Getting started with Smart Templates

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

The first useful result is one reviewed context and template combination ready to copy or generate.

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

Open a note you already care about.
Run Smart Templates: Open template context.
Select one template.
Add a short instruction.
Click Copy prompt.
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

Open Template Context from the note that should seed the request.

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.

The shared Context menu lets you copy in other formats, open Builder, clear the set, or reuse named contexts while refining the request.

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

Review every selected template before combining their instructions.

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

The completion notice proves the Core clipboard path finished; it does not show the copied payload or a Pro-generated result.

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