398 lines
8.3 KiB
Markdown
398 lines
8.3 KiB
Markdown
# Obsidian Best Practices for PARA
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> Compiled from Obsidian forums, Obsibrain documentation, and community wisdom
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## Table of Contents
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- [Folder Structure](#folder-structure)
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- [Frontmatter Standards](#frontmatter-standards)
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- [Linking Strategies](#linking-strategies)
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- [Tagging Strategy](#tagging-strategy)
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- [Dataview Queries](#dataview-queries)
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- [Templates](#templates)
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- [File Naming](#file-naming)
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- [Performance Tips](#performance-tips)
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- [Plugin Recommendations](#plugin-recommendations)
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- [Common Mistakes](#common-mistakes)
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- [Quick Reference](#quick-reference)
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---
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## Folder Structure
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### Recommended PARA Setup
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```
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00_Inbox/ # Unprocessed captures
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01_Projects/ # Active projects with deadlines
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02_Areas/ # Ongoing responsibilities
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03_Resources/ # Reference material by topic
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04_Archive/ # Completed/inactive items
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└── 2024/ # Organized by year
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└── 2025/
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05_Attachments/ # Images, PDFs, files
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06_Metadata/ # Templates, MOCs, system files
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└── Templates/
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└── MOCs/
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```
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### Why Number Prefixes?
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- Forces consistent sort order
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- Prevents alphabetical chaos
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- Makes structure scannable
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- Numbers indicate actionability (lower = more active)
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---
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## Frontmatter Standards
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### Universal Properties
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```yaml
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---
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title: "Note Title"
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created: 2025-01-15
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modified: 2025-01-15
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type: project|area|resource|capture
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status: active|completed|on-hold|archived
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tags: []
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aliases: []
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---
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```
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### Type-Specific Properties
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**Projects**
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```yaml
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start_date: 2025-01-15
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target_completion: 2025-03-01
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completion_date: # filled when done
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area: "[[Parent Area]]"
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priority: high|medium|low
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```
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**Areas**
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```yaml
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review_frequency: weekly|monthly|quarterly
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last_reviewed: 2025-01-15
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```
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**Resources**
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```yaml
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source: book|article|video|course|podcast|paper|web
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source_url: "https://..."
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author: "Author Name"
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date_consumed: 2025-01-15
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rating: 1-5
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```
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**Captures**
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```yaml
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captured_from: thought|conversation|article|book
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resonance: inspiring|useful|personal|surprising
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urgency: high|medium|low
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processed: false
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```
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---
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## Linking Strategies
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### Bi-Directional Links
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```markdown
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This project relates to [[Area Name]].
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```
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- Creates automatic backlink in Area note
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- Builds knowledge graph organically
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- Enables serendipitous discovery
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### Link Contexts
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```markdown
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Working on [[Project X]] taught me about [[concept]].
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```
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- Surrounding text provides context
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- Makes backlinks more useful
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- Helps future you understand why you linked
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### Block References
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```markdown
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![[Note Name#Section]]
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![[Note Name^block-id]]
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```
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- Embed content from other notes
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- Single source of truth
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- Updates propagate automatically
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### Wikilink Resolution
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**Correct Syntax**
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```markdown
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[[Note Name]] # Preferred - no extension needed
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[[Note Name.md]] # Also works
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[[Folder/Note Name]] # Include path if duplicate names exist
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[[Note Name|Display Text]] # Custom display text
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```
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**How Obsidian Resolves Links**
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- Obsidian searches for filenames **across the entire vault**
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- **Does NOT require folder paths** in most cases
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- Finds shortest/closest match first
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- **CRITICAL**: Duplicate filenames cause link conflicts
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**Common Issue: Duplicate Filenames**
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```
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# ❌ BROKEN - Two files with same name
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/vault-root/Project Overview.md
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/01_Projects/My Project/Project Overview.md
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When you use [[Project Overview]], Obsidian picks ONE (usually wrong one!)
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```
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**Solution**
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```markdown
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# ✅ FIX 1: Delete duplicate files
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# Keep only one version in correct location
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# ✅ FIX 2: Use unique filenames
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/01_Projects/My Project/My Project Overview.md # Unique name
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[[My Project Overview]] # Works correctly
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# ✅ FIX 3: Include folder path (last resort)
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[[01_Projects/My Project/Project Overview]] # Explicitly specify location
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```
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**Best Practices**
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- ✅ Use unique, descriptive filenames (e.g., "2025 Tasmania Holiday" not "Project Overview")
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- ✅ Avoid generic names like "Overview", "README", "Index"
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- ✅ Keep project overview files INSIDE project folders, not in vault root
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- ✅ Search for duplicates: `find /vault -name "*.md" | sort | uniq -d`
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- ❌ Never create files in vault root when they belong in PARA folders
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**Debugging Wikilinks**
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If clicking a wikilink tries to create a new note:
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1. The target file doesn't exist, OR
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2. A duplicate filename exists elsewhere (Obsidian found wrong one)
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3. Check for duplicates: Search vault for exact filename
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**Reference**: [Official Obsidian Wikilink Documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/Linking+notes+and+files/Internal+links)
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---
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## Tagging Strategy
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### Hierarchical Tags
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```yaml
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tags:
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- project/active
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- area/health
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- type/meeting-notes
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```
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### Status Tags
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```yaml
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tags:
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- status/active
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- status/on-hold
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- status/completed
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```
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### When to Tag vs. Link
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- **Tag**: For categorization and filtering
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- **Link**: For meaningful connections
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Example:
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- `#book` = This is a book note (category)
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- `[[Deep Work]]` = This relates to the Deep Work concept (connection)
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---
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## Dataview Queries
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### Active Projects Dashboard
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```dataview
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TABLE
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status,
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target_completion as "Due",
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area as "Area"
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FROM "01_Projects"
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WHERE status = "active"
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SORT target_completion ASC
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```
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### Overdue Projects
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```dataview
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LIST
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FROM "01_Projects"
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WHERE target_completion < date(today)
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AND status = "active"
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```
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### Recent Notes
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```dataview
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TABLE created, type
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FROM ""
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SORT created DESC
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LIMIT 10
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```
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### Notes by Area
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```dataview
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LIST
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FROM "01_Projects" OR "03_Resources"
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WHERE contains(area, "[[Health]]")
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```
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### Inbox Count
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```dataview
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LIST
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FROM "00_Inbox"
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```
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### Unprocessed Captures
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```dataview
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TABLE resonance, urgency
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FROM "00_Inbox"
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WHERE processed = false
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SORT urgency DESC
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```
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---
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## Templates
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### Template Location
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Store in `06_Metadata/Templates/` or `.obsidian/templates/`
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### Template Variables
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```markdown
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{{title}} # Note title
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{{date}} # Current date
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{{time}} # Current time
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{{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} # Formatted date
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```
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### Template Plugin vs. Templater
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- **Core Templates**: Simple, built-in, limited
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- **Templater**: Powerful, programmable, community plugin
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### Recommended Templates
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1. Project
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2. Area
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3. Resource
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4. Daily Note
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5. Meeting Notes
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6. Weekly Review
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---
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## File Naming
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### Conventions
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- Use descriptive names
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- Avoid special characters: `/ \ : * ? " < > |`
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- Dates in ISO format: `2025-01-15`
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- Consider prefixes for sorting
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### Examples
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```
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2025-01-15 Project Kickoff Meeting.md
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Book - Deep Work by Cal Newport.md
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MOC - Personal Knowledge Management.md
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```
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### Daily Notes
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```
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2025-01-15.md
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```
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---
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## Performance Tips
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### Large Vaults (1000+ notes)
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- Disable plugins you don't use
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- Use lazy loading for Dataview
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- Avoid complex queries on startup
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- Consider excluding folders from search
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### Sync Considerations
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- Use Git or Obsidian Sync
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- Avoid Dropbox/iCloud for vault root
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- Be careful with mobile sync timing
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---
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## Plugin Recommendations
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### Essential
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- **Dataview**: Dynamic queries
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- **Templater**: Advanced templates
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- **Calendar**: Daily note navigation
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### Productivity
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- **Tasks**: Task management
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- **Periodic Notes**: Weekly/monthly notes
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- **Quick Add**: Fast capture
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### PARA-Specific
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- **Folder Note**: Folder index pages
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- **Breadcrumbs**: Hierarchy navigation
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- **Homepage**: Dashboard on open
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---
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## Common Mistakes
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### 1. Over-Organizing
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Creating folders before you need them. Let structure emerge.
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### 2. Neglecting Links
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Obsidian's power is in connections. Link liberally.
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### 3. Tag Explosion
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Too many tags = no tags. Keep tags meaningful.
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### 4. Ignoring the Inbox
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Process inbox regularly or it becomes a graveyard.
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### 5. Perfectionism
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"Good enough" notes are better than no notes.
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### 6. Not Reviewing
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Without weekly review, any system degrades.
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### 7. Duplicate Filenames
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Creating files with identical names in different folders breaks wikilinks. Use unique, descriptive names like "2025 Tasmania Holiday" instead of generic "Project Overview".
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---
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## Quick Reference
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### Keyboard Shortcuts
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| Action | Shortcut |
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|--------|----------|
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| Quick switcher | Cmd/Ctrl + O |
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| Search | Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F |
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| New note | Cmd/Ctrl + N |
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| Insert template | (configure) |
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| Toggle edit/preview | Cmd/Ctrl + E |
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### Markdown Essentials
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```markdown
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**bold**
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*italic*
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==highlight==
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[[link]]
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![[embed]]
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- [ ] task
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> quote
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# Header
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```
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---
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*Best practices compiled from Obsidian community, forums, and documentation.*
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