REQUEST: Insert link & create new blank page #463

New Issue

OVERLORD · 2026-02-04T20:14:59+03:00

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:14:59 +03:00

Originally created by @plipfishy on GitHub (Oct 10, 2017).

For Feature Requests

Desired Feature:
Create new blank page with link.
eg. Writing an article and insert link as usual, but if page doesn't exist, present option to create a new page.

For Bug Reports

BookStack Version (Found in settings, Please don't put 'latest'): 0.18.2
PHP Version: 5.6
MySQL Version: 5.5.56-MariaDB

Expected Behavior

Writing an article and insert link as usual, but if page doesn't exist, present option to create a new page.

Current Behavior

Can only link to existing pages within the wiki (or external obviously)

Steps to Reproduce

n/a

Originally created by @plipfishy on GitHub (Oct 10, 2017). ### For Feature Requests Desired Feature: Create new blank page with link. eg. Writing an article and insert link as usual, but if page doesn't exist, present option to create a new page. ### For Bug Reports * BookStack Version *(Found in settings, Please don't put 'latest')*: 0.18.2 * PHP Version: 5.6 * MySQL Version: 5.5.56-MariaDB ##### Expected Behavior Writing an article and insert link as usual, but if page doesn't exist, present option to create a new page. ##### Current Behavior Can only link to existing pages within the wiki (or external obviously) ##### Steps to Reproduce n/a

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:15:10 +03:00

@Shackelford-Arden commented on GitHub (Oct 10, 2017):

Potential duplicate of #441 ? @plipfishy

@Shackelford-Arden commented on GitHub (Oct 10, 2017): Potential duplicate of #441 ? @plipfishy

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:15:24 +03:00

@kpoppel commented on GitHub (Jul 30, 2022):

It would seem all the hooks are there:

ctrl-k to create a link, insert a link to "create_page", give the link a title and name.
pressing the link will instantly create a new page alongside the original - but with input for a new title. This feature would need to use the Title or Link Text from the place it was clicked.
Saving this page requires updating the originating link(s) pointing to this unique page. It seems the search feature has the hooks to find all such places to get them updated.

The page would have to be moved after creating it if some more sugar to select a book and so on is not included, but for a first iteration it would seem feasible using what is already there.

Bookstack is a little different from other wikis as pages are not unique by name but by page ID, so I can see why this feature request has been ehre for a while.

@kpoppel commented on GitHub (Jul 30, 2022): It would seem all the hooks are there: 1. ctrl-k to create a link, insert a link to "create_page", give the link a title and name. 2. pressing the link will instantly create a new page alongside the original - but with input for a new title. This feature would need to use the Title or Link Text from the place it was clicked. 3. Saving this page requires updating the originating link(s) pointing to this unique page. It seems the search feature has the hooks to find all such places to get them updated. The page would have to be moved after creating it if some more sugar to select a book and so on is not included, but for a first iteration it would seem feasible using what is already there. Bookstack is a little different from other wikis as pages are not unique by name but by page ID, so I can see why this feature request has been ehre for a while.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:15:49 +03:00

@mnaoumov commented on GitHub (Jan 11, 2024):

This feature is the must-have, I think all major wiki engines have it

@mnaoumov commented on GitHub (Jan 11, 2024): This feature is the must-have, I think all major wiki engines have it

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:15:57 +03:00

@c-festing commented on GitHub (Jan 19, 2024):

Agreed! Signed in to say this.
It's not that "other products have this", it's just such a benefit to the flow of composing.

@c-festing commented on GitHub (Jan 19, 2024): Agreed! Signed in to say this. It's not that "other products have this", it's just such a benefit to the flow of composing.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:01 +03:00

@lukasgolson commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2024):

I'd love to see this as a feature, this is a must for writing scientific documentation pages where I have lots of pieces of information that I'd like to further define and talk about.

@lukasgolson commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2024): I'd love to see this as a feature, this is a must for writing scientific documentation pages where I have lots of pieces of information that I'd like to further define and talk about.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:04 +03:00

@DanMundy commented on GitHub (Mar 27, 2024):

+1

@DanMundy commented on GitHub (Mar 27, 2024): +1

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:06 +03:00

@corbin-auriti commented on GitHub (Jun 13, 2024):

This is very important to folks with ADHD as we can forget what we wanted to link from if we created a new page. This would allow us to create link to blank page -> edit new blank page.

@corbin-auriti commented on GitHub (Jun 13, 2024): This is very important to folks with ADHD as we can forget what we wanted to link from if we created a new page. This would allow us to create link to blank page -> edit new blank page.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:13 +03:00

@corbin-auriti commented on GitHub (Jun 13, 2024):

Here's a header hack then when you type text in double square brackets [[TEST]] it creates a red link to a new page under in my case shelf Misc -> New Pages to Be Sorted, Please change that url for your own needs.
You'll still need to go back and change the link manually after you've created the new page.

<script>
    // Listen to the BookStack setup TinyMCE editor event to run custom actions against the editor instance
    window.addEventListener('editor-tinymce::setup, event => {
        // Gain a reference to the TinyMCE editor instance
        const editor = event.detail.editor;

        // Function to convert [[TEXT]] into a red link
        function convertBracketsToLinks(content) {
            const regex = /\[\[(.*?)\]\]/g;
            return content.replace(regex, (match, p1) => {
                return '<a href="YOUR-BOOKSTACK-URL/books/new-pages-to-be-sorted/create-page" style="color: red;">${p1}</a>';
            });
        }

        // Add a content filter to process the content before it is set in the editor
        editor.on('BeforeSetContent', function(e) {
            e.content = convertBracketsToLinks(e.content);
        });

        // Add a content filter to process the content before it is saved
        editor.on('GetContent', function(e) {
            e.content = convertBracketsToLinks(e.content);
        });
    });
</script>

@corbin-auriti commented on GitHub (Jun 13, 2024): Here's a header hack then when you type text in double square brackets `[[TEST]]` it creates a red link to a new page under in my case shelf Misc -> New Pages to Be Sorted, Please change that url for your own needs. You'll still need to go back and change the link manually after you've created the new page. ``` <script> // Listen to the BookStack setup TinyMCE editor event to run custom actions against the editor instance window.addEventListener('editor-tinymce::setup, event => { // Gain a reference to the TinyMCE editor instance const editor = event.detail.editor; // Function to convert [[TEXT]] into a red link function convertBracketsToLinks(content) { const regex = /\[\[(.*?)\]\]/g; return content.replace(regex, (match, p1) => { return '<a href="YOUR-BOOKSTACK-URL/books/new-pages-to-be-sorted/create-page" style="color: red;">${p1}</a>'; }); } // Add a content filter to process the content before it is set in the editor editor.on('BeforeSetContent', function(e) { e.content = convertBracketsToLinks(e.content); }); // Add a content filter to process the content before it is saved editor.on('GetContent', function(e) { e.content = convertBracketsToLinks(e.content); }); }); </script> ```

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:26 +03:00

@albertellimdnd commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2024):

This is incredibly important, in my opinion. I'm honestly surprised that this program is this functional and polished without this basic wiki feature. I only just spun mine up a couple weeks ago, but to be honest, the lack of this feature is constantly hampering my process.

Like others said, This would be a huge feature for those of us with adhd, but I think it's also just an essential feature in general. It's difficult to conceptualize a vast, branching wiki from the get-go, and it's borderline impossible to go back and edit all previous pages when you need to add a relevant link to something.

@albertellimdnd commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2024): This is incredibly important, in my opinion. I'm honestly surprised that this program is this functional and polished without this basic wiki feature. I only just spun mine up a couple weeks ago, but to be honest, the lack of this feature is constantly hampering my process. Like others said, This would be a huge feature for those of us with adhd, but I think it's also just an essential feature in general. It's difficult to conceptualize a vast, branching wiki from the get-go, and it's borderline impossible to go back and edit all previous pages when you need to add a relevant link to something.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:32 +03:00

@adamjdavidson commented on GitHub (Dec 29, 2024):

I love BookStack but this feature is a must-have for me, alas.

Any ETA on it? It's been here for 7+ years. It is a basic function of most wiki sites, so makes me think the dev team is not going to implement for some reason.

@adamjdavidson commented on GitHub (Dec 29, 2024): I love BookStack but this feature is a must-have for me, alas. Any ETA on it? It's been here for 7+ years. It is a basic function of most wiki sites, so makes me think the dev team is not going to implement for some reason.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:39 +03:00

@ssddanbrown commented on GitHub (Dec 30, 2024):

@adamjdavidson No particular ETA, just hasn't fallen into the realm of something I'd implement, as it's really for a narrow audience scope and had relatively low demand compared to fiddly implementation requirements (editor-level UI/additions and maybe some process considerations). There's been an increase in demand this year, but editor focused features have kinda been on pause this year while building a replacement editor.

@ssddanbrown commented on GitHub (Dec 30, 2024): @adamjdavidson No particular ETA, just hasn't fallen into the realm of something I'd implement, as it's really for a narrow audience scope and had relatively low demand compared to fiddly implementation requirements (editor-level UI/additions and maybe some process considerations). There's been an increase in demand this year, but editor focused features have kinda been on pause this year while building a replacement editor.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:46 +03:00

@adamjdavidson commented on GitHub (Dec 30, 2024):

Thank you for the response and explanation.

It is interesting how this one little capability does reveal (I think) a major difference in approach to knowledge and documentation.

My hunch is that this is particularly valuable to those with ADHD. It's what makes Obsidian and Roam and other tools like that so attractive. It's a big thing in Notion. The ability to write, create links to new pages, later look at the undeveloped pages and flesh them out, then seeing what emerges. It is a fundamentally different approach then having a hierarchical structure from the jump.

So, maybe asking for BookStack to have this is asking for BookStack to be something it isn't meant to be.

@adamjdavidson commented on GitHub (Dec 30, 2024): Thank you for the response and explanation. It is interesting how this one little capability does reveal (I think) a major difference in approach to knowledge and documentation. My hunch is that this is particularly valuable to those with ADHD. It's what makes Obsidian and Roam and other tools like that so attractive. It's a big thing in Notion. The ability to write, create links to new pages, later look at the undeveloped pages and flesh them out, then seeing what emerges. It is a fundamentally different approach then having a hierarchical structure from the jump. So, maybe asking for BookStack to have this is asking for BookStack to be something it isn't meant to be.

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:56 +03:00

@jeremypetz commented on GitHub (Feb 23, 2025):

I can not believe this is not a feature. It's almost on the level of "why would people want in line links? We have a table of contents" in how out of line it is with how wiki's were meant to grow content.

This is very much a deal breaker for me :-(

@jeremypetz commented on GitHub (Feb 23, 2025): I can not believe this is not a feature. It's almost on the level of "why would people want in line links? We have a table of contents" in how out of line it is with how wiki's were meant to grow content. This is very much a deal breaker for me :-(

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-04 20:16:59 +03:00

@SenbiF commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2025):

Same position here: It is an incredibly important feature. I just moved from Confluence to Bookstack. Confluence had a workaround with wikification, like writing the term in " [ term ] ( ) " would create a new page that you could then fill with content after finishing your work on the recent page. I learned about this feature with a Python-based wiki: Just press Ctrl+K, and the word or phrase was wikified. It was a real game changer—and a deal breaker. I've never been as productive as in these times.

It is really worth considering. It will catapult BookStack to the front row with all major wikis—from the perspective of an editor.

Please think of an implemented solution or a workaround. It is definitely worth it, not too complex to compose, and simplifies all the editing steps.

Thanks for considering—best regards. I am a huge fan of BookStack—perfect tool. Let's make it better at this particular point.

@SenbiF commented on GitHub (Apr 8, 2025): Same position here: It is an incredibly important feature. I just moved from Confluence to Bookstack. Confluence had a workaround with wikification, like writing the term in " [ term ] ( ) " would create a new page that you could then fill with content after finishing your work on the recent page. I learned about this feature with a Python-based wiki: Just press Ctrl+K, and the word or phrase was wikified. It was a real game changer—and a deal breaker. I've never been as productive as in these times. It is really worth considering. It will catapult BookStack to the front row with all major wikis—from the perspective of an editor. Please think of an implemented solution or a workaround. It is definitely worth it, not too complex to compose, and simplifies all the editing steps. Thanks for considering—best regards. I am a huge fan of BookStack—perfect tool. Let's make it better at this particular point.

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Reference: starred/BookStack#463