An Obsidian plugin that lets you bulk edit properties on, or delete, multiple files in your vault.
This plugin uses a checkbox property (default: selected) to track which files are selected. Check the box on the files you want to work with, run the command, then update a property across all of them at once or delete them. Works well with Obsidian Bases, where the selection property can be displayed as a checkbox column.
Note: The plugin operates on all files in the vault that have the selection property checked, not just files visible in a particular Base. Make sure to uncheck the selection property on files you don't want to modify.
Before using the command, configure the plugin in Settings → Bulk Properties:
- Selection property — the name of the checkbox property used to mark files as selected (default:
selected). Autocompletes from existing vault properties. - Properties — add the properties you want to be available for bulk editing, specifying the name and type for each. Property names autocomplete from the vault. Supported types: Aliases, Checkbox, Date, Date & time, List, Number, Tags, Text.
- Deselect when finished — the default value for the deselect toggle in the bulk edit dialog (default: on).
- Show selection count in status bar — displays the number of selected files in the status bar (default: on). The count updates automatically as you check or uncheck the selection property. Status bar items are not available on mobile.
- Add the selection property to your notes or Base view.
- Check the box on each file you want to bulk edit.
- Open the bulk edit dialog from the ribbon icon, the Bulk edit selected files command, or the editor right-click menu.
- Review the file checklist — uncheck any files you don't want to modify, or re-check files you do.
- Choose a property from the dropdown, enter the new value, and select Update properties. For multi-value properties (Aliases, List, Tags), choose an action: Merge adds new values to existing ones, Replace overwrites the current values, and Delete removes matching values.
- To delete the checked files instead, select Delete selected files. After a confirmation prompt, the files are deleted following your Settings → Files and links → Deleted files preference — they may be moved to the system trash, moved to an Obsidian
.trashfolder, or permanently deleted, depending on how that preference is configured. - Optionally disable Deselect when finished to keep the files selected after the update.
- Bulk edit selected files — opens the bulk edit dialog showing all files with the selection property checked. Also available from the editor right-click menu.
- Deselect all files — unchecks the selection property on every file in the vault that has it checked.
- Remove selection property from all files — removes the selection property entirely from every file in the vault that has it.
- Editor menu — right-click inside an editor to open the bulk edit dialog.
- File menu — right-click a markdown file in the file explorer or a Base view to toggle its selection. The menu item reads Select for bulk edit or Deselect for bulk edit based on the file's current state.
Note
These instructions are for installing and testing the plugin before it is available in the Obsidian Community Plugins list.
Recommended approach is to use the BRAT plugin (available as a Community Plugin) and point it at this repository.
For a fully-manual installation, copy main.js, styles.css, and manifest.json to your vault at .obsidian/plugins/bulk-properties/.
