AI agent skill · by @heyitsnoah

Add Frontmatter

Add or update YAML frontmatter properties to enhance Obsidian note organization. Use when the user asks to add, fix, normalize, or improve frontmatter, properties, metadata, tags, or YAML on a note or folder of notes.

Archived 2026-10-23 · Source updated 2026-04-11 · License: MIT. Check the original repository for the latest version.

SKILL.md instructions

You will analyze Obsidian notes and add intelligent YAML frontmatter properties
to enhance organization and discoverability.

## Input

- Path: file or folder to process
- Current date: use the system date

## Your Task

### Step 1: Identify Notes to Process

```bash
# If single file
Read the specified file

# If folder
Find all .md files in folder
```

### Step 2: Analyze Note Content

For each note, examine:

- Main topics and themes
- Note type (meeting, daily, reference, project)
- Key entities (people, projects, dates)
- Existing properties (preserve valid ones)
- Title quality (add/improve if needed)

### Step 3: Generate Appropriate Properties

#### Standard Properties by Note Type

**Meeting Notes:**

```yaml
---
title: [Descriptive meeting title]
date: YYYY-MM-DD
type: meeting
attendees: ['Person 1', 'Person 2']
project: Project Name
tags: [meeting, project-name]
action_items:
  - 'Action item 1'
  - 'Action item 2'
status: complete
---
```

**Daily Notes:**

```yaml
---
title: Daily Note - YYYY-MM-DD
date: YYYY-MM-DD
type: daily-note
tags: [daily]
highlights:
  - 'Key event or thought'
mood: productive
---
```

**Reference/Article Notes:**

```yaml
---
title: [Article or concept title]
type: reference
source: "[[Source Note]]" or URL
author: Author Name
date_saved: YYYY-MM-DD
tags: [topic1, topic2]
key_concepts: [concept1, concept2]
---
```

**Project Notes:**

```yaml
---
title: [Project Name - Component]
type: project
status: in-progress
deadline: YYYY-MM-DD
stakeholders: ['Person 1', 'Team 2']
tags: [project, area]
priority: high
---
```

### Step 4: Apply Properties

For each note:

1. Check for existing frontmatter
2. Merge new properties (don't duplicate)
3. Fix any deprecated formats:
   - `tag` → `tags`
   - `alias` → `aliases`
   - `cssclass` → `cssclasses`
4. Ensure valid YAML syntax

### Step 5: Update File

```yaml
# Format:
---
property: value
list_property: ['item1', 'item2']
date_property: YYYY-MM-DD
linked_property: '[[Note Name]]'
---
[Original content]
```

## Property Guidelines

### Naming Conventions

- Use lowercase with underscores: `date_created`, `action_items`
- Be consistent with existing vault patterns
- Prefer clear over clever names

### Value Types

- **Text**: Simple strings, use quotes for links
- **List**: Arrays for multiple values
- **Date**: ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD)
- **Number**: For counts, ratings, priorities
- **Checkbox**: For boolean states

### Quality Checks

- ✅ Valid YAML syntax
- ✅ No duplicate properties
- ✅ Appropriate property types
- ✅ Quoted internal links
- ✅ Meaningful values (not empty)

## Special Cases

### Untitled Notes

Generate title from:

1. First heading if exists
2. First paragraph summary
3. Main topic/concept discussed

### Bulk Processing

When processing folders:

- Maintain consistency across similar notes
- Use same property names for same concepts
- Report summary of changes made

### Existing Properties

- Preserve valid existing properties
- Update deprecated formats
- Merge new properties carefully
- Never delete without reason

## Examples

### Before:

```markdown
Had a great meeting with the team about Q1 planning...
```

### After:

```markdown
---
title: Q1 Planning Team Meeting
date: 2025-09-02
type: meeting
attendees: ['Team']
project: Q1 Planning
tags: [meeting, planning, q1-2025]
status: complete
---

Had a great meeting with the team about Q1 planning...
```

Remember: Properties should enhance organization, not clutter. Only add what
provides value for finding and connecting notes.