Obsidian Map View

Obsidian Map View transforms an Obsidian vault into a personal geographic information system (GIS). Key capabilities include:

• Geolocation in Notes: Store locations in note front matter or as inline links. Supports multiple locations per note.
• Powerful Queries: Use a boolean query language to filter map markers by tags, paths, linked notes, and properties.
• Display Rules: Customize marker icons, badges, colors, and path styles using the same query language used for filtering.
• Paths & Shapes: View and edit paths in GPX, KML, TCX, and GeoJSON formats. Includes an 'Edit Mode' for drawing directly on the map.
• Routing: Calculate driving, cycling, and walking routes via the GraphHopper API or external services.
• Offline Maps: Automatic tile caching and batch-downloading for offline access.
• Obsidian Bases Integration: Enhanced querying and display capabilities.
• Claude Integration: Use CLI commands to allow Claude to research locations and add geolocations/pins directly to your notes.

Transform your vault into a Geographic Information System (GIS) using a three-step workflow:

1. Collection

Gather notes containing geographic data (recommendations, articles, etc.).

2. Processing

Ensure your notes have geographic context:

• For specific places: Use "add geolocation (front matter) to current note" to attach a location to a Zettelkasten-style note. Use metadata tags like #hike, #food, or #activity for filtering.
• For lists of places: Use inline geolocation links within a single note. You can map the "Map View: add inline geolocation link" command to a shortcut (e.g., Alt+L) for faster entry.

3. Querying

Use Map View to discover information based on specific needs:

• Visual Discovery: Browse the map to see what you know about an area.
• Tag Queries: Use boolean logic to find specific combinations, such as #dogs AND #sleep to find dog-friendly camping sites.

When deciding between Map View and Obsidian Leaflet, consider your primary goal: using notes as a geographic database or creating highly specific, controlled visual presentations.

Use Map View if:

• You want to treat your notes as a personal geographic database.
• You need to collect places and query them using complex filters (e.g., color-coding based on tags like #food/*).
• You require built-in, powerful geolocation search tools.
• You want a GUI-driven interface similar to Obsidian's Graph View.
• You need to support multiple locations per note using inline syntax with individual tags.

Use Obsidian Leaflet if:

• You want maximum control over a specific map's visual presentation.
• You are working with non-geographic maps (e.g., TTRPG maps, custom fantasy worlds).
• You prefer a code block-driven approach to map configuration.
• You want to assign icons individually or via global tags rather than query-based rules.

Map View uses a rule-based system to customize the appearance of markers and paths. Rules are applied in a specific order to allow for incremental styling:

1. Default Rule: The system starts with the properties defined in the Default rule (e.g., a blue marker with a circle icon).
2. Sequential Evaluation: The system evaluates each subsequent rule in the order they appear in your settings.
3. Property Overwriting: If a rule's query matches a marker or path, it overwrites only the specific properties defined in that rule. Properties not mentioned in the rule are inherited from the previous state (either the Default rule or a preceding matching rule).

Example: If the Default rule sets a blue marker with a fa-circle icon, and a rule for tag:#food only defines the icon as fa-utensils, the resulting marker will be blue (inherited) with a utensils icon (overridden).

Map View is a community plugin (by esm7) that offers more advanced features compared to the official Obsidian Maps plugin. While both display notes as pins on an interactive map and support the location front matter property, Map View provides several key advantages:

• Multiple Locations: Supports one location via front matter or unlimited inline locations with per-location tags.
• Advanced Path Support: Supports GPX, KML, TCX, and GeoJSON files (both stand-alone and inline).
• Powerful Marker Styling: Uses query-based display rules to set icons, colors, shapes, and badges.
• Rich Feature Set: Includes geocoding (OpenStreetMap/Google Places), routing (GraphHopper API), GPS/current location support (on mobile), and offline usage via automatic caching.
• Flexible Work Mode: Can be used as a stand-alone view or integrated with Obsidian Bases.
• Filtering: Supports both Bases filters and Map View's own query language.