Open out-of-vault files in a new tab

Feature requests
1

Use case or problem

Currently, opening a file out of vault opens it in the current tab.

I want to open external markdown files in a new tab instead of the current tab.

Proposed solution

A setting.

Related

2

will be implemented in v1.14.6 v1.15.0. ETA unknown.

3

Want to add that I don’t think out-of-vault vs in-vault should be the deciding factor here.

In-vault files can also now be opened via “Open With…”. They should not clobber existing tab contents either. Furthermore, if the file is already open in Obsidian, a duplicate tab should not be opened for it.

Ideally, would love if:

When opening a file via Finder’s “Open with…” or some other external method:

  • If the file is external - does not belong to a vault:
    • If it is open in one of the currently open vaults, focus that vault and the file’s tab inside it
    • otherwise, open it in a new tab in the focused vault
  • Otherwise - if the file belongs to a vault:
    • if that vault is closed, open it
    • focus the vault that the file belongs to
    • then, if the file is already open in that vault’s window, focus it, otherwise open it in a new tab
4

Is this implemented in 1.5.0 (catalyst)?

5

I’d go one step further and suggest that external files open in a new window with minimal UI by default. Most of the time, I just want to view/edit markdown files from wherever with proper rendering, like in projects shared with colleagues - I don’t want to open my personal vault in that case. Currently, I have to use a separate program for this.

I could see this behind an option as well, or controlled by more complex logic, like that if a vault is already opened the file shows up there because you’re probably consulting a resource while writing. However, I’d say what I mentioned before is really the #1 use-case for me.