459 lines
12 KiB
Markdown
459 lines
12 KiB
Markdown
# Templater-Compatible PARA Templates
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All para-brain templates use [Templater](https://silentvoid13.github.io/Templater/) syntax for dynamic content generation in Obsidian.
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## Prerequisites
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1. Install [Templater plugin](https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=templater-obsidian) in Obsidian
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2. Configure template folder path: Settings → Templater → Template folder location → `06_Metadata/Templates`
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3. Enable templates on file creation: Settings → Templater → Trigger Templater on new file creation
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## Template Syntax Reference
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### Date Functions
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```markdown
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<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD") %> # Current date: 2025-11-26
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<% tp.date.now("dddd, MMMM D, YYYY") %> # Long format: Tuesday, November 26, 2025
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<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", -1) %> # Yesterday
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<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", 1) %> # Tomorrow
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<% tp.date.now("YYYY-[W]ww") %> # Week number: 2025-W48
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```
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### User Input Prompts
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```markdown
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<% tp.system.prompt("Title") %> # Simple prompt
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<% tp.system.prompt("Priority (low/medium/high)", "medium") %> # With default
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<% tp.system.prompt("Source URL (optional)", "") %> # Optional field
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```
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## Available Templates
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### Core PARA Templates
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#### 1. Project Template (`project.md`)
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**Purpose**: Time-bound goals with end dates
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**Prompts**:
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- Project title
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- Target completion date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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- Area (parent area this project belongs to)
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**Use for**:
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- Client work with deadlines
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- Personal projects (e.g., "Learn TypeScript", "Plan vacation")
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- Any goal that can be "finished"
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**Example**: Create "Build portfolio site" with target date 2025-12-15
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---
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#### 2. Area Template (`area.md`)
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**Purpose**: Ongoing responsibilities without end dates
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**Prompts**:
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- Area title
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**Use for**:
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- Career/professional development
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- Health & fitness
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- Parenting (e.g., "Levi & Parenting")
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- Household maintenance
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- Relationships
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**Example**: Create "Health & Fitness" area to track ongoing wellness
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---
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#### 3. Resource Template (`resource.md`)
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**Purpose**: Reference material and learnings
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**Prompts**:
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- Resource title
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- Source type (book/article/video/course/podcast/etc.)
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- Source URL (optional)
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- Author (optional)
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- Primary area (required - links resource to an area)
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- Main topic (for tagging)
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**Frontmatter**:
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```yaml
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areas:
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- "[[Primary Area]]" # Required - at least one area
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- "[[Secondary Area]]" # Optional - add more as needed
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reviewed: 2025-11-26 # For review tracking
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```
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**Features**:
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- **Area linkage** - Resources link to one or more areas (required)
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- Progressive summarization layers (4 levels)
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- Connection mapping to other notes
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- Action items extraction
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- Review date tracking
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**Use for**:
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- Book notes
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- Course materials
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- Technical documentation
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- Articles worth saving
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**Querying resources by area**:
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```dataview
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TABLE source, author
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FROM "03_Resources"
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WHERE contains(areas, this.file.link)
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```
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**Example**: Create resource from conference talk, link to "Software Development" and "Learning" areas
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---
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#### 4. Capture Template (`capture.md`)
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**Purpose**: Zero-friction inbox capture
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**Prompts**:
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- Title (what is this?)
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- Content (the raw capture)
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- Captured from (thought/article/conversation/email/meeting)
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- Resonance (inspiring/useful/personal/surprising)
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- Urgency (high/medium/low)
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**Timestamps**: Includes HH:mm for precise capture time
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**Use for**:
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- Quick thoughts
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- Voice memo transcriptions
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- Email excerpts
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- Meeting notes to process later
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**Example**: Capture idea from conversation, tag as "inspiring", process within 48h
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---
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### Workflow Templates
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#### 5. Daily Note Template (`daily.md`)
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**Purpose**: Daily planning and reflection
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**Auto-fills**:
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- Today's date in title and frontmatter
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- Day of week header (e.g., "Tuesday, November 26, 2025")
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- Links to yesterday and tomorrow's notes
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**Sections**:
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- Morning: Focus, priorities, energy/mood
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- Daily Log: Captures, meetings, progress, blockers
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- Evening: Wins, improvements, gratitude, tomorrow's setup
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- Links: Related notes, active projects, areas maintained
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**Use for**:
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- Morning intention setting
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- Throughout-day capture
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- Evening reflection
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- Weekly review reference
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**Example**: Auto-created each morning when opening Obsidian
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---
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#### 6. Weekly Review Template (`weekly-review.md`)
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**Purpose**: GTD-style weekly planning ritual
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**Auto-fills**:
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- Week number (e.g., "2025-W48")
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- Week date range
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- Next review date (+7 days)
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**Phases**:
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1. Clear the Mind - Brain dump, inbox status
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2. Review Calendar - Past and upcoming week
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3. Review Projects - Active project status, stale projects
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4. Review Areas - Check-in on ongoing responsibilities
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5. Review Goals - Wins, challenges, lessons
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6. Express - Ideas ready to create, patterns noticed
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7. Plan Next Week - Top 3 priorities, focus projects
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**Includes**: Dataview query for active projects
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**Use for**:
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- End of week reflection
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- Planning next week's priorities
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- Identifying stale projects
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- Capturing emerging patterns
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**Example**: Run every Friday afternoon to close the week
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---
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### Task Management Templates
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#### 7. Task Template (`task.md`)
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**Purpose**: Granular task tracking with dependencies
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**Prompts**:
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- Task title
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- Task type (task/reminder/habit/chore)
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- Due date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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- Priority (low/medium/high/urgent) - defaults to "medium"
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- Effort (small/medium/large) - defaults to "medium"
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- Project (optional)
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- Area (optional)
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**Fields**:
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- Status: not-started, in-progress, blocked, done, cancelled
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- Dependencies: Depends on, blocks, dependency type
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- Success criteria checklist
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**Special sections by type**:
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- **Tasks**: Effort estimate, next action
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- **Reminders**: Alert time, recurrence
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- **Habits**: Frequency, streak, best time
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- **Chores**: Seasonal, approximate duration
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**Use for**:
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- Project breakdown (large → small tasks)
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- Recurring habits (gym 3x/week)
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- Seasonal chores (clean gutters)
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- Time-sensitive reminders
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**Example**: Create "Review PR #123" task, medium priority, blocks "Deploy v2.0"
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---
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### Travel/Event Templates
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#### 8. Booking Template (`booking.md`)
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**Purpose**: Track reservations and confirmations
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**Prompts**:
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- Booking title
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- Booking type (accommodation/flight/activity/transport/dining)
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- Project (parent trip/event)
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- Booking date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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**Fields**:
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- Booking reference number
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- Provider details
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- Cost and payment status
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- Cancellation deadline
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- Contact information (phone, email, website)
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**Use for**:
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- Travel accommodations
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- Restaurant reservations
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- Activity bookings
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- Transport tickets
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**Example**: Create booking for "Cradle Mountain Lodge" with confirmation number
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---
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#### 9. Checklist Template (`checklist.md`)
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**Purpose**: Reusable checklists for recurring workflows
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**Prompts**:
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- Checklist title
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- Checklist type (packing/groceries/snacks/tasks)
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- Project (parent project)
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**Features**:
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- Multiple categorized sections
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- Timeline with milestone dates (2 weeks before, 1 week before, day before, day of)
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- Dependency tracking
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**Use for**:
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- Packing lists for trips
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- Grocery shopping lists
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- Pre-departure checklists
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- Event preparation
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**Example**: Create "Hiking Gear Checklist" for Tasmania trip
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---
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#### 10. Itinerary Day Template (`itinerary-day.md`)
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**Purpose**: Detailed daily travel plans
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**Prompts**:
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- Day title (e.g., "Day 1 - Cradle Mountain")
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- Project (parent trip)
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- Trip date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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- Day number (1, 2, 3...)
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**Sections**:
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- Overview: Location, accommodation, energy level
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- Time blocks: Morning, afternoon, evening
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- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner with booking status
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- Transport: Driving times, logistics
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- What to bring: Day-specific items
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- Bookings: Links to relevant booking notes
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- Navigation: Previous day | Project | Next day
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**Use for**:
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- Multi-day trips
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- Conference schedules
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- Event itineraries
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**Example**: Create "Day 3 - Strahan" with Gordon River Cruise booking linked
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---
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#### 11. Trip Research Template (`trip-research.md`)
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**Purpose**: Research notes for travel planning
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**Prompts**:
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- Research title (e.g., "Hiking Boots Research")
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- Research type (activities/dining/hike/gear/transport)
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- Project (parent trip)
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**Sections**:
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- Options comparison (multiple options with cost, pros/cons)
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- Practical information (timing, getting there, what to bring)
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- Sources (where info came from)
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- Decision (what was chosen, link to booking)
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**Use for**:
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- Activity research
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- Restaurant options
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- Gear comparisons
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- Route planning
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**Example**: Research "Best hikes in Cradle Mountain" with difficulty ratings
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---
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## Template Usage Patterns
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### New Project Workflow
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1. Create project note from `project.md`
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- Set title and target date
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- Link to parent area
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2. Break down into tasks using `task.md`
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- Set dependencies
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- Estimate effort
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3. Create weekly review entry to track progress
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4. Archive to `04_Archive/YYYY/` when complete
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### Travel Planning Workflow
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1. Create project note for trip
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2. Research activities/dining using `trip-research.md`
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3. Book reservations, create `booking.md` for each
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4. Create day-by-day itinerary with `itinerary-day.md`
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5. Build checklists (packing, groceries) with `checklist.md`
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6. Link everything back to project note
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### Daily Capture & Processing
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1. Morning: Open `daily.md` auto-created note
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- Set top 3 priorities
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- Check #urgent items
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2. Throughout day: Quick captures to `00_Inbox/`
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- Use `capture.md` if structured
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- Or just create plain note for processing later
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3. Evening: Reflect in daily note
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- What went well?
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- Link to projects touched
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4. Weekly: Process inbox using PARA decision tree
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## Best Practices
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### Templater Tips
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1. **Set default folder**: Configure Templater to auto-create daily notes in `00_Inbox/`
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2. **Hotkeys**: Assign keyboard shortcuts for frequent templates (e.g., ⌘+D for daily note)
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3. **Template testing**: Test changes in a separate note before updating main templates
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### Frontmatter Consistency
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All templates include standard frontmatter:
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- `title`: Note title
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- `created`: Creation date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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- `type`: Template type (project/area/resource/etc.)
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- `tags`: Array of relevant tags
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### Linking Strategy
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- **Projects** → Link to parent Area (single `area:` field)
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- **Tasks** → Link to parent Project and/or Area (single `area:` field)
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- **Resources** → Link to related Areas (required `areas:` array - can have multiple)
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- **Daily notes** → Link to Projects touched and Areas maintained
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### Dataview Queries
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Several templates include embedded Dataview queries:
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- **Area template**: Shows all projects in this area
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- **Weekly review**: Lists active projects sorted by due date
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Requires [Dataview plugin](https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=dataview) to be installed.
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## Customization
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### Adding New Templates
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1. Create new `.md` file in `06_Metadata/Templates/`
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2. Use Templater syntax for dynamic content
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3. Include standard frontmatter
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4. Add reference to this document
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### Modifying Existing Templates
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1. Edit template file directly
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2. Test with new note creation
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3. Existing notes remain unchanged (templates are blueprints)
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4. Update this reference document if changing prompts
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### Template Snippets
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Common patterns for custom templates:
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```markdown
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# File creation date
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created: <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD") %>
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# Title with prompt
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title: "<% tp.system.prompt("Title") %>"
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# Optional field with default
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priority: <% tp.system.prompt("Priority", "medium") %>
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# Calculated date (7 days from now)
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due_date: <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", 7) %>
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# Current file title
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# <% tp.file.title %>
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# Link to another note
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related: [[<% tp.system.prompt("Related note") %>]]
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```
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## Troubleshooting
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### Template not working
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1. Check Templater plugin is installed and enabled
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2. Verify template folder path in settings
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3. Ensure template file has `.md` extension
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4. Look for syntax errors in template code
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### Prompts not appearing
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1. Check Templater is set to run on new file creation
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2. Verify you're creating from template (not just new note)
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3. Try manual template insertion: Cmd+P → "Templater: Open Insert Template modal"
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### Dates showing as code
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1. Templater syntax should be `<% %>` not `{{ }}`
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2. Check date format string matches moment.js patterns
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3. Ensure no typos in function names (`tp.date.now` not `tp.date.new`)
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## Further Reading
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- [Templater Documentation](https://silentvoid13.github.io/Templater/)
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- [PARA Method](para-method.md)
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- [CODE Method](code-method.md)
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- [Obsidian Best Practices](obsidian-best-practices.md)
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