Smart Context Builder

Smart Context Builder lets you build, save, and reuse AI-ready "context packs" from your Obsidian vault.

If you reuse the same context across sessions (projects, clients, papers, writing pipelines), this removes the worst part of AI workflows:
hunting, copying, pasting, trimming, and re-explaining.

Who this helps

You will feel this immediately if you have ever thought:

• "I keep re-explaining the same project every time I open a new chat."
• "My vault is big, and AI keeps missing the important constraints."
• "I want help drafting, but the output drifts away from my intent."
• "I need meeting continuity: prep and follow-up without losing threads."
• "This note is huge. I only need one section, and I need accuracy."
• "I want to stay inside Obsidian while I assemble context."

Two-minute quickstart

Goal: save your first named context that solves a real problem.

1. Run:
   • Smart Context: Open Selector for New Context
2. Add one anchor note (project hub, outline, agenda, or question).
3. Add 2-5 supporting items (constraints, references, or examples).
4. Enter a name (so you can reuse it).
5. Click Copy to clipboard.
6. Paste into your AI tool and use one of the "first prompts" below.

If you do only one thing: save a bundle named after a job you repeat.

Pick a problem and save a bundle

Named contexts work best when they are named after the problem they solve, not the folder they came from.

Each recipe below includes:

• What to include (by role)
• Notes vs blocks guidance
• Suggested bundle name
• A first prompt that reliably works

Problem 1: "I keep re-explaining this project every session"

Save this bundle: Project Working Set

Include:

• Anchor: project brief or hub/MOC
• Constraints: requirements, decisions, assumptions, non-goals
• Ground truth: spec, key docs, reference notes
• Examples: prior draft or artifact that you want to continue
• Recency: last status update (blocks: summary + decisions + next actions)

Notes vs blocks:

• Use blocks for meeting notes and status logs.
• Use whole notes for short briefs and specs.

Suggested name:

• Project - <Name> - Working Set

First prompt:

• "Using only this context, summarize current state, risks, and the top 5 next actions. Quote the note titles you used for each point."

Problem 2: "AI misses constraints and produces the wrong thing"

Save this bundle: Constraints Pack

Include:

• Anchor: the task you are doing now (question, draft section, decision statement)
• Constraints: requirements, boundaries, decision log, "do not do" list
• Ground truth: the note that defines reality (spec, contract, rubric)
• Examples: one correct prior output or checklist

Notes vs blocks:

• Keep it small. If it is not a constraint, it probably does not belong.

Suggested name:

• Constraints - <Project or Topic>

First prompt:

• "Extract all constraints as bullets. Then propose a plan that satisfies every constraint. If anything is ambiguous, ask only the minimum questions needed."

Problem 3: "I want help drafting but it does not sound like me"

Save this bundle: Voice + Draft Pack

Include:

• Anchor: outline + current draft
• Constraints: audience, tone rules, structure rules
• Ground truth: key claims/facts (reference notes)
• Examples: 1-3 pieces you like (your own writing)

Notes vs blocks:

• One strong example beats five weak rules.

Suggested name:

• Writing - Voice + Draft

First prompt:

• "Continue the draft in my voice. Use only the provided references for claims. Keep the structure consistent with the outline."

Problem 4: "This note is long. I only need one section and I need accuracy"

Save this bundle: Precision Q&A

Include:

• Anchor: your exact question
• Ground truth: only the relevant blocks from the long note
• Constraints: any formatting rules (bullets, steps, checklist)

Notes vs blocks:

• Prefer blocks-only. Include the definition, the relevant section, and nothing else.

Suggested name:

• Q&A - <Topic> - Precision

First prompt:

• "Answer using only these blocks. For each claim, cite which block it comes from by note title and section."

Problem 5: "I need meeting continuity without losing threads"

Save this bundle: Meeting Continuity

Include:

• Anchor: agenda for this meeting
• Constraints: standing goals, roles, sensitive topics, definitions
• Ground truth: project status snapshot
• Examples: your preferred meeting note template
• Recency: last 1-2 meeting notes (blocks: decisions + actions + open loops)

Suggested name:

• Meeting - <Series Name>

First prompt:

• "Create a prep brief: agenda, open loops, decisions needed, and the 5 best questions to ask. Then draft follow-up actions."

Problem 6: "My context is too big to fit. I need to stay under limits"

Save this bundle: Token Budget Triage

Include:

• Anchor: your task
• Constraints: the non-negotiables
• Ground truth: the smallest set of blocks that contain the key facts
• Examples: one correct output shape (optional)

Notes vs blocks:

• Replace your biggest notes with only the 1-3 blocks you actually need.

Suggested name:

• Triage - <Project or Topic>

First prompt:

• "If this context is still too large, tell me what to remove first, in order, and why. Optimize for preserving constraints and ground truth."

Open the Builder

Run the command:

• Smart Context: Open Selector for New Context

From the same command list, you may also see quick actions like:

• Copy current to clipboard
• Copy entire folder to clipboard
• Help: Show getting started
• Open Management dashboard (show named contexts) view

Select notes with fuzzy search

The Builder uses a native Obsidian-style modal:

• Start typing to filter results (fuzzy search). There is no separate search box - just type.
• Use arrow keys to move the highlight.
• Press Enter to add the highlighted item to your context.

• Blue: Context name input (used to save/reuse a context).
• Pink: The currently highlighted suggestion (press Enter to add it).
• Green: Keyboard hints (Enter to add, Right Arrow to toggle block view, Esc to close).

Use blocks when you need precision

If you want to include only a section of a long note:

• Press Right Arrow to switch into block selection for the highlighted note.
• Select the blocks/sections you want and press Enter to add them.

Notes vs blocks

Choose whole notes when:

• The note is short and mostly relevant
• You want full-document grounding

Choose blocks when:

• The note is long and only 1-3 sections matter
• You are managing a token budget
• You need accuracy on a specific section

Review and manage the selection

As you add items, the top panel becomes a tree view of your current selection.

Remove single items or clear everything

• Remove any individual item with the x control (highlighted in pink).
• Use Clear to remove all selected items at once.
• Watch the total size details (characters and token estimate) to keep tabs on exported context size.
• Use the per-item size to quickly find the biggest items when you need to shrink the bundle.

Save named contexts for reuse

If you assemble the same bundle often:

• Enter a name in the context name field
• Your selection becomes a saved, reusable context

A naming scheme that stays clean over time:

• Project - ...
• Writing - ...
• Meeting - ...
• Decision - ...
• Constraints - ...
• Q&A - ...

Once you have saved contexts, use the command:

• Smart Context: Open Management dashboard (show named contexts) view

This gives you a fast way to jump back into a known-good bundle without rebuilding it.

Copy to clipboard

When the set looks right, use Copy to clipboard.

That export is designed to be pasted into:

• an AI chat prompt
• a draft note
• a doc you are working on

The copy confirmation now includes depth stats (items per depth) alongside size estimates, so you can spot over-expansion before pasting.

Manage named contexts

Use the Management dashboard to browse saved contexts and reopen them quickly.

A simple pattern:

• Keep a few bundles you use weekly
• Reopen and tweak them as projects evolve
• Copy to clipboard when you need AI-ready grounding

Context item types

You can build context from:

• Sources
• Blocks
• Media (Pro)
  • Images
  • PDFs
• External sources (Pro)

Use media and external sources when:

• the ground truth lives outside your vault
• you want the model to cite or stay anchored to primary materials

Troubleshooting

"The model ignored my notes"

Try this:

• Make the anchor explicit: include the question or task note in the bundle
• Add a Constraints Pack bundle and copy it first
• In your prompt, say: "Use only the provided context"

"My bundle is too big"

Try this:

• Replace the biggest note with blocks
• Remove recency logs that repeat information
• Keep one anchor, one constraints note, and a few high-signal references

"My saved contexts list is messy"

Try this:

• Rename bundles to jobs (Project, Writing, Meeting, Decision)
• Avoid vague names like "Work" unless it is truly stable
• Keep one "Working Set" per active project

Next steps

• Save one bundle you will reuse this week
• Assign a hotkey for the Builder command
• Build a Constraints Pack for your highest-stakes project

If you want: combine Smart Connections discovery with the Builder to turn "interesting finds" into a reusable context pack.