Smart Templates FAQs
What is Smart Templates for Obsidian?
#Smart Templates turns Markdown templates into reusable AI workflows. It starts from your current note or selection, adds context, and packages that context with templates.
Smart Templates combines reviewed context, reusable template instructions, and an explicit output path.
Open Template Context from the note or file that should seed the request.
Does Smart Templates replace Obsidian Templates?
#No. Obsidian Templates inserts note content. Smart Templates uses those same templates as AI structure layered on the current note or selection. See settings.
Do I need an API key?
#Not for Core. Core builds prompts and copies them to your clipboard. Pro adds in-Obsidian generation. See Clipboard workflow.
Core vs Templates Pro?
#Core covers template discovery, context-first prompt building, multiple template selection, and clipboard export. Pro adds Generate, review, insert, create note, and model override. See Generate.
How are templates detected?
#Smart Templates can discover templates from configured folders, Obsidian Templates folder fallback, smart template: true, configured filename, or matching headings. See settings.
Smart Templates settings expose the template folder, filename naming convention, and template-heading rules used for discovery.
Can I keep multiple templates in one note?
#Yes. Matching headings can act as templates, so one note can hold multiple reusable template blocks.
Can I use more than one template at once?
#Yes. Smart Templates can merge multiple templates in selection order when one output needs more than one reusable structure. See Clipboard workflow.
Multiple selected templates remain visible before the completed prompt is produced.
Can I use Smart Templates with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Smart Chat?
#Yes. Core is clipboard-based, so the same prompt can be pasted into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Smart Chat, or another chat interface.
How is Smart Templates different from Smart Context?
#Smart Context assembles the right notes as evidence. Smart Templates applies reusable output structure to that context.
Inside the shared workspace, Context actions remain available for copy formats, Builder review, clearing, and named-context reuse.
Does Smart Templates keep my notes private and local-first?
#Core is clipboard-based: notes stay in Obsidian unless you paste the copied prompt elsewhere. In Pro, content is sent only when you choose Generate and configure a model provider. Review Smart Environment settings.
What does Generate do in Templates Pro?
#Generate keeps current work -> context -> template -> generate -> review -> insert inside Obsidian. See Generate inside Obsidian.
Can I control which model Generate uses?
#Yes. Templates Pro has a default Generate model setting and a per-request override inside the modal. See settings.