Canvas: Cards and Notes in Links/Backlinks and Outgoing Arrows from Canvas in Graph View

Right now,

  1. Wikilinks contained in Canvas’ specific cards do not appear in the Cavans’ outgoing links (where they logically belong) and they do not appear as outgoing arrows from the canvas’ dot in the graph view.

  2. Similarly, the Notes (files) added to Canvas could be logically interpreted as “embedded in the Canvas” and hence appear in its Outgoing links.

It would be nice if if functionality is implemented.

Note: Connections FROM files/notes TO canvas already work.

29 Likes

Similarly, the Notes (files) added to Canvas could be logically interpreted as “embedded in the Canvas” and hence appear in its Outgoing links.

This. Please. I was definitely expecting Canvas to work this way, was surprised to learn that wasn’t the case. At the very least make this an option, although I can’t see any reason for it not to be the default behavior.

3 Likes

I am also really looking forward to this feature. I want to use the canvasses to graphically build my maps of content (MOCs).

1 Like

Would love this as well. The “Linking Your Thinking” guy talks in his video about canvas as if this functionality is inevitable and likely coming soon - I hope he’s right.

2 Likes

Thirding this. Would be great!

Use case or problem

There is no native feature that allows you to see if a note is referenced or used in any of the canvases.

Proposed solution

When a note is used in a canvas, I’d like to see the canvas as one of the backlinks for that note. This way I can see everywhere where the note is referenced, including canvases.

Current workaround (optional)

Omnisearch plug-in can be used to find out if a note is referenced in a canvas, as it searches within the text of the canvas files.

I’m using canvas a lot to brainstorm ideas or get a better overview of notes. So this feature would definitely be helpful

Steps to reproduce

Create a backlink in a card that hasn’t been created before

Expected result

Clicking on the backlink should show a reference to the canvas card

Actual result

The backlink page is created but no reference to the card is shown

Environment

  • Operating system:
    MacOs
  • Debug info:

SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: v1.1.16
Installer version: v1.0.0
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 21.1.0: Wed Oct 13 17:33:23 PDT 2021; root:xnu-8019.41.5~1/RELEASE_X86_64 21.1.0
Login status: not logged in
Insider build toggle: off
Live preview: on
Legacy editor: off
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: Typewriter v2.0.0
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: off
Plugins installed: 17
Plugins enabled: 17
1: Mind Map v1.1.0
2: Obsidian Git v2.16.0
3: Checklist v2.2.12
4: Editor Syntax Highlight v0.1.3
5: LanguageTool Integration v0.3.3
6: Natural Language Dates v0.6.1
7: Ozan’s Image in Editor Plugin v2.1.6
8: Reminder v1.1.15
9: Tag Wrangler v0.5.6
10: Tasks v1.22.0
11: Super Simple Time Tracker v0.1.6
12: Dataview v0.5.55
13: Highlightr v1.2.2
14: Day and Night v1.0.3
15: Simple Note Review v0.6.1
16: Excalidraw v1.8.14
17: ExcaliBrain v0.1.11

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Custom theme and snippets: for cosmetic issues, please first try updating your theme and disabling your snippets. If still not fixed, please try to make the issue happen in the Sandbox Vault or disable community theme and snippets.
Community plugins: for bugs, please first try updating all your plugins to latest. If still not fixed, please try to make the issue happen in the Sandbox Vault or disable community plugins.


Additional information

In my opinion this is more of a bug than a missing feature. Part of what makes canvases exciting for Obsidian is the hope that they’ll integrate like other notes, this is the expected behavior.

My use case: I like using canvases for moodboarding. If I open a .jpg in Obsidian, I want to see “Linked Mentions” of everywhere this image is used. I can see other notes in this panel, but not canvases.

I am in total agreement that this feature would be incredibly useful as it is part of what makes Obsidian such a great host for canvas. That being said, it really is the ability to follow links and actually embed editable notes and media in the canvas that is indispensable. This is not a judgement or criticism, but the fact that this thread is not marked as “valuable” affects how I build my canvases. Not that “valuable” is some magic predictor, I just like to keep my expectations managed so that I don’t find myself stuck desperately waiting for something to be implemented.

Looking at the roadmap of Obsidian, it is hard to argue against the immense value of “Metadata improvements” and “API docs & developer portal” (both in Working on) and Tasks (in Short-term). I continue to feel very excited for Obsidian’s future.

Thanks!


Edit: It is marked valuable now. Perhaps it was before, and I might have misread it. I also hadn’t realized who the request was created by. I am feeling better already, but still think it is smart to not get ahead of things.

1 Like