How I use Obsidian (Early 2023)

Initial Workspace and Editor Configuration

• The Obsidian vault setup is based on version 1.17 using Insider builds 0s.
• The workspace anatomy is configured by moving the start panel to the bottom, opening the right sidebar, and rearranging the outline, tags, backlinks, and outgoing links plugins 15s.
• Editor settings are configured to use the editing view with live preview, and the editor status is enabled in the status bar 42s.
• Readable line length is disabled to allow for a wider view, and spell check is enabled to provide visual indicators and dictionary access 52s.

File and Link Management Settings

• In the files and links settings, the confirm file deletion option is disabled because deleted items are sent to the system trash 1m12s.
• Automatic updates for internal links are enabled to ensure that renaming a file updates all associated links within the vault 1m25s.
• The detect all files setting is enabled to allow non-markdown files, such as PDFs, Excel documents, and Word files, to appear in the files core plugin 1m35s.
• The default location for new attachments and excluded files are currently set to the root folder, with plans for future changes 1m45s.

Interface Customization and Core Plugins

• The interface uses the default theme in dark mode, with the accent color set to orange and the font changed to Inter 1m55s.
• Hotkeys are customizable and can be managed by adding or removing them, though specific keybindings are noted as being optimized for a specific keyboard layout 2m10s.
• Several core plugins are disabled, including the audio recorder, daily notes, graph view, and slash commands 2m25s.
• The sync core plugin is kept off to prevent syncing a blank vault, while the workspaces plugin is enabled 2m45s.

Advanced Editor and File Recovery Settings

• Backlinks are configured to remain in the side panel rather than appearing within the document 2m55s.
• File recovery settings remain at their defaults, while the note composer is set to not retain previous notes during merges, though confirmation for file merging is enabled 3m5s.
• Page preview is enabled for the editing view, allowing users to hover over links to see content without holding the control key 3m20s.
• The quick switcher is configured to show existing files only, and the option to show all file types is disabled to prevent the accidental opening of external applications 3m30s.
• The templates core plugin is initialized, though it remains inactive until a templates folder is created 3m50s.

Vault Structure and Dashboard Setup

• Default date and time formats are maintained to ensure compatibility with future Community plugins. 0s
• The file structure is organized by creating specific folders for notes, templates, and images, with the images folder nested inside the notes folder. 5s
• Settings are configured to direct new notes to the notes folder and new attachments to the images folder. 13s
• The templates folder is added to the excluded files list to lower its priority in search results and visually de-emphasize those files. 24s
• A canvas is created and renamed "home" to serve as a dashboard, incorporating a "brain dump" scratchpad note and a dashboard file with customized colors. 37s

Community Plugin Installation and Configuration

• Community plugins are enabled by turning off safe mode, though these are optional and not required for basic Obsidian functionality. 55s
• The Auto Link Title plugin is installed to automatically fetch and display the titles of pasted web links. 1m6s
• The Better Word Count plugin is configured to track daily writing statistics, exclude markdown comments, and add spacing for aesthetic purposes in the status bar. 1m16s
• The Better Word Count plugin is set to display total word counts on canvas dashboards and provides real-time statistics for highlighted text or specific pages. 1m36s

Ribbon and Tab Bar Customization

• The Commander plugin is used to customize the ribbon, tab bar, and status bar, allowing for the removal of unused interface elements. 2m2s
• Obsidian version 1.1 allows users to reorder buttons in the left ribbon by dragging them, replacing previous sorting methods. 2m14s
• Unnecessary buttons are hidden from the ribbon via the appearance settings under the advanced ribbon menu section. 2m18s
• The pin command can be added to the title bar by right-clicking on a tab. 2m31s

Tab Pinning and Window Management

• The Commander plugin allows users to add a pin command to the tab bar, which can be customized with a specific name, icon, and color 0s.
• Pin settings can be configured to sync across all devices or remain specific to a single device, such as a desktop or mobile phone 15s.
• Pinning a tab allows a user to keep a specific page, such as a dashboard, open while navigating to other notes 35s.
• The Commander plugin can be used to create ribbon buttons that automate the process of moving a tab to a new window and opening the outline view for that file 1m0s.
• Moving a note to a new window and opening its outline allows for easier navigation through long documents or research notes across multiple screens 1m25s.

Dataview and Database Folder Setup

• The Dataview plugin requires enabling JavaScript and inline queries to function, with other settings typically left at their defaults 1m45s.
• Dataview queries can be embedded in a dashboard to track projects due in the next two weeks, long-term projects, and dated essay or research tasks 1m55s.
• The Database Folder plugin utilizes the Dataview plugin and is configured by leaving global settings at their defaults while customizing individual database files 2m35s.
• Database folders are used to organize and search for specific project types, such as essay scripts, research notes, and their associated sources 2m55s.

Database Organization and Property Management

• Research notes are organized within a dedicated folder, which contains individual source files 0s.
• A database folder can be created by right-clicking a folder, which generates a markdown file with table-like features 5s.
• Database columns can be customized with specific data types, including checkboxes for completion status, date pickers, select dropdowns for priority, relations to other notes, and formulas 20s.
• Priority settings allow for custom labels and numerical values to ensure sorting is based on importance rather than alphabetical order 35s.
• Accent colors for the database interface, such as the orange used for priority labels, are managed within the appearance tab settings 45s.
• Properties marked with a star are displayed inline within the note, and changes made to these properties in the database table are automatically reflected within the corresponding note 55s.
• Notes can be opened in new panes by control-clicking the note name, allowing for simultaneous viewing and editing of properties 1m15s.

Project Workflow and Database Relations

• Essays progress through four distinct stages: research, outline, edit, and produce 1m35s.
• A formula column can be used to calculate the number of remaining tasks by filtering for incomplete items within the file path and appending the word "left" to the result 1m40s.
• Specific sections of a note can be isolated by dragging the note into a dashboard and using the "narrow to selection" feature 2m5s.
• Databases can be renamed and added to the start pane for quick access, functioning as a dashboard for ongoing projects 2m20s.
• Canvas boards use color-coding to signify the current stage of an essay, such as orange for in-progress, green for completed, and red for tasks yet to be started 2m30s.
• A separate database can be created for research notes to establish a relationship between the essay notes and their corresponding research materials 2m40s.
• A relation property labeled "essay" is added to the "done" database, allowing for the selection of the essay table and linking to specific essay notes 0s.
• Bi-directional relations between databases must currently be added manually, though future plugin updates are expected to automate this process 18s.
• Video project databases include a "days left" property, which utilizes a formula to calculate the difference between the current date and the deadline date, displaying the result as a countdown 33s.
• Column IDs remain consistent across different database types—such as essay, project, and video pages—even when the display names of those columns differ 55s.

Note Inbox and Query-Based Organization

• The "note inbox" database is configured using a Dataview query rather than a folder, specifically identifying notes tagged with "#source" that do not contain an in-link to a "#research" tagged file 1m12s.
• Source notes are automatically populated with "#source" tags in their YAML front matter 1m30s.
• The note inbox database settings allow for the inclusion of a "created date" column, which can be used to sort notes in ascending or descending order based on when they were generated 1m42s.
• When a source note is linked within a research note and the research note is tagged with "#research," the source note is removed from the note inbox view because the database query filters out linked sources 2m3s.
• The note inbox database can be stored in any location because it relies on a Dataview query rather than a specific folder path 2m35s.

Full Calendar Plugin Integration

• The Full Calendar plugin is configured to display a month view on desktop for an overview, while the mobile view is set to a single-day view to avoid clutter 2m45s.
• The Full Calendar plugin is set to start the week on Monday, and local calendars are created using full notes rather than daily notes or iCloud CalDAV 3m0s.
• The Full Calendar plugin allows for the integration of calendars by selecting specific directories, such as a video folder, and assigning them distinct colors 0s.
• Events created within the Full Calendar plugin are saved as files within the designated folder, with the event name and date appended to the file title 25s.
• The plugin embeds metadata, including the event title, all-day status, and completion status, directly into the note file to facilitate calendar display 45s.
• Moving an event within the calendar interface automatically updates both the file name and the date metadata stored within the corresponding note 1m5s.

Calendar View and Event Management

• Database views can be configured to hide columns containing file names with dates, replacing them with a cleaner title column that allows for direct interaction with the note 1m18s.
• Deleting an event from the calendar interface results in the permanent deletion of the associated note file 1m45s.
• Multiple calendars can be managed simultaneously by creating separate folders for different categories, such as videos and recaps, and assigning each a unique color in the plugin settings 1m58s.

Kindle Highlights and Source Management

• The Kindle Highlights plugin enables the synchronization of highlights from a Kindle device, providing a summary of the number of books and highlights successfully synced 2m35s.
• Kindle highlights can be imported into Obsidian by uploading a clippings file or by logging directly into an Amazon account, though the latter carries security risks that should be reviewed in the plugin documentation 0s.
• The Kindle plugin settings allow users to designate a specific folder for highlights, such as a "Source" folder, and users can choose to disable the syncing of book metadata to keep files more specific 12s.
• Syncing on startup can be disabled to prevent excessive activity, and templates can be configured so that imported files are named using the author's last name and the book title 25s.
• The template settings allow for the inclusion of specific text, such as adding a "#source" tag, which ensures that imported highlights appear in a designated note inbox database 45s.

Utility Plugins and Backup Solutions

• The Link Favicons plugin automatically adds icons next to external links, such as YouTube or GitHub, to provide visual identification of the link source 1m8s.
• Obsidian Git is utilized as a backup solution for the vault, though it is noted that the setup process can be complex for those unfamiliar with Git 1m23s.
• The Plugin Update Tracker monitors community plugins and displays a status bar indicator, such as a green tick, to notify the user when updates are available 1m35s.
• Plugin Update Tracker settings allow users to ignore beta versions or adjust the notification frequency to be more conservative, which helps avoid potential bugs in new updates 1m45s.

QuickAdd and Template Automation

• The Quick Add plugin facilitates the creation of new notes or the capture of information into the vault using templates 2m15s.
• Quick Add can be configured to append notes to specific files, such as a "brain dump" page, and allows users to choose whether new content is added to the top or bottom of a file 2m25s.
• Users can configure Quick Add to insert notes under specific headings within a file, such as "General," "Videos," or "Projects," to maintain organization 2m38s.
• QuickAdd is configured to append notes to a specific file by using a forward slash and an "n" command, which ensures that new entries appear on separate lines rather than sequentially 0s.

Template-Driven Workflow and Commander Integration

• The Commander plugin is used to add a "new note" button to the Obsidian tab bar, allowing for the creation of notes in a "brain dump" file from any location within the application 12s.
• Templates are created for essay and video notes to ensure consistent formatting, including pre-filled task lists and metadata fields for databases and calendar plugins 45s.
• Essay templates include a "done" checkbox, date, priority, and a standardized "to do" section consisting of research, outline, edit, and produce 1m5s.
• Video templates incorporate specific metadata required for the Full Calendar plugin, alongside a task list for scripting, recording, editing, uploading, and publishing 1m25s.
• QuickAdd is configured to use these templates by specifying the template path and the destination folder for new files, while leaving the file name field empty to allow for manual entry upon creation 1m42s.
• Buttons for creating new essays and videos are added to the tab bar via the Commander plugin, with distinct colors assigned to differentiate them 1m55s.
• Changes made to a template file automatically reflect in future notes created via QuickAdd, meaning existing QuickAdd configurations do not need to be manually updated when template content is modified 2m25s.

Advanced Templater and Calendar Organization

• New files added to the system require a title to appear on the full calendar, even if a due date is assigned 0s.
• The Templater community plugin provides advanced features compared to the default templates core plugin and is used to automate metadata entry 17s.
• By configuring a template folder and using the tp.file.title command within a template, the file's title is automatically inserted into the YAML metadata upon file creation 35s.
• Once a file has both a title and a date, it can be successfully integrated into the full calendar 1m5s.
• Multiple calendars can be configured for specific subfolders, such as separate folders for videos and recaps, allowing for color-coded organization and easier file management 1m13s.
• Changing the calendar assignment for an event within the interface automatically moves the corresponding file into the designated subfolder 1m35s.

Tagging and Recent Files Navigation

• Tags are added to the database folder as multi-select properties to categorize items like content, projects, and research notes 1m55s.
• Adding tags ensures that items appear in the dashboard and the tag pane, which facilitates easier searching in the sidebar 2m18s.
• The Recent Files plugin is used to display a list of recently accessed files in the top left panel, allowing for quick access without navigating through folders 2m55s.
• Files can be dragged from the Recent Files list into a canvas, where tasks can be managed, edited, and color-coded based on their status 3m15s.
• Ticking off tasks within a file automatically updates the status in the associated database, allowing for visual tracking of progress on projects like videos or recaps 0s.

Reading Time and Visual Link Customization

• The reading time plugin assists in script writing by calculating the estimated time required to read a document based on a customizable reading speed 23s.
• This plugin displays the word count, character count, and estimated reading time directly in the status bar 38s.
• The Supercharged Links plugin enables visual customization of file names across the editor, headers, and browsers by applying attributes based on YAML information 45s.
• Users can configure Supercharged Links to change the color of file names based on specific attributes, such as identifying database files as pink or marking completed tasks as green 1m5s.
• The Style Settings plugin can be combined with Supercharged Links to further customize the appearance of files, including changing colors, adding emojis, or appending text like check marks to file names 1m45s.
• The order of rules in the Supercharged Links configuration determines the final visual output, as subsequent rules can override or add to previous formatting 2m15s.

Workspace Management and Layout Saving

• The Workspace Plus plugin integrates with the default workspace core plugin to allow users to save and manage different workspace layouts 2m35s.
• Users can save specific dashboard configurations, such as a "home" layout, by adjusting panel visibility and tab arrangements, then saving the state through the manage workspace layout command 2m50s.
• The Workspace Plus plugin allows for the creation of hotkeys for specific workspaces, which can then be integrated into the Commander plugin to add workspace commands to the ribbon 0s.
• Ribbon items can be hidden or removed through the appearance settings to streamline the interface, though these settings are saved as part of the workspace configuration 15s.
• To ensure a workspace loads correctly, all desired tabs, sidebar states, and ribbon configurations must be finalized before saving the workspace 30s.
• The Workspace Plus plugin provides a command to save the current workspace, which can be added to the status bar via the Commander plugin for quick access 45s.
• Multiple workspaces can be created and saved, allowing for quick switching between different layouts, such as a "temp" workspace that includes specific notes and outlines in separate windows 1m5s.

Research Integration and Future Updates

• The Zotero Integration plugin is used for managing research notes, functioning similarly to the Kindle highlights plugin 1m35s.
• The Readwise plugin is suggested as an alternative for users who utilize that service for managing highlights 1m45s.
• Because plugins and workflows may change over time, a course is available to provide updated information regarding the described Obsidian setup 1m55s.