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Linking

Atlas supports both internal document links and external web links, making it easy to connect ideas across your project and reference outside sources.

There are two quick ways to create a link. Type [[ to search for a document and insert an internal link, or type [Caption] to open the Link Editor where you can create any type of link — internal or external. Both are covered in detail below.

Type [[ anywhere in the editor to open an autocomplete search for any document in your project. Start typing to filter results, then select a document to insert a link.

A wiki-link inline being created

A wiki-link inline being created

Wiki-links use token-based titles, so they update automatically when you rename the linked document. You never need to manually fix broken references.

Info

Wiki-link autocomplete is also available in the canvas and template editors.

Context Clicking a Link

Options presented from context clicking a link on macOS

Right-click (Mac) or long-press (iPad/iPhone) on a link to open a context menu with options to open the link — navigating to the linked document or opening the URL in your default browser — or copy the link URL. On Mac and iOS devices with a connected keyboard, Cmd + click will open the link immediately.

Double-clicking or tapping a link will open the Link Editor, allowing you to modify its contents.

The Link Editor is a dedicated interface for creating and managing links.

The Link Editing and Preview Window on macOS

The Link Editing and Preview Window on macOS

The Link Editor provides:

  • Link Text — The display text for the link
  • Destination — A URL or internal document reference
  • Document search — Search your project's documents with results showing synopsis previews and media thumbnails to help identify the right target
  • Suggestions — Quick picks based on your search
  • Image preview — Link destinations show a preview: images display directly, while web pages show a rich web card with title, image, and description

Open the Link Editor on an existing link to see a preview of its destination. Tap Edit to modify the link text or destination, or tap Remove Link to strip the link markup while keeping the display text.

Tip

The Link Editor works the same way for both internal document links and external URLs — you don't need to switch modes.

Internal Document URLs

Internal links use the atlas://document/<identifier> protocol to reference other documents in your project. When you create a link through the wiki-link shortcut or the Link Editor, Atlas handles this protocol automatically — these links can be used anywhere and will launch Atlas to the document.

Because links are identifier-based rather than name-based, renaming a document updates all references to it throughout your project.

Auto-Linking

URLs typed or pasted into the editor are automatically detected and converted to links — you don't need to wrap them in markdown link syntax. Right-click (Mac) or long-press (iPad/iPhone) on an auto-linked URL to open a context menu where you can edit or open the link.

Pasting a URL from your clipboard creates a tokenized link automatically, so it behaves just like any other link in your document.

You can convert a link to an image (and vice versa) at any time. Use the Convert to Image or Convert to Link command in the link or image editor, or simply insert ! before an existing link's [ bracket to turn it into an image.

This is useful when you paste a URL and later decide it should display as an embedded image, or when you want to change an embedded image back to a clickable link.

See Also