Setup
- Download Obsidian from https://obsidian.md/.
- Start writing notes. Maybe start with a plan of your Vault.
Organization
I organize my notes mostly with the PARA System.
Projects stores folders with active efforts. These folders will contain all the notes for that effort until it is completed. Eventually the notes will be moved to Archive, and the folders will be deleted.
Areas contain top level map-of-contents. There are general topics that I use to sort my notes. A map-of-content is simply a note that links to all related notes.
Resources is for metadata and PFDs of online articles, journals, books, etc.
All notes will eventually live in the Archive folder after they have been completed and linked to another note or map-of-content. This makes organization very painless as a note always be found by navigating through links, or by search.
The Meta folder is where all the files that aren't notes live. Things like images and templates.
Settings
My current settings. Read through everything and update to your preferences.
General
Default
Editor
Mostly Default. Tweak to preference
Files and Links
- Confirm file deletion:
No - Deleted Files:
Move to system trash - Automatically updated internal links:
Yes - Default location for new notes:
Folder Specified Below00 - Home
- New link format:
Shortest path when possible - Use Wikilinks:
Yes - Detect all file extensions:
Yes - Default location for new attachments:
99 - Meta/01 - Attachments - Excluded files:
99 - Meta - Override config folder:
Leave default
Appearance
Mostly default except for font and theme settings.
-
Font size:
14 -
Show ribbon:
No -
Theme
- Warm: Primary
- Black: Vanilla AMOLED
-
Font
- Monospace: Jetbrains Mono
- Primary Theme: Karla
- Readable: Atkinson Hyperlegible
Core Plugins
Core plugins are built by obsidian and can be toggled on or off just like regular plugins. Read through all the core plugins and enable them as needed. Listed below are the ones I leave on.
Backlinks
Self explanatory.
Canvas
Create mind maps with notes.
Command Palette
Use CTRL + P to search and run any Obsidian command.
Daily Notes
Best used for creating journal entries.
- New file location:
97 - Daily - Template file location:
99 - Meta/00 - Templates/(Template) Daily
File Recovery
Provides basic file history. Very useful when you break something and need to rollback to a older version of the note. Needs Obsidian Sync subscription.
Files
Self explanatory, always leave on.
Graph View
Provides a visual view of note relations. Fun to look at, some people use it for navigation by purely using tags.
Outline
Self explanatory.
Page Preview
Show preview of note on hover. Sometimes need to hold CTRL to see the preview, see settings to change this behavior. I leave all selected except for reading view and editing view.
Properties View
Self explanatory.
Quick Switcher
Use CTRL + O to search for any file or note. Very useful.
Templates
Useful for generating boilerplate for notes. Used in many different workflows.
Word Count
Self explanatory.
Workspaces
Self explanatory.
Community Plugins
Must Haves
These plugins add some missing functionality to Obsidian. Just install and use.
- Calendar
- Iconize
- Image Converter
Set Convert to: PNG in settings - Paste URL into selection
- Settings Search
- Style Settings
More Must Haves
These are very useful if you use the related Obsidian features.
- Multi Properties
- Tag Wrangler