Obsidian Bases Skill

This skill enables Claude Code to create and edit valid Obsidian Bases (.base files) including views, filters, formulas, and all related configurations.

Overview

Obsidian Bases are YAML-based files that define dynamic views of notes in an Obsidian vault. A Base file can contain multiple views, global filters, formulas, property configurations, and custom summaries.

Core Schema

Global filters apply to ALL views

filters: and: [] # or: [], not: []

Define formula properties

formulas: formula_name: 'expression'

Configure display names

properties: property_name: displayName: "Display Name"

Define summary formulas

summaries: custom_summary: 'values.mean().round(3)'

Define views

views:

• type: table | cards | list | map name: "View Name" limit: 10 filters: { and: [] } order: [file.name, property_name] summaries: { property_name: Average }

Quick Examples

Example 1: Task Tracker

filters: and: - file.hasTag("task")

formulas: priority_label: 'if(priority == 1, "🔴", if(priority == 2, "🟡", "🟢"))'

properties: formula.priority_label: displayName: Priority

views:

• type: table name: "Tasks" order: [file.name, status, formula.priority_label]

Example 2: Reading List

filters: or: - file.hasTag("book") - file.hasTag("article")

views:

• type: cards name: "Library" order: [file.name, author, status]

Example 3: Daily Notes

filters: and: - file.inFolder("Daily Notes")

views:

• type: table name: "Recent" order: [file.name, file.mtime]

Validation Rules

Required Structure

• File extension: .base

• Valid YAML syntax

• At least one view defined

Filters

• Can be string: filters: 'status == "done"'

• Can be object: filters: { and: [...] }

• Supported operators: == , != , > , < , >= , <= , && , || , !

View Types

• table : Spreadsheet-like view

• cards : Visual card grid

• list : Simple list view

• map : Requires Maps plugin + lat/lng properties

Property Types

• Note properties: note.author or author

• File properties: file.name , file.path , file.mtime , file.tags , etc.

• Formula properties: formula.my_formula

Summary Functions

Name Type Description

Average Number Mathematical mean

Sum Number Sum of all numbers

Min/Max Number Smallest/Largest number

Count Any Count of values

Earliest/Latest Date Earliest/Latest date

Common Formulas

Conditional

status_icon: 'if(done, "✅", "⏳")'

Date formatting

created: 'file.ctime.format("YYYY-MM-DD")'

Arithmetic

total: 'price * quantity'

String

display_name: 'author + " - " + title'

YAML Quoting Rules

• Single quotes for formulas with double quotes: 'if(done, "Yes")'

• Double quotes for simple strings: "View Name"

• Escape nested quotes in complex expressions

Important Notes

• Filter scoping: Use sources to limit search scope

• Markdown only: Bases only work with .md files

• Property references: Use file. , note. , or formula. prefix

• Date arithmetic: Use duration strings like "1d" , "1M" , "1h"

Detailed Documentation

For complete API documentation, see REFERENCE.md:

• Filter syntax and patterns

• All formula functions (100+ functions)

• View type configurations

• Complete examples

• Troubleshooting guide