Subnotes

Obsidian plugin for creating and managing lightweight sub-notes inside parent notes.

Current version: 0.3.4

Features

• Create sub-notes from the editor context menu or command palette.
• Choose between two sub-note types:
  • File: a normal Markdown file embedded in the parent note.
  • Virtual: Markdown stored directly inside the parent note.
• Choose a display title and an auto-completed vault path when creating file sub-notes.
• Include existing Markdown notes as sub-notes through a searchable picker.
• Edit sub-notes from their rendered card:
  • click the title to edit its raw Markdown in place;
  • click the body for inline rendered editing;
  • use the edit icon to open the full editor.
• Keep the title, fold control, and edit icon above the framed content.
• Rename the visible sub-note title without renaming the file, with Markdown formatting.
• Fold or unfold sub-notes, with a configurable default state.
• Use the same configurable callout color for file and virtual sub-notes.
• Store file sub-notes beside the parent note or in a fixed folder.
• Optionally add a configurable filename indicator, as prefix or suffix.
• Copy Markdown with embedded sub-note references resolved to raw content.
• Detect removed sub-note embeds and offer safe file cleanup.
• Handle file rename, move, and delete events.
• Switch the plugin interface between English and French.
• Configure built-in height/fade behavior or replace it with custom CSS.

Markdown Format

File sub-note:

> [!note]+ My sub-note
> ![[Files/[sub]My sub-note]]

Virtual sub-note:

> [!subnote-virtual-id]+ My virtual sub-note
> Markdown content stays in the parent note.

Settings

• Interface language: English or French.
• Creation and storage: default type, location, fixed folder, filename indicator.
• Display: default fold state, shared color, content top padding, maximum embed height, overflow fade.
• Copy and cleanup: resolve sub-note contents on copy.
• Advanced CSS: external CSS mode disables the built-in height and fade controls for styling through Obsidian CSS snippets or the plugin stylesheet.

Installation

Build the plugin, then copy these files into:

<Vault>/.obsidian/plugins/subnotes/

Required files:

main.js
manifest.json
styles.css

Reload Obsidian community plugins, then enable Subnotes.

Development

npm install
npm run dev
npm run build

Compatibility

• Obsidian minimum version: 1.7.2
• Desktop-only: no

License

GNU GPL v3. See LICENSE.