Obsidian Bases

Obsidian Bases

Reference for creating .base files — Obsidian's built-in database views that query vault files by frontmatter properties. Use for task dashboards, content indexes, and filtered views.

Requires: Bases core plugin enabled.

File Format

A .base file is YAML. Place anywhere in the vault. Five top-level keys:

filters:      # Scope and filter which files appear
formulas:     # Named computed properties
properties:   # Display config for each column
summaries:    # Aggregation formulas
views:        # Array of view definitions

There is no source: key. Bases always queries the entire vault. Use filters to scope to folders.

Filters

Filters are YAML lists of string expressions. Logical grouping uses and:, or:, not: as keys.

Folder Scoping

filters:
  and:
    - 'file.inFolder("tasks")'           # Includes subfolders
    - 'file.folder == "tasks"'            # Exact folder only (no subfolders)

Property Filters

filters:
  and:
    - 'file.inFolder("tasks")'
    - 'status != "done"'
    - 'status != "later"'
    - 'priority == "critical"'

Date Filters

filters:
  and:
    - 'due < today()'                     # Overdue
    - 'due <= now() + "7d"'               # Due within 7 days

Compound Filters

filters:
  or:
    - and:
        - 'due == today()'
        - 'status != "done"'
    - 'status == "in_progress"'

Other Filter Functions

• file.hasTag("tag-name") — files with a specific tag
• file.hasLink("Note Name") — files linking to a note
• file.extension == "md" — by file extension

Operators: ==, !=, <, <=, >, >=, contains(), startsWith(), endsWith()

Date functions: today(), now(), dateModify(date, "7 days")

Date arithmetic: now() + "7d", today() - "30d"

Properties

Define which columns to display. Use named keys matching frontmatter fields.

properties:
  file.name:
    displayName: Task
  status:
    displayName: Status
  priority:
    displayName: Priority
  due:
    displayName: Due Date
  assignee:
    displayName: Owner
  project:
    displayName: Project

Built-in properties (always available):

• file.name — filename without extension
• file.path — full path
• file.created — creation date
• file.modified — last modified date
• file.size — file size
• file.folder — parent folder

Formula properties use the formula. prefix:

  formula.days_left:
    displayName: Days Left

Formulas

Named computed columns defined at the top level.

formulas:
  days_left: 'dateDiff(due, today(), "days")'
  urgency: |
    if(due == null, null,
      if(due < now(), "OVERDUE",
        if(due < now() + "7d", "THIS WEEK", "LATER")))
  display: 'file.name + " (" + status + ")"'

Formula functions:

• now() — current datetime
• today() — current date (no time)
• dateDiff(date1, date2, unit) — difference between dates ("days", "hours", etc.)
• dateModify(date, duration) — add duration to date
• if(condition, then, else) — conditional
• contains(text, search) — text search
• format(value) — convert to string
• relative(date) — human-readable relative time ("in 3 days", "2 days ago")
• min(), max(), round() — math
• Text: + (concat), lower(), upper()

Reference properties directly by name (not prop("name")):

• Correct: due < now()
• Wrong: prop("due") < now()

Views

Array of view definitions. Multiple views create tabs.

Table

views:
  - type: table
    name: All Tasks
    order:
      - priority
      - due
      - file.name

Cards (Kanban)

views:
  - type: cards
    name: Kanban Board
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC
    order:
      - priority
      - due

Multiple Views

views:
  - type: table
    name: Table View
    order:
      - due
  - type: cards
    name: Kanban
    groupBy:
      property: status

Summaries

Aggregation for columns (shown at bottom).

summaries:
  status: countBy
  effort: sum
  due: earliest

Types: count, countBy, countEmpty, countNotEmpty, sum, average, min, max, range, earliest, latest

Complete Example: Task Dashboard

filters:
  and:
    - 'file.inFolder("tasks")'
    - 'status != "done"'
    - 'status != "later"'

formulas:
  urgency: |
    if(due == null, 0,
      if(due < now(), "OVERDUE",
        if(due < now() + "7d", "THIS WEEK", "LATER")))

properties:
  file.name:
    displayName: Task
  status:
    displayName: Status
  priority:
    displayName: Priority
  assignee:
    displayName: Owner
  due:
    displayName: Due
  project:
    displayName: Project
  formula.urgency:
    displayName: Urgency

summaries:
  status: countBy
  due: earliest

views:
  - type: table
    name: Active Tasks
    order:
      - priority
      - due
  - type: cards
    name: Kanban
    groupBy:
      property: status

Tips

1. No source: key exists — always use filters: with file.inFolder() to scope
2. Properties use named keys, not numbered ("0", "1") or arrays
3. Formula references are bare names (due, status), not prop("due")
4. Views is always plural (views: not view:) and an array
5. Cards with groupBy: status replicates a kanban board
6. Date arithmetic uses string durations: now() + "7d", today() - "30d"