Request to have Search display results from notes where a block is embedded

Feature requests
1

Use case or problem

Here is an example of the problem in a sandbox vault

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Test1 has a line of text. I embed that line in Test2.

If I search for the word experiment, only Test1 shows up in the results. Test2 doesn’t show up.

When I want to search for two or more words, if one of those words is in an embed, it won’t show up in the search results.

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(I had to recreate the above in a sandbox, hence the different block id)

It would be useful to have Test2 show up in the above search result.

Proposed solution

When searching for a keyword, it would help if the search results also included notes that contain embeds of the block that contain that keyword.

Current workaround (optional)

The alternative is to:

  • click on the search result corresponding to Test1, then
  • use the id of that block in Test1 for a new search, and then from that search’s results
  • go to the file where the block is embedded.

It’s additional steps to find out where that block is embedded.

I understand this is not a simple request because embedding a block doesn’t copy over the text, it just displays the text and that’s why it doesn’t show up in the search results. But, having that 3-step workaround reduced to just 1 step would likely be more effective I presume?

If there are better alternatives to the above or any info on why this isn’t a broadly useful feature, happy to learn about it!

10 Likes
2

When you say “referenced”, do you mean “embedded”?

3

Yes. Obsidian Help (and other note-taking apps) calls linking blocks as “Block References” somewhere, so the terminology got a bit muddled. “Referencing a block” implies embedding the link to a block inside a note.

I hope the post is clear enough with that context?

4

It would be best to edit the post itself to say what you mean, so people don’t have to read thru the whole thing and then read a couple of comments to figure it out.

I changed the post title for you.

5

I can no longer edit the post, so, hopefully, it isn’t too confusing. Unless a moderator can help with the edit.

6

OK, I changed it for you. If you want want it changed differently, just let me know.

7

I also hope Obsidian can implement this feature.

2 Likes
8

If this feature is implemented it should also work for searching within a single note.

3 Likes
9

It works in Reading Mode – only.

1 Like
10

+1 I find this valuable too.

2 Likes
11

+1 this feature request

2 Likes
12

+1 I need this feature too. Or does any plugin can achieve it?

2 Likes
13

+1 to this, surprised a plugin doesn’t exist for it yet

1 Like