# Add checklist autopopulate

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975>\
**Category:** Features\
**Created:** [27 May 2020 20:55 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975 "2020-05-27T20:55:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![garyst1981](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/garyst1981/32/4022_2.png) [@garyst1981](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/garyst1981)\
**Post date:** [27 May 2020 20:55 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/1 "2020-05-27T20:55:07Z")

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On Android when working on a checklist you have to type in  
- []  
On the Mac Desktop app, once you did the first line. Pressing enter auto populates that on the next line, that doesn’t happen on Android, it would be nice it does tho’.

What I’ve been ending up doing is to copy and paste that, but in one of my devices (a Samsung S9+) it has the curved edges, selecting that is almost impossible.

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**Author:** ![synci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@synci](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/synci)\
**Post date:** [21 June 2020 15:06 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/2 "2020-06-21T15:06:47Z")

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Same here, this renders Joplin unusable for simple things like shopping lists.  
I wanted to replace google keep with this feature but no way to convince my family members to edit the list in this complicated way.

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**Author:** ![ikwyl6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/ikwyl6/32/15743_2.png) [@ikwyl6](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/ikwyl6)\
**Post date:** [5 July 2020 22:13 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/3 "2020-07-05T22:13:01Z")

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Yes - agree with the checklist. I really like how GK puts the checked item at the bottom of the screen/list and you can untick it and bring it back to the “unchecked” area of the shopping list. Great for items that you always buy.

I don’t mind typing in the “- []” every time but if it followed the same behaviour as GK as described above, would be great. Is there a way to do this?

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**Author:** ![bailey293](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@bailey293](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/bailey293)\
**Post date:** [18 September 2020 15:08 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/4 "2020-09-18T15:08:51Z")

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I'm willing to take a look into the code to start working on this. It'll take some time to familiarize myself with the code base though.

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**Author:** ![CWempe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/cwempe/32/5823_2.png) [@CWempe](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/CWempe)\
**Post date:** [15 December 2020 22:30 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/5 "2020-12-15T22:30:36Z")

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Autopopulate would be great. 👍

But I think it would be even better if there was a button to simply create a checklist where I do not have to type `- []` with my onscreen keyboard at all. That is really a PITA.

So my suggestion would be to ad a button to `create checklist` with starts the first line with a checkbox and the autopopulate when creating a new line.  
And/or add a new option inside the notebook where I can create a `new checklist` like I already can `create a new note` or `a new task`.  
Just like in Google Keep.

I would like to recommend Joplin to my parents to for notes and shopping lists.  
But this might be a deal breaker. ☹

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**Author:** ![johano](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/johano/32/1053_2.png) [@johano](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/johano)\
**Post date:** [15 December 2020 23:14 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/6 "2020-12-15T23:14:48Z")

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Maybe, as a workaround, add a simple check list template that suits you, e.g.:

```auto
# Check List
- [] 

```

And thereafter use `Ctrl+Alt+I` to quickly insert a new list into your current note. Or use the File Menu to create a new Check List/Tasks note.

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**Author:** ![CWempe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/cwempe/32/5823_2.png) [@CWempe](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/CWempe)\
**Post date:** [16 December 2020 17:08 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/7 "2020-12-16T17:08:37Z")

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Thanks. I did not knew about Templates, yet.

But I should have clarified my issue is with the mobile version (Android). 😄  
And it seems Templates are not supported by the Android App.

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**Author:** ![rxliuli](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/rxliuli/32/4083_2.png) [@rxliuli](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/rxliuli)\
**Post date:** [16 December 2020 17:22 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/8 "2020-12-16T17:22:54Z")

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APP may be more suitable as a viewer

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**Author:** ![johano](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/johano/32/1053_2.png) [@johano](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/johano)\
**Post date:** [16 December 2020 17:39 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/9 "2020-12-16T17:39:03Z")

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@CWempe, On Android I don't do so much editing, as it can be a bit awkward; good for viewing as @rxliuli says.

For those times that I do, I've made some keyboard shortcuts.

For example, when I swipe the letters `td` it inserts `- []` for _to do_, or `toc` to give me `[toc]` for _table of contents_, etc., this takes the pain out of editing in Joplin on Android to some extent.

Here I'm using Gboard the Google Android keyboard and can set up these under _Settings/Language and Input/Personal Dictionary_, other keyboards may have similar functionality.

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**Author:** ![CWempe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/cwempe/32/5823_2.png) [@CWempe](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/CWempe)\
**Post date:** [16 December 2020 19:45 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/10 "2020-12-16T19:45:48Z")

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> [@johano](#):
>
> For example, when I swipe the letters `td` it inserts `- []` for _to do_ , or `toc` to give me `[toc]` for _table of contents_ , etc., this takes the pain out of editing in Joplin on Android to some extent.
> 
> Here I'm using Gboard the Google Android keyboard and can set up these under _Settings/Language and Input/Personal Dictionary_ , other keyboards may have similar functionality.

That's a good workaround.  
I will configure it end probably forget it when I want to use it the next time. 😆

But it is definitely not for the average user.

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**Author:** ![garyst1981](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/garyst1981/32/4022_2.png) [@garyst1981](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/garyst1981)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2020 00:06 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/11 "2020-12-20T00:06:16Z")

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Yep, same here, when I created the request, I was talking about Android, where is more difficult, to type `- []`

I don't have issues with mac, windows or linux app since is not that difficult to write it once and it auto-populates on pressing enter for the subsequent lines, that doesn't happen on **Android**

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**Author:** ![ikwyl6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/ikwyl6/32/15743_2.png) [@ikwyl6](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/ikwyl6)\
**Post date:** [5 July 2021 23:34 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/add-checklist-autopopulate/8975/12 "2021-07-05T23:34:16Z")

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Yes I only use iOS and I only use it on my iPhone as I have a WebDAV backend to store the files on my server. So I agree, typing “- [] “ every time, multiple times, is extremely a PITA, even when I copy and paste a few lines at a time... If there was a template, that would work for me or like it was suggested above, an option for a “new checklist” that is shown in the pop up for the new item button.