Getting Started with Smart Context

Smart Context collects notes (and optionally linked references) into a clean, templated bundle you can paste into any AI chat.

If you notice your flow breaking every time you need to gather context, this is the fastest fix.

• Install Smart Context: https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=smart-context
• Want the overview and upgrade path? See Smart Context.

Pick your first win (choose a path)

Path 1: "My project already lives in one folder"

Use folder copy when your notes are already grouped.

• Right click a folder -> Copy contents
• Or use the command palette -> Select folder to copy contents (best if you want a hotkey)

Prompt starter after you paste:

• "Summarize current status, decisions, open loops, and the top 5 next actions. Quote the note title for each claim."

Related deep dive: Smart Context Clipboard (predictable exports, link depth, token awareness)

Path 2: "My notes are scattered and I want a working set"

Use the Builder when you need a hand-picked pack across folders (and you may want to reuse it).

• Open the selector (Builder)
• Add notes via Visible notes / Open notes / Search
• Copy to clipboard when the set is right
• (Optional) Save it as a named context so you can reuse it

Prompt starter after you paste:

• "Extract constraints first. Then propose a plan that satisfies every constraint. If anything is missing, list only the minimum missing context."

Related deep dive: Smart Context Builder (named packs, blocks, reuse)

Path 3: "This note links to the real sources - include those too"

Use link depth when your hub note references definitions, sources, or supporting docs.

• Start from your hub note
• Export with a link depth that matches your token budget
• Depth 0 = just the core note
• Depth 1 = include direct references
• Depth 2+ = wider snapshot (can grow fast)

Prompt starter after you paste:

• "Answer using only this context. If you need more, list exactly which missing note(s) or section(s) would close the gap."

Related deep dive: Smart Context Clipboard (link depth explained + workflow recipes)

Grow a context set without hunting

Turn discoveries into context (Connections -> Smart Context)

If you use Smart Connections to resurface relevant notes, you can convert results directly into a context set you can edit and export.

Workflow:

1. Open the Connections view and scan the top matches
2. Use Send results to Smart Context
3. Remove noise, keep what matters, then copy

Related pages:

• Exploring the Connections view (how to scan, pause, hide, pin)
• Getting Started with Smart Connections (if you are new to Connections)

Make it repeatable (templates, packs, manifests)

Templates (control formatting)

If you want consistent prompts or machine-parsable exports, templates are the control surface.

• Context templates wrap the entire export
• Item templates wrap each note/item
• Use variables like file path and modified time to keep context self-describing

Deep dive: Smart Context settings

Named context packs (reuse across sessions)

If you keep re-explaining the same project, save a named pack once and reopen it whenever you need it.

Deep dive: Smart Context Builder

Pinned context manifest inside a note (codeblock)

If the note itself should "carry its own context" (especially for repos and external files), use a smart-context codeblock.

Deep dive: Smart Context codeblock

Key commands and hotkeys

Assign hotkeys for whatever you do daily (Builder, copy current, copy folder, etc.).

Next steps

• Go deeper on reusable packs: Smart Context Builder
• Understand exports and link depth: Smart Context Clipboard
• Make output reproducible: Smart Context settings
• Pin a context manifest inside a note: Smart Context codeblock
• Paste into a destination workflow: Smart Chat