Attachment file types that cannot be viewed in Obsidian are not listed in the attachments folder in Obsidian

Help
1

Steps to reproduce

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? Y

  1. Set a default attachments directory
  2. Create a new note
  3. Add a CSV file and an image file to the note
  4. Expand the attachments directory to list files

Expected result

All files that exist in the attachments directory should be listed, even if the files themselves can’t be viewed in Obsidian. Clicking on an unsupported file opens a new tab that states “example.csv cannot be viewed in Obsidian”. Backlinks are still viewable to see what notes reference the attachment, and to help identify orphaned attachments. Right clicking on the file in the file tree should still offer options like rename (with rename renaming all backlinks), make a copy, move file, delete file, open in file explorer, open in default app, etc.

Actual result

Only the image file is listed if the file tree, but the attachment can still be opened from the note it was added to, and a link to the file can be added to other notes if you know the filename.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
	Obsidian version: v1.10.6
	Installer version: v1.9.14
	Operating system: Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26100
	Login status: logged in
	Language: en
	Catalyst license: none
	Insider build toggle: off
	Live preview: on
	Base theme: adapt to system
	Community theme: none
	Snippets enabled: 0
	Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:
	none

Additional information

None

2

There is a related setting option here:

image
image1321×654 76 KB

3

Thanks!

4

Actually, that only sort of fixes the problem. Clicking on the file only launches it in the default app. You can’t view backlinks.

6

Yes, if a certain type of file is not registered with a viewer, it will be opened with the default application.

This requires Obsidian to add the relevant functionality or achieve it through a plugin.

7

I don’t mind that. I’d just like a way to check backlinks, ideally without using a plugin.

8

the_tree’s info solves what’s in your post’s title. Since the rest sounds to me like not a bug™, I’ll offer ways to do what you talked about in “Expected result”:

Those can be done from a base.

To see backlinks for any file type, select Properties > file backlinks. Filter to show just the files, folder, or file types you’re interested in.

To see orphan files, use these two filters:

filters:
  and:
    - file.links.isEmpty()
    - file.backlinks.isEmpty()

In base results, you can right click file links to perform the functions you listed—except for Make a copy[1].

  1. … which annoys me so much, but no one seems to agree with me about adding it to the tab right-click, so I might be alone about wanting it in the base right-click too ↩︎

9

Thanks everyone