# Vault Ingest > Use when raw vault captures need classification, routing, relocation, and external-source synthesis from the source inbox into the right vault surfaces - Skill: `markphelps/vault-ingest` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add markphelps/vault-ingest` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/markphelps/vault-ingest/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: markphelps (https://skillmd.com/u/markphelps) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/markphelps/vault-ingest --- # Vault Ingest Categorize captures in `raw/sources/`, route owned/user-authored material to the right vault directories, and synthesize tagged external sources into curated notes while preserving complete source evidence. Portent reference: `../references/portent-knowledge-base-spec.md`. ## Parameters - `--mode report|apply` (default: `report`) - `report`: preview all planned operations - `apply`: execute confirmed operations - `--path PATH` (optional): override default `./raw/sources` input path ## Core Contract For each ingestion cycle: - Source starts in `raw/sources/` (unprocessed inbox) - The source file itself remains the durable artifact - Each source is classified by intent, topic, and lifecycle state before moving - Every capture is classified into a Portent lifecycle state first: `captured`, `organized`, or `archived` - Every organized durable object gets a Portent `type` - Every organized object should have enough relationship metadata to explain future usefulness: - `belongs_to` for primary context when one exists - `related_to` for secondary associations - If a capture cannot attach to a Project, Responsibility, Operation, or Topic, leave it in `raw/sources/` and report it as a delete/ignore candidate - Source files move to the most specific existing vault location when they are owned/user-authored material or working source records - Owned notes, project ideas, drafts, and planning captures are moved intact rather than summarized - Notes tagged `external` are browser-clipped or imported external sources and should be synthesized during apply-mode processing unless the user explicitly requests routing only - When a capture duplicates or extends an existing note, idea, project, or resource, merge it into that destination when confidence is high - Any source that is summarized or synthesized must keep a complete immutable copy in `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/` - Summaries or synthesized research briefs must link to the archived complete source record - Navigation is updated only for moved durable files that belong in active navigation - All material operations are logged in `log.md` - `raw/processed/` is audited for empty folders and anomalies ## Routing Rules Prefer the vault's existing directory taxonomy. Do not invent new top-level folders when an existing one fits. | Source category | Destination pattern | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Rough owned idea | `ideas/fleeting//` | | Promising project idea | `ideas/incubating//` | | Later/someday idea | `ideas/someday//` or the closest existing idea | | Rejected/closed idea | `ideas/rejected//` | | Active project material | `projects/active//` | | Durable conceptual note | `notes/concepts/` only when it is itself canonical | | General durable note | `notes//` or the closest existing note area | | `external` reference | Archive source in `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/`; write synthesis to `notes//` | | Asset or binary support | `raw/assets/` or an existing asset folder | | No clear durable home | Leave in `raw/sources/` and report the ambiguity | When an owned/user-authored source clearly belongs with an existing project, idea, or note, move it there even if the file is messy. Preserve the original content and filename unless a minimal rename is needed to avoid collision or clarify the source identity. ## Merge Rules Prefer a single durable note or folder when multiple captures are clearly about the same thing. Merge only when the relationship is obvious: same project, same idea, same source, same canonical concept, or one file is a direct continuation of another. - In `report` mode, propose merge target, evidence, confidence, and link rewrites. - In `apply` mode, merge high-confidence captures into the existing durable destination. - Preserve all user-authored content. Move unmatched sections under clear headings instead of summarizing them away. - Keep provenance by retaining source filename, capture date, or a backlink to the moved/merged file. - When confidence is medium or low, route the file beside the likely target and report a manual merge decision instead of merging. - Do not merge merely related but distinct ideas; link them instead. ## Capture Decision Use `raw/sources/` only for unclassified captures. If the user already identifies the item as their own idea, route it to `ideas/` directly: - `ideas/fleeting/`: quick idea, fragment, or unqualified possibility - `ideas/incubating/`: idea with enough shape to revisit or develop - `ideas/someday/`: intentionally parked idea - `ideas/rejected/`: idea explicitly declined but worth retaining as history External articles, discussions, docs, and market references captured with Obsidian Note Clipper should carry an `external` tag. That tag tells ingestion the note came from an outside source and should be synthesized by default while preserving the complete clipped note. X bookmark source records are captured by `vault-x-bookmarks`. If the task is to delete irrelevant, minimal, or low-value bookmark captures from `raw/sources/`, use `vault-x-bookmarks` prune mode instead of ingest. Ingest routes sources worth keeping; it does not judge bookmark source value for deletion. Recognize `external` in either common Obsidian form: - frontmatter list or scalar: `tags: [external]`, `tags: external` - inline tag: `#external` ## Copy vs Synthesize Decision Default to moving or merging owned/user-authored sources intact. Default to synthesizing tagged `external` sources during apply-mode processing. Synthesize untagged sources only when the user explicitly asks to summarize/synthesize a specific source. Plain copy/move/merge is correct when: - The file is user-authored, an owned idea, a project draft, a plan, meeting note, scratch note, or decision record - The note's wording, structure, or roughness is itself useful context - The capture is short enough that summarizing would mainly discard nuance - The user asks to organize, categorize, move, link, or merge Synthesis is correct when: - The note has an `external` tag from Obsidian Note Clipper or another external capture path - The user explicitly asks for synthesis, summary, takeaways, assessment, comparison, or research - Multiple external sources need to be combined into a brief When synthesis happens, first move the complete source under `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/`, then write the synthesis with links to those archived source records. The synthesis should live in the most specific curated destination, such as `notes//`, `projects/.../research/`, or `ideas/.../research/`. The archived complete source is the immutable citation target. ## Workflow 1. **Scan** `raw/sources/` for unprocessed captures (skip hidden files) 2. **Classify** each capture: - Identify whether it is PORT (`Project`, `Operation`, `Responsibility`, `Task`) or ENTP (`Event`, `Note`, `Topic`, `Person`) - Assign `status: captured|organized|archived` - Identify source origin: owned, external, asset, operational record - Identify primary `belongs_to` candidate - Identify useful `related_to` candidates - Match against existing `projects/`, `ideas/`, `notes/`, and indexed Topic objects - Mark confidence as high, medium, or low 3. **Plan moves**: - Choose the most specific destination path - Detect filename collisions and propose minimal safe renames - Detect duplicate or continuation captures and propose merge targets - Check for the `external` tag and plan archive + synthesis by default - Leave low-confidence items in place and list the decision needed 4. **Move, merge, or synthesize** high-confidence sources: - Move owned/user-authored sources intact to their destination paths - Archive tagged external sources under `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/` - Write curated synthesis notes that link to the archived complete sources 5. **Update** navigation and ops trail only as needed: - Add moved durable files to `index.md` when they belong in active navigation - Rewrite links for merged files when a canonical destination replaces them - Append concise operation entry to `log.md` 6. **Audit** processed archives: - Scan `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/` for empty date folders - Flag non-date folder anomalies - Report duplicate filenames across dates - Remove empty folders (with confirmation in apply mode) 7. **Execute** by mode: - `report`: preview plan only (no changes) - `apply`: run full pipeline with confirmation ## Safety - Never discard files from `raw/sources/` — only move them after successful classification - Treat `raw/processed/` as immutable evidence — never delete processed source files - Do not create summaries, synthesized notes, or rewritten interpretations of owned source files during ingest - Synthesize tagged external sources by default in apply mode, preserving the complete source under `raw/processed/YYYY-MM-DD/` first - Do not synthesize untagged sources unless the user explicitly asks for it - Do not remove the `external` tag from archived source records - Non-destructive edits by default — source files are moved, not rewritten - Merges are additive by default and must preserve provenance - Confirm before execution unless `--yes` - Do not mutate file contents under `raw/sources/`, `raw/processed/`, or `raw/assets/` - Do not assume or create an inbox staging layer ## Output Return: - discovered captures and classification plan - Portent type, status, belongs_to, and related_to recommendations for each capture - category, confidence, and destination path for each source - source files moved and final destination paths - files merged, merge target, and provenance retained - synthesized items, archived complete source paths, and links inserted - source files left in place with ambiguity reason - captures left unorganized because they lack a useful relationship target - `index.md` additions - `log.md` entry appended - audit findings (empty folders, anomalies) - fixes applied (if any) - manual follow-up items