Obsidian Expander

Replace variables across your Obsidian vault using HTML comment markers. Configure key-value pairs in settings, and Expander will automatically substitute them throughout your notes, and keep those updated too.

Features

• Variable Replacement: Define key-value pairs that get expanded throughout your vault
• Dynamic Values: Use function expressions like now().format("YYYY-MM-DD") for dynamic content
• Update Modes: Control when expansions update
  • Auto: Updates automatically on file changes
  • Manual: Updates only via command or button
  • Once: Updates once, then never again
  • Once-and-Eject: Updates once, removes markers
• Folder Filtering: Choose which folders to scan or ignore
• Visual Feedback: Mode badges and refresh buttons in the editor
• Commands: Replace values in current note or entire vault, add new expansion, ...

Quick Start

1. Install the plugin from Obsidian Community Plugins (NOT supported yet; install manually or use BRAT)
2. Open Settings → Expander
3. Add a replacement (e.g., key: today, value: now().format("YYYY-MM-DD"))
4. In your note, add:

   <!-- expand: today -->
   

5. The value and closing tag will be automatically inserted

Syntax

Just add an opening tag - the closing tag is added automatically:

<!-- expand: key -->

After expansion:

<!-- expand: key -->value<!---->

Update mode variants:

• <!-- expand: key --> - Auto mode (updates on file change)
• <!-- expand-manual: key --> - Manual mode (update via command only)
• <!-- expand-once: key --> - Once mode (fills once, never updates)
• <!-- expand-once-and-eject: key --> - Once-and-eject mode (fills once, removes markers)

Functions

Dynamic values using function expressions:

Function	Description	Example
now()	Current date/time	now().format("YYYY-MM-DD")
today()	Today at midnight	today().format("MM/DD/YYYY")
format(pattern)	Format date	now().format("HH:mm")
lower()	Lowercase	now().format("MMMM").lower()
upper()	Uppercase	now().format("MMMM").upper()
trim()	Trim whitespace
replace(old, new)	Replace text	replace("-", "/")

Documentation

Full documentation available at docs/.

Development

See DEVELOPMENT.md for build instructions, testing setup, and contribution guidelines.

Support

If you find this plugin useful, consider supporting my work:

• GitHub Sponsors
• Buy me a coffee
• Check out my products

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

News & Updates

To stay up to date about this plugin, Obsidian in general, Personal Knowledge Management and note-taking:

• Subscribe to my newsletter
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Author

Created by Sébastien Dubois (@dSebastien)