# Core Outline Plugin: highlight location of cursor/view

**URL:** <https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916>\
**Category:** Feature archive\
**Tags:** valuable\
**Created:** [August 1, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916 "2020-08-01T09:41:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Klaas)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/1 "2020-08-01T09:41:39Z")

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_It would help navigation in Edit and Preview mode if the relevant header is highlights the position of the cursor._

 ![cursor](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f5eef2030e83ef089a3a5b9b781a4072cf0c6209.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![navakelvin](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/navakelvin/32/47019_2.png) [@navakelvin](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/navakelvin)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/2 "2021-12-04T20:38:06Z")

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+1. Good idea, very useful if it be implemented.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goodsignal](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/goodsignal/32/129_2.png) [@goodsignal](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/goodsignal)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/3 "2022-03-26T06:50:52Z")

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I can’t believe that this never got any love. A couple of years ago, when they added location highlighting to the File Explorer, I thought for sure they would do the same for the Outline. Anyone who writes more than a few screens of text would benefit from this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Klaas)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 6:53am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/4 "2022-03-26T06:53:37Z")

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@goodsignal I am glad you put it like this. But, since only 11 people have upvoted it so far, I very much doubt it’ll be high on the list of priorities.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goodsignal](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/goodsignal/32/129_2.png) [@goodsignal](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/goodsignal)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:15am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/5 "2022-03-26T07:15:32Z")

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That’s 11 more upvotes than File Explorer highlighting. I don’t recall anyone feature requesting the File Explorer to get navigation highlights. They just added it.

It seems people often don’t realize how much better a UI can be with some small improvements like this.

And if we include the [other thread](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/outliner-sync-with-note-while-scrolling/7100), it’s up to 37 upvotes! Still small but I’m surprised mods haven’t combined them.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Klaas)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/6 "2022-03-26T08:46:27Z")

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@goodsignal yes, you are right, I had forgotten about that one!  
Well, let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope they implement this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gary](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gary](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Gary)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/7 "2023-04-17T08:12:45Z")

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Come on. This is too easy and too obvious not to have done.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Klaas)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:06am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/8 "2023-04-17T11:06:36Z")

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Somehow I doubt they’ll implement this as it is very simple for users to do something with CSS, such as e.g.

```css
.markdown-source-view.mod-cm6 .cm-active.cm-line {
    background-color: rgb(233, 233, 233);
}

```

I don’t use that one myself, I prefer a more subtle indicator of where my cursor is. I like my Live Preview to be as close to Reading mode as possible, so I hide the line numbers:

```css
.markdown-source-view.mod-cm6 .cm-lineNumbers .cm-gutterElement:not(.cm-active) {
  opacity: 0;
}

```

and

```css
.cm-active {
  background-color: transparent !important;
}

```

except the line where my cursor is:

```css
/* Highlight and center gutter number
source: TokyoMike https://discord.com/channels/686053708261228577/702656734631821413/1060150582515609600 */
.cm-lineNumbers .cm-gutterElement.cm-active {
  font-weight: bold !important;
  filter: brightness(1.1);
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
/*border-right: 1px solid var(--interactive-accent);*/
}

```

TokyoMike adds an extra vertical bar as a marker, I don’t want it, an unnecessary distraction.

I do want my cursor itself to be a bit more visible, so I made it red:

```css
.markdown-source-view.mod-cm6 .cm-content {
  caret-color: red;
}

```

In other words, as far as I am concerned, the devs can spend time on another feature request instead.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Klaas](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Klaas)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/9 "2020-12-05T12:17:03Z")

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_I am not sure if this should be a new request, or added to an [existing](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/show-preview-rendered-text-instead-of-edit-rendered-text-in-the-outline/5341/5) request._

### Use case or problem

_Right now, when the outline pane of a note is open, it is not possible to tell from the outline whereabouts one is located in the note. This is only applicable to long notes, of course._

_As in Typora, I would like the (sub)header that is at the top of the screen to be highlighted so one gets a sense of location in the note._

### Proposed solution

_I am not sure if this should be an FR or a Plug-in idea._

### Current workaround (optional)

_None_

### Related feature requests (optional)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sofortlos](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@sofortlos](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/sofortlos)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/10 "2021-05-03T19:35:58Z")

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> [@Document Spanning](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/document-spanning/147/16):
>
> Definitely @malecjan! The idea of a more useful and clearer outliner seems to be realised in the [https://gingkowriter.com/](https://gingkowriter.com/) . The recipy? Taking the outline and separate the different levels horizontally. It allows you to work on granular level, but keeps you in the big picture at the same time, to navigate and restructure the document. Very ADHD-friendly! @tallguyjenks puts it here nicely: [https://youtu.be/dxCJHHWyNzY](https://youtu.be/dxCJHHWyNzY) What do you think @WhiteNoise ? examples in Ginko: [grafik] [grafik] [g…

What do you think?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zorobot](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/f6c823/32.png) [@zorobot](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/zorobot)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/11 "2022-06-06T19:47:03Z")

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A live outline indicator for where exactly I’m on the page would be really great!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![floriang](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@floriang](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/floriang)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 11:36am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/12 "2023-05-03T11:36:27Z")

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Totally agree about that being useful

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![art.genosse](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@art.genosse](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/art.genosse)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 12:21pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/13 "2021-11-12T12:21:09Z")

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### Use case or problem

In longer documents, it is sometimes hard to navigate. The Core Plugin “Outline” help in this regard a lot. I think it would even be better, if it would somehow show the current courser-position within the outline.

### Proposed solution

show the current courser-position within the outline (on the right pane) visually - mb with an accent color or **bold**.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JAndrews2](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@JAndrews2](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/JAndrews2)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/14 "2021-11-13T21:28:35Z")

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+1, great idea. The Outline plugin is an excellent concept but it needs tweaks like this (and, e.g. not unfolding whenever you type something) to be truly useful for longer documents.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Dor)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/15 "2021-11-13T21:43:02Z")

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Highlight current position, but also allow sections to be rearranged.  
iirc there have been FRs

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JAndrews2](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@JAndrews2](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/JAndrews2)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 4:41am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/16 "2021-11-14T04:41:02Z")

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Rearranging sections from the Outline view would be a game-changer for writers!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![art.genosse](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@art.genosse](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/art.genosse)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/17 "2021-11-14T19:33:48Z")

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Really great Idea! It would be amazing to rearrange sections from the outline!!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XiJingPing](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/f04885/32.png) [@XiJingPing](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/XiJingPing)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2021, 12:43pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/18 "2021-11-24T12:43:27Z")

</div>

True. Highlighting corresponding position within an outline is really helpful especially when writing and looking through long documents.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Dor)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/19 "2021-11-24T15:11:17Z")

</div>

> [@JAndrews2](#):
>
> Rearranging sections from the Outline view would be a game-changer for writers!

And we now have this in the insider’s 0.13.5

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Dor](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Dor)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916/20 "2021-11-24T15:16:52Z")

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> [@art.genosse](#):
>
> show the current courser-position within the outline (on the right pane) visually - mb with an accent color or **bold**.

This is one option.

Another would be the one used by the Dynalist outliner (same devs) with a path across the top:

 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/0/2/02799d89ffbb26e614268b6bbcdfba5bb18c4f84.png)  
I think I’d choose this, given a preference.  
But either would be good.

[Next page](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/core-outline-plugin-highlight-location-of-cursor-view/3916.md?page=2)