README file from
GithubGraph Filter Builder
A Filter Builder panel for Obsidian's graph view.
Build graph filters as structured Include/Exclude lines with type selection (tag, path, file) and autocomplete. Lines are combined with AND and written into the native filter input — so native bookmarks save them normally.
Why
The native graph filter is a single text input. Long expressions are hard to read and edit, and remembering the syntax (path:, tag:, -tag:, etc.) is friction. This plugin gives you a structured panel where each clause is its own line.
It does not replace the native filter — it generates the filter string and writes it into the existing input.
Usage
- Open the global graph view.
- A filter icon appears at the top-left of the graph.
- Click to expand the Filter Builder panel.
- Each line:
[Include/Exclude][type][value][trash] - Pick a type (tag, path, file). The value field becomes editable, with autocomplete for that type.
- Toggle Include/Exclude per line.
- The native filter input updates live as you edit. Save bookmarks normally from Obsidian.
Reset
The reload icon in the panel header clears all lines.
Limitations
- Desktop only — the plugin queries internal DOM of the graph view that isn't available on mobile.
- Global graph only — local graphs are not targeted.
- No reverse parsing — opening the panel doesn't reconstruct lines from a filter that was typed manually into the native input. The panel always starts from a clean state.
- Internal API usage — the plugin queries internal DOM (
.graph-controls,.suggestion-container) that aren't part of Obsidian's public API. A future Obsidian update could break it. Issues welcome.
Installation
Via BRAT (beta)
- Install the BRAT plugin in Obsidian.
- Add
Thalikbussacro/graph-filter-builderas a beta plugin. - Enable it.
Manual
- Download
main.js,manifest.json,styles.cssfrom the latest release. - Copy them into
<vault>/.obsidian/plugins/graph-filter-builder/. - Enable the plugin in Settings → Community plugins.
Development
npm install
npm run dev # watch mode
npm run build # production build
Build output goes to the project root: main.js. Copy that, plus manifest.json and styles.css, into your test vault under .obsidian/plugins/graph-filter-builder/.
License
MIT — see LICENSE.