Obsidian University Workflow — Templater-powered notes for students

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TL;DR: A small toolkit of Templater scripts + templates that auto-detect your course and parcial, rename/move notes into the right folders, and scaffold study-friendly pages. Drop it in your vault and start capturing lectures/concepts without fiddling with filenames or paths.

GitHub - ABO896/obsidian-university-workflow: A powerful, context-aware Templater system for university students using Obsidian. · GitHub
Requires: Obsidian 1.5+, Templater, Dataview (optional but recommended)

:sparkles: What it does

  • Detects context automatically
    Finds your course (subject) and parcial from where the file lives (e.g., Universidad/Math/Parcial 1/…) and injects them into frontmatter.
  • Moves and names files for you
    Creates missing folders on demand and prevents duplicate filenames (Lecture 2025-10-16 (1).md, etc.).
  • Fast, guided capture
    Prompt flow to pick/create subject + parcial and optionally set a lecture topic. Cursor lands where you start typing.
  • Study-first structure
    Sections for summaries, definitions, own-words explanations, questions, and Dataview backlinks to related notes.
  • Modular scripts
    Helpers live in _templater_scripts/ and are reused by all templates.

:package: What’s inside

abo896-obsidian-university-workflow/
├── _templater_scripts/
│   ├── getUniversityContext.js       # infer subject/parcial from path
│   └── universityNoteUtils.js        # folder discovery, creation, safe renames
└── _templates/
    ├── Lecture Note.md               # smart lecture workflow
    ├── Concept Note Template.md      # feynman-style concept capture
    └── Subject Hub.md                # starting point for dashboards

Assumed vault structure (customizable):

Universidad/<Subject>/<Parcial>/<Your notes>.md

:white_check_mark: Requirements

  • Obsidian v1.5+
  • Templater (required)
  • Dataview (used by Concept notes and future dashboards)

:gear: Install (2 minutes)

  1. Download the repo ZIP → extract.
  2. Copy _templater_scripts/ and _templates/ into your vault root.
  3. Obsidian → Settings → Templater
  • Template folder: _templates
  • Script files folder: _templater_scripts
  1. (Optional) Assign a hotkey to Lecture Note.
  2. Templater → Reload templates and Reload user scripts.

:rocket: How to use

Lecture Note (daily driver)

  1. Create a new blank note (leave it named Untitled).
  2. Run Lecture Note (command palette or your hotkey).
  3. Pick or create Subject and Parcial.
  4. Optionally enter a Topic → filename becomes Lecture YYYY-MM-DD - Topic.md.
  5. The template writes frontmatter, tags (#<subject> #lecture), sections, moves the file into the right folder, and puts the cursor in Summary.

Concept Note (Feynman-style)

  1. Run Concept Note Template from any draft.
  2. Pick/create Subject/Parcial.
  3. It relocates the file if needed, adds concept sections, and a Dataview query listing related lectures.

Subject Hub

  • A minimal starting page you can duplicate per subject to build dashboards (Dataview tables, progress, Kanban, links).

:puzzle_piece: Customization cheatsheet

  • Change base folder
    In universityNoteUtils.js, update DEFAULT_BASE_PATH (default "Universidad").
  • Parciales container
    The helper will use a Parciales subfolder if present; otherwise it saves parciales directly under the subject. You can rename this behavior inside findParcialesContainer().
  • Parcial options
    Edit the arrays in the templates (e.g., add "Parcial 4", change labels to your semester system).
  • Tags/aliases
    In Lecture Note, tweak how #<subject> and #lecture are generated, or change the aliases frontmatter.

:brain: Why this workflow?

  • Zero-setup capture during class.
  • Consistent naming and paths help Dataview shine.
  • Templates nudge active recall: definitions → own words → questions.
  • Works great alongside spaced repetition or code snippets for CS courses.

:thinking: Troubleshooting

  • Template aborts immediately
    Make sure you’re running Lecture Note in a fresh note still named Untitled (or Sin título). It refuses to rename existing notes to avoid collisions.
  • Folders not created
    Confirm _templater_scripts is set in Templater and you’re on the desktop app (mobile file-system permissions may differ).
  • Dataview list is empty
    Enable Dataview and ensure lecture notes keep the #lecture tag and correct course/parcial frontmatter.
  • Wrong subject/parcial detected
    Move the file under Universidad/<Subject>/<Parcial>/… first, or pick from the suggester. You can always rename folders later.

:round_pushpin: Roadmap

  • Subject Hub: ready-made Dataview tables (progress by parcial, recent lectures, open questions).
  • Optional daily lecture note command (auto topic from calendar title).
  • Language presets (ES/EN prompts and headings).
  • Mobile-friendly flows where renaming/moving happens last.

:test_tube: Compatibility notes

  • Tested on Obsidian desktop 1.5.x with Templater + Dataview.
  • Mobile works but folder creation/renames can be slower; consider running templates after syncing.

:page_facing_up: License

MIT © 2025 Alvaro Balduz

:raising_hands: Contribute / Feedback

Issues and PRs welcome—new templates, alternative semester systems, or dashboard ideas. If you’re a student using a different folder convention, I’d love to support it out-of-the-box.

GitHub - ABO896/obsidian-university-workflow: A powerful, context-aware Templater system for university students using Obsidian. · GitHub*
Demo vault snippets / screenshots also welcome!

Appendix: sample frontmatter

---
course: "Fundamentos de la Programación"
parcial: "Parcial 1"
type: "lecture"
date: "2025-10-16"
status: "draft"
aliases: ["Intro to Pointers"]
---
#fundamentos-de-la-programacion #lecture
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Obsidian University Workflow v2 :graduation_cap:

Smart templates for organized academic notes
Stop managing folders, start capturing knowledge

:sparkles: What This Does

Tired of university notes sprawling across random folders? This workflow gives you:

  • :brain: Smart Templates that auto-file your lectures, concepts, and notes
  • :gear: One Config to customize all labels and folders for your language/vault
  • :bar_chart: Auto-Dashboards that populate as you take notes
  • :shield: Guardrails to prevent misplaced files and duplicates

:rocket: Quick Start

  1. Install Templater plugin in Obsidian
  2. Copy the _templates and _templater_scripts folders to your vault
  3. Configure Templater to use those folders
  4. Run “Lecture Note” from a new untitled note

That’s it! The templates will guide you through subject selection and handle all the organization.

:bullseye: Templates Included

Template Purpose Best For
Lecture Note :microphone: Daily class notes Capturing lectures with structured sections
Concept Note :light_bulb: Deep topic understanding Feynman-style concept breakdowns
General Note :memo: Flexible academic notes Research, references, ideas
Subject Hub :house: Course dashboard Overview of all course materials
Assign Tema :counterclockwise_arrows_button: Retrofit organization Adding structure to existing notes

:wrench: Key Features

  • Config-First Design - Change folder names/labels once in universityConfig.js
  • Auto-Detection - Templates detect your courses and exam periods
  • Mobile-Friendly - Works on Obsidian Mobile once templates are synced
  • Dataview-Ready - Built-in dashboards and backlinks
  • Safe File Handling - Prevents overwrites and naming collisions

:books: Learn More

This is just the overview! The full documentation includes:

  • Detailed configuration guide
  • Template customization options
  • Troubleshooting common issues
  • How to extend the system with new templates
  • Complete technical conventions and frontmatter schema

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Explore the full documentation on GitHub → obsidian-university-workflow - By ABO896

Open source • MIT License • Built for students by a student

3

Got a link?

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Sorry, didnt see your reply there, if youre still interested here´s the link:
.github.com/ABO896/obsidian-university-workflow

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5

Hi there, this looks awesome thank you so much. I’m a newbie to Obsidian so before I go too deep configuring this for my Uni course, I wanted to ask if this structure and templates could work with importing notes or annotations from Zotero? Is there any possible hiccups with regard to structure, note naming etc.

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Hi, So sorry for the late reply. I haven´t currently made an automized way to do this but ill definitely add it to my todo list! Right now I´m mainly working on making it more customizable since im aware right now its very tailored to my own workflow!

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Obsidian University Workflow - Massive Update :graduation_cap:

A complete, config-driven study pipeline for Obsidian.

Hi everyone! Back in October 2025, I shared my University Workflow. Since then—thanks to a lot of testing and realizing what a student actually needs during a frantic semester—the system has evolved from a simple folder-organizer into a complete, interconnected study pipeline.

If you’re tired of manually managing folders, wiring up concept backlinks by hand, or losing track of what to study for your midterms, this update is for you!

:sparkles: What’s New? (The Major Additions)

The workflow now has tools for every stage of your study cycle: from sitting in a lecture to doing spaced repetition before the final exam.

  • :high_voltage: Quick Concept Creation: Highlight a term mid-lecture, run a command, and it instantly creates a connected Concept Note without taking you out of your current lecture’s flow.
  • :link: Multi-Select Concept Linking: (Requires Templater ≥ 2.16) Easily tag concepts covered in a lecture as you create it, or retroactively batch-link existing concepts later!
  • :brain: Spaced Repetition Built-In: Use the new Mark Reviewed template to rank your recall difficulty (Easy/Medium/Hard/Blank). It automatically calculates and updates the next review date in your frontmatter.
  • :eagle: Vault-Wide University Dashboard: A brand-new global dashboard that gives you a bird’s-eye view of your Review Queue, Open Tasks, Orphaned Concepts, and Note Statuses across all of your courses.
  • :bullseye: Exam Period (Parcial) Prep: A dedicated note template that automatically generates a study guide by pulling all lectures and concepts for a specific exam period. (Fully optional—just toggle features.parcial in the config!)
  • :bar_chart: Batch Status Updates: Multi-select notes to quickly change their workflow status (e.g., raw ➔ draft ➔ reviewed) across your vault in one go.

:bullseye: The Complete Template Arsenal

The system now features 11 integrated templates divided into three categories:

Template Purpose What it Does
Lecture Note :studio_microphone: In-class capture Creates structured notes & auto-prompts for concept tagging
Concept Note :light_bulb: Deep understanding Feynman-style breakdowns with Dataview backlink tables
General Note :memo: Flexible capture Consistent metadata for reference sheets and ideas
Subject Hub :house: Course home Auto-populating dashboard for a specific subject
Parcial Prep Note :bullseye: Exam review Builds a study guide gathering all material for an exam period
University Dashboard :eagle: Vault-wide view Tracks review queues, statuses, and tasks across ALL subjects
Quick Create Concept :high_voltage: Mid-lecture capture Spins up a connected concept note from highlighted text
Link Concepts :link: Post-class wiring Retroactively associates concepts to a lecture note
Update Note Status :bar_chart: Pipeline tracking Batch-updates the workflow stage of multiple notes at once
Mark Reviewed :brain: Spaced Repetition Records recall quality & schedules next review date
Assign Tema :counterclockwise_arrows_button: File retrofitting Re-files existing notes into the correct topic/module folders

:gear: How It Works Under The Hood

  1. Config-First Design: You edit one file (universityConfig.js) to set your language, folder names, years, and exam structures. The entire system adapts to your vocabulary instantly.
  2. Auto-Placement: Tell the prompt the Subject and Topic (Tema), and it dynamically builds the folder hierarchy and places the note for you.
  3. Guardrails: Built-in checks prevent accidental overwrites, misplaced notes, or illegal characters in file names.

:warning: Important Note regarding Mobile: To support advanced scripting, unique file checks, and multi-select prompts, the system now heavily utilizes Templater’s tp.user.* functions. Because Obsidian mobile does not natively execute desktop-environment JS, this workflow is now strictly Desktop-only.

:rocket: Quick Start

  1. Install Templater (v2.16+) and Dataview plugins.
  2. Download the latest release and copy the _templates and _templater_scripts folders to your vault root.
  3. In Templater settings, assign the respective folder paths.
  4. Reload Templater scripts (Command Palette ➔ Templater: Reload scripts).
  5. Create a new untitled note, run Lecture Note, and watch the magic happen!

:books: Learn More

The GitHub repository contains a massively detailed README covering everything from customizing the Spaced Repetition intervals to a worked example of how to change the vault to an English/Semester-based layout in 30 seconds.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Explore the full documentation on GitHub: ABO896/obsidian-university-workflow

Open source • MIT License • Built for students by a student.

Would love to hear what you all think of the new templates and study pipeline! Let me know if you have any questions below.

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