Add quick-add mode for categories

N (from anywhere) or n (in Category panel) opens an inline prompt
to add categories one after another without typing :add-cat each time.

- Yellow border + prompt distinguishes it from item-add (green)
- Enter / Tab adds the category and clears the buffer, staying open
- Esc returns to the category list
- Cursor automatically moves to the newly added category

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/main.rs

@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ fn draw_status(f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &App) {
         AppMode::FormulaEdit { .. } => "FORMULA",
         AppMode::FormulaPanel => "FORMULAS",
         AppMode::CategoryPanel => "CATEGORIES",
+        AppMode::CategoryAdd { .. } => "NEW CATEGORY",
         AppMode::ItemAdd { .. } => "ADD ITEMS",
         AppMode::ViewPanel => "VIEWS",
         AppMode::TileSelect { .. } => "TILES",

src/ui/app.rs

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ pub enum AppMode {
     FormulaEdit { buffer: String },
     FormulaPanel,
     CategoryPanel,
+    /// Quick-add a new category: Enter adds and stays open, Esc closes.
+    CategoryAdd { buffer: String },
     /// Quick-add items to `category`: Enter adds and stays open, Esc closes.
     ItemAdd { category: String, buffer: String },
     ViewPanel,
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ impl App {
             AppMode::FormulaEdit { .. } => { self.handle_formula_edit_key(key)?; }
             AppMode::FormulaPanel => { self.handle_formula_panel_key(key)?; }
             AppMode::CategoryPanel => { self.handle_category_panel_key(key)?; }
+            AppMode::CategoryAdd { .. } => { self.handle_category_add_key(key)?; }
             AppMode::ItemAdd { .. } => { self.handle_item_add_key(key)?; }
             AppMode::ViewPanel => { self.handle_view_panel_key(key)?; }
             AppMode::TileSelect { .. } => { self.handle_tile_select_key(key)?; }
@@ -266,6 +269,12 @@ impl App {
                 }
             }
 
+            // N = quick-add a new category (opens Category panel in add mode)
+            (KeyCode::Char('N'), _) => {
+                self.category_panel_open = true;
+                self.mode = AppMode::CategoryAdd { buffer: String::new() };
+            }
+
             // ── Tile movement ──────────────────────────────────────────────
             // T = enter tile select mode (single key, no Ctrl needed)
             (KeyCode::Char('T'), _) => {
@@ -617,7 +626,11 @@ impl App {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            // a / o — open quick-add mode for the selected category
+            // n — add a new category
+            KeyCode::Char('n') => {
+                self.mode = AppMode::CategoryAdd { buffer: String::new() };
+            }
+            // a / o — open quick-add items mode for the selected category
             KeyCode::Char('a') | KeyCode::Char('o') => {
                 if let Some(cat_name) = cat_names.get(self.cat_panel_cursor) {
                     self.mode = AppMode::ItemAdd {
@@ -625,7 +638,7 @@ impl App {
                         buffer: String::new(),
                     };
                 } else {
-                    self.status_msg = "No category selected. Add a category first with :add-cat <name>.".to_string();
+                    self.status_msg = "No category selected. Press n to add a category first.".to_string();
                 }
             }
             _ => {}
@@ -633,6 +646,45 @@ impl App {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    fn handle_category_add_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> Result<()> {
+        match key.code {
+            KeyCode::Esc => {
+                self.mode = AppMode::CategoryPanel;
+                self.status_msg = String::new();
+            }
+            KeyCode::Enter | KeyCode::Tab => {
+                let buf = if let AppMode::CategoryAdd { buffer } = &self.mode {
+                    buffer.trim().to_string()
+                } else { return Ok(()); };
+
+                if !buf.is_empty() {
+                    let result = command::dispatch(&mut self.model, &Command::AddCategory { name: buf.clone() });
+                    if result.ok {
+                        // Move cursor to the new category
+                        self.cat_panel_cursor = self.model.categories.len().saturating_sub(1);
+                        let count = self.model.categories.len();
+                        self.status_msg = format!("Added category \"{buf}\" ({count} total). Enter to add more, Esc to finish.");
+                        self.dirty = true;
+                    } else {
+                        self.status_msg = result.message.unwrap_or_default();
+                    }
+                }
+                // Stay in CategoryAdd for the next entry
+                if let AppMode::CategoryAdd { ref mut buffer } = self.mode {
+                    buffer.clear();
+                }
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char(c) => {
+                if let AppMode::CategoryAdd { ref mut buffer } = self.mode { buffer.push(c); }
+            }
+            KeyCode::Backspace => {
+                if let AppMode::CategoryAdd { ref mut buffer } = self.mode { buffer.pop(); }
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn handle_item_add_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> Result<()> {
         match key.code {
             KeyCode::Esc => {
@@ -1013,8 +1065,9 @@ impl App {
             AppMode::Editing { .. } => "Enter:commit  Esc:cancel",
             AppMode::FormulaPanel => "n:new  d:delete  jk:nav  Esc:back",
             AppMode::FormulaEdit { .. } => "Enter:save  Esc:cancel  — type: Name = expression",
-            AppMode::CategoryPanel => "jk:nav  Space:cycle-axis  a:add-items  Esc:back",
+            AppMode::CategoryPanel => "jk:nav  Space:cycle-axis  n:new-cat  a:add-items  Esc:back",
-            AppMode::ItemAdd { category, .. } => "Enter:add & continue  Tab:same  Esc:done",
+            AppMode::CategoryAdd { .. } => "Enter:add & continue  Tab:same  Esc:done — type a category name",
+            AppMode::ItemAdd { .. } => "Enter:add & continue  Tab:same  Esc:done — type an item name",
             AppMode::ViewPanel => "jk:nav  Enter:switch  n:new  d:delete  Esc:back",
             AppMode::TileSelect { .. } => "hl:select  Enter:cycle  r/c/p:set-axis  Esc:back",
             AppMode::CommandMode { .. } => ":q quit  :w save  :import  :add-cat  :formula  :help",

src/ui/category_panel.rs

@@ -24,12 +24,15 @@ impl<'a> CategoryPanel<'a> {
 impl<'a> Widget for CategoryPanel<'a> {
     fn render(self, area: Rect, buf: &mut Buffer) {
         let is_item_add = matches!(self.mode, AppMode::ItemAdd { .. });
-        let is_active = matches!(self.mode, AppMode::CategoryPanel) || is_item_add;
+        let is_cat_add  = matches!(self.mode, AppMode::CategoryAdd { .. });
+        let is_active   = matches!(self.mode, AppMode::CategoryPanel) || is_item_add || is_cat_add;
 
-        let (border_color, title) = if is_item_add {
+        let (border_color, title) = if is_cat_add {
+            (Color::Yellow, " Categories — New category (Enter:add  Esc:done) ")
+        } else if is_item_add {
             (Color::Green, " Categories — Adding items (Enter:add  Esc:done) ")
         } else if is_active {
-            (Color::Cyan, " Categories  a:add-items  Space:cycle-axis ")
+            (Color::Cyan, " Categories  n:new  a:add-items  Space:axis ")
         } else {
             (Color::DarkGray, " Categories ")
         };
@@ -108,19 +111,26 @@ impl<'a> Widget for CategoryPanel<'a> {
             }
         }
 
-        // Inline prompt at the bottom when in ItemAdd mode
+        // Inline prompt at the bottom for CategoryAdd or ItemAdd
-        if let AppMode::ItemAdd { category, buffer } = self.mode {
+        let (prompt_color, prompt_text) = match self.mode {
-            let sep_y = inner.y + list_height;
+            AppMode::CategoryAdd { buffer } => {
-            let prompt_y = sep_y + 1;
+                (Color::Yellow, format!(" + category: {buffer}▌"))
-            if sep_y < inner.y + inner.height {
-                let sep = "─".repeat(inner.width as usize);
-                buf.set_string(inner.x, sep_y, &sep, Style::default().fg(Color::Green));
             }
-            if prompt_y < inner.y + inner.height {
+            AppMode::ItemAdd { buffer, .. } => {
-                let prompt = format!(" + {buffer}▌");
+                (Color::Green, format!(" + item: {buffer}▌"))
-                buf.set_string(inner.x, prompt_y, &prompt,
-                    Style::default().fg(Color::Green).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD));
             }
+            _ => return,
+        };
+
+        let sep_y = inner.y + list_height;
+        let prompt_y = sep_y + 1;
+        if sep_y < inner.y + inner.height {
+            let sep = "─".repeat(inner.width as usize);
+            buf.set_string(inner.x, sep_y, &sep, Style::default().fg(prompt_color));
+        }
+        if prompt_y < inner.y + inner.height {
+            buf.set_string(inner.x, prompt_y, &prompt_text,
+                Style::default().fg(prompt_color).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD));
         }
     }
 }

src/ui/help.rs

@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ impl Widget for HelpWidget {
             ("", "", norm),
             ("Panels", "", head),
             ("  F", "Toggle Formula panel  (n:new  d:del)", key),
-            ("  C", "Toggle Category panel  (Space:cycle-axis)", key),
+            ("  C", "Toggle Category panel  (n:new-cat  a:add-items)", key),
+            ("  N", "New category quick-add (from anywhere)", key),
             ("  V", "Toggle View panel  (n:new  d:del  Enter:switch)", key),
             ("  Tab", "Focus next open panel", key),
             ("", "", norm),

whatever.improv

@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+{
+  "name": "New Model",
+  "categories": {
+    "Type": {
+      "id": 0,
+      "name": "Type",
+      "items": {
+        "Food": {
+          "id": 0,
+          "name": "Food",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Clothing": {
+          "id": 1,
+          "name": "Clothing",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Gas": {
+          "id": 2,
+          "name": "Gas",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Medical": {
+          "id": 3,
+          "name": "Medical",
+          "group": null
+        }
+      },
+      "groups": [],
+      "next_item_id": 4
+    },
+    "Month": {
+      "id": 1,
+      "name": "Month",
+      "items": {
+        "Janury": {
+          "id": 0,
+          "name": "Janury",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "February": {
+          "id": 1,
+          "name": "February",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "March": {
+          "id": 2,
+          "name": "March",
+          "group": null
+        }
+      },
+      "groups": [],
+      "next_item_id": 3
+    },
+    "Recipient": {
+      "id": 2,
+      "name": "Recipient",
+      "items": {
+        "Bob": {
+          "id": 0,
+          "name": "Bob",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Joe": {
+          "id": 1,
+          "name": "Joe",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Mary": {
+          "id": 2,
+          "name": "Mary",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Jane": {
+          "id": 3,
+          "name": "Jane",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Will": {
+          "id": 4,
+          "name": "Will",
+          "group": null
+        }
+      },
+      "groups": [],
+      "next_item_id": 5
+    },
+    "Payer": {
+      "id": 3,
+      "name": "Payer",
+      "items": {
+        "Bernadette": {
+          "id": 0,
+          "name": "Bernadette",
+          "group": null
+        },
+        "Ed": {
+          "id": 1,
+          "name": "Ed",
+          "group": null
+        }
+      },
+      "groups": [],
+      "next_item_id": 2
+    }
+  },
+  "data": [
+    [
+      [
+        [
+          "Month",
+          "Janury"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Payer",
+          "Bernadette"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Recipient",
+          "Bob"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Type",
+          "Clothing"
+        ]
+      ],
+      {
+        "Number": 3.0
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      [
+        [
+          "Month",
+          "Janury"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Payer",
+          "Bernadette"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Recipient",
+          "Bob"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Type",
+          "Food"
+        ]
+      ],
+      {
+        "Number": 12.0
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      [
+        [
+          "Month",
+          "Janury"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Payer",
+          "Bernadette"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Recipient",
+          "Bob"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Type",
+          "Gas"
+        ]
+      ],
+      {
+        "Number": 4.0
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      [
+        [
+          "Month",
+          "Janury"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Payer",
+          "Bernadette"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Recipient",
+          "Bob"
+        ],
+        [
+          "Type",
+          "Medical"
+        ]
+      ],
+      {
+        "Number": 5.0
+      }
+    ]
+  ],
+  "formulas": [],
+  "views": {
+    "Default": {
+      "name": "Default",
+      "category_axes": {
+        "Type": "Row",
+        "Month": "Column",
+        "Recipient": "Page",
+        "Payer": "Page"
+      },
+      "page_selections": {
+        "Recipient": "Bob"
+      },
+      "hidden_items": {},
+      "collapsed_groups": {},
+      "number_format": ",.0",
+      "row_offset": 0,
+      "col_offset": 0,
+      "selected": [
+        1,
+        1
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "active_view": "Default",
+  "next_category_id": 4
+}