Description

The Tree Modal plugin changes how files open from the explorer by sending them into a large modal preview instead of the main editor. It keeps the native view header, so switching between read and edit mode still feels familiar. Normal editor opening is not blocked either, because Cmd or Ctrl click can bypass the modal when needed. A context menu fallback is included, which matters if the explorer DOM changes later. Internal links clicked inside the modal continue in the same window, so browsing notes feels continuous instead of jumpy.

Obsidian plugin that opens files from the file explorer in a modal preview instead of in the editor.

Features

Click a file in the tree → 80% viewport modal with Obsidian's native view header (read/edit toggle, full width)
Cmd/Ctrl-click → opens the file normally in the editor (escape route)
Right-click → "Open in modal" as a fallback (survives Obsidian DOM updates)
Internal links inside the modal are captured and opened in-place in the same modal
Configurable trigger modifier (none / Shift / Alt)
Toggle to hide the center workspace area and give the space to the sidebars
Toggle to hide sidebar toggles and sync status icon
Optional: ensure a terminal view stays mounted in the right sidebar after startup

Install

Community plugin (once accepted)

Settings → Community plugins → Browse → search "Tree Modal" → Install → Enable.

Manual

Download main.js, manifest.json and styles.css from the latest release.
Copy them into <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/tree-modal/.
Reload Obsidian, then enable the plugin under Settings → Community plugins.

Development

npm install
npm run dev     # watch mode
npm run build   # production build (minified)

For local testing, symlink the plugin folder into your vault:

ln -s "$(pwd)" <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/tree-modal

How it works

The default click handler of the file explorer is intercepted via a DOM event listener on document in capture phase, filtered to .nav-file-title elements. preventDefault() and stopPropagation() block the default "open in editor" behavior; Cmd/Ctrl-click and folder clicks pass through unchanged.

The modal embeds a detached WorkspaceLeaf in markdown mode, so everything Obsidian provides (live preview, wikilink completion, Templater, the native read/edit toggle) keeps working inside the modal.

As a supported second path, a file-menu entry "Open in modal" is registered via the official API, independent of the DOM structure.

Limitations

data-path on .nav-file-title is not part of the official plugin API. It works reliably today but could theoretically break with an Obsidian update. The file-menu fallback keeps the core feature usable in that case.
Non-markdown files show a hint instead of a preview; Cmd/Ctrl-click opens them normally.

License

MIT

Tree Modal

Description

Reviews

Stats

Latest Version

Changelog

README file from