Adding "Table of Contents" and "Table of Figures" feature when using "/" operator within core Vanilla Obsidian

Feature requests
1

Use case or problem

When working on large markdown notes in Obsidian, users often need a quick way to navigate between different sections. While the / operator offers various functionalities, it currently lacks a “Table of Contents” and a “Table of Figures” feature feature, which could significantly improve navigation efficiency within documents.

Proposed solution

Enhance the / operator to include an option for inserting or displaying both a dynamic Table of Contents and a Table of Figures. These tables would automatically extract and list all headers and figures within a note, allowing users to quickly jump to different sections or visual elements. Implementation could involve:

  • Typing /toc to generate a live-updating Table of Contents.
  • Typing /tof to generate a Table of Figures, listing all embedded images, diagrams, and media.
  • Clicking on an entry in either table to immediately navigate to that section or figure.
  • Customization options to format or limit the depth of headers displayed. This is expanded down below for an easy understanding.
    • Format customization: Users could adjust the appearance of the Table of Contents to fit their needs. Options might include choosing between numbered lists, bullet points, collapsible sections, or different text formatting styles for improved readability.
    • Depth limitation: If a document has multiple levels of headings (e.g., H1, H2, H3, etc.), users might prefer to show only higher-level headings (like just H1 and H2) rather than including all subheadings. This would keep the TOC concise and focused, reducing clutter. Similarly, for the Table of Figures, users might want to filter by figure type (e.g., only images, only diagrams).
    • Auto-numbering: Figures in the Table of Figures could be automatically numbered for easy referencing within the document.

Current workaround (optional)

Currently, users manually create Tables of Contents and Tables of Figures by inserting markdown links to headings and images, or rely on community plugins. However, this process is tedious and lacks the intuitive, automated functionality that would make navigation seamless.

Thank you for your time and consideration :slightly_smiling_face:

2 Likes
2

Seems so basic. I’ve been thinking this since day 1. Couldn’t agree more.

2 Likes
3

Exactly! :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
4

An inline table of contents would be useful for sharing as well. The outlined already covers some of the use cases you mentioned but is only available in Obsidian.

1 Like