local column = {name=new_pane.id}
  table.insert(column, new_pane)
  add_column_to_right_of_cursor(column)
  refresh_pane_height(pane)  -- just in case this is the first link
  bring_cursor_column_on_screen()
  bring_cursor_of_cursor_pane_in_view('up')

  if #Surface[Cursor_pane.col] == 1 then
    -- column has a single note; turn it into unroll
    Surface[Cursor_pane.col] = {name=('%s from %s'):format(rel, pane.id)}
    populate_unroll_column(Surface[Cursor_pane.col], pane.id, rel)
    Cursor_pane.row = #Surface[Cursor_pane.col]
    add_title(new_pane, ('%d/%d'):format(Cursor_pane.row, Cursor_pane.row))
    new_pane.editable = true
    Surface[Cursor_pane.col][Cursor_pane.row] = new_pane
    bring_cursor_column_on_screen()
    bring_cursor_of_cursor_pane_in_view('down')
  elseif string.match(Surface[Cursor_pane.col].name, rel..' from %S+') then
    -- we're unrolling the same rel; just append to it
    -- (we couldn't be inserting in the middle if we didn't return earlier in
    -- the function)
    table.insert(Surface[Cursor_pane.col], new_pane)
    Cursor_pane.row = #Surface[Cursor_pane.col]
    add_title(new_pane, ('%d/%d'):format(Cursor_pane.row, Cursor_pane.row))
    refresh_pane_height(pane)  -- just in case this is the first link
    bring_cursor_column_on_screen()
    bring_cursor_of_cursor_pane_in_view('down')
  else
    local column = {name=new_pane.id}
    table.insert(column, new_pane)
    add_column_to_right_of_cursor(column)
    refresh_pane_height(pane)  -- just in case this is the first link
    bring_cursor_column_on_screen()
    bring_cursor_of_cursor_pane_in_view('up')
  end