Core Plugin Format Converter doesn't log failures

[mlevison]

*Once you’ve done the above, delete everything above this line.

Steps to reproduce

Just ran the Format Convertor to update my YAML blocks. I get responses that 13 files failed, but no hint as to which ones. Looking in the console, I can see the error messages, but a log file would be helpful.

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

No I can see the error messages in the console and it’s YAML errors.

Expected result

Failures should be logged

Actual result

I get an alert saying that 13 files failed, but no hint as to which.

In the console I see:

However, there is no indication of which files failed.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: v1.9.10
Installer version: v1.7.7
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 24.5.0: Tue Apr 22 19:52:00 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.121.6~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T6031 24.5.0
Login status: logged in
Language: en
Catalyst license: supporter
Insider build toggle: on
Live preview: on
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: Minimal v8.0.0
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: off
Plugins installed: 34
Plugins enabled: 27
1: Banners v1.3.3
2: Book Search v0.7.5
3: Callout Suggestions v1.0.2
4: Copilot v2.9.5
5: Dangling links v0.3.0
6: Dataview v0.5.68
7: Dictionary v2.22.0
8: File Tree Alternative v2.6.0
9: Footnote Shortcut v0.1.3
10: Linter v1.29.2
11: Local Images Plus v0.16.3
12: Metadata Menu v0.8.9
13: Minimal Theme Settings v8.1.1
14: Mononote v1.2.2
15: Note Refactor v1.8.2
16: Omnisearch v1.27.2
17: Plugin Update Tracker v1.7.0
18: Readwise Official v3.0.1
19: Style Settings v1.0.9
20: Tag Wrangler v0.6.4
21: Templater v2.14.1
22: Text Extractor v0.6.1
23: Text Format v3.1.0
24: Various Complements v10.7.1
25: Share Note v1.2.0
26: Callout Manager v1.1.0
27: Git v2.35.0

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.

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Additional information

[WhiteNoise]

From the screenshot, it looks like you had invalid YAML to begin with and the problem was not related to the conversion of cssclass, alias, and tag.

I don’t know if we wanna go there.

[mlevison]

Thanks for the swift response. I don’t expect Obsidian to magically fix all my YAML errors.

I want to know which files are failing so I manaully fix them.

[francisL]

To find the file with the error, you can search for the highlighted Reason.
So, in the example above, search for “convoluted a story for me”. And you’ll find the file. And then you can remove the * at the front and back. And try again.
In the other error, search for that google link in your vault, and it should find the file. You’ll have to figure out how to avoid the error.
Maybe delete the line temporarily. Run the Format Converter. And then put the line back.

Good luck.

PS: I went through the same activity this morning (yay for bases!). Thank you @mlevision for posting because it made me look in the console and work out how to get around it.

[Synchronicity]

I had the same issue. Like @mlevison I don’t expect the conversion to be perfect.

But the Format Converter results screen really should list the names of the files that failed to convert.

Saying that four unnamed files out of thousands or tens of thousands failed to convert isn’t particularly helpful without the file names.

[OogieM]

@WhiteNoise

it looks like you had invalid YAML to begin with and the problem was not related to the conversion of cssclass, alias, and tag

I am probably in the same boat. 15 files failed to convert. I am also fairly certain it’s a problem I introduced or caused.

I just want a list of the files that failed and then I can go in and fix them by hand.