Graph 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

1. Open the global graph view.
2. A filter icon appears at the top-left of the graph.
3. Click to expand the Filter Builder panel.
4. Each line: [Include/Exclude] [type] [value] [trash]
5. Pick a type (tag, path, file). The value field becomes editable, with autocomplete for that type.
6. Toggle Include/Exclude per line.
7. 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)

1. Install the BRAT plugin in Obsidian.
2. Add Thalikbussacro/graph-filter-builder as a beta plugin.
3. Enable it.

Manual

1. Download main.js, manifest.json, styles.css from the latest release.
2. Copy them into <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/graph-filter-builder/.
3. 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.