Hello everyone,
I’m looking to create a Notion-like “page” system in Obsidian, where each “page” combines a folder and a note.
Background: Pages in Notion
In Notion, each page serves as a self-contained entity that can house sub-pages, databases, and various types of content. This hierarchical and modular approach enhances organization and navigation, especially for complex projects or extensive knowledge bases.
Current Setup in Obsidian
In Obsidian, while plugins like Folder Note and Folder Notes are excellent for associating notes with folders, and QuickAdd combined with Templater help streamline note creation, there isn’t a seamless, integrated solution that fully mimics Notion’s “page” functionality. Specifically, I’m looking for a setup that:
- Creates Folder and Note Simultaneously: When I create a new “page,” it should automatically generate a dedicated folder with an associated note inside it.
- Handles Renaming Gracefully: Renaming the note should automatically rename the corresponding folder, and vice versa, to maintain consistency.
- Supports Hierarchical Structures: Allows for easy nesting of pages (folders) within other pages, maintaining a clear and navigable hierarchy.
- Automates Linking and Metadata: Ensures that links, backlinks, and metadata are appropriately managed when folders and notes are created or renamed.
Current Challenges
- Synchronization Between Folder and Note Names: Managing the relationship between folder names and note titles manually can be cumbersome and error-prone.
- Automation Limitations: Existing plugins require multiple steps or manual interventions to maintain the folder-note relationship, lacking full automation.
- Scalability: As my knowledge base grows, maintaining a consistent and organized structure becomes increasingly challenging without integrated solutions.
Request for Community Assistance
- Existing Plugins or Workflows:
- Are there any existing community plugins or combinations thereof that facilitate the creation of a folder-note “page” system with automated synchronization between folder and note names?
- Can anyone share their workflows or setups that achieve a Notion-like hierarchical page structure within Obsidian?
- Feature Requests & API Enhancements:
- Would the community support a feature request for enhanced API capabilities that allow for more integrated folder-note management?
- What considerations should be taken into account to implement features like automatic renaming of folders when a note is renamed, ensuring data integrity and a seamless user experience?
Potential Solutions & Ideas
While exploring potential solutions, I’ve identified several approaches, along with some concerns regarding their implementation:
- Advanced Templater Scripts: Developing scripts that not only create folders and notes but also monitor and synchronize their names. However, this feels more like a feature request than a quick hack, as maintaining the hierarchical structure reliably would require extensive scripting and ongoing maintenance.
- Plugin Collaboration: Combining functionalities of existing plugins like Folder Note, QuickAdd, and Templater for a cohesive “page” system. This approach might lead to fragmented solutions and could complicate the workflow instead of providing a seamless experience.
- API Hooks: Utilizing Obsidian’s API to create hooks that trigger folder renaming when a note’s title changes and vice versa. Implementing this would likely demand significant development effort to ensure that the synchronization is robust and doesn’t interfere with Obsidian’s core functionalities.
Concerns:
Implementing a fully integrated “page” system as described would require substantial work with the Obsidian API to maintain the hierarchical structure effectively. This complexity suggests that such a feature is better suited as a native enhancement rather than a workaround using existing plugins. Additionally, ensuring that these changes do not disrupt Obsidian’s inherent logic and file management is crucial.
Proposal:
Introducing a “Page-mode” feature in Obsidian could address these needs. This mode would ensure that each file creation or modification is mirrored by corresponding folder actions (like creating or renaming folders) without altering the underlying file structure. Such a feature would encapsulate the folder-note relationship internally, preserving Obsidian’s file-based integrity while offering a Notion-like page experience.
Conclusion
Creating a Notion-like “page” system in Obsidian would greatly enhance organizational capabilities, especially for complex projects or extensive knowledge bases. The concept of treating “notes as pages rather than mere files” is a cornerstone of Notion’s popularity as a productivity tool and could significantly benefit Obsidian users seeking a more hierarchical and modular approach to knowledge management.
I’m keen to hear your suggestions, experiences, or any ongoing projects that aim to achieve this functionality. Additionally, feedback on the feasibility of implementing such a feature through the Obsidian API would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your assistance!