9 Commits

Author SHA1 Message Date
pablo-mano 4e43a03f8c Add 6 new command groups and expand existing sections
Adds CSS Snippets, Commands & Hotkeys, Obsidian Bases, History,
Workspace & Tabs, and Diff sections to command-reference.md.
Expands existing sections with missing commands (search:context,
daily:path, random, rename, bookmark add, plugins:restrict, theme
management, dev DOM/CSS/CDP tools, restart). Documents all 8 output
format options. Updates SKILL.md command table and count to 130+.
Bumps version to 1.2.0.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-03-03 22:57:21 +01:00
pablo-mano 22c5c8af83 Bump version to 1.1.0
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:52:12 +01:00
pablo-mano e30c0eb9cc Add template:insert error message to docs
Clarifies exact error returned when no file is active in Obsidian UI:
"Error: No active editor. Open a file first."

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:51:30 +01:00
pablo-mano 131c1654ee Bump version to 1.0.9
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:47:27 +01:00
pablo-mano 931a3a9517 Add template:insert warning to SKILL.md tips
Clarifies that template:insert targets the active Obsidian UI file,
not a CLI path. Points to create path= template= as the correct
CLI alternative.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:47:06 +01:00
pablo-mano e5c8b8e223 Bump version to 1.0.8
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:42:04 +01:00
pablo-mano 507ef7149b Apply live-test corrections to SKILL.md
- plugins table: add plugin:uninstall, themes versions, dev:debug
- search: remove matches flag (non-functional in v1.12); note format=json returns path strings
- tasks: correct no-args behavior (returns all tasks); add grep workaround for incomplete-only
- dev: note dev:screenshot requires vault-relative path; add dev:debug on as prereq for dev:console
- vault analytics example: use grep workaround for incomplete tasks
- jq example: fix .[].path -> .[] (search returns strings not objects)
- tips: clarify format=json is search-only; files command does not support JSON output

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:41:27 +01:00
pablo-mano 462a38b164 Fix command-reference: correct 6 tested inaccuracies, add undiscovered commands
- files: remove format=json (returns plain text, not JSON)
- search matches: note it does not return match context in v1.12
- search format=json: clarify it returns array of path strings
- tasks: note that no-args returns all tasks (same as tasks all) in v1.12
- plugins versions: note version numbers only shown for community plugins
- plugin:uninstall: add undiscovered command
- themes versions: add undiscovered subcommand, remove nonexistent install/switch
- template:insert: clarify it targets the active Obsidian UI file, not a path
- dev:screenshot: note path must be vault-relative (absolute paths silently fail)
- dev:debug on/off: add undiscovered commands required before dev:console
- dev:console: note requires dev:debug on first
- jq example: fix .[].path -> .[] (search returns strings, not objects)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:39:59 +01:00
pablo-mano 89e6296c94 Fix Cursor installation docs: replace outdated Rules-based GitHub install with correct terminal commands
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-27 23:31:34 +01:00
7 changed files with 589 additions and 104 deletions
+1 -1
View File
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
{
"name": "obsidian-cli",
"description": "Interact with Obsidian vaults using the official Obsidian CLI (v1.12+). Read, create, append, search, and manage notes, daily notes, properties, tags, tasks, bookmarks, templates, themes, sync, plugins, and links — all from the terminal.",
"version": "1.0.4",
"version": "1.2.0",
"author": {
"name": "pablo-mano"
},
+9 -10
View File
@@ -94,17 +94,16 @@ Add to your project's `.claude/settings.json`:
Cursor has a native skills system (launched Feb 2026) that is directly compatible with the `SKILL.md` format — no rules file needed.
**Option A — GitHub install (recommended):**
1. Open Cursor Settings → Rules
2. Click **Add Rule** → **Remote Rule (GitHub)**
3. Paste `https://github.com/pablo-mano/Obsidian-CLI-skill`
4. Done — the skill auto-triggers on Obsidian-related tasks.
In a terminal:
**Option B — Local copy:**
1. Clone or download this repo
2. Copy the folder into your project: `.cursor/skills/obsidian-cli/`
(or globally: `~/.cursor/skills/obsidian-cli/`)
3. Cursor picks it up automatically — no restart needed.
```bash
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/pablo-mano/Obsidian-CLI-skill /tmp/Obsidian-CLI-skill
mkdir -p ~/.cursor/skills
cp -r /tmp/Obsidian-CLI-skill/skills/obsidian-cli ~/.cursor/skills/obsidian-cli
rm -rf /tmp/Obsidian-CLI-skill
```
Cursor picks it up automatically — no restart needed.
---
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
{
"name": "obsidian-cli",
"description": "Interact with Obsidian vaults using the official Obsidian CLI (v1.12+). Read, create, append, search, and manage notes, daily notes, properties, tags, tasks, bookmarks, templates, themes, sync, plugins, and links — all from the terminal.",
"version": "1.0.4",
"version": "1.2.0",
"author": {
"name": "pablo-mano"
},
@@ -55,25 +55,31 @@ If omitted, the CLI targets the most recently active vault.
## Command Overview
The CLI provides **100+ commands** across these groups:
The CLI provides **130+ commands** across these groups:
| Group | Key Commands | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| **files** | `read`, `create`, `append`, `prepend`, `move`, `delete`, `files`, `folders`, `file` | Note CRUD and file discovery |
| **daily** | `daily`, `daily:read`, `daily:append`, `daily:prepend` | Daily note operations |
| **search** | `search` | Full-text vault search with scoping and JSON output |
| **files** | `read`, `create`, `append`, `prepend`, `move`, `rename`, `delete`, `files`, `folders`, `file`, `random` | Note CRUD and file discovery |
| **daily** | `daily`, `daily:read`, `daily:append`, `daily:prepend`, `daily:path` | Daily note operations |
| **search** | `search`, `search:context` | Full-text search; `search:context` returns matching lines |
| **properties** | `properties`, `property:read`, `property:set`, `property:remove`, `aliases` | Frontmatter/metadata management |
| **tags** | `tags`, `tag` | Tag listing, counts, and filtering |
| **tasks** | `tasks`, `task` | Task querying, filtering, and toggling |
| **links** | `backlinks`, `links`, `unresolved`, `orphans`, `deadends` | Graph and link analysis |
| **bookmarks** | `bookmarks` | Bookmark management |
| **bookmarks** | `bookmarks`, `bookmark` | List and add bookmarks |
| **templates** | `templates`, `template:read`, `template:insert` | Template listing, rendering, insertion |
| **plugins** | `plugins`, `plugin:enable`, `plugin:disable`, `plugin:install`, `plugin:reload` | Plugin management |
| **plugins** | `plugins`, `plugin`, `plugin:enable`, `plugin:disable`, `plugin:install`, `plugin:uninstall`, `plugins:restrict` | Plugin management |
| **sync** | `sync`, `sync:status`, `sync:history`, `sync:read`, `sync:restore`, `sync:deleted` | Obsidian Sync operations |
| **themes** | `themes` | Theme management |
| **dev** | `dev:screenshot`, `eval`, `dev:console`, `dev:errors` | Developer/debugging tools |
| **vault** | `vault`, `vaults`, `version` | Vault info and metadata |
| **other** | `outline`, `wordcount`, `recents`, `reload` | Utility commands |
| **themes** | `themes`, `theme`, `theme:set`, `theme:install`, `theme:uninstall` | Theme management |
| **snippets** | `snippets`, `snippets:enabled`, `snippet:enable`, `snippet:disable` | CSS snippet management |
| **commands** | `commands`, `command`, `hotkeys`, `hotkey` | Execute Obsidian commands by ID; inspect hotkeys |
| **bases** | `bases`, `base:query`, `base:views`, `base:create` | Obsidian Bases (v1.12+ database feature) |
| **history** | `history`, `history:list`, `history:read`, `history:restore` | File version recovery (File Recovery plugin) |
| **workspace** | `workspace`, `tabs`, `tab:open` | Workspace layout and tab management |
| **diff** | `diff` | Compare local vs sync file versions |
| **dev** | `eval`, `dev:screenshot`, `dev:debug`, `dev:console`, `dev:errors`, `dev:css`, `dev:dom`, `devtools` | Developer/debugging tools |
| **vault** | `vault`, `vaults`, `version`, `reload`, `restart` | Vault info and app control |
| **other** | `outline`, `wordcount`, `recents` | Utility commands |
## Quick Reference — Most Common Commands
@@ -104,8 +110,8 @@ obsidian daily:prepend content="## Morning Notes"
```bash
obsidian search query="project alpha"
obsidian search query="TODO" path="projects" limit=10
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json
obsidian search query="urgent" matches case
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json # Returns JSON array of file paths
obsidian search query="urgent" case
```
### Properties & Tags
@@ -122,18 +128,20 @@ obsidian tag name="project/alpha"
### Tasks
```bash
obsidian tasks # All incomplete tasks
obsidian tasks # All tasks (done + todo) — same as tasks all in v1.12
obsidian tasks all # All tasks (done + todo)
obsidian tasks done # Completed only
obsidian tasks daily # Tasks in today's daily note
obsidian task path="note.md" line=12 toggle
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]" # Workaround: filter to incomplete only
```
### Developer & Automation
```bash
obsidian eval code="app.vault.getFiles().length"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="screenshot.png"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="folder/screenshot.png" # Path must be vault-relative
obsidian dev:debug on # Required before dev:console
obsidian dev:console limit=20
obsidian dev:errors
```
@@ -178,7 +186,7 @@ obsidian daily:append content="- Started [[projects/new-feature|New Feature]]"
```bash
obsidian files total # Total file count
obsidian tags counts sort=count # Most used tags
obsidian tasks # Open tasks across vault
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]" # Incomplete tasks across vault
obsidian orphans # Notes needing integration
obsidian unresolved # Broken links to fix
```
@@ -186,7 +194,7 @@ obsidian unresolved # Broken links to fix
### Search and Extract for AI Processing
```bash
obsidian search query="meeting notes" format=json | jq '.[] | .path'
obsidian search query="meeting notes" format=json | jq '.[]'
obsidian read path="meetings/standup.md" | grep "Action item"
```
@@ -198,16 +206,29 @@ obsidian sync:history path="important.md" # Version history
obsidian sync:restore path="important.md" version=3 # Rollback
```
### Execute Obsidian Commands
```bash
# Find a command ID, then execute it
obsidian commands | grep "graph"
obsidian command id="graph:open"
# Open settings, trigger a plugin action
obsidian command id="app:open-settings"
obsidian command id="dataview:dataview-force-refresh-views"
```
## Tips
1. **Paths are vault-relative** — use `folder/note.md`, not absolute filesystem paths.
2. **`create` paths omit `.md`** — the extension is added automatically.
3. **`move` requires full target path** including `.md` extension.
4. **Pipe-friendly** — plain text output works with `grep`, `awk`, `sed`, `jq`.
5. **JSON output** — use `format=json` on search and file commands for machine parsing.
5. **JSON output** — use `format=json` on `search` for a JSON array of file paths. The `files` command does not support JSON output.
6. **Stderr noise** — GPU/Electron warnings on headless are harmless; filter with `2>/dev/null`.
7. **`daily:prepend`** inserts content after frontmatter, not at byte 0.
8. **Use `eval`** to run arbitrary JavaScript against the Obsidian API (`app.*`).
9. **`template:insert`** inserts into the currently active file in the Obsidian UI — it does not accept a `path=` parameter. If no file is open, it returns `Error: No active editor. Open a file first.` To create a file from a template via CLI, use `obsidian create path="..." template="..."` instead.
## Troubleshooting
@@ -22,8 +22,14 @@ All parameters use `key=value` syntax. Quote values containing spaces: `content=
10. [Plugins](#plugins)
11. [Sync](#sync)
12. [Themes](#themes)
13. [Developer](#developer)
14. [Vault & System](#vault--system)
13. [CSS Snippets](#css-snippets)
14. [Commands & Hotkeys](#commands--hotkeys)
15. [Obsidian Bases](#obsidian-bases)
16. [History](#history)
17. [Workspace & Tabs](#workspace--tabs)
18. [Diff](#diff)
19. [Developer](#developer)
20. [Vault & System](#vault--system)
---
@@ -83,11 +89,26 @@ obsidian files # List all files in vault
obsidian files ext=md # Filter by extension
obsidian files folder="subfolder" # Files in specific folder
obsidian files total # Just the file count
obsidian files format=json # JSON output
obsidian folders # List all folders
obsidian file path="folder/note.md" # File info (size, created, modified dates)
```
### Random Notes
```bash
obsidian random # Open a random note in Obsidian
obsidian random:read # Print content of a random note to stdout
```
### Renaming
```bash
obsidian rename path="folder/note.md" name="new-name"
```
- `name=` is the new filename only (no path, no `.md` extension).
- Use `move` when you also want to change the folder.
---
## Daily Notes
@@ -99,6 +120,7 @@ obsidian daily # Open today's daily note in Obsidian
obsidian daily:read # Print today's daily note content to stdout
obsidian daily:append content="text" # Append content to today's note
obsidian daily:prepend content="text" # Prepend content (after frontmatter)
obsidian daily:path # Print vault-relative path of today's note
```
**Notes:**
@@ -116,8 +138,8 @@ Full-text search across the vault.
obsidian search query="search text"
obsidian search query="text" path="folder" # Scope to folder
obsidian search query="text" limit=10 # Limit results
obsidian search query="text" format=json # JSON output
obsidian search query="text" matches # Include match context/snippets
obsidian search query="text" format=json # JSON output (array of file paths)
obsidian search query="text" matches # Accepted but returns file paths only
obsidian search query="text" case # Case-sensitive search
```
@@ -125,10 +147,29 @@ obsidian search query="text" case # Case-sensitive search
- `query=` — Search term (required)
- `path=` — Restrict search to a folder
- `limit=` — Maximum number of results
- `format=json`Machine-readable JSON output
- `matches`Show matching line context
- `format=json`Returns a JSON array of matching file paths: `["folder/note.md", ...]`
- `matches`Flag accepted by the CLI but does not return match context/snippets in v1.12
- `case` — Enable case-sensitive matching
### Search with Context
```bash
obsidian search:context query="search text"
obsidian search:context query="text" path="folder" limit=10
obsidian search:context query="text" case
obsidian search:context query="text" format=json
```
Returns matching lines with surrounding context (not just file paths). Useful when you need to see the actual content that matched rather than just file paths.
### Open Search View
```bash
obsidian search:open query="search text"
```
Opens the Obsidian search panel in the UI with the given query.
---
## Properties
@@ -196,13 +237,15 @@ Query and manage checkbox tasks across the vault.
### Querying Tasks
```bash
obsidian tasks # All incomplete tasks
obsidian tasks # All tasks (same as tasks all in v1.12)
obsidian tasks all # All tasks (complete + incomplete)
obsidian tasks done # Only completed tasks
obsidian tasks path="note.md" # Tasks in a specific file
obsidian tasks daily # Tasks in today's daily note
```
> **Note:** In v1.12, `tasks` with no arguments returns all tasks (complete + incomplete), identical to `tasks all`. Filtering to incomplete-only is not currently supported without post-processing (e.g. pipe to `grep "\[ \]"`).
### Toggling Task Status
```bash
@@ -234,10 +277,13 @@ Manage Obsidian bookmarks (requires Bookmarks core plugin).
```bash
obsidian bookmarks # List all bookmarks
obsidian bookmark file="folder/note.md" # Bookmark a note
obsidian bookmark file="folder/note.md" subpath="#Heading" # Bookmark a heading
obsidian bookmark folder="projects" # Bookmark a folder
obsidian bookmark search="query text" title="My Search" # Bookmark a search
obsidian bookmark url="https://example.com" title="Link" # Bookmark a URL
```
Bookmarks commands let you view and manage bookmarked notes, searches, and groups. Use `obsidian bookmarks --help` for all available subcommands.
---
## Templates
@@ -248,14 +294,16 @@ Work with note templates (requires Templates or Templater plugin).
obsidian templates # List available templates
obsidian template:read name="weekly-review" # Read template content
obsidian template:read name="weekly-review" resolve title="My Note" # Render with variables
obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into active file
obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into the active Obsidian UI file
```
**Parameters:**
- `name=` — Template name (without path prefix or extension)
- `resolve` — Process template variables
- `resolve` — Process template variables (`{{date}}`, `{{title}}`, etc.)
- Title and other variables can be passed as `key=value` for template rendering.
> **Note:** `template:insert` inserts into whichever file is currently active in the Obsidian UI — it does not accept a `path=` parameter. If no file is open, it returns `Error: No active editor. Open a file first.` To create a new file from a template, use `obsidian create path="..." template="..."` instead.
---
## Plugins
@@ -263,15 +311,22 @@ obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into a
Manage community and core plugins.
```bash
obsidian plugins # List all installed plugins
obsidian plugins # List all plugins (core + community)
obsidian plugins:enabled # Only enabled plugins
obsidian plugins versions # Plugins with version numbers
obsidian plugins versions # Plugins with version numbers (community only)
obsidian plugins:restrict # Show restricted mode status
obsidian plugins:restrict on # Enable restricted mode (disables community plugins)
obsidian plugins:restrict off # Disable restricted mode
obsidian plugin id="dataview" # Get info about a specific plugin
obsidian plugin:enable id="canvas" # Enable a plugin
obsidian plugin:disable id="canvas" # Disable a plugin
obsidian plugin:install id="dataview" # Install from community plugins
obsidian plugin:uninstall id="dataview" # Uninstall a community plugin
obsidian plugin:reload id="my-plugin" # Reload a plugin (useful for dev)
```
> **Note:** `plugins versions` only shows version numbers for community plugins. Core (built-in) plugins share Obsidian's version and display blank version fields.
---
## Sync
@@ -287,6 +342,7 @@ obsidian sync:history path="note.md" # Version history for a file
obsidian sync:read path="note.md" version=3 # Read a specific version
obsidian sync:restore path="note.md" version=3 # Restore a previous version
obsidian sync:deleted # List files deleted via sync
obsidian sync:open # Open the Sync history view in the UI
```
---
@@ -296,10 +352,117 @@ obsidian sync:deleted # List files deleted via sync
Manage appearance themes.
```bash
obsidian themes # List available/installed themes
obsidian themes # List installed themes
obsidian themes versions # List installed themes with version numbers
obsidian theme # Show the currently active theme
obsidian theme name="Minimal" # Get details about a specific theme
obsidian theme:set name="Minimal" # Switch to a theme
obsidian theme:set name="" # Switch back to default theme
obsidian theme:install name="Minimal" # Install a community theme
obsidian theme:install name="Minimal" enable # Install and activate immediately
obsidian theme:uninstall name="Minimal" # Uninstall a theme
```
Use `obsidian themes --help` for additional subcommands related to theme management (install, switch, etc.).
---
## CSS Snippets
Manage custom CSS snippet files (snippets live in `.obsidian/snippets/`).
```bash
obsidian snippets # List all installed CSS snippets
obsidian snippets:enabled # List only enabled snippets
obsidian snippet:enable name="my-style" # Enable a snippet
obsidian snippet:disable name="my-style" # Disable a snippet
```
---
## Commands & Hotkeys
Execute any Obsidian command by its ID, and inspect hotkey bindings.
```bash
obsidian commands # List all available command IDs
obsidian command id="app:reload" # Execute a command by ID
obsidian command id="editor:toggle-bold" # Example: toggle bold in active editor
obsidian hotkeys # List all hotkeys (tab-separated: id \t keybinding)
obsidian hotkey id="app:open-settings" # Get hotkey for a specific command
obsidian hotkey id="app:open-settings" verbose # Show if custom or default
```
**Typical workflow — find and run a command:**
```bash
obsidian commands | grep "canvas" # Find canvas-related command IDs
obsidian command id="canvas:new-file" # Execute the matched command
```
**Getting plugin command IDs:**
```bash
obsidian commands | grep "dataview" # List all Dataview plugin commands
```
---
## Obsidian Bases
Obsidian Bases (v1.12+) is a built-in database feature. Base files (`.base`) store structured data and support multiple views.
```bash
obsidian bases # List all .base files in vault
obsidian base:query file="tasks" format=json # Query default view of a base
obsidian base:query file="tasks" view="Kanban" # Query a specific view
obsidian base:query path="folder/tasks.base" format=csv # Query by path
obsidian base:views file="tasks" # List all views in a base file
obsidian base:create file="tasks" title="Buy milk" # Add an item to a base
```
**Supported output formats for `base:query`:** `json` (default), `csv`, `tsv`, `md`, `paths`
---
## History
File version history (built-in to Obsidian, separate from Sync). Requires the File Recovery core plugin.
```bash
obsidian history:list # List all files that have history
obsidian history path="folder/note.md" # List versions of a specific file
obsidian history:read path="folder/note.md" # Read the latest saved version
obsidian history:read path="folder/note.md" version=3 # Read a specific version
obsidian history:restore path="folder/note.md" version=3 # Restore a version
obsidian history:open path="folder/note.md" # Open file recovery UI for a file
```
> **Note:** History is distinct from [Sync version history](#sync). History uses Obsidian's built-in File Recovery snapshots; Sync history uses Obsidian Sync cloud versions.
---
## Workspace & Tabs
Inspect and manage the Obsidian workspace layout and open tabs.
```bash
obsidian workspace # Show the full workspace tree
obsidian tabs # List all open tabs (flat list)
obsidian tab:open file="folder/note.md" # Open a file in a new tab
obsidian tab:open view="graph" # Open a view type in a new tab
```
---
## Diff
Compare local and sync versions of a file.
```bash
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" # List available versions (local + sync)
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" from=1 to=2 # Diff two specific versions
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" filter=local # Show only local versions
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" filter=sync # Show only sync versions
```
---
@@ -310,10 +473,10 @@ Debugging and development tools.
### Screenshots
```bash
obsidian dev:screenshot path="screenshot.png"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="folder/screenshot.png"
```
Takes a screenshot of the Obsidian window and saves it.
Takes a screenshot of the Obsidian window and saves it. **Path must be vault-relative** — absolute filesystem paths are silently ignored.
### JavaScript Evaluation
@@ -327,10 +490,46 @@ Executes arbitrary JavaScript in the Obsidian app context. Has access to the ful
### Console & Errors
```bash
obsidian dev:console limit=20 # Recent console output
obsidian dev:debug on # Start capturing console output (required before dev:console)
obsidian dev:debug off # Stop capturing console output
obsidian dev:console limit=20 # Recent console output (requires dev:debug on first)
obsidian dev:errors # Recent error messages
```
> **Note:** `dev:console` will return an error unless `dev:debug on` has been run first in the current session.
### DOM Inspection
```bash
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" # Get outerHTML of first match
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" all # Get all matches
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" text # Get text content
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" total # Count matching elements
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" attr=class # Get an attribute value
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" css=color # Get a CSS property value
```
### CSS Inspection
```bash
obsidian dev:css selector=".view-content" # Inspect CSS with source locations
obsidian dev:css selector=".view-content" prop=color # Filter by CSS property name
```
### Chrome DevTools Protocol
```bash
obsidian devtools # Toggle Electron DevTools panel
obsidian dev:cdp method="Runtime.evaluate" params='{"expression":"1+1"}' # Run a CDP command
```
### Mobile Emulation
```bash
obsidian dev:mobile on # Enable mobile emulation
obsidian dev:mobile off # Disable mobile emulation
```
---
## Vault & System
@@ -350,13 +549,31 @@ obsidian outline path="note.md" # Heading structure of a note
obsidian wordcount path="note.md" # Word and character count
obsidian recents # Recently opened files
obsidian reload # Reload the vault (re-index)
obsidian restart # Restart the Obsidian app
```
---
## Output Formatting & Piping
The CLI outputs plain text by default, ideal for piping into Unix tools:
The CLI outputs plain text by default, ideal for piping into Unix tools.
### Supported `format=` values
| Format | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| `text` | Plain text (default) | Piping to grep/awk/sed |
| `json` | JSON array or object | Processing with jq, AI agents |
| `csv` | Comma-separated values | Spreadsheet import |
| `tsv` | Tab-separated values | Shell parsing with cut/awk |
| `yaml` | YAML output | Config-style processing |
| `md` | Markdown table | Embedding results in notes |
| `paths` | One path per line | Batch file operations |
| `tree` | Tree view | Visual hierarchy |
Not all formats are supported by every command. Use `text` or `json` when in doubt.
### Examples
```bash
# Count notes in a folder
@@ -369,9 +586,14 @@ obsidian tag name="urgent" | while read -r note; do
done
# Export search results as JSON and process with jq
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json | jq '.[].path'
# format=json returns an array of file path strings: ["folder/note.md", ...]
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json | jq '.[]'
# Filter console errors
# Query a base as CSV
obsidian base:query file="tasks" format=csv
# Filter console errors (requires dev:debug on first)
obsidian dev:debug on
obsidian dev:console limit=50 | grep -i error
```
+38 -17
View File
@@ -55,25 +55,31 @@ If omitted, the CLI targets the most recently active vault.
## Command Overview
The CLI provides **100+ commands** across these groups:
The CLI provides **130+ commands** across these groups:
| Group | Key Commands | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| **files** | `read`, `create`, `append`, `prepend`, `move`, `delete`, `files`, `folders`, `file` | Note CRUD and file discovery |
| **daily** | `daily`, `daily:read`, `daily:append`, `daily:prepend` | Daily note operations |
| **search** | `search` | Full-text vault search with scoping and JSON output |
| **files** | `read`, `create`, `append`, `prepend`, `move`, `rename`, `delete`, `files`, `folders`, `file`, `random` | Note CRUD and file discovery |
| **daily** | `daily`, `daily:read`, `daily:append`, `daily:prepend`, `daily:path` | Daily note operations |
| **search** | `search`, `search:context` | Full-text search; `search:context` returns matching lines |
| **properties** | `properties`, `property:read`, `property:set`, `property:remove`, `aliases` | Frontmatter/metadata management |
| **tags** | `tags`, `tag` | Tag listing, counts, and filtering |
| **tasks** | `tasks`, `task` | Task querying, filtering, and toggling |
| **links** | `backlinks`, `links`, `unresolved`, `orphans`, `deadends` | Graph and link analysis |
| **bookmarks** | `bookmarks` | Bookmark management |
| **bookmarks** | `bookmarks`, `bookmark` | List and add bookmarks |
| **templates** | `templates`, `template:read`, `template:insert` | Template listing, rendering, insertion |
| **plugins** | `plugins`, `plugin:enable`, `plugin:disable`, `plugin:install`, `plugin:reload` | Plugin management |
| **plugins** | `plugins`, `plugin`, `plugin:enable`, `plugin:disable`, `plugin:install`, `plugin:uninstall`, `plugins:restrict` | Plugin management |
| **sync** | `sync`, `sync:status`, `sync:history`, `sync:read`, `sync:restore`, `sync:deleted` | Obsidian Sync operations |
| **themes** | `themes` | Theme management |
| **dev** | `dev:screenshot`, `eval`, `dev:console`, `dev:errors` | Developer/debugging tools |
| **vault** | `vault`, `vaults`, `version` | Vault info and metadata |
| **other** | `outline`, `wordcount`, `recents`, `reload` | Utility commands |
| **themes** | `themes`, `theme`, `theme:set`, `theme:install`, `theme:uninstall` | Theme management |
| **snippets** | `snippets`, `snippets:enabled`, `snippet:enable`, `snippet:disable` | CSS snippet management |
| **commands** | `commands`, `command`, `hotkeys`, `hotkey` | Execute Obsidian commands by ID; inspect hotkeys |
| **bases** | `bases`, `base:query`, `base:views`, `base:create` | Obsidian Bases (v1.12+ database feature) |
| **history** | `history`, `history:list`, `history:read`, `history:restore` | File version recovery (File Recovery plugin) |
| **workspace** | `workspace`, `tabs`, `tab:open` | Workspace layout and tab management |
| **diff** | `diff` | Compare local vs sync file versions |
| **dev** | `eval`, `dev:screenshot`, `dev:debug`, `dev:console`, `dev:errors`, `dev:css`, `dev:dom`, `devtools` | Developer/debugging tools |
| **vault** | `vault`, `vaults`, `version`, `reload`, `restart` | Vault info and app control |
| **other** | `outline`, `wordcount`, `recents` | Utility commands |
## Quick Reference — Most Common Commands
@@ -104,8 +110,8 @@ obsidian daily:prepend content="## Morning Notes"
```bash
obsidian search query="project alpha"
obsidian search query="TODO" path="projects" limit=10
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json
obsidian search query="urgent" matches case
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json # Returns JSON array of file paths
obsidian search query="urgent" case
```
### Properties & Tags
@@ -122,18 +128,20 @@ obsidian tag name="project/alpha"
### Tasks
```bash
obsidian tasks # All incomplete tasks
obsidian tasks # All tasks (done + todo) — same as tasks all in v1.12
obsidian tasks all # All tasks (done + todo)
obsidian tasks done # Completed only
obsidian tasks daily # Tasks in today's daily note
obsidian task path="note.md" line=12 toggle
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]" # Workaround: filter to incomplete only
```
### Developer & Automation
```bash
obsidian eval code="app.vault.getFiles().length"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="screenshot.png"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="folder/screenshot.png" # Path must be vault-relative
obsidian dev:debug on # Required before dev:console
obsidian dev:console limit=20
obsidian dev:errors
```
@@ -178,7 +186,7 @@ obsidian daily:append content="- Started [[projects/new-feature|New Feature]]"
```bash
obsidian files total # Total file count
obsidian tags counts sort=count # Most used tags
obsidian tasks # Open tasks across vault
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]" # Incomplete tasks across vault
obsidian orphans # Notes needing integration
obsidian unresolved # Broken links to fix
```
@@ -186,7 +194,7 @@ obsidian unresolved # Broken links to fix
### Search and Extract for AI Processing
```bash
obsidian search query="meeting notes" format=json | jq '.[] | .path'
obsidian search query="meeting notes" format=json | jq '.[]'
obsidian read path="meetings/standup.md" | grep "Action item"
```
@@ -198,16 +206,29 @@ obsidian sync:history path="important.md" # Version history
obsidian sync:restore path="important.md" version=3 # Rollback
```
### Execute Obsidian Commands
```bash
# Find a command ID, then execute it
obsidian commands | grep "graph"
obsidian command id="graph:open"
# Open settings, trigger a plugin action
obsidian command id="app:open-settings"
obsidian command id="dataview:dataview-force-refresh-views"
```
## Tips
1. **Paths are vault-relative** — use `folder/note.md`, not absolute filesystem paths.
2. **`create` paths omit `.md`** — the extension is added automatically.
3. **`move` requires full target path** including `.md` extension.
4. **Pipe-friendly** — plain text output works with `grep`, `awk`, `sed`, `jq`.
5. **JSON output** — use `format=json` on search and file commands for machine parsing.
5. **JSON output** — use `format=json` on `search` for a JSON array of file paths. The `files` command does not support JSON output.
6. **Stderr noise** — GPU/Electron warnings on headless are harmless; filter with `2>/dev/null`.
7. **`daily:prepend`** inserts content after frontmatter, not at byte 0.
8. **Use `eval`** to run arbitrary JavaScript against the Obsidian API (`app.*`).
9. **`template:insert`** inserts into the currently active file in the Obsidian UI — it does not accept a `path=` parameter. If no file is open, it returns `Error: No active editor. Open a file first.` To create a file from a template via CLI, use `obsidian create path="..." template="..."` instead.
## Troubleshooting
@@ -22,8 +22,14 @@ All parameters use `key=value` syntax. Quote values containing spaces: `content=
10. [Plugins](#plugins)
11. [Sync](#sync)
12. [Themes](#themes)
13. [Developer](#developer)
14. [Vault & System](#vault--system)
13. [CSS Snippets](#css-snippets)
14. [Commands & Hotkeys](#commands--hotkeys)
15. [Obsidian Bases](#obsidian-bases)
16. [History](#history)
17. [Workspace & Tabs](#workspace--tabs)
18. [Diff](#diff)
19. [Developer](#developer)
20. [Vault & System](#vault--system)
---
@@ -83,11 +89,26 @@ obsidian files # List all files in vault
obsidian files ext=md # Filter by extension
obsidian files folder="subfolder" # Files in specific folder
obsidian files total # Just the file count
obsidian files format=json # JSON output
obsidian folders # List all folders
obsidian file path="folder/note.md" # File info (size, created, modified dates)
```
### Random Notes
```bash
obsidian random # Open a random note in Obsidian
obsidian random:read # Print content of a random note to stdout
```
### Renaming
```bash
obsidian rename path="folder/note.md" name="new-name"
```
- `name=` is the new filename only (no path, no `.md` extension).
- Use `move` when you also want to change the folder.
---
## Daily Notes
@@ -99,6 +120,7 @@ obsidian daily # Open today's daily note in Obsidian
obsidian daily:read # Print today's daily note content to stdout
obsidian daily:append content="text" # Append content to today's note
obsidian daily:prepend content="text" # Prepend content (after frontmatter)
obsidian daily:path # Print vault-relative path of today's note
```
**Notes:**
@@ -116,8 +138,8 @@ Full-text search across the vault.
obsidian search query="search text"
obsidian search query="text" path="folder" # Scope to folder
obsidian search query="text" limit=10 # Limit results
obsidian search query="text" format=json # JSON output
obsidian search query="text" matches # Include match context/snippets
obsidian search query="text" format=json # JSON output (array of file paths)
obsidian search query="text" matches # Accepted but returns file paths only
obsidian search query="text" case # Case-sensitive search
```
@@ -125,10 +147,29 @@ obsidian search query="text" case # Case-sensitive search
- `query=` — Search term (required)
- `path=` — Restrict search to a folder
- `limit=` — Maximum number of results
- `format=json`Machine-readable JSON output
- `matches`Show matching line context
- `format=json`Returns a JSON array of matching file paths: `["folder/note.md", ...]`
- `matches`Flag accepted by the CLI but does not return match context/snippets in v1.12
- `case` — Enable case-sensitive matching
### Search with Context
```bash
obsidian search:context query="search text"
obsidian search:context query="text" path="folder" limit=10
obsidian search:context query="text" case
obsidian search:context query="text" format=json
```
Returns matching lines with surrounding context (not just file paths). Useful when you need to see the actual content that matched rather than just file paths.
### Open Search View
```bash
obsidian search:open query="search text"
```
Opens the Obsidian search panel in the UI with the given query.
---
## Properties
@@ -196,13 +237,15 @@ Query and manage checkbox tasks across the vault.
### Querying Tasks
```bash
obsidian tasks # All incomplete tasks
obsidian tasks # All tasks (same as tasks all in v1.12)
obsidian tasks all # All tasks (complete + incomplete)
obsidian tasks done # Only completed tasks
obsidian tasks path="note.md" # Tasks in a specific file
obsidian tasks daily # Tasks in today's daily note
```
> **Note:** In v1.12, `tasks` with no arguments returns all tasks (complete + incomplete), identical to `tasks all`. Filtering to incomplete-only is not currently supported without post-processing (e.g. pipe to `grep "\[ \]"`).
### Toggling Task Status
```bash
@@ -234,10 +277,13 @@ Manage Obsidian bookmarks (requires Bookmarks core plugin).
```bash
obsidian bookmarks # List all bookmarks
obsidian bookmark file="folder/note.md" # Bookmark a note
obsidian bookmark file="folder/note.md" subpath="#Heading" # Bookmark a heading
obsidian bookmark folder="projects" # Bookmark a folder
obsidian bookmark search="query text" title="My Search" # Bookmark a search
obsidian bookmark url="https://example.com" title="Link" # Bookmark a URL
```
Bookmarks commands let you view and manage bookmarked notes, searches, and groups. Use `obsidian bookmarks --help` for all available subcommands.
---
## Templates
@@ -248,14 +294,16 @@ Work with note templates (requires Templates or Templater plugin).
obsidian templates # List available templates
obsidian template:read name="weekly-review" # Read template content
obsidian template:read name="weekly-review" resolve title="My Note" # Render with variables
obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into active file
obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into the active Obsidian UI file
```
**Parameters:**
- `name=` — Template name (without path prefix or extension)
- `resolve` — Process template variables
- `resolve` — Process template variables (`{{date}}`, `{{title}}`, etc.)
- Title and other variables can be passed as `key=value` for template rendering.
> **Note:** `template:insert` inserts into whichever file is currently active in the Obsidian UI — it does not accept a `path=` parameter. If no file is open, it returns `Error: No active editor. Open a file first.` To create a new file from a template, use `obsidian create path="..." template="..."` instead.
---
## Plugins
@@ -263,15 +311,22 @@ obsidian template:insert name="weekly-review" # Insert template into a
Manage community and core plugins.
```bash
obsidian plugins # List all installed plugins
obsidian plugins # List all plugins (core + community)
obsidian plugins:enabled # Only enabled plugins
obsidian plugins versions # Plugins with version numbers
obsidian plugins versions # Plugins with version numbers (community only)
obsidian plugins:restrict # Show restricted mode status
obsidian plugins:restrict on # Enable restricted mode (disables community plugins)
obsidian plugins:restrict off # Disable restricted mode
obsidian plugin id="dataview" # Get info about a specific plugin
obsidian plugin:enable id="canvas" # Enable a plugin
obsidian plugin:disable id="canvas" # Disable a plugin
obsidian plugin:install id="dataview" # Install from community plugins
obsidian plugin:uninstall id="dataview" # Uninstall a community plugin
obsidian plugin:reload id="my-plugin" # Reload a plugin (useful for dev)
```
> **Note:** `plugins versions` only shows version numbers for community plugins. Core (built-in) plugins share Obsidian's version and display blank version fields.
---
## Sync
@@ -287,6 +342,7 @@ obsidian sync:history path="note.md" # Version history for a file
obsidian sync:read path="note.md" version=3 # Read a specific version
obsidian sync:restore path="note.md" version=3 # Restore a previous version
obsidian sync:deleted # List files deleted via sync
obsidian sync:open # Open the Sync history view in the UI
```
---
@@ -296,10 +352,117 @@ obsidian sync:deleted # List files deleted via sync
Manage appearance themes.
```bash
obsidian themes # List available/installed themes
obsidian themes # List installed themes
obsidian themes versions # List installed themes with version numbers
obsidian theme # Show the currently active theme
obsidian theme name="Minimal" # Get details about a specific theme
obsidian theme:set name="Minimal" # Switch to a theme
obsidian theme:set name="" # Switch back to default theme
obsidian theme:install name="Minimal" # Install a community theme
obsidian theme:install name="Minimal" enable # Install and activate immediately
obsidian theme:uninstall name="Minimal" # Uninstall a theme
```
Use `obsidian themes --help` for additional subcommands related to theme management (install, switch, etc.).
---
## CSS Snippets
Manage custom CSS snippet files (snippets live in `.obsidian/snippets/`).
```bash
obsidian snippets # List all installed CSS snippets
obsidian snippets:enabled # List only enabled snippets
obsidian snippet:enable name="my-style" # Enable a snippet
obsidian snippet:disable name="my-style" # Disable a snippet
```
---
## Commands & Hotkeys
Execute any Obsidian command by its ID, and inspect hotkey bindings.
```bash
obsidian commands # List all available command IDs
obsidian command id="app:reload" # Execute a command by ID
obsidian command id="editor:toggle-bold" # Example: toggle bold in active editor
obsidian hotkeys # List all hotkeys (tab-separated: id \t keybinding)
obsidian hotkey id="app:open-settings" # Get hotkey for a specific command
obsidian hotkey id="app:open-settings" verbose # Show if custom or default
```
**Typical workflow — find and run a command:**
```bash
obsidian commands | grep "canvas" # Find canvas-related command IDs
obsidian command id="canvas:new-file" # Execute the matched command
```
**Getting plugin command IDs:**
```bash
obsidian commands | grep "dataview" # List all Dataview plugin commands
```
---
## Obsidian Bases
Obsidian Bases (v1.12+) is a built-in database feature. Base files (`.base`) store structured data and support multiple views.
```bash
obsidian bases # List all .base files in vault
obsidian base:query file="tasks" format=json # Query default view of a base
obsidian base:query file="tasks" view="Kanban" # Query a specific view
obsidian base:query path="folder/tasks.base" format=csv # Query by path
obsidian base:views file="tasks" # List all views in a base file
obsidian base:create file="tasks" title="Buy milk" # Add an item to a base
```
**Supported output formats for `base:query`:** `json` (default), `csv`, `tsv`, `md`, `paths`
---
## History
File version history (built-in to Obsidian, separate from Sync). Requires the File Recovery core plugin.
```bash
obsidian history:list # List all files that have history
obsidian history path="folder/note.md" # List versions of a specific file
obsidian history:read path="folder/note.md" # Read the latest saved version
obsidian history:read path="folder/note.md" version=3 # Read a specific version
obsidian history:restore path="folder/note.md" version=3 # Restore a version
obsidian history:open path="folder/note.md" # Open file recovery UI for a file
```
> **Note:** History is distinct from [Sync version history](#sync). History uses Obsidian's built-in File Recovery snapshots; Sync history uses Obsidian Sync cloud versions.
---
## Workspace & Tabs
Inspect and manage the Obsidian workspace layout and open tabs.
```bash
obsidian workspace # Show the full workspace tree
obsidian tabs # List all open tabs (flat list)
obsidian tab:open file="folder/note.md" # Open a file in a new tab
obsidian tab:open view="graph" # Open a view type in a new tab
```
---
## Diff
Compare local and sync versions of a file.
```bash
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" # List available versions (local + sync)
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" from=1 to=2 # Diff two specific versions
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" filter=local # Show only local versions
obsidian diff path="folder/note.md" filter=sync # Show only sync versions
```
---
@@ -310,10 +473,10 @@ Debugging and development tools.
### Screenshots
```bash
obsidian dev:screenshot path="screenshot.png"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="folder/screenshot.png"
```
Takes a screenshot of the Obsidian window and saves it.
Takes a screenshot of the Obsidian window and saves it. **Path must be vault-relative** — absolute filesystem paths are silently ignored.
### JavaScript Evaluation
@@ -327,10 +490,46 @@ Executes arbitrary JavaScript in the Obsidian app context. Has access to the ful
### Console & Errors
```bash
obsidian dev:console limit=20 # Recent console output
obsidian dev:debug on # Start capturing console output (required before dev:console)
obsidian dev:debug off # Stop capturing console output
obsidian dev:console limit=20 # Recent console output (requires dev:debug on first)
obsidian dev:errors # Recent error messages
```
> **Note:** `dev:console` will return an error unless `dev:debug on` has been run first in the current session.
### DOM Inspection
```bash
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" # Get outerHTML of first match
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" all # Get all matches
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" text # Get text content
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" total # Count matching elements
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" attr=class # Get an attribute value
obsidian dev:dom selector=".view-content" css=color # Get a CSS property value
```
### CSS Inspection
```bash
obsidian dev:css selector=".view-content" # Inspect CSS with source locations
obsidian dev:css selector=".view-content" prop=color # Filter by CSS property name
```
### Chrome DevTools Protocol
```bash
obsidian devtools # Toggle Electron DevTools panel
obsidian dev:cdp method="Runtime.evaluate" params='{"expression":"1+1"}' # Run a CDP command
```
### Mobile Emulation
```bash
obsidian dev:mobile on # Enable mobile emulation
obsidian dev:mobile off # Disable mobile emulation
```
---
## Vault & System
@@ -350,13 +549,31 @@ obsidian outline path="note.md" # Heading structure of a note
obsidian wordcount path="note.md" # Word and character count
obsidian recents # Recently opened files
obsidian reload # Reload the vault (re-index)
obsidian restart # Restart the Obsidian app
```
---
## Output Formatting & Piping
The CLI outputs plain text by default, ideal for piping into Unix tools:
The CLI outputs plain text by default, ideal for piping into Unix tools.
### Supported `format=` values
| Format | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| `text` | Plain text (default) | Piping to grep/awk/sed |
| `json` | JSON array or object | Processing with jq, AI agents |
| `csv` | Comma-separated values | Spreadsheet import |
| `tsv` | Tab-separated values | Shell parsing with cut/awk |
| `yaml` | YAML output | Config-style processing |
| `md` | Markdown table | Embedding results in notes |
| `paths` | One path per line | Batch file operations |
| `tree` | Tree view | Visual hierarchy |
Not all formats are supported by every command. Use `text` or `json` when in doubt.
### Examples
```bash
# Count notes in a folder
@@ -369,9 +586,14 @@ obsidian tag name="urgent" | while read -r note; do
done
# Export search results as JSON and process with jq
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json | jq '.[].path'
# format=json returns an array of file path strings: ["folder/note.md", ...]
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json | jq '.[]'
# Filter console errors
# Query a base as CSV
obsidian base:query file="tasks" format=csv
# Filter console errors (requires dev:debug on first)
obsidian dev:debug on
obsidian dev:console limit=50 | grep -i error
```