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Notion

Keyboard shortcuts, block and database view concepts, and a reusable Relation/Rollup database-building workflow.

Total Shortcuts: 0
Category Action macOS Windows
PagesNew page⌘NCtrl+N
PagesQuick Find⌘PCtrl+P
PagesSearch⌘⇧KCtrl+Shift+K
BlocksOpen slash command menu//
BlocksTurn block into another type⌘⇧0-9Ctrl+Shift+0-9
BlocksDuplicate block⌘DCtrl+D
BlocksMove block up/down⌘⇧↑/↓Ctrl+Shift+Up/Down
BlocksIndent / outdent blockTab / ⇧TabTab / Shift+Tab
CommentsAdd comment to selection⌘⇧MCtrl+Shift+M
TextBold / Italic⌘B / ⌘ICtrl+B / Ctrl+I

Block-Based Editing

Everything is a block

Text, headings, images, embeds, and databases are all blocks — the same drag handle, indent, and turn-into behavior applies to every one of them.

Slash commands

Type / to insert any block type without leaving the keyboard — the fastest way to build a page.

Nested pages

Any page can contain sub-pages, which appear as a link block on the parent — the basis of Notion's outline/wiki structure.

Synced blocks

A block that mirrors its content across every place it's embedded — edit once, updates everywhere it's used.

Database Views

Table

Spreadsheet-style rows

Board

Kanban, grouped by a property

Calendar

Grouped by a date property

Gallery / List / Timeline

Same data, different layout

Building a Reusable Database Setup

The pattern that keeps a Notion workspace from turning into an unstructured mess of pages.

1

Start with one database, not a page per item

A database of "Projects" with properties (Status, Owner, Due Date) scales far better than a folder of loosely related pages with no shared structure.

2

Use Relation properties to connect databases

Link "Tasks" to "Projects" via a Relation property instead of typing a project name as plain text — keeps the connection queryable and always accurate.

3

Add Rollup properties for cross-database summaries

Once Tasks relate to Projects, a Rollup on Projects can show "3 of 5 tasks done" automatically, computed from the linked records.

4

Create views per audience/purpose

A Board view filtered to "My Tasks" and a Calendar view of deadlines can both read from the same underlying database — no data duplication needed.

Quick Tips

@ mentions link pages, people, and dates
Typing @ opens a unified mention menu — the fastest way to cross-reference another page or assign a date without leaving the current block.
Templates speed up repeated page structures
A database can have a button that creates a new entry pre-filled with a template's blocks — useful for anything created repeatedly, like meeting notes.
Set sharing permissions deliberately
A page shared publicly is indexable and link-accessible to anyone — double-check the share settings before assuming something is private.