## Intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=0s) - [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] is a text editing application used for long-form writing and [[Note-taking | note-taking]]. [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=0s) - Obsidian supports Markdown, making it lightweight and fast. [(00:00:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=3s) - Obsidian is customizable with plugins and themes. [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=10s) ## But, what is a note? [(00:00:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=19s) - Notetaking is the simple act of recording information to recall later. [(00:00:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=41s) - Notes can be taken on any subject, from personal projects to work-related tasks. [(00:00:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=53s) - Notetaking systems can be as simple or complex as needed, and users should avoid feeling pressured to adopt complicated methods. [(00:01:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=110s) ## Setting up your vault [(00:02:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=130s) - A vault is the main folder where all notes and documents are stored in [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian.]] [(00:02:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=136s) - There are three main options for setting up a vault: locally on one computer, using a cloud service like [[Dropbox]] or [[Google Drive]], or using Obsidian Sync, Obsidian's paid syncing service. [(00:02:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=140s) - Obsidian is a lightweight text editor that uses text files and folders, giving users ownership of their data. [(00:03:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=219s) ## Sponsor Surfshark [(00:04:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=256s) - Surfshark is a VPN service that encrypts user data, protecting privacy and preventing data from being accessed by unwanted third parties. [(00:04:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=280s) - Surfshark does not keep logs of user activity, which is essential for a VPN to be effective. [(00:05:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=301s) - Surfshark allows users to change their virtual location, enabling access to geo-restricted content on streaming platforms like [[Netflix]] and [[Hulu]]. [(00:05:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=306s) ## Folder Structure [(00:05:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=337s) - The folder structure is broken down into different parts of life, such as personal and work, with subfolders for specific categories like house maintenance, projects, and travel. [(00:05:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=347s) - A files folder stores images and PDF documents, while an archive folder holds completed notes that may be needed later. [(00:06:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=369s) - Community plugins, created by individuals outside the Obsidian development team, can be used to modify or add features to [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian.]] [(00:07:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=423s) - The Iconize plugin allows users to assign icons, including emojis, to folders and note documents, which helps with organization and visual identification. [(00:07:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=431s) ## My Theme [(00:08:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=484s) - The theme in use is a customized version of a community-made theme called Border. [(00:08:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=486s) - The text font and monospace font have been changed to JetBrains Mono, a third-party font. [(00:08:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=496s) - A configuration file with details about the theme, including the color scheme, plugins, and other tweaks, will be provided in the description. [(00:08:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=514s) ## Note Taking [(00:08:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=534s) - [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] is a plain text editor that supports markdown, meaning each note is simply a text file that can be easily copied and pasted without formatting issues. [(00:08:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=536s) - Markdown allows for formatting elements like headers, bold, italics, links, images, and code blocks by typing symbols, keeping your hands on the keyboard while writing. [(00:09:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=579s) - A key philosophy of [[Note-taking | note-taking]] is to write down any potentially useful information, regardless of its perceived importance, as digital notes are essentially free and can be easily searched and organized later. [(00:10:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=640s) ## Quick Note Folder [(00:11:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=666s) - A folder named "_quicknote" is used for quick capture of notes and ideas. [(00:11:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=667s) - This folder is reviewed daily to delete unnecessary information or archive completed projects and notes. [(00:11:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=683s) - A shortcut on mobile devices allows for quick note creation, automatically adding links from open web pages and using the first line of the note as the title. [(00:11:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=716s) ## Linking Notes [(00:12:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=741s) - [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] allows users to link notes together by typing two open brackets, then typing the name of the desired document, and pressing enter. [(00:12:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=746s) - Users can embed files stored in Obsidian by typing an exclamation mark followed by two open brackets, then typing the file name and pressing enter. [(00:12:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=764s) - Obsidian's tab and split view system allows users to view multiple notes simultaneously. [(00:13:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=788s) ## Split View and Tabs [(00:13:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=795s) - Obsidian for [[IPad | iPad]] lacks a system multi-window feature, which is a significant drawback. [(00:13:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=802s) - [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] allows users to open multiple notes in tabs by tapping the plus button or using the keyboard shortcut command T. [(00:13:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=832s) - Obsidian supports split view, enabling users to have two documents open side-by-side, each with independent tab controls. [(00:14:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=844s) ## Search [(00:14:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=884s) - Obsidian's built-in quick switcher only searches file names and not file content. [(00:14:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=893s) - The Omnisearch plugin allows users to search the content of notes, enabling fuzzy searching to locate notes even with imperfect wording. [(00:15:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=901s) - The Home Tab plugin replaces the default new tab view, allowing users to quickly open existing notes or create new notes by typing the desired note name in the search bar and pressing enter. [(00:15:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=937s) ## Custom Keyboard Shortcuts [(00:16:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=981s) - A notable feature of [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] is the ability to customize hotkeys. [(00:16:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=983s) - Customizing hotkeys allows users to assign shortcuts for functions like search and template insertion. [(00:16:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1001s) - Utilizing keyboard shortcuts can enhance efficiency, especially for users who frequently use the toolbar or various plugins. [(00:17:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1026s) ## Command Palette [(00:17:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1033s) - Obsidian provides a command palette to access features and plugins. [(00:17:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1034s) - The command palette can be accessed with a keyboard shortcut or by pulling it down on the screen. [(00:17:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1044s) - While keyboard shortcuts are faster, the command palette is essential for devices without keyboards. [(00:17:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1071s) ## Auto Card Link [(00:18:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1091s) - Auto Card Link is an [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] plugin that allows users to paste a link and have the metadata displayed in card form. [(00:18:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1092s) - The card will display the hero image, title, summary, and the link. [(00:18:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1101s) - Clicking or tapping the card will open the link in the browser. [(00:18:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1110s) ## Paste Link [(00:18:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1123s) - The "Paste Link" plugin takes a link and inserts it in markdown format, enclosing the URL in brackets. [(00:18:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1129s) - After inserting the link, the plugin moves the insertion point to allow for immediate typing of a description or label for the link. [(00:18:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1137s) - A hotkey (command option V) is assigned to this plugin for frequent use in creating lists, descriptions, and notes. [(00:19:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1147s) ## Launchpad [(00:19:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1167s) - A document called "Launchpad" contains links to all current projects and acts as a dashboard for work. [(00:19:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1175s) - The Launchpad utilizes the Data View plugin, which extracts notes from designated folders, eliminating the need for manual heading updates. [(00:19:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1184s) - The Launchpad is kept as a pinned note, ensuring it remains constantly accessible. [(00:20:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1200s) ## Recent Files [(00:20:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1219s) - The Recent Files plugin allows users to switch the left-hand side view from a folder view to a view of recently opened files. [(00:20:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1221s) - The Recent Files plugin is helpful for quickly switching between documents, especially when linking multiple notes. [(00:20:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1230s) - While tabs and split view are other options for managing multiple documents, the Recent Files view is useful for quickly navigating between files. [(00:20:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1241s) ## Trash Explore [(00:20:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1251s) - Trash Explore is a third-party plugin that allows users to view recently deleted notes. [(00:20:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1254s) - The plugin provides a user interface within [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] to access the hidden trash folder located in the vault folder. [(00:21:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1276s) - Users can restore any deleted document from the trash folder using this plugin. [(00:21:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1285s) ## Templates [(00:21:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1292s) - Obsidian has a built-in templates feature that is useful for repetitive writing tasks. [(00:21:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1296s) - Templates can be inserted into documents using the command pallet or a hotkey. [(00:21:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1319s) - A hotkey can be set up to bring up a list of templates for quick insertion. [(00:22:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1332s) ## Daily Note [(00:22:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1338s) - Daily notes are a significant feature in [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]], often enhanced by community plugins. [(00:22:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1345s) - A template can be assigned to daily notes, allowing for pre-populated sections, links, and other elements. [(00:22:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1362s) - A hotkey (command shift d) enables quick access to the daily note, creating a new one from a template if one doesn't exist. [(00:23:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1393s) ## Wrap Up [(00:23:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1408s) - The speaker acknowledges that there are many more aspects of Obsidian to explore and plans to create more dedicated videos on the subject. [(00:23:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1416s) - Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to see more videos about [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian.]] [(00:23:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1421s) - The speaker thanks Surfshark for sponsoring the video and asks viewers to like the video and subscribe to the channel. [(00:23:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&t=1423s) ## Sources - [website](https://youtube.com/watch?v=xR5-0XDkwU0&si=YgQt9dCNjyYKXDOx)