Obsidian now with database function
Version 1.9 of the note and knowledge manager Obsidian has been released. A new feature is a database function for summarizing, evaluating and filtering content.
The Obsidian logo as pins from the project's merch store.
(Image: Obsidian)
After a few weeks of beta testing for a limited group of users, the manufacturer of the free note-taking and knowledge management program Obsidian has now released version 1.9. It introduces a long-awaited feature for many users: Obsidian Bases adds a database function to the program, which is based on pure Markdown files. It uses the optional metadata of the files in YAML frontmatter format, since Obsidian 1.4 somewhat more pleasing and easier to enter as "properties", as data fields. These can be output in table form or as a map view, grouped, filtered and evaluated with simple calculations, logical and date operations.
This allows you to create clear evaluations, tables of contents and dashboards from extensive, structured databases. You can also edit properties inline, i.e. directly in the table. All field contents are automatically linked to the corresponding Markdown files. These remain untouched; the queries and views end up in additional YAML files with the extension .base.
The database function is implemented as a core plug-in that can be activated in the Obsidian settings. Unlike the more than 2500 community plug-ins currently available, core plug-ins are developed by the Obsidian developers themselves; the basic concerns regarding the security and long-term maintenance of community plug-ins no longer apply.
Dataview light
At first glance, Obsidian Base competes with Dataview, one of the most popular community plug-ins by far. This also makes it possible to evaluate, filter and aggregate Obsidian files using the properties. However, there are some significant differences. Dataview is far more flexible, both in terms of the possible output formats (tables with text wrapping in columns, extended groupings, calendars and more) and the queries and calculations. However, this requires learning a complex query language (DQL), mastering Javascript for more complex applications and writing and debugging code for each task.
Base, on the other hand, has so far been limited to simpler table displays; the manufacturer promises further views such as calendars or lists for future Obsidian versions. On the other hand, Base can be operated directly in the Obsidian interface. Queries, filters, groupings and calculations can be defined in dialogs and menus –. It is not necessary to enter code. However, you can still do this and edit the generated .base files directly –, for example to use more complex formulas or special views that are not yet supported in the user interface.
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Like the Dataview plugin –, – is not a direct competitor to the database functionality of Notion or even specialists such as Airtable and Seatable. For example, the 1:n relationality, i.e. the linking of several database tables via index fields, is missing. Linking a collection of Obsidian files with metadata and descriptions of books to author pages is only possible via internal links, which is much more cumbersome and inflexible. If you were to change the author's name, for example, you would have to correct all links by hand. Nevertheless, Base now also offers less tech-savvy users a way of clearly evaluating and processing extensive collections of notes and knowledge without having to deal with query and programming languages.
Obsidian 1.9 can be downloaded free of charge from the manufacturer's website. There are versions for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Users of an older version will receive an update notice in the settings.
(swi)
