Once you’ve done the above, delete everything above this line.
Create a template with two YAML properties - date: and tags:
date: {{date}}
This successfully resolves to today’s date when applied to a new note.
Now update the template in any way, such as by adding a tag “test”. This causes the template file to be re-saved.
Apply the template to a new note. The defect is that the date is no longer resolved to today’s date
Suspected root cause: The YAML save() method incorrectly changes the YAML date format.
When viewing the template file using Source mode, the YAML date format can be seen to have changed as per below, and this no longer resolves to today’s date when applied to a note.
date:
At the moment if you use the metadata editor (Properties in document ) at all, unquoted template variables will be corrupted.
You can quote the template variable(s) to still be able to use the metadata editor or only edit the template in source mode for now.
---
date: "{{date}}"
tags:
---
source mode | live preview
There’s a request here for the help docs to mention the quoting of template variables:
opened 03:04AM - 26 Jan 26 UTC
enhancement
Currently using/editing the _Properties in document_ (metadata editor) doesn't p… lay well using unquoted template variables. The example "study notes" template (<https://help.obsidian.md/plugins/templates#Create+a+template>) has quotes around {{date}}, which is good, but it's not mentioned they are necessary if you use the metadata editor. e.g. Take this template note:
```
---
title: {{title}}
title_quoted: "{{title}}"
date: {{date}}
date_quoted: "{{date}}"
time: {{time}}
time_quoted: "{{time}}"
tags:
- testing
---
## {{title}}
```
If one interacts with the metadata editor in any way (in Live Preview or Reading view), the unquoted variables will become corrupted and unusable with applying the template to a note.
# What is your suggestion?
Caution users, maybe in a ⚠️ callout, about creating or editing templates containing variables and using the metadata editor. e.g.
```
> [!warning] _Template variables_ and the _Properties in document_ view
> We suggest you switch to [_Source mode_](https://help.obsidian.md/edit-and-read#Source+mode) or change the [_Properties in document_](https://help.obsidian.md/settings#Properties+in+document) setting to `Source` when creating or editing templates containing template variables (`{{date}}`, `{{time}}` and `{{title}}`). Unquoted variables can lead to template corruption.
```
Maybe too wordy, but it's a start.
# Have any context we can refer to?
[Discord](https://discord.com/channels/686053708261228577/694233507500916796/1465090229181480990), [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/686053708261228577/694233507500916796/1464167830223327323), [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/686053708261228577/694233507500916796/1463931697128276149), [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/686053708261228577/694233507500916796/1463539276619976850), and so on...
Thank you very much for the workaround.
Pch
March 22, 2026, 9:23am
4
This could be a relevant FR
Right now, user must edit template files in source mode.
It would be nice if template files were detected and the properties UI/UX could handle them.
1 Like
system
April 19, 2026, 9:24am
5
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