Getting started with Smart Templates

Smart Templates turns the Markdown templates you already trust into reusable AI workflows.

It starts from context first:

• the note you are working on
• or the exact text you highlighted

Then it helps you add more context, select one or more templates, and run the output path you want.

Fastest first win

1. Open a note you already care about.
2. Run Smart Templates: Open template context.
3. Select one template.
4. Add a short instruction.
5. Click Copy prompt.
6. Paste into your preferred AI chat.

Outcome: you stop rebuilding the same prompt structure by hand.

What the shared flow looks like

Step 1: open the shared modal

Use either:

• the command palette
• the ribbon icon

Step 2: start from the note or selection

• If nothing is selected, the current note is used as the starting context.
• If text is selected, the selection is used instead.

Step 3: add or refine context

Use the context side of the modal to add more notes or blocks when the task needs them.

Step 4: select one or more templates

Templates can come from:

• configured folders
• the Obsidian Templates folder fallback
• smart template: true frontmatter
• configured filename match
• matching block headings
• built-in defaults

Step 5: add optional instructions

Add the extra instruction that is specific to this run.

Examples:

• "focus on next actions"
• "keep this concise"
• "return only markdown"

Step 6: choose output path

Core

• click Copy prompt
• paste into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another chat UI

Pro

• click Generate
• review the result in the output modal
• copy, insert, or create a note

Core vs Pro

Core

Core is for prompt building.

Use it when:

• you want no API setup
• you already prefer an external chat interface
• you want your templates and context packaged together before pasting

Pro

Pro is for staying inside Obsidian.

Use it when:

• you want native generation
• you want a streamed review step
• you want quick insert / create-note actions

What to try first

If you already use Obsidian Templates

Point Smart Templates at the same folder and reuse those notes.

If you keep reusable headings in one note

Use Template headings in settings and turn those blocks into templates.

If you want consistent AI structure

Start with one repeatable output like:

• summary
• meeting output
• research outline
• recommendation table

Related pages

• Templates clipboard workflow
• Templates API integration
• Templates settings
• Templates modal