Auto-update block references when target block is moved to another note

[Sentiment]

Say I have 4 notes, Notes W, X, Y, and Z.

Note W and Note X have a block reference to a block in Note Y.

I cut the referenced block from Note Y and paste it into Note Z.

I want the references in Note W and Note X to be auto-updated to the block’s new location in Note Z.

Block references are very useful, but brittle. Currently when refactoring notes, you have to do the above process manually.

I could not find an existing feature request for this, but this thread has some related discussion: Block references and atomic notes

[PhucLe]

This is definitely an important but I thought it has been proposed already. Can’t find that now though…
Edit: Oh here they are:

Auto-update links to headers on header title change

Obsidian currently supports two types of links: 1) To files 2) To headings inside the files. It also supports auto-updating all backlinks when the file name is changed. It would be great if it is also possible to update the backlinks that link to the headers when the header title is changed.

Auto-update links to block ids on id change

Similar to this feature request with regard to renaming headers. Have obsidian update block-level links when block ids change. This would be useful in the scenario of implementing this feature as well.

[manunamz]

Thanks for looking for duplicates PhucLe! I think this feature is still worth noting as it’s slightly dissimilar: The other features only reference id changes, whereas this request is to monitor content changes (this distinction is important for blocks).

They could all definitely be grouped into a larger over-arching feature-request that has to do with making linking more robust to any kind of change, though.

(Insert argument for hierarchy support here.)

[WhiteNoise]

Related FRs:

To Aid Manual Action:

Add counters/markers for headings and blocks that are referenced somewhere else

It would be helpful to have some visual indication when a heading or block is referenced somewhere else in the vault (and possibly how many times). This is particularly important as a signal for the user to manually trigger the “rename header” functionality (and the upcoming rename block). A marker in the gutter could serve this purpose. The third party plugins “Strange New Worlds” and “Block-reference-count” implement similar functionality.

Automatic:

Automatic/inline update of links to headers and blocks when they are modified (no extra dialog window)

Currently to propagate the change of header text to header links, an explicit user interaction is needed that involves opening a modal window. It would be great if this change is detected automatically/inline and no explicit user action/dialog is necessary. A related FR that is similar to implement: This is something that more realistically can be implemented: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/add-markers-in-the-gutter-for-headings-and-blocks-that-are-referenced-somewhere-else/37708