--- id: AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian/obsidian-bases version: "ec4e7f1e" license: MIT install: manual updated: 2026-05-28 --- # obsidian-bases — obsidian-bases enables you to transform vault notes into queryable, interactive views using Obsidian's native database layer. Define filters, computed properties, and multiple view types (table, cards, list) in .base files stored as YAML, then embed them directly in your notes. Perfect for dashboards, entity trackers, and content organization. Publisher: AgriciDaniel · Stars: 10007 · Updated: 2026-05-28 Install (manual): `git clone https://github.com/AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian` ## SKILL.md # obsidian-bases: Obsidian's Database Layer Obsidian Bases (launched 2025) turns vault notes into queryable, dynamic views. Tables, cards, lists, maps. Defined in `.base` files. No plugin required; it is a core Obsidian feature. **Substrate preference (v1.7+)**: This skill is a self-contained fallback. **Prefer `kepano/obsidian-skills`** as the authoritative substrate — its `obsidian-bases` skill is the canonical reference for Bases YAML, formulas, and view definitions. If you see an `obsidian-bases` skill available without the `claude-obsidian:` namespace, that is kepano's version: use it. The reference below is provided so the plugin remains functional when kepano's marketplace is not installed. Install: `claude plugin marketplace add kepano/obsidian-skills`. Official Bases docs: https://help.obsidian.md/bases/syntax --- ## File Format `.base` files contain valid YAML. The root keys are `filters`, `formulas`, `properties`, `summaries`, and `views`. ```yaml # Global filters: apply to ALL views filters: and: - file.hasTag("wiki") - 'status != "archived"' # Computed properties formulas: age_days: '(now() - file.ctime).days.round(0)' status_icon: 'if(status == "mature", "✅", "🔄")' # Display name overrides for properties panel properties: status: displayName: "Status" formula.age_days: displayName: "Age (days)" # One or more views views: - type: table name: "All Pages" order: - file.name - type - status - updated - formula.age_days ``` --- ## Filters Filters select which notes appear. Applied globally or per-view. ```yaml # Single string filter filters: 'status == "current"' # AND: all must be true filters: and: - 'status != "archived"' - file.hasTag("wiki") # OR: any can be true filters: or: - file.hasTag("concept") - file.hasTag("entity") # NOT: exclude matches filters: not: - file.inFolder("wiki/meta") # Nested filters: and: - file.inFolder("wiki/") - or: - 'type == "concept"' - 'type == "entity"' ``` ### Filter operators `==` `!=` `>` `<` `>=` `<=` ### Useful filter functions | Function | Example | |----------|---------| | `file.hasTag("x")` | Notes with tag `x` | | `file.inFolder("path/")` | Notes in folder | | `file.hasLink("Note")` | Notes linking to Note | --- ## Properties Three types: - **Note properties**: from frontmatter: `status`, `type`, `updated` - **File properties**: metadata: `file.name`, `file.mtime`, `file.size`, `file.ctime`, `file.tags`, `file.folder` - **Formula properties**: computed: `formula.age_days` --- ## Formulas Defined in `formulas:`. Referenced as `formula.name` in `order:` and `properties:`. ```yaml formulas: # Days since created age_days: '(now() - file.ctime).days.round(0)' # Days until a date property days_until: 'if(due_date, (date(due_date) - today()).days, "")' # Conditional label status_icon: 'if(status == "mature", "✅", if(status == "developing", "🔄", "🌱"))' # Word count estimate word_est: '(file.size / 5).round(0)' ``` **Key rule**: Subtracting two dates returns a `Duration`. Not a number. Always access `.days` first: ```yaml # CORRECT age: '(now() - file.ctime).days' # WRONG: crashes age: '(now() - file.ctime).round(0)' ``` **Always guard nullable properties with `if()`**: ```yaml # CORRECT days_left: 'if(due_date, (date(due_date) - today()).days, "")' ``` --- ## View Types ### Table ```yaml views: - type: table name: "Wiki Index" limit: 100 order: - file.name - type - status - updated groupBy: property: type direction: ASC ``` ### Cards ```yaml views: - type: cards name: "Gallery" order: - file.name - tags - status ``` ### List ```yaml views: - type: list name: "Quick List" order: - file.name - status ``` --- ## Wiki Vault Templates ### Wiki content dashboard (all non-meta pages) ```yaml filters: and: - file.inFolder("wiki/") - not: - file.inFolder("wiki/meta") formulas: age: '(now() - file.ctime).days.round(0)' properties: formula.age: displayName: "Age (days)" views: - type: table name: "All Wiki Pages" order: - file.name - type - status - updated - formula.age groupBy: property: type direction: ASC ``` ### Entity index (people, orgs, repos) ```yaml filters: and: - file.inFolder("wiki/entities/") - 'file.ext == "md"' views: - type: table name: "Entities" order: - file.name - entity_type - status - updated groupBy: property: entity_type direction: ASC ``` ### Recent ingests ```yaml filters: and: - file.inFolder("wiki/sources/") views: - type: table name: "Sources" order: - file.name - source_type - created - status groupBy: property: source_type direction: ASC ``` --- ## Embedding in Notes ```markdown ![[MyBase.base]] ![[MyBase.base#View Name]] ``` --- ## Where to Save Store `.base` files in `wiki/meta/` for vault dashboards: - `wiki/meta/dashboard.base`: main content view - `wiki/meta/entities.base`: entity tracker - `wiki/meta/sources.base`: ingestion log --- ## YAML Quoting Rules - Formulas with double quotes → wrap in single quotes: `'if(done, "Yes", "No")'` - Strings with colons or special chars → wrap in double quotes: `"Status: Active"` - Unquoted strings with `:` break YAML parsing --- ## What Not to Do - Do not use `from:` or `where:`: those are Dataview syntax, not Obsidian Bases - Do not use `sort:` at the root level: sorting is per-view via `order:` and `groupBy:` - Do not put `.base` files outside the vault: they only render inside Obsidian - Do not reference `formula.X` in `order:` without defining `X` in `formulas:` --- ## How to think (10-principle mapping) When working on this skill, apply the 10-principle loop. See [`skills/think/SKILL.md`](../think/SKILL.md) for the canonical framework. | # | Principle | Application here | |---|-----------|-------------------| | 1 | OBSERVE (ext) | The `.base` YAML the user is composing — read it carefully before suggesting changes. | | 2 | OBSERVE (int) | Am I documenting yesterday's spec or today's? Bases evolves fast post-GA. | | 3 | LISTEN | The user's specific Bases use-case (dashboard, filter chain, computed property). | | 4 | THINK | Which filter operators, formula syntax, view types apply? Validate against the current spec. | | 5 | CONNECT (lat) | How do Bases relate to Dataview queries? Properties? Canvas overlays? Map the deltas. | | 6 | CONNECT (sys) | Obsidian Bases is post-1.10 GA; substrate-defer to kepano/obsidian-skills when present. | | 7 | FEEL | Examples that actually parse and render. Pseudo-syntax wastes the user. | | 8 | ACCEPT | Bases spec evolves; some features in this doc may have changed. Keep the version note current. | | 9 | CREATE | Schema docs + worked examples that render in the user's actual Obsidian version. | | 10 | GROW | As Bases features ship, refresh the reference. Track upstream releases. | [View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian/obsidian-bases) · [View on GitHub](https://github.com/AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian)