Obsidian Bases Skill

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.

Core Schema

# Global filters apply to ALL views
filters:
  and: []  # or: [], not: []

# Define formula properties
formulas:
  formula_name: 'expression'

# Configure display names
properties:
  property_name:
    displayName: "Display Name"

# Define summary formulas
summaries:
  custom_summary: 'values.mean().round(3)'

# Define views
views:
  - type: table | cards | list | map
    name: "View Name"
    limit: 10
    filters: { and: [] }
    order: [file.name, property_name]
    summaries: { property_name: Average }

Quick Examples

Example 1: Task Tracker

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  priority_label: 'if(priority == 1, "🔴", if(priority == 2, "🟡", "🟢"))'

properties:
  formula.priority_label:
    displayName: Priority

views:
  - type: table
    name: "Tasks"
    order: [file.name, status, formula.priority_label]

Example 2: Reading List

filters:
  or:
    - file.hasTag("book")
    - file.hasTag("article")

views:
  - type: cards
    name: "Library"
    order: [file.name, author, status]

Example 3: Daily Notes

filters:
  and:
    - file.inFolder("Daily Notes")

views:
  - type: table
    name: "Recent"
    order: [file.name, file.mtime]

Validation Rules

Required Structure

• File extension: .base
• Valid YAML syntax
• At least one view defined

Filters

• Can be string: filters: 'status == "done"'
• Can be object: filters: { and: [...] }
• Supported operators: ==, !=, >, <, >=, <=, &&, ||, !

View Types

• table: Spreadsheet-like view
• cards: Visual card grid
• list: Simple list view
• map: Requires Maps plugin + lat/lng properties

Property Types

1. Note properties: note.author or author
2. File properties: file.name, file.path, file.mtime, file.tags, etc.
3. Formula properties: formula.my_formula

Summary Functions

Name	Type	Description
Average	Number	Mathematical mean
Sum	Number	Sum of all numbers
Min/Max	Number	Smallest/Largest number
Count	Any	Count of values
Earliest/Latest	Date	Earliest/Latest date

Common Formulas

# Conditional
status_icon: 'if(done, "✅", "⏳")'

# Date formatting
created: 'file.ctime.format("YYYY-MM-DD")'

# Arithmetic
total: 'price * quantity'

# String
display_name: 'author + " - " + title'

YAML Quoting Rules

• Single quotes for formulas with double quotes: 'if(done, "Yes")'
• Double quotes for simple strings: "View Name"
• Escape nested quotes in complex expressions

Important Notes

1. Filter scoping: Use sources to limit search scope
2. Markdown only: Bases only work with .md files
3. Property references: Use file., note., or formula. prefix
4. Date arithmetic: Use duration strings like "1d", "1M", "1h"

Detailed Documentation

For complete API documentation, see REFERENCE.md:

• Filter syntax and patterns
• All formula functions (100+ functions)
• View type configurations
• Complete examples
• Troubleshooting guide