obsidian-bases

Obsidian Bases Skill

Workflow

1. Read the target .base file when editing, and inspect the vault's relevant note properties and conventions before creating or changing a view.
2. Define which notes belong in the base, then choose views and displayed properties. Read Schema and Views before using nested filters, grouping, summaries or view-specific settings.
3. Add formulas when needed. Read Properties and Formulas for file properties, this, date arithmetic and formula examples; consult Functions Reference for the functions actually used.
4. For a task tracker, reading list or daily-note index, read the corresponding complete example before adapting it. Preserve the vault's actual field names and types.
5. Save a .base file with valid YAML in the intended vault location, then run the validation below.

Minimal Base

A base is a YAML file with the .base extension. This example lists active notes and computes a date-derived column. Adapt status and due_date to the vault.

filters:
  and:
    - 'file.ext == "md"'
    - 'status == "active"'
formulas:
  days_until_due: 'if(due_date, (date(due_date) - today()).days, "")'
properties:
  formula.days_until_due:
    displayName: "Days Until Due"
views:
  - type: table
    name: "Active Notes"
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
      - formula.days_until_due

Global filters apply to all views; view filters further narrow that view. The full schema and table, cards, list and map examples are in Schema and Views. Check required plugins and view-specific settings before choosing a view.

Properties and Formula References

• Note properties come from frontmatter: note.author or author.
• File properties describe the file: file.name, file.mtime, etc.
• Formula properties reference definitions: formula.my_formula must have a matching my_formula entry under formulas.
• Inspect relevant notes for missing values and data types. A property need not exist on every note; guard optional inputs where used.

Complete file-property tables, this behavior and formula examples are in Properties and Formulas.

Common Pitfalls

YAML quoting

Use single quotes around expressions containing double quotes. Quote display strings that YAML could interpret as structure, such as a colon followed by a space.

Incorrect: displayName: Status: Active
Correct:   displayName: "Status: Active"

Incorrect: label: "if(done, "Yes", "No")"
Correct:   label: 'if(done, "Yes", "No")'

Duration and missing values

Subtracting dates returns a Duration. Access a numeric field such as .days, .hours, .minutes, .seconds or .milliseconds before applying numeric functions.

Incorrect: (now() - file.ctime).round(0)
Correct:   (now() - file.ctime).days.round(0)

Guard optional date inputs before converting or subtracting them:

formulas:
  days_until_due: 'if(due_date, (date(due_date) - today()).days, "")'

For more date expressions, read Date Arithmetic.

Embedding Bases

![[MyBase.base]]

<!-- Specific view -->
![[MyBase.base#View Name]]

Validation

• Parse the actual .base as YAML. Resolve quoting errors and confirm fields contain concrete values rather than schema alternatives.
• Verify every referenced formula.X exists under formulas; check note-property names and types against the intended notes.
• Check filters, displayed columns, grouping and summaries against the requested result, including notes with missing optional values.
• Open the .base in Obsidian and actually inspect each affected view. Confirm formulas, filters and summaries work, then correct and recheck failures.
• If Obsidian or a required plugin is unavailable, report the unverified views or behavior. YAML parsing alone does not establish rendering or formula correctness.

References

• Bases Syntax
• Functions
• Views
• Formulas