Meta Bind in container element (ex for multi column) in preview and reading modes

What I’m trying to do

I am trying to use the amazing meta bind INPUT fields in a container in such way that I can decorate it with css and also align it with other elements (ex: multi column). These meta bind inputs ought to be usable in both reading and preview mode. As such one likely needs a parent container and then child containers that have the meta bind inputs

Things I have tried

I’v tried it all and spent days and scourged the forums and the net in general and reached an impass.

  • native tables: can’t span rows
  • obsidian tables plugin: won’t render input fields
  • callouts are best bet, but they don’t work in live preview; I mean they do but the minute you click on them to enter values, obsidian puts you int source mode for the callout
  • multi-column css - same problem; it is callout based
  • obsidian columns plugin - held most promise. I used the code blocks. It seemed to work…but only in live preview; in reading mode they unload.
  • html elements with meta bind in them - obsidian won’t render them

Some users reported they achieved it, but I have not seen any code. It seems one has to use dataviewjs to render custom divs or table and then the meta bind in them. I have tried that too, but there must be a specific way to do it, because using something like dv.paragraph or dv.span does not cut it.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I gave up Live Preview and just use (and with Force Note View Mode actually force) Reading Mode.
So you do your editing and be done with it and then later on just use what you have prepared.
Using this CSS method as FMK’s mult column css has performace issues (in my case: slow backlinks results generation, etc.).

1 Like

Thanks for your reply…I am also resolving to giving up on multi column…till something fundamental is changed in obsidian. This multi column business is an incessant struggle…you try one solution, it it fixes one issue and introduces another…I really cannot find a single instance where multi column with meta bind works in all modes…

I appreciate your input; cheers