potentially distracting. Ultimately, those new nodes will show up in your searches anyway. For many, maintaining a clean day node is essential, and so a convenient command that moves all child nodes of the day to a designated destination can be a real lifesaver.
Tana Commands for turning audio notes into Tasks
Transforming audio notes into tasks—or even projects and tasks, as you’ll see below—has fundamentally altered how we use Tana on a daily basis. This approach combines the efficiency of audio notes with the capabilities of Whisper and the robust data structure of your Tana graph.
It all starts with a custom “Transcribe” command. Although Tana automatically shows a default “Transcribe” button in the Capture inbox for any existing audio note, you have the option to use Transcribe audio in a custom command to tailor the prompt according to your specific requirements.
As you can see, I’m once again executing a command on all child nodes of the Capture inbox, but this time I’m using a node filter to specifically target audio notes. I then create an on-the-spot “Transcription” field, which I use as the Target Node. A custom transcription prompt and the transcription language field round out the structure of the initial command in my chain.
The second and final part of this useful command involves converting the transcription of my audio note into a structured #task. Take note that I’m using replace contents as the Insert output strategy, ensuring that my new task replaces the audio note and transcription node that I’ve just processed.
Tana Commands for turning audio notes into Projects and Tasks
The command I described above is quite effective, but through many iterations, I realized I needed a second command that could capture both ideas (which become projects) and their associated action items (or tasks) on the fly.
This command is incredibly useful not just when I’m on the go; it’s so efficient that I frequently use it from my desktop as well. The process feels so intuitive compared to the traditional method of jotting down new projects and related tasks.
The custom “Transcribe” command in this case is the same as the one I previously described. However, I use a different prompt for generating action items. This distinction is crucial because I have added a third step: this is where the real magic happens. I’ve named this step “Organize for Me,” as that’s essentially what it’s designed to do.
In this prompt, I ensure to provide an example output that features a #project with child #task nodes. By doing this, when the AI generates the output, the project field within the #task supertag is auto-initialized, automatically establishing a connection. This eliminates the need for me to manually fill in any fields, adding a touch of magic to the process. ✨
Certainly, the advancements in GPT-4’s capabilities bring a new level of sophistication to these types of tasks. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your commands or simply automate some of your daily tasks, the improved language understanding and versatility of GPT-4 offer a valuable toolset for refining your workflows. But don’t just take my word for it—give it a try and see the difference it makes in your own Tana Commands.
Tana Commands have proven to be transformative in optimizing daily operations, whether it’s the simple action of decluttering my day node or the more intricate process of turning audio notes into actionable tasks and projects.
These commands aren’t just about efficiency; they’re about redefining the way we interact with our work environment, making the entire process more intuitive and aligned with our natural thought patterns.
As you integrate these commands into your daily routine, you may find that they not only solve immediate problems but also open doors to new, streamlined ways of thinking and doing. I encourage you to try these commands and share your experiences; we will build more of these in the next Workshop.