Search...Search plugins and themes...
⌘K
Sign in
  • Get started
  • Download
  • Pricing
  • Enterprise
  • Account
  • Obsidian
  • Overview
  • Sync
  • Publish
  • Canvas
  • Mobile
  • Web Clipper
  • CLI
  • Learn
  • Help
  • Developers
  • Changelog
  • About
  • Roadmap
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • System status
  • License overview
  • Terms of service
  • Privacy policy
  • Security
  • Community
  • Plugins
  • Join the community
  • Discord
  • Forum / 中文论坛
  • Merch store
  • Brand guidelines
Follow us
DiscordTwitterBlueskyThreadsMastodonYouTubeGitHub
© 2026 Obsidian

zettelkasten navigation

pkm-erpkm-er8k downloads

Visualize a Luhmann-style zettelkasten.

Add to Obsidian
  • Overview
  • Scorecard
  • Updates58

This plugin provides 2 customViews for navigating a zettelkasten using Luhmann-style IDs and key word indexes.

中文说明

Demo

Main functionalities

  1. zk-index-graph-view
  2. zk-local-graph-view

Why I created this plugin?

[!important] What kind of graph view can be generated basing on Luhmann-style IDs and his keyword index

Many note-taking apps like Obsidian provide the graph view functionality to visualize the relation of notes. But this kind of graph view only bases on linkages/references between notes. It is hard to recognize a specific long COT(chain of thoughts)——the starting point, the path and the end. Different COTs crossing in the graph view makes it more chaotic.

Luhmann's zettelkasten is a

"combination of disorder and order, of clustering and unpredictable combinations emerging from ad hoc selection."

Johannes F.K. Schmidt, Niklas Luhmann’s Card Index: The Fabrication of Serendipity

The graph view, basing on linkages/references between notes, in some ways can represent the aspect of disorder of a zettelkasten. But what is the aspect of order?

"The absence of a fixed system of order and, in consequence, a table of contents turned the index into the key tool for using the file – how else should one be able to find certain notes again and thus gain access to the system of references? Not wanting to rely on pure chance requires being able to identify at least one point from which the respective web of references can be accessed. This is the purpose of the keyword index."

Johannes F.K. Schmidt, Niklas Luhmann’s Card Index: The Fabrication of Serendipity

Base on my understanding, the aspect of order in Luhmann's zettelkasten is composed of his note IDs(folgezettel) and keyword index(register).

As so far, I don't find any note-taking apps or plugins provide the graph view functionality basing on Luhmann-style IDs and his keyword index——And this is the reason why I created this plugin.

This plugin provides a different graph view to visualize and navigate a zettelkasten with Luhmann-style IDs and his keyword index. I think this is the real Luhmann way to retrive thoughts and navigate notes in a digital zettelkasten.

Why Mermaid?

Because Obsidian supports Mermaid.js natively.

This plugin uses Obsidian API: loadMermaid() to generate graphs and uses svg-pan-zoom for panning and zooming mermaid graphs.

Prerequisites

  1. Luhmann-style IDs. below style IDs are supported by this plugin:

    • 100% Luhmann IDs: such as 21/3a1p5c4aA11 , 12.5.1. (more detials please refer to Niklas Luhmann-Archiv)
    • Folgezettel: such as 13.8c1c1b3. (more detials please refer to How to Use Folgezettel in Your Zettelkasten)
    • Antinet: such as 3306/2A/12. (more detials please refer to Introducing the Antinet Zettelkasten)
    • (As '/' is not allowed in file name on computer, it must be changed to '-', '.' or ',' if the file name is the note ID of your main notes.)
  2. Luhmann-style key word indexes.

    • Each key word index contains a few notes (branch entrance). (more detials plase refer to Niklas Luhmann-Archiv)
    • In this plugin, a valid key word index is a single file contains a few linkages of main notes.

ID field options

Below ID field options are supported by this plugin. You have to choose 1 option in the plugin settingTab.

  1. option 1: filename as note ID
  2. option 2: metadata as note ID
  3. option 3: prefix of filename as note ID

Plugin Settings

  1. Specify a folder location or/and a tag for main note files (mandatory)
  2. Specify a folder location for keyword index files(mandatory)
  3. Choose 1 option for your note's ID field.
  4. others settings(optional)

Installation

Settings > Community plugins > Community Plugins > Browse and search for Zettelkasten Navigation.

Support

如果您觉得这个插件有用,并希望支持其开发,您可以通过以下方式赞助我:微信,支付宝。感谢您的任何支持!

If you find this plugin useful and wish to support its development, you can do so through the following methods: WeChat, Alipay. Any amount of support is appreciated. Thank you!

41%
HealthGood
ReviewRisks
About
Navigate a Zettelkasten with Luhmann-style note IDs (folgezettel) and a keyword index using two custom graph views. Visualize index-based chains of thought and local ID sequences to trace starting points, paths, and ordered relationships beyond link-only graphs.
VisualizationNavigationThinking
Details
Current version
1.1.9
Last updated
5 months ago
Created
4 years ago
Updates
58 releases
Downloads
8k
Compatible with
Obsidian 1.8.5+
License
MIT
Report bugRequest featureReport plugin
Sponsor
Buy Me a Coffee
Support
Author
pkm-erpkm-er
github.com/cumany/obsidian-editing-toolbar
GitHubpkm-er
  1. Community
  2. Plugins
  3. Visualization
  4. zettelkasten navigation

Related plugins

Strange New Worlds

Reveal networked thought and the strange new worlds created by your vault.

Graph Banner

Display a local graph view to the note header

Breadcrumbs

Visualise the hierarchy of your vault using a breadcrumb trail or matrix view.

Map View

An interactive map view for your notes.

Notes Explorer

Explore your notes as cards in gallery or masonry view. A new way to revise your content.

Notebook Navigator

Alternative file browser with folders, tags, properties, shortcuts, previews, keyboard navigation, drag and drop, and pinned notes.

Recent Files

Display a list of recently opened files.

Maps

Adds a map layout to bases so you can display notes as an interactive map view.

Creases

Tools for effectively folding Markdown sections.

Advanced Canvas

Supercharge your canvas experience. Create presentations, flowcharts and more.