# Installation & Plugins The core system needs Obsidian plus two free community plugins: **Dataview** (for the self-building timelines) and **Templater** (for the one-step note creation, including the interactive Organization/Department/Project templates). ## 1. Install Obsidian and create a vault 1. Download Obsidian from [obsidian.md](https://obsidian.md) and install it. 2. Open it and choose **Create new vault**. Give it a name and pick a location. - If you want the vault on your phone too, put it in iCloud Drive (macOS/iOS) or use Obsidian Sync. 3. You now have an empty vault — a plain folder of Markdown files. ## 2. Enable community plugins 1. Open **Settings** (gear icon, bottom-left) → **Community plugins**. 2. Click **Turn on community plugins** (Obsidian asks you to confirm; this is safe). ## 3. Install and enable Dataview 1. In **Community plugins**, click **Browse**. 2. Search for **Dataview**, click it, then **Install**, then **Enable**. 3. Go to **Settings → Dataview** and turn ON these two options: - **Enable JavaScript Queries** - **Enable Inline JavaScript Queries** The dimension timelines and the interactive task checkboxes are written in `dataviewjs`, which won't run unless these are on. ## 4. Install and enable Templater 1. Back in **Browse**, search for **Templater**, then **Install** and **Enable**. 2. Go to **Settings → Templater** and set: - **Template folder location** → `Templates` (you'll create this folder in the next page). - Optional: turn on **Trigger Templater on new file creation** if you want templates to run automatically — most people instead use the explicit command described below. > [!tip] The command you'll use most > Open the command palette with **Cmd/Ctrl-P** and run **Templater: Create new note from template**. Pick a template, and Templater creates the note, runs any prompts, and files it in the right folder automatically. Consider binding this to a hotkey (**Settings → Hotkeys**, search "Templater"). ## 5. Optional plugins - **Tasks** — only if you later want checkbox-style task syntax. The system doesn't require it; tasks here are their own notes. ## You're ready With Obsidian, Dataview (JS queries on), and Templater (template folder set) in place, continue to [[03 Folder Structure|Folder Structure]] to lay out the vault.