Basic-Full
WIP
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WIP
Last updated
MarkDown --- Markdown Basics for Obsidian - Linking Notes - Tags - Keyboard Shortcuts - Summary - Examples:
If you want to see what this looks like in MD (markdown, what obsidian and git/reddit use) Check out the markdown version of this tutorial and load it into your obsidian - play around! Have 2 copies, that way one to experiment and the other as a backup to refer to, you can have them both side-by-side!
Don't forget ctrl+e is the second-most used keybind.
I will eventually have a section for all my plugins used, amazing theme and CSS snippets you can copy.
You can paste it into my MD helper/tutor to learn more about markdown file extension (and other extensions). 100% free data not trained.
Gist-DownObsidian Basics 1-1: Introduction to Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management tool that turns your notes into a connected web of ideas. It uses Markdown as its primary language, which makes it a versatile tool for creating interconnected knowledge systems. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the basics of using Obsidian, so you can start making the most out of this amazing platform. Obsidian offers a simple yet powerful way to organize and link information, making it particularly suitable for creating a personal knowledge base that evolves with you. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or just someone who loves organizing thoughts, Obsidian is a game-changer.
Obsidian is a note-taking application that leverages Markdown syntax to create, manage, and interconnect notes. Its main strength lies in linking notes together through backlinks, allowing you to create a "second brain." It’s particularly useful for people who want to work with concepts and build knowledge networks, be it researchers, writers, or anyone wanting to make sense of complex ideas. The flexibility of linking notes makes it possible to visualize relationships between pieces of information, which can help in discovering insights and generating new ideas.
Markdown: The text-based language for formatting in Obsidian. It’s lightweight, easy to learn, and ensures that your notes are portable and readable across different platforms.
Vault: The collection of notes, equivalent to your project or workspace. You can think of your vault as your central repository for all your interconnected notes. Each vault is independent, which means you can have multiple vaults for different purposes, like work projects or personal interests.
To start using Obsidian, you'll need to download it from Obsidian's official website. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Once downloaded, follow these steps:
Create a Vault: After installing, you need to create a Vault. A Vault is simply a folder where all your notes reside.
Click on "Create a new vault" or open an existing folder.
Choose the location on your computer where you want to store your notes. This setup allows you to keep all your notes together, and you can easily back up or synchronize them using cloud services if needed.
Understanding the Interface:
Left Sidebar: Contains the File Explorer, Search, and Plugins. You can access all your notes from here, organize them into folders, and quickly find information using the search function.
Editor Area: The central space where you write and edit your notes. This is where you’ll spend most of your time, using Markdown to format and link your content.
Right Sidebar: Typically used for backlinks or tags. This helps you see connections to and from the note you’re working on, enabling you to get a full context of how each note fits into your larger knowledge graph.
Your First Note:
Click on the "+" icon in the sidebar to create a new note.
Give it a title and start writing using Markdown.
For example, write # My First Note to create a top-level heading. Once you get familiar with Markdown, you’ll be able to format your notes quickly and efficiently.
Markdown is simple and easy to learn. Here are a few Markdown elements you can use in Obsidian:
Headings: Use # for headings. More # symbols indicate subheadings. Headings help in structuring your content, making it easier to read and navigate.
Using headings effectively allows you to create a hierarchy of ideas, much like chapters and sections in a book, which is very useful for long-form notes.
Bold and Italics:
Italics: Wrap text in * or _ (e.g., *italic*). Italics are great for emphasizing key points or for special terms.
Bold: Wrap text in ** (e.g., **bold**). Use bold to make important points stand out.
Bold Italics: Wrap text in *** (e.g., ***bold italics***). Combine these for extra emphasis where needed.
Lists:
Unordered List: Use - or *.
Lists are great for breaking down complex ideas into manageable parts or outlining steps in a process.
Ordered List: Use numbers followed by a period.
Ordered lists are ideal for creating sequential steps or ranking items.
Links:
Internal Links: [[Note Name]] will link to another note in your vault. This is a key feature for connecting concepts across different notes.
External Links: [Link Text](http://example.com) will create an external hyperlink. This is useful for referencing external resources or articles that support your ideas.
One of Obsidian's most powerful features is linking notes together to create a network of related ideas. The more you link, the richer your web of knowledge becomes.
Internal Linking: By typing [[ you can link to any other note in your Vault. This is incredibly powerful for connecting concepts together. For instance, if you have notes on "Creativity" and "Productivity," you could link them when discussing how they interact.
Backlinks: Obsidian will automatically create backlinks, showing which notes link to the current note. This helps you see connections you might have forgotten and fosters the ability to see a note's broader context.
Secrets and Hidden Features: Many users aren't aware of the advanced capabilities of linking in Obsidian. For instance, you can link directly to specific headings or blocks within a note by using [[Note Name#Heading]] or [[Note Name^block-id]]. This allows you to create very specific connections between different parts of your notes, making it easier to cross-reference details within lengthy notes. You can also embed content from one note directly into another by using ![[Note Name]], effectively transcluding the note.
Example: Suppose you have a note on "Markdown Basics" and you create a new note called "Advanced Formatting." You can link them like this:
This link will let you quickly navigate between related concepts, helping you maintain continuity of thought.
You can also link directly to a specific heading within "Markdown Basics" like this:
This takes you straight to the headings section within the note, which is useful when you need to reference a particular part of a note rather than the entire document.
Another hidden feature is embedding. For example, you can embed the entire "Markdown Basics" note into another note like this:
This allows you to reuse content across multiple notes without duplicating it, keeping your vault cohesive and easy to maintain. Embedding is especially useful when you want to maintain a single source of truth that can be referenced in multiple places.
Tags in Obsidian allow you to categorize notes for easy retrieval. Tags are added by using the # symbol before a word, e.g., #project or #idea. You can use tags to quickly find all notes related to a specific topic. For example, in an ARG (Alternate Reality Game), you could use tags to track characters, locations, or events, such as #character or #location. Tags can also be used within tables to organize information more systematically. Additionally, you can even insert a link to a note within a table, allowing for a more structured and connected overview of your content.
Advanced Tagging Techniques: Tags can be used creatively to create dynamic content filters. For example, you might use tags to track the development of different themes in your work, such as #draft, #review, and #final. This helps you see the progression of your ideas. Additionally, tags combined with search functions allow you to generate views of your notes that evolve based on the tags you use.
The Graph View feature of Obsidian shows a visual network of your notes. This is helpful for seeing the connections between different ideas and discovering new relationships. To access Graph View:
Click on the Graph View button in the left sidebar.
You’ll see a graph where each node represents a note, and each edge represents a link between notes.
Advanced Graph Tips: You can customize the graph view to focus on specific tags or even notes linked by certain topics. This feature allows you to visualize complex connections and identify isolated notes that may need more links.
Graph View is not just a tool for visualization, but also a powerful analytical tool that helps you identify gaps in your thinking. For instance, seeing a node with very few connections can prompt you to expand that topic or link it to other areas.
Obsidian is very keyboard-friendly. Here are some useful shortcuts:
Create New Note: Ctrl/Cmd + N. Quickly creates a blank note so you can capture new ideas as they arise.
Open Command Palette: Ctrl/Cmd + P. The command palette gives you access to most of Obsidian’s features without taking your hands off the keyboard.
Toggle Graph View: Ctrl/Cmd + G. This allows you to quickly see your network of notes and get an overview of your knowledge.
Link to Note: Type [[ and start typing the note name. The autocomplete feature helps you quickly link to existing notes without needing to remember exact names.
Learning and utilizing keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow, making it easier to quickly organize and navigate through your notes.
In this introduction, we covered:
Setting up Obsidian and creating a vault.
Understanding the interface, including sidebars and the editor.
Basics of Markdown (headings, lists, links) and how to use them to format notes effectively.
Linking notes together, including some advanced techniques for linking directly to headings or blocks.
Using tags to categorize and organize notes, including creative ways to leverage tags for workflows.
Viewing connections through Graph View and customizing it for a better understanding of relationships between notes.
Keyboard shortcuts that enhance your efficiency when using Obsidian.
With these basics, you’re ready to start organizing your thoughts and ideas with Obsidian. As you become more comfortable, you can explore its more advanced features like templates, custom plugins, and even using Obsidian for task management. In the next tutorial, we’ll dive deeper into advanced features, including plugins, templates, and workflows to enhance your note-taking experience. Obsidian is a tool that grows with you—the more you use it, the more powerful it becomes in helping you think, organize, and create.
🔗🌳Example:
Graph View: A visual representation of how your notes interconnect. This feature provides an overview of the entire structure of your notes, showing clusters of ideas and allowing you to identify weakly connected topics or even find unexpected connections. 🕹️Example:
