;; export headlines to separate files
;; http://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/2259/how-to-export-top-level-headings-of-org-mode-buffer-to-separate-files
(defun org-export-headlines-to-txt ()
    "Export all subtrees that are *not* tagged with :noexport: to
separate files.

Subtrees that do not have the :EXPORT_FILE_NAME: property set
are exported to a filename derived from the headline text."
    (interactive)
    (save-buffer)
    (let ((modifiedp (buffer-modified-p)))
      (save-excursion
	(goto-char (point-min))
	(goto-char (re-search-forward "^*"))
	(set-mark (line-beginning-position))
	(goto-char (point-max))
	(org-map-entries
	 (lambda ()
	   (let ((export-file (org-entry-get (point) "EXPORT_FILE_NAME")))
	     ;; I'm assuming 'export-file' is an on-the-fly var;
	     ;; org-entry-get is part of the property API and finds the heading that has that property 
	     (unless export-file
	       (org-set-property
		"EXPORT_FILE_NAME"
		(replace-regexp-in-string " " "_" (nth 4 (org-heading-components)))))
	     (deactivate-mark)
	     (org-org-export-to-org nil t) ;; will have to learn a tiny bit of lisp
	     (unless export-file (org-delete-property "EXPORT_FILE_NAME"))
	     (set-buffer-modified-p modifiedp)))
	        "-noexport" 'region-start-level))))