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Node types

This is an overview of all the different types of nodes that exist in Tana.

Overview

Tana has many different types of nodes, and icons to reflect what these types are. Below is a list of all the different types you may encounter.

Content nodes

Plain node

Plain nodes show up as dark grey, solid dots.

Plain nodes with content show up with a lighter halo around them.

Reference

References show up with dashed outlines.

You can also have an inline reference or a link to a node, signified by the grey background.

Search node

Search nodes show up with a magnifying glass in the node.

Node with contextual content

Nodes with contextual content show up as diamond shaped.

Supertag definition

Supertag definitions show up as a hashtag inside a circle.

Field definition

Many field definitions show up as a square icon with the various symbols signifying different field types. Others have just the symbol of their types with no framing square.

Fields

Fields show up similarly as field definitions, but with an empty node as placeholder for entering a value.

Command node

A command node shows up as a typical command line symbol >_ , and inside a dashed circle as a reference.

URL node

A URL node shows up with an external link icon.

Code node

A code node shows up as two angled brackets.

Workspace node

A workspace node shows up with a rainbow halo.

Audio node

A node with an audio file looks like a regular node with a play button next to it. Expand it, and you will see more controls for playback.

Video node

A node with a video file looks like a regular node with content that auto-expands to show the video with playback controls.

Image node

A node with an image looks like a regular node with content that auto-expands to show the image.

A node with a link to Youtube looks like a URL node. It will auto-embed to show the video with playback controls. You can undo the embed by hitting the X in the top-right corner.

A node with a link to Vimeo looks like a URL node. It will auto-embed to show the video with playback controls. You can undo the embed by hitting the X in the top-right corner.

A node with a link to Spotify looks like a URL node. It will auto-embed to show the playlist or album with playback controls. You can undo the embed by hitting the X in the top-right corner.

Unavailable node

A node with a 🚫 bullet. Hover over the node to get more information.

Deprecated: Unknown (or no access) node. Showed a dashed box node with a no access sign. Means that the source that used to be referenced is unable to load / no longer accessible.

Deprecated node type

External alias node

A dashed circle with no bullet, and the words "(alias)" at the end. This is a reference with no available content except the name, due to access restrictions.

Function nodes

Saved layout

A saved layout shows up with a bento box icon.

Keyboard Shortcut

In Settings > Private keyboard shortcuts, custom shortcuts show up with the command (for Mac) / place of interest / Bowen knot symbol.

Related release notes

  • ImprovedFullscreen preview now supports video nodes, in addition to image nodes. It works just like images, and will autoplay when viewed. ()
  • FixedFix bug that prevented newer Vimeo videos with longer IDs from embedding ()
  • FixedNo more distracting color blocks behind images! it's finally back to the grey it once was. ()

Related FAQs

Question

  • Where do deleted/trashed nodes go? Does the trash get emptied?
    Sep 26, 2024

    When you delete something, they go to Trash.

    You can access Trash via the command Open trash

    To empty trash, use the command Empty trash for workspace [current workspace]

    It may take a couple of times of running empty trash to get all nodes out.

    Related docs: .
  • What are field definitions and how do I find them?
    Sep 26, 2024

    A field definition is a special node that stores the settings of a field. It looks like this:

    1. A field definition node
    2. A field

    To grab the field definition from a field, put your cursor in the field name, then press copy (Cmd/Ctrl+C) and put your cursor on an empty node and paste (Cmd/Ctrl+V). That gives you a reference to the field definition. Then you can run the command Bring referenced nodes here to swap the reference with the actual node.

    For more information on field definitions, go here.

    Related docs: .

Examples

  • How to find URL nodes
    Sep 05, 2024

    While there isn't a search operator to target URL nodes, they all use a system-defined node to store the URL. You can grab the field definition for it in one of the URLs. and it will retrieve all nodes that use this field, which will be mostly URL nodes.

    Note that the pasting of the URL search node into the search is to limit the search to only children within that node.

    Related docs: .