Exploring the Obsidian Review Plugin: A Comprehensive Guide
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Chapter 1: Introduction to the Review Plugin
Recently, I tuned into an episode of the Focused podcast featuring Mike Schmitz and Dave Sparks. During this episode, Mike briefly highlighted the "Review" Community Plugin for Obsidian, which piqued my interest. Having never encountered this plugin before, I decided to explore its capabilities, and I was pleasantly surprised by its potential applications.
Section 1.1: Understanding the Plugin's Functionality
The Review Community Plugin establishes a connection between a note in your vault and a selected daily note. While it does not visibly link in the current note, it does create a mention in the designated daily note for that date. Moreover, it allows users to navigate back to the current note from the daily note.
Subsection 1.1.1: Prerequisites for Installation
To utilize the Review Plugin, you must first ensure you are using daily notes. I implement daily notes with the Periodic Notes plugin, but the core daily notes plugin should work just as well.
Next, you will need to install the Natural Language Dates plugin. This handy tool allows you to set dates using natural language, such as "today" or "next Tuesday."
Finally, download and activate the Review plugin. After installation, configure your settings, including the heading under which all notes selected for review will be categorized. I assigned this action to the hotkey ctrl+shift+r for quick access.
Section 1.2: Getting Started with the Plugin
After the setup process, you are ready to begin using the plugin. To add a note or block for review, open the desired note and either utilize your hotkey or access the command palette (Cmd/Ctrl+P) to select the Review option.
A prompt will appear for you to enter a description in natural language. For instance, I might choose "Tomorrow," but you can also specify "In three months," "next Tuesday," etc. While it may seem like nothing has occurred, the plugin has indeed made changes. If you have the Backlinks plugin enabled, a linked mention will appear at the bottom of your current note for the date you selected.
Chapter 2: Real-World Applications of the Plugin
The Review Plugin's main advantage lies in its ability to set non-task-based reminders for various notes. This feature is particularly useful for tasks that are beneficial but not urgent.
One of the use cases I've begun employing the plugin for includes:
- Periodic Project Reviews: I have various projects that require different review frequencies. Instead of maintaining a task for each project, I can simply use the Review Plugin to set the next review date based on my current evaluation.
- Content Repurposing: In this article, I discuss the Review Plugin, and I can set a reminder to revisit this content in a couple of months, ensuring I keep my channels fresh.
- Quick Reminders: Throughout the day, I encounter situations that require follow-ups. For example, if a friend shares they are unwell, I can set a review for the following day to check in on them.
Do you currently use the Review Plugin? What unique applications have you discovered? Additionally, are there other plugins that you believe deserve more recognition within the community?