Obsidian DataView Plugin Overview

Introduction

• Obsidian: A note-taking app that organizes files in a folder system.
• DataView Plugin: Allows users to query and filter files within Obsidian using DQL (DataView Query Language) and DVJS (DataView JavaScript).
• Purpose: Provides flexible file querying and filtering options.

Setup and Configuration

• Vault Example: The vault includes a data folder with files "me," "John Stewart," and an example file outside the data folder.
• Views: Source mode (shows markdown) vs. Live preview mode (renders markdown).
• Plugin Installation: Enable inline, JavaScript, and JavaScript inline queries.

DataView Queries

• Query Types: Table, List, Task, Calendar.
  • Table: Displays files as a table view.
  • List: Displays files as a bullet point list.
  • Task: Shows files with task blocks.
  • Calendar: Not recommended due to bugs.
• Columns & Fields: Define fields (text, number, boolean, date, etc.) for queries.

Advanced Features

• Inline Properties: Define properties with key::value format.
• Implicit Fields: Predefined fields like file.name, file.folder, etc.
• Expressions & Comparisons: Use arithmetic and comparison operators to filter results.
• Functions & Literals: Use functions like contains() and literals for dynamic querying.
• Flatten & Group By:
  • Flatten: Expands lists into individual rows.
  • Group By: Combines entries with the same values.
• Sort & Limit: Sort query results and limit the number of displayed results.

Custom Sort and CSS

• Custom Sort: Use functions and lambdas for advanced sorting.
• CSS Styling: Customize appearance using CSS within queries.

JavaScript Queries (DVJS)

• Usage: For advanced users; allows complex queries using JavaScript.
• Example: Create constants for reused values or expressions.

Inline Queries

• Enabling Inline Queries: Toggle settings for inline query use.
• Syntax: Use '=' for inline queries instead of full code blocks.
• Application: Embed calculations within text.

Troubleshooting and Support

• Resources: Visit Obsidian Discord for community help or watch tutorials for guidance.

Conclusion

• Flexibility: The DataView plugin enhances Obsidian’s capabilities with customizable queries.
• Learning Curve: Initial complexity can be mitigated with practice and community support.