You are correct that it is multiple posts in one. Though my intent was for it to be a 2 in 1 post. With the opening post being my argument for the main request I was making, and the second feature request being not that important. As a new user to the forum I did not want to spam Obsidian with multiple separate posts. I was confused on where each post should go.
Reliance on Plugins chapter -
was my opening argument for why I believed relying on the plug-in community for the Formatting toolbar not being built-in was bad practice. The opening argument can be best summarized as: “It is, bad practice to rely on plugin community for this one simple thing.”
The plugin solution often quoted for this (cMenu) floats in the middle of the screen and is not to me a proper solution for a problem that should be built-in. I would not be so frustrated with the cMenu plugin had been integrated properly into Obsidian. Realizing when it came to plug-in issues or design flaws I would have to reach out to scattered developers across the net, and realizing that some I wished to contact were not contactable became an overwhelming endeavor.
I wanted to understand better why the community didn’t seem to mind not having this formatting toolbar, and were OK with relying on a security risk to have it. I understand this topic would get more feedback in the Meta area of Obsidian. But it was not intended to be a separate discussion from the formatting toolbar being built-in.
The formatting toolbar being built-in IS the only plug-in I believe that shouldn’t have to rely on the security risk of community plugins.
Formatting Toolbar Built-in
I didn’t realize there were only 2 core developers.
The plugin community is indeed active, but inconsistent and a security risk.
My primary argument was that a simple formatting tool should be built-in, and that we should not rely on a plugin for it. Because it is on the Mobile app.
I understand now there are only 2 developers and that my desire for a formatting toolbar is a minority request (niche) to be included in the main-app I can understand better why it has not been added or seen as essential. But I still feel it is essential, esp. since it appears to be simple to add.
I know everyone says you can type markdown but as a programmer this just feels like when I’m writing code. Every mainstream note taking app that I’ve ever used has a formatting toolbar. An individual has to remember and carry a cheat sheet for short-cuts, in addition to typing out the code that makes it do what they want. A Visual formatting toolbar being built-in doesn’t feel niche, it feels fundamental if not essential.
Let’s say I want to add a ‘blockquote’ to my text. But I don’t remember the markdown I am supposed to type to put that blockquote in. Or I have to add a footnote. I now have to search for markdown cheat sheets to help me remember how to do this. Maybe I’ve forgotten the ‘short cut’ code.
There is a reason that formatting toolbars exist on nearly every mainstream notetaking app. And I don’t think it’s because it’s niche.
I genuinely do understand that there are 2 developers and this is not a priority at this time for them. I can learn to deal with the struggle of trying to remember all the short-cuts and codes I have to type out to make Obsidian work for me. Example: 3D Modeling works similar, you’ve got to remember all the short-cuts and/or set your own. But even they have a toolbar on the side to help people like me who struggle to keep all of that in their head without pasting a cheat sheet for every app they want to use next to their head.
But it is my hope that they eventually add it, as it would make the entire process easier for newcomers and as you mentioned, a nice to have for the people settled in =).
My Niche request: Pinning
This feature request or work-a-round is niche. If you’re on a Windows, and you lower your mouse to the taskbar, there are a list of (optional) pinned apps. (lets say)
- Video App
- Word Processor App
- Notetaking App
Right clicking on some apps will show a list of recently accessed files, in Windows you can pin those apps.
- Notetaking App > Pinned Notebook > “Opens that Vault”
- Video App > Pinned Playlist > “Opens that Playlist”
Pinned Playlist > Local URL Links:
- Video.mp4
- Video2.mp4
Those videos will automatically play if set to do so.
Note Obsidian doesn’t allow pinning vaults so this doesn’t work like that but this was a niche request I was asking for:
Pinned Obsidian Vault >
- Obsidian Vault 1.md
- Obsidian Vault 2. md >
If you open that Pinned Playlist or Notebook / Vault you will then see all your notes. If you use an Index Method for organizing and quickly accessing things you might see:
Obsidian Vault (opened)>
- Link to internal notes. (Internal Linking)
- Link to folders. (Local Links to “Folders”)
- Link to Web URLS (Web Links)
- Link to Obsidian Vaults ( treated like a local Links to “Folders”)
I initially asked for a niche feature request to allow pinning, but then realized my work-a-round was good enough to solve the problem, and asked what command or script would I need to utilize to make it so that Obsidian Vault recognized “Obsidian Folders” and would launch / open them the same way you would open a new vault. The command already exists because when you open a new vault and open an obsidian file, it opens that obsidian file. but, I don’t know how to use this.
I don’t know what forum would best be for this - as it’s no longer a feature request it’s now a, how do I make this work request. I think maybe I need to ask this in a plug-in forum. But again this is such a niche request and writing these posts were so overwhelming as it is that I’m not sure it is a priority for even me to type it up and ask it again! (esp. as my work-a-round as I currently have it works well enough for saving time for now). 