Summary of "Obsidian Bases + Web Clipper đź“ť The Perfect Research & Learning Pair"

Summary of “Obsidian Bases + Web Clipper đź“ť The Perfect Research & Learning Pair”

This video by Callum (Wanderloots) explores how to efficiently capture, organize, and manage research and learning materials within Obsidian using the newly released Obsidian Bases core plugin combined with the Obsidian Web Clipper browser extension. The tutorial covers building a custom “sources base” for organizing various types of content, automating workflows, and enhancing note-taking systems.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Methodology / Instructions for Building a Sources Base with Obsidian Bases and Web Clipper

  1. Update Obsidian to Version 1.9.10 or Higher

    • Enable the Bases core plugin via settings.

  2. Create a New Base

    • Use the command palette (Cmd/Ctrl + P) to create a new base called “sources.”

  3. Understand Base Views and Filters

    • Use global filters to include only notes with specific properties (e.g., content type).
    • Create multiple views (table, card) with filters for different content types (articles, YouTube, AI chats).

  4. Set Up Properties in Notes

    • Add YAML frontmatter properties like content type, tags, author, publish date, processed (checkbox), and cover (image URL).
    • Use these properties to filter and organize notes automatically.

  5. Install and Configure Obsidian Web Clipper

    • Install the extension for your browser (Chrome, etc.).
    • Link it to your Obsidian vault by matching vault names.
    • Configure save behavior (create new note, add to daily note, overwrite, etc.).
    • Enable highlight mode to clip selected text with timestamps.

  6. Create and Customize Web Clipper Templates

    • Define templates for different content types using variables (e.g., {title}, {url}, {publishDate}, {ogImage}).
    • Set folder paths for notes (e.g., sources/clippings/article, sources/clippings/youtube).
    • Use template triggers (URL patterns) to auto-select templates based on the website being clipped.

  7. Capture Content Using Web Clipper

    • Clip articles, videos, AI chats, academic papers, etc.
    • Highlights and full page content can be saved together for context.
    • Notes auto-populate properties and are organized in the sources base.

  8. Manage and Organize Content in Obsidian Bases

    • Use different views to see all sources or filter by content type.
    • Customize displayed properties and card views (e.g., show cover images, publish dates).
    • Use checkboxes to track processing status.
    • Add formulas for visual enhancements (e.g., star ratings).

  9. Advanced Integrations

    • Use Zotero integration for academic PDFs and literature notes.
    • Modify templates to improve note titles and metadata extraction (e.g., using CSS selectors).
    • Use AI tools and APIs for enhanced web page interpretation (planned for future videos).

Speakers / Sources Featured

Mentioned Tools and Services

Conclusion

The video demonstrates a powerful workflow combining Obsidian Bases and the Web Clipper extension to automate capturing and organizing research materials in a highly customizable and scalable way. By using properties and templates, users can build a dynamic, searchable, and visually rich knowledge base that integrates various content types — from articles and videos to AI chats and academic papers — all within Obsidian. This approach simplifies information overload and supports efficient knowledge management for researchers, learners, and knowledge workers.

If you want to dive deeper, check out Callum’s related video series on Obsidian Bases and his membership for access to templates and further resources.

Category ?

Educational

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