Getting Started with Obsidian

## Quick Start TL;DR I built a [template vault](https://github.com/andrewmcodes/obsidian-beginner-vault-template) based on the settings and instructions in this post. [Create your own vault from the template](https://github.com/andrewmcodes/obsidian-beginner-vault-template/generate) and then follow the instructions on the README to get started. Continue reading for the breakdown of what I think is a good default setup in Obsidian without any third-party plugins. ## Install Obsidian can be installed on mobile for [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obsidian-connected-notes/id1557175442) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=md.obsidian) and on desktop by [visiting their downloads page.](https://obsidian.md/download) Alternatively, if you are on macOS you can use [Homebrew](https://brew.sh): ```bash brew install --cask obsidian ``` ## Startup Once installed, opening Obsidian for the first time will land you on the [vault creator](https://help.obsidian.md/User+interface/Vault+switcher#Create+new+vaults) where you can create a new vault, open a folder in Obsidian as a vault, or open the [help vault where you can find the documentation.](https://help.obsidian.md/Obsidian/Index) ![Obsidian Splash Screen](https://res.cloudinary.com/andrewmcodes/image/upload/v1642138668/posts/getting-started-with-obsidian/20220113_182236_Obsidian_SplashScreen_tr5ytn.png) Create a new vault and then enter in the name and choose a location. ![Obsidian Create New Vault](https://res.cloudinary.com/andrewmcodes/image/upload/v1642138668/posts/getting-started-with-obsidian/20220113_182436_Obsidian_NewVault_1_mukbs7.png) When your vault opens for the first time, you may be prompted to [turn on Live Preview](https://help.obsidian.md/Live+preview+update) which I suggest doing. ![Live Preview Modal](https://res.cloudinary.com/andrewmcodes/image/upload/v1642138668/posts/getting-started-with-obsidian/20220113_182456_Obsidian_LivePreviewModal_qekx9c.png) Your new vault should now be ready for notes to be added. ![Simple Obsidian Vault](https://res.cloudinary.com/andrewmcodes/image/upload/v1642138668/posts/getting-started-with-obsidian/20220114015141Z_Obsidian_simple-obsidian-vault-template_-_Obsidian_v0.13.19_snrawj.png) ## Setup The first thing I do after creating a new Obsidian vault is to create the following folder structure: ``` . ├── _assets │ ├── attachments │ └── templates └── daily ``` - `attachments` - this is where we will [store files](https://help.obsidian.md/How+to/Manage+attachments) like [images.](https://help.obsidian.md/How+to/Format+your+notes#Images) - `templates` - This where we will store our [templates.](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Templates) - `daily` - This is where we will store our [daily notes.](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Daily+notes) ## Settings ### Editor | Setting | Value | | ---------------- | ------- | | Show frontmatter | Enabled | | Fold heading | Enabled | | Fold indent | Enabled | | Use tabs | Enabled | | Tab size | 2 | ### Files & Links | Setting | Value | | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- | | Confirm file deletion | Disabled | | Automatically update internal links | Enabled | | Detect all file extensions | Enabled | | Default location for new attachments | In the folder specified below | | Attachment folder path | `_assets/attachments` | ### Appearance | Setting | Value | | ------------------ | ------- | | Translucent window | Enabled | | Font size | 15 | ### Hotkeys I have modified some of the important hotkeys to better match VS Code's defaults since that is the text editor that I am most familiar with. Click the `Restore default` icon if you'd like to revert a specific hotkey to Obsidian's default hotkeys. | Description | Shortcut | | ------------------------------------- | ----------- | | Command palette: Open command palette | ⌘⇧P | | Delete current file | ⌘⇧Backspace | | Delete paragraph | ⌘⇧D | | Edit file title | ⌘⌥T | | Focus on editor | ⌘1 | | Quick switcher: Open quick switcher | ⌘P | | Split horizontally | ⌘\ | | Split vertically | ⌘⇧\ | | Swap line down | ⇧⌥↓ | | Swap line up | ⇧⌥↑ | ### Core plugins | Plugin | Value | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | | [Outgoing Links](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Outgoing+links) | Enabled | | [Tag pane](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Tag+pane) | Enabled | | [Daily notes](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Daily+notes) | Enabled | | [Templates](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Templates) | Enabled | | Slash commands | Enabled | | [Starred](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Starred+notes) | Enabled | | [Markdown format importer](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Markdown+format+converter) | Disabled | | [Outline](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Outline) | Enabled | | [Audio recorder](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Audio+recorder) | Enabled | | [Workspaces](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Workspaces) | Enabled | ### Community Plugins | Setting | Value | | --------- | -------- | | Safe mode | Disabled | ## Core Plugin Options ### Templates | Setting | Value | | ------------------------ | ------------------- | | Template folder location | `_assets/templates` | ### Daily notes #### Daily Note Template Create a new template titled `t_daily` under `_assets/templates`. Refer to the [Templates documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/Plugins/Templates) for more information about variables. ```md # {{date}} ## Notes --- #daily ``` #### Settings | Setting | Value | | -------------------------- | --------------------------- | | New file location | daily | | Template file location | `_assets/templates/t_daily` | | Open daily note on startup | Enabled | #### Hotkeys | Description | Shortcut | | -------------------------- | -------- | | Templates: Insert template | ⌘⌥I | ## Important Documentation I would suggest starting with these documentation pages: - [Creating Notes Documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/How+to/Create+notes) - [Embedding Files Documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/How+to/Embed+files) - [Block Level Linking Documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/How+to/Link+to+blocks) - [YAML Front Matter Documentation](https://help.obsidian.md/Advanced+topics/YAML+front+matter) ## Wrap Up This post is still growing so expect some changes. Also, don't forget to check out the [GitHub repo for the template!](https://github.com/andrewmcodes/obsidian-beginner-vault-template)