Let us limit notes in graphs to subdirectories

[nilFrost]

Use case or problem

I want to use Obsidian’s graph for a Zettelkasten, but I face a problem. I do NOT want EVERY note to be included in the graph. I only want notes from chosen vault subdirectories to be included.

Proposed solution

Only include notes from given vault subdirectories. I would like it if notes are recursively included from the subdirectories. (So if I add a subdirectory named Sources, all the notes under Sources, Sources/Archeology, Sources/History, Sources/History/Renaissance are all collectively included, not just ones in the base directory Sources.)

Related feature requests (optional)

I would also like the ability to have different graphs with different configurations. I think a type of “functional note” like Bases would be perfect.

Also, I would like the ability to give different colors to nodes in different directories. For example, Zettelkasten notes for ideas (saved in one subfolder) might be colored purple, but notes for supporting evidence (in another folder) might be colored orange. This would make visual interpretation of graphs easier. (I could differentiate between idea notes that are highly connected to other idea notes, verses idea notes that have lots of supporting evidence but few connections to other ideas.)

If I could show or hide all nodes from a given folder, that would be more convenient than making multiple graph notes that include or exclude specific folders.

[nilFrost]

I want to clarify this:

@nilFrost

If I could show or hide all nodes from a given folder, that would be more convenient than making multiple graph notes that include or exclude specific folders.

I mean for example, consider a graph with idea notes and evidence notes. I could have a single graph that includes both, but simply hide evidence note nodes if I want to view the graph of only idea notes. This would be more convenient than making two graphs, one with only idea notes, and the other with idea + evidence notes.

[dawni]

@nilFrost

Only include notes from given vault subdirectories. I would like it if notes are recursively included from the subdirectories.

In the graph, click the cog icon near the top right to open the graph settings. At the top of settings, expand Filters. The first thing in there is a search box. In the search box, type “path:Sources” (or if Sources is not at the root, then “path:whatever/whatever/Sources”).

More about filters: Graph View #Filters - Obsidian Help. At that link, there’s another link to learn about search terms you can use in the filter.

@nilFrost

I would also like the ability to have different graphs with different configurations.

This isn’t exactly that, but you can bookmark configurations, as many as you’d like, and return to the configuration by opening the bookmark. Bookmarks - Obsidian Help

@nilFrost

I would like the ability to give different colors to nodes in different directories.

In the graph settings, below Filters, is Groups. You can use the same type of search terms there to set colors for folders. Graph View #Groups - Obsidian Help