obsidian-bases
The obsidian-bases skill creates and edits Obsidian Base files, which are YAML-formatted database-like views of vault notes featuring customizable tables, cards, lists, and maps with filters, formulas, grouping, and summary calculations. Use this skill when a user requests to build or modify Base files, create dynamic note views with specific filtering or sorting criteria, or configure properties and calculated formulas within Obsidian.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/heyitsnoah/claudesidian /tmp/obsidian-bases && cp -r /tmp/obsidian-bases/.agents/skills/obsidian-bases ~/.claude/skills/obsidian-basesSKILL.md
# Obsidian Bases Skill
This skill enables skills-compatible agents 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.
## File Format
Base files use the `.base` extension and contain valid YAML. They can also be embedded in Markdown code blocks.
## Complete Schema
```yaml
# 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: Average
```
## Filter Syntax
Filters narrow down results. They can be applied globally or per-view.
### Filter Structure
```yaml
# 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 |
| <code>!</code> | logical not |
## Properties
### Three Types of Properties
1. **Note properties** - From frontmatter: `note.author` or just `author`
2. **File properties** - File metadata: `file.name`, `file.mtime`, etc.
3. **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.
```yaml
formulas:
# Simple arithmetic
total: "price * quantity"
# Conditional logic
status_icon: 'if(done, "✅", "⏳")'
# 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. Format: `YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss` |
| `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 |
### Any Type Functions
| Function | Signature | Description |
|----------|-----------|-------------|
| `isTruthy()` | `any.isTruthy(): boolean` | Coerce to boolean |
| `isType()` | `any.isType(type): boolean` | Check type |
| `toString()` | `any.toString(): string` | Convert to string |
### 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.fAdd or update YAML frontmatter properties to enhance Obsidian note organization. Use when the user asks to add, fix, normalize, or improve frontmatter, properties, metadata, tags, or YAML on a note or folder of notes.
Conduct an end-of-day review to capture progress and set up tomorrow. Use when the user asks for a daily review, end of day wrap-up, EOD note, what they did today, or wants to reflect on the day and plan tomorrow.
Remove AI-generated jargon and restore human voice to text. Use when the user asks to de-AI-ify, humanize, remove AI tone, or make text sound less machine-generated.
Download files from URLs to the Obsidian attachments folder and organize them with descriptive names. Use when the user provides URLs to download, asks to save files from the web, or wants to add web content as attachments.
Work with git worktrees for isolated parallel development. Use when starting feature work in isolation, when need separate workspace without branch switching, or when cleaning up worktrees after PR merge.
Help organize and process items in the 00_Inbox folder according to the PARA method. Use when the user asks to process, clear, sort, triage, or organize their inbox.
Interactive setup wizard that helps new users create a personalized CLAUDE.md file based on their Obsidian workflow preferences. Use when the user wants to set up claudesidian, onboard a new vault, or run the bootstrap/init/setup wizard.
Install claudesidian shell command to launch Claude Code from anywhere. Use when the user wants to install a shell alias/launcher for their vault, or asks to set up the claudesidian command.