obsidian-bases by davepoon

---
name: obsidian-bases
category: document-processing
description: Create and edit Obsidian Bases (.base files) with views, filters, formulas, and summaries. Use when working with .base files, creating database-like views of notes, or when the user mentions Bases, table views, card views, filters, or formulas in Obsidian.
---

# Obsidian Bases

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.

## When to Use This Skill

- Creating database-like views of notes in Obsidian
- Building task trackers, reading lists, or project dashboards
- Filtering and organizing notes by properties or tags
- Creating calculated/formula fields
- Setting up table, card, list, or map views
- Working with .base files in an Obsidian vault

## File Format

Base files use the `.base` extension and contain valid YAML. They can also be embedded in Markdown code blocks.

## Complete Schema

```yaml
# Global filters apply to ALL views in the base
filters:
  # Can be a single filter string
  # OR a recursive filter object with and/or/not
  and: []
  or: []
  not: []

# Define formula properties that can be used across all views
formulas:
  formula_name: 'expression'

# Configure display names and settings for properties
properties:
  property_name:
    displayName: "Display Name"
  formula.formula_name:
    displayName: "Formula Display Name"
  file.ext:
    displayName: "Extension"

# Define custom summary formulas
summaries:
  custom_summary_name: 'values.mean().round(3)'

# Define one or more views
views:
  - type: table | cards | list | map
    name: "View Name"
    limit: 10                    # Optional: limit results
    groupBy:                     # Optional: group results
      property: property_name
      direction: ASC | DESC
    filters:                     # View-specific filters
      and: []
    order:                       # Properties to display in order
      - file.name
      - property_name
      - formula.formula_name
    summaries:                   # Map properties to summary formulas
      property_name: Average
```

## Filter Syntax

Filters narrow down results. They can be applied globally or per-view.

### Filter Structure

```yaml
# Single filter
filters: 'status == "done"'

# AND - all conditions must be true
filters:
  and:
    - 'status == "done"'
    - 'priority > 3'

# OR - any condition can be true
filters:
  or:
    - file.hasTag("book")
    - file.hasTag("article")

# NOT - exclude matching items
filters:
  not:
    - file.hasTag("archived")

# Nested filters
filters:
  or:
    - file.hasTag("tag")
    - and:
        - file.hasTag("book")
        - file.hasLink("Textbook")
    - not:
        - file.hasTag("book")
        - file.inFolder("Required Reading")
```

### Filter Operators

| Operator | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `==` | equals |
| `!=` | not equal |
| `>` | greater than |
| `<` | less than |
| `>=` | greater than or equal |
| `<=` | less than or equal |
| `&&` | logical and |
| `\|\|` | logical or |
| `!` | logical not |

## Properties

### Three Types of Properties

1. **Note properties** - From frontmatter: `note.author` or just `author`
2. **File properties** - File metadata: `file.name`, `file.mtime`, etc.
3. **Formula properties** - Computed values: `formula.my_formula`

### File Properties Reference

| Property | Type | Description |
|----------|------|-------------|
| `file.name` | String | File name |
| `file.basename` | String | File name without extension |
| `file.path` | String | Full path to file |
| `file.folder` | String | Parent folder path |
| `file.ext` | String | File extension |
| `file.size` | Number | File size in bytes |
| `file.ctime` | Date | Created time |
| `file.mtime` | Date | Modified time |
| `file.tags` | List | All tags in file |
| `file.links` | List | Internal links in file |
| `file.backlinks` | List | Files linking to this file |
| `file.embeds` | List | Embeds in the note |
| `file.properties` | Object | All frontmatter properties |

### The `this` Keyword

- In main content area: refers to the base file itself
- When embedded: refers to the embedding file
- In sidebar: refers to the active file in main content

## Formula Syntax

Formulas compute values from properties. Defined in the `formulas` section.

```yaml
formulas:
  # Simple arithmetic
  total: "price * quantity"

  # Conditional logic
  status_icon: 'if(done, "check", "pending")'

  # String formatting
  formatted_price: 'if(price, price.toFixed(2) + " dollars")'

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

  # Complex expressions
  days_old: '((now() - file.ctime) / 86400000).round(0)'
```

## Functions Reference

### Global Functions

| Function | Signature | Description |
|----------|-----------|-------------|
| `date()` | `date(string): date` | Parse string to date |
| `duration()` | `duration(string): duration` | Parse duration string |
| `now()` | `now(): date` | Current date and time |
| `today()` | `today(): date` | Current date (time = 00:00:00) |
| `if()` | `if(condition, trueResult, falseResult?)` | Conditional |
| `min()` | `min(n1, n2, ...): number` | Smallest number |
| `max()` | `max(n1, n2, ...): number` | Largest number |
| `number()` | `number(any): number` | Convert to number |
| `link()` | `link(path, display?): Link` | Create a link |
| `list()` | `list(element): List` | Wrap in list if not already |
| `file()` | `file(path): file` | Get file object |
| `image()` | `image(path): image` | Create image for rendering |
| `icon()` | `icon(name): icon` | Lucide icon by name |
| `html()` | `html(string): html` | Render as HTML |
| `escapeHTML()` | `escapeHTML(string): string` | Escape HTML characters |

### Date Functions & Fields

**Fields:** `date.year`, `date.month`, `date.day`, `date.hour`, `date.minute`, `date.second`, `date.millisecond`

| Function | Signature | Description |
|----------|-----------|-------------|
| `date()` | `date.date(): date` | Remove time portion |
| `format()` | `date.format(string): string` | Format with Moment.js pattern |
| `time()` | `date.time(): string` | Get time as string |
| `relative()` | `date.relative(): string` | Human-readable relative time |
| `isEmpty()` | `date.isEmpty(): boolean` | Always false for dates |

### Date Arithmetic

```yaml
# Duration units: y/year/years, M/month/months, d/day/days,
#                 w/week/weeks, h/hour/hours, m/minute/minutes, s/second/seconds

# Add/subtract durations
"date + \"1M\""           # Add 1 month
"date - \"2h\""           # Subtract 2 hours
"now() + \"1 day\""       # Tomorrow
"today() + \"7d\""        # A week from today

# Subtract dates for millisecond difference
"now() - file.ctime"

# Complex duration arithmetic
"now() + (duration('1d') * 2)"
```

### String Functions

**Field:** `string.length`

| Function | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `contains(value)` | Check substring |
| `containsAll(...values)` | All substrings present |
| `containsAny(...values)` | Any substring present |
| `startsWith(query)` | Starts with query |
| `endsWith(query)` | Ends with query |
| `isEmpty()` | Empty or not present |
| `lower()` | To lowercase |
| `title()` | To Title Case |
| `trim()` | Remove whitespace |
| `replace(pattern, replacement)` | Replace pattern |
| `repeat(count)` | Repeat string |
| `reverse()` | Reverse string |
| `slice(start, end?)` | Substring |
| `split(separator, n?)` | Split to list |

### Number Functions

| Function | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `abs()` | Absolute value |
| `ceil()` | Round up |
| `floor()` | Round down |
| `round(digits?)` | Round to digits |
| `toFixed(precision)` | Fixed-point notation |
| `isEmpty()` | Not present |

### List Functions

**Field:** `list.length`

| Function | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `contains(value)` | Element exists |
| `containsAll(...values)` | All elements exist |
| `containsAny(...values)` | Any element exists |
| `filter(expression)` | Filter by condition (uses `value`, `index`) |
| `map(expression)` | Transform elements (uses `value`, `index`) |
| `reduce(expression, initial)` | Reduce to single value (uses `value`, `index`, `acc`) |
| `flat()` | Flatten nested lists |
| `join(separator)` | Join to string |
| `reverse()` | Reverse order |
| `slice(start, end?)` | Sublist |
| `sort()` | Sort ascending |
| `unique()` | Remove duplicates |
| `isEmpty()` | No elements |

### File Functions

| Function | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `asLink(display?)` | Convert to link |
| `hasLink(otherFile)` | Has link to file |
| `hasTag(...tags)` | Has any of the tags |
| `hasProperty(name)` | Has property |
| `inFolder(folder)` | In folder or subfolder |

## View Types

### Table View

```yaml
views:
  - type: table
    name: "My Table"
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
      - due_date
    summaries:
      price: Sum
      count: Average
```

### Cards View

```yaml
views:
  - type: cards
    name: "Gallery"
    order:
      - file.name
      - cover_image
      - description
```

### List View

```yaml
views:
  - type: list
    name: "Simple List"
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
```

### Map View

Requires latitude/longitude properties and the Maps plugin.

```yaml
views:
  - type: map
    name: "Locations"
```

## Default Summary Formulas

| Name | Input Type | Description |
|------|------------|-------------|
| `Average` | Number | Mathematical mean |
| `Min` | Number | Smallest number |
| `Max` | Number | Largest number |
| `Sum` | Number | Sum of all numbers |
| `Range` | Number | Max - Min |
| `Median` | Number | Mathematical median |
| `Stddev` | Number | Standard deviation |
| `Earliest` | Date | Earliest date |
| `Latest` | Date | Latest date |
| `Checked` | Boolean | Count of true values |
| `Unchecked` | Boolean | Count of false values |
| `Empty` | Any | Count of empty values |
| `Filled` | Any | Count of non-empty values |
| `Unique` | Any | Count of unique values |

## Complete Examples

### Task Tracker Base

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")
    - 'file.ext == "md"'

formulas:
  days_until_due: 'if(due, ((date(due) - today()) / 86400000).round(0), "")'
  is_overdue: 'if(due, date(due) < today() && status != "done", false)'
  priority_label: 'if(priority == 1, "High", if(priority == 2, "Medium", "Low"))'

properties:
  status:
    displayName: Status
  formula.days_until_due:
    displayName: "Days Until Due"
  formula.priority_label:
    displayName: Priority

views:
  - type: table
    name: "Active Tasks"
    filters:
      and:
        - 'status != "done"'
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
      - formula.priority_label
      - due
      - formula.days_until_due
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC
    summaries:
      formula.days_until_due: Average

  - type: table
    name: "Completed"
    filters:
      and:
        - 'status == "done"'
    order:
      - file.name
      - completed_date
```

### Reading List Base

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

formulas:
  reading_time: 'if(pages, (pages * 2).toString() + " min", "")'
  status_icon: 'if(status == "reading", "reading", if(status == "done", "done", "to-read"))'
  year_read: 'if(finished_date, date(finished_date).year, "")'

properties:
  author:
    displayName: Author
  formula.status_icon:
    displayName: ""
  formula.reading_time:
    displayName: "Est. Time"

views:
  - type: cards
    name: "Library"
    order:
      - cover
      - file.name
      - author
      - formula.status_icon
    filters:
      not:
        - 'status == "dropped"'

  - type: table
    name: "Reading List"
    filters:
      and:
        - 'status == "to-read"'
    order:
      - file.name
      - author
      - pages
      - formula.reading_time
```

### Project Notes Base

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - file.inFolder("Projects")
    - 'file.ext == "md"'

formulas:
  last_updated: 'file.mtime.relative()'
  link_count: 'file.links.length'

summaries:
  avgLinks: 'values.filter(value.isType("number")).mean().round(1)'

properties:
  formula.last_updated:
    displayName: "Updated"
  formula.link_count:
    displayName: "Links"

views:
  - type: table
    name: "All Projects"
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
      - formula.last_updated
      - formula.link_count
    summaries:
      formula.link_count: avgLinks
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC

  - type: list
    name: "Quick List"
    order:
      - file.name
      - status
```

### Daily Notes Index

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - file.inFolder("Daily Notes")
    - '/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.matches(file.basename)'

formulas:
  word_estimate: '(file.size / 5).round(0)'
  day_of_week: 'date(file.basename).format("dddd")'

properties:
  formula.day_of_week:
    displayName: "Day"
  formula.word_estimate:
    displayName: "~Words"

views:
  - type: table
    name: "Recent Notes"
    limit: 30
    order:
      - file.name
      - formula.day_of_week
      - formula.word_estimate
      - file.mtime
```

## Embedding Bases

Embed in Markdown files:

```markdown
![[MyBase.base]]

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

## YAML Quoting Rules

- Use single quotes for formulas containing double quotes: `'if(done, "Yes", "No")'`
- Use double quotes for simple strings: `"My View Name"`
- Escape nested quotes properly in complex expressions

## Common Patterns

### Filter by Tag

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("project")
```

### Filter by Folder

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - file.inFolder("Notes")
```

### Filter by Date Range

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - 'file.mtime > now() - "7d"'
```

### Filter by Property Value

```yaml
filters:
  and:
    - 'status == "active"'
    - 'priority >= 3'
```

### Combine Multiple Conditions

```yaml
filters:
  or:
    - and:
        - file.hasTag("important")
        - 'status != "done"'
    - and:
        - 'priority == 1'
        - 'due != ""'
```

## References

- [Bases Syntax](https://help.obsidian.md/bases/syntax)
- [Functions](https://help.obsidian.md/bases/functions)
- [Views](https://help.obsidian.md/bases/views)
- [Formulas](https://help.obsidian.md/formulas)