Obsidian Bases
This skill enables Claude Code to create and edit valid Obsidian Bases (.base files) including views, filters, formulas, and all related configurations.
Overview
Obsidian Bases are YAML-based files that define dynamic views of notes in an Obsidian vault. A Base file can contain multiple views, global filters, formulas, property configurations, and custom summaries.
When to Use This Skill
- Creating database-like views of notes in Obsidian
- Building task trackers, reading lists, or project dashboards
- Filtering and organizing notes by properties or tags
- Creating calculated/formula fields
- Setting up table, card, list, or map views
- Working with.base files in an Obsidian vault
File Format
Base files use the .base extension and contain valid YAML. They can also be embedded in Markdown code blocks.
Complete Schema
# Global filters apply to ALL views in the base
filters:
# Can be a single filter string
# OR a recursive filter object with and/or/not
and: []
or: []
not: []
# Define formula properties that can be used across all views
formulas:
formula_name: 'expression'
# Configure display names and settings for properties
properties:
property_name:
displayName: "Display Name"
formula.formula_name:
displayName: "Formula Display Name"
file.ext:
displayName: "Extension"
# Define custom summary formulas
summaries:
custom_summary_name: 'values.mean().round(3)'
# Define one or more views
views:
- type: table | cards | list | map
name: "View Name"
limit: 10 # Optional: limit results
groupBy: # Optional: group results
property: property_name
direction: ASC | DESC
filters: # View-specific filters
and: []
order: # Properties to display in order
- file.name
- property_name
- formula.formula_name
summaries: # Map properties to summary formulas
property_name: AverageFilter Syntax
Filters narrow down results. They can be applied globally or per-view.
Filter Structure
# Single filter
filters: 'status == "done"'
# AND - all conditions must be true
filters:
and:
- 'status == "done"'
- 'priority > 3'
# OR - any condition can be true
filters:
or:
- file.hasTag("book")
- file.hasTag("article")
# NOT - exclude matching items
filters:
not:
- file.hasTag("archived")
# Nested filters
filters:
or:
- file.hasTag("tag")
- and:
- file.hasTag("book")
- file.hasLink("Textbook")
- not:
- file.hasTag("book")
- file.inFolder("Required Reading")Filter Operators
| Operator | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
== | equals | ||
!= | not equal | ||
> | greater than | ||
< | less than | ||
>= | greater than or equal | ||
<= | less than or equal | ||
&& | logical and | ||
| `\ | \ | ` | logical or |
! | logical not |
Properties
Three Types of Properties
- Note properties - From frontmatter:
note.authoror justauthor - File properties - File metadata:
file.name,file.mtime, etc. - Formula properties - Computed values:
formula.my_formula
File Properties Reference
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
file.name | String | File name |
file.basename | String | File name without extension |
file.path | String | Full path to file |
file.folder | String | Parent folder path |
file.ext | String | File extension |
file.size | Number | File size in bytes |
file.ctime | Date | Created time |
file.mtime | Date | Modified time |
file.tags | List | All tags in file |
file.links | List | Internal links in file |
file.backlinks | List | Files linking to this file |
file.embeds | List | Embeds in the note |
file.properties | Object | All frontmatter properties |
The this Keyword
- In main content area: refers to the base file itself
- When embedded: refers to the embedding file
- In sidebar: refers to the active file in main content
Formula Syntax
Formulas compute values from properties. Defined in the formulas section.
formulas:
# Simple arithmetic
total: "price * quantity"
# Conditional logic
status_icon: 'if(done, "check", "pending")'
# String formatting
formatted_price: 'if(price, price.toFixed(2) + " dollars")'
# Date formatting
created: 'file.ctime.format("YYYY-MM-DD")'
# Complex expressions
days_old: '((now() - file.ctime) / 86400000).round(0)'Functions Reference
Global Functions
| Function | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
date() | date(string): date | Parse string to date |
duration() | duration(string): duration | Parse duration string |
now() | now(): date | Current date and time |
today() | today(): date | Current date (time = 00:00:00) |
if() | if(condition, trueResult, falseResult?) | Conditional |
min() | min(n1, n2,...): number | Smallest number |
max() | max(n1, n2,...): number | Largest number |
number() | number(any): number | Convert to number |
link() | link(path, display?): Link | Create a link |
list() | list(element): List | Wrap in list if not already |
file() | file(path): file | Get file object |
image() | image(path): image | Create image for rendering |
icon() | icon(name): icon | Lucide icon by name |
html() | html(string): html | Render as HTML |
escapeHTML() | escapeHTML(string): string | Escape HTML characters |
Date Functions & Fields
Fields: date.year, date.month, date.day, date.hour, date.minute, date.second, date.millisecond
| Function | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
date() | date.date(): date | Remove time portion |
format() | date.format(string): string | Format with Moment.js pattern |
time() | date.time(): string | Get time as string |
relative() | date.relative(): string | Human-readable relative time |
isEmpty() | date.isEmpty(): boolean | Always false for dates |
Date Arithmetic
# Duration units: y/year/years, M/month/months, d/day/days,
# w/week/weeks, h/hour/hours, m/minute/minutes, s/second/seconds
# Add/subtract durations
"date + \"1M\"" # Add 1 month
"date - \"2h\"" # Subtract 2 hours
"now() + \"1 day\"" # Tomorrow
"today() + \"7d\"" # A week from today
# Subtract dates for millisecond difference
"now() - file.ctime"
# Complex duration arithmetic
"now() + (duration('1d') * 2)"String Functions
Field: string.length
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
contains(value) | Check substring |
containsAll(...values) | All substrings present |
containsAny(...values) | Any substring present |
startsWith(query) | Starts with query |
endsWith(query) | Ends with query |
isEmpty() | Empty or not present |
lower() | To lowercase |
title() | To Title Case |
trim() | Remove whitespace |
replace(pattern, replacement) | Replace pattern |
repeat(count) | Repeat string |
reverse() | Reverse string |
slice(start, end?) | Substring |
split(separator, n?) | Split to list |
Number Functions
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
abs() | Absolute value |
ceil() | Round up |
floor() | Round down |
round(digits?) | Round to digits |
toFixed(precision) | Fixed-point notation |
isEmpty() | Not present |
List Functions
Field: list.length
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
contains(value) | Element exists |
containsAll(...values) | All elements exist |
containsAny(...values) | Any element exists |
filter(expression) | Filter by condition (uses value, index) |
map(expression) | Transform elements (uses value, index) |
reduce(expression, initial) | Reduce to single value (uses value, index, acc) |
flat() | Flatten nested lists |
join(separator) | Join to string |
reverse() | Reverse order |
slice(start, end?) | Sublist |
sort() | Sort ascending |
unique() | Remove duplicates |
isEmpty() | No elements |
File Functions
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
asLink(display?) | Convert to link |
hasLink(otherFile) | Has link to file |
hasTag(...tags) | Has any of the tags |
hasProperty(name) | Has property |
inFolder(folder) | In folder or subfolder |
View Types
Table View
views:
- type: table
name: "My Table"
order:
- file.name
- status
- due_date
summaries:
price: Sum
count: AverageCards View
views:
- type: cards
name: "Gallery"
order:
- file.name
- cover_image
- descriptionList View
views:
- type: list
name: "Simple List"
order:
- file.name
- statusMap View
Requires latitude/longitude properties and the Maps plugin.
views:
- type: map
name: "Locations"Default Summary Formulas
| Name | Input Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Average | Number | Mathematical mean |
Min | Number | Smallest number |
Max | Number | Largest number |
Sum | Number | Sum of all numbers |
Range | Number | Max - Min |
Median | Number | Mathematical median |
Stddev | Number | Standard deviation |
Earliest | Date | Earliest date |
Latest | Date | Latest date |
Checked | Boolean | Count of true values |
Unchecked | Boolean | Count of false values |
Empty | Any | Count of empty values |
Filled | Any | Count of non-empty values |
Unique | Any | Count of unique values |
Complete Examples
Task Tracker Base
filters:
and:
- file.hasTag("task")
- 'file.ext == "md"'
formulas:
days_until_due: 'if(due, ((date(due) - today()) / 86400000).round(0), "")'
is_overdue: 'if(due, date(due) < today() && status != "done", false)'
priority_label: 'if(priority == 1, "High", if(priority == 2, "Medium", "Low"))'
properties:
status:
displayName: Status
formula.days_until_due:
displayName: "Days Until Due"
formula.priority_label:
displayName: Priority
views:
- type: table
name: "Active Tasks"
filters:
and:
- 'status != "done"'
order:
- file.name
- status
- formula.priority_label
- due
- formula.days_until_due
groupBy:
property: status
direction: ASC
summaries:
formula.days_until_due: Average
- type: table
name: "Completed"
filters:
and:
- 'status == "done"'
order:
- file.name
- completed_dateReading List Base
filters:
or:
- file.hasTag("book")
- file.hasTag("article")
formulas:
reading_time: 'if(pages, (pages * 2).toString() + " min", "")'
status_icon: 'if(status == "reading", "reading", if(status == "done", "done", "to-read"))'
year_read: 'if(finished_date, date(finished_date).year, "")'
properties:
author:
displayName: Author
formula.status_icon:
displayName: ""
formula.reading_time:
displayName: "Est. Time"
views:
- type: cards
name: "Library"
order:
- cover
- file.name
- author
- formula.status_icon
filters:
not:
- 'status == "dropped"'
- type: table
name: "Reading List"
filters:
and:
- 'status == "to-read"'
order:
- file.name
- author
- pages
- formula.reading_timeProject Notes Base
filters:
and:
- file.inFolder("Projects")
- 'file.ext == "md"'
formulas:
last_updated: 'file.mtime.relative()'
link_count: 'file.links.length'
summaries:
avgLinks: 'values.filter(value.isType("number")).mean().round(1)'
properties:
formula.last_updated:
displayName: "Updated"
formula.link_count:
displayName: "Links"
views:
- type: table
name: "All Projects"
order:
- file.name
- status
- formula.last_updated
- formula.link_count
summaries:
formula.link_count: avgLinks
groupBy:
property: status
direction: ASC
- type: list
name: "Quick List"
order:
- file.name
- statusDaily Notes Index
filters:
and:
- file.inFolder("Daily Notes")
- '/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.matches(file.basename)'
formulas:
word_estimate: '(file.size / 5).round(0)'
day_of_week: 'date(file.basename).format("dddd")'
properties:
formula.day_of_week:
displayName: "Day"
formula.word_estimate:
displayName: "~Words"
views:
- type: table
name: "Recent Notes"
limit: 30
order:
- file.name
- formula.day_of_week
- formula.word_estimate
- file.mtimeEmbedding Bases
Embed in Markdown files:
![[MyBase.base]]
<!-- Specific view -->
![[MyBase.base#View Name]]YAML Quoting Rules
- Use single quotes for formulas containing double quotes:
'if(done, "Yes", "No")' - Use double quotes for simple strings:
"My View Name" - Escape nested quotes properly in complex expressions
Common Patterns
Filter by Tag
filters:
and:
- file.hasTag("project")Filter by Folder
filters:
and:
- file.inFolder("Notes")Filter by Date Range
filters:
and:
- 'file.mtime > now() - "7d"'Filter by Property Value
filters:
and:
- 'status == "active"'
- 'priority >= 3'Combine Multiple Conditions
filters:
or:
- and:
- file.hasTag("important")
- 'status != "done"'
- and:
- 'priority == 1'
- 'due != ""'