README file from
GithubCustom Sidebar Width
Set the width of the left and right sidebars per note, based on a note's frontmatter properties or tags. Useful when some notes need a wide file explorer or a roomy right sidebar while others should stay compact.
How it works
You define rules in the plugin settings. Each rule has:
- a property name and/or a tag — the trigger that makes the rule match,
- a left and/or right width in pixels — leave a side empty to not touch it.
When you open a note, the plugin checks it against your rules from top to bottom and applies the first one that matches.
What makes a rule match?
A rule matches a note when either is true:
- the note's frontmatter contains the property key, or
- the note carries the tag.
[!IMPORTANT] For a property, only the key has to exist — its value is irrelevant.
home_sidebars:(empty),home_sidebars: falseorhome_sidebars: anythingall match equally. You do not need to set it totrue.
Example
In the plugin settings, add a rule: property home_sidebars, left 400, right
empty. Then add that key to any note's frontmatter — no value needed:
---
home_sidebars:
---
Opening that note widens the left sidebar to 400 px. Notes without the key keep whatever width they had.
Prefer tags? Use a rule with a tag instead — e.g. #wide applies to every
note carrying that tag.
Behavior when no rule matches
The When no rule matches setting controls what happens on notes that don't match any rule:
- Restore previous width (default) — remembers the sidebar width from before a rule was applied and puts it back when you leave a matched note.
- Reset to default width — snaps back to the width of the rule you marked with the star button. (The star only designates this fallback width — it has no other effect.)
- Leave width unchanged — the sidebar keeps whatever width it has.
Installation
From the Community Plugins browser
- Open Settings → Community plugins.
- Disable Restricted mode if needed.
- Click Browse, search for Custom Sidebar Width, and install.
- Enable the plugin.
Manual installation
- Download
main.js,manifest.json, andstyles.cssfrom the latest release. - Copy them into
<your vault>/.obsidian/plugins/custom-sidebar-width/. - Reload Obsidian and enable the plugin under Community plugins.
Notes
This plugin is desktop-only, because mobile sidebars behave as overlays rather than fixed-width panes.
Development
npm install
npm run dev # watch build
npm run build # production build + type check