Templates & Blocks
Templates provide structured starting points for notes. Blocks are reusable content components you can insert into any note.
Templates
When you create a note with a structured type (meeting, diary, recipe, etc.), the note body is pre-filled from a template. Templates define sections, headings, and placeholder content.
Built-in Templates
| Template | Sections |
|---|---|
| Meeting Minutes | Metadata header, agenda, discussion, decisions, action items |
| Diary Entry | Date heading, what happened, reflection, next steps |
| Recipe | Recipe info, ingredients, preparation steps, notes |
| Project Note | Project header, goal, milestones, risks |
| Code Snippet | Context, code block, explanation |
| Reference Note | Source info, summary, key points, quotes |
| Todo List | Today, This Week, Later sections |
| Shopping List | Produce, Pantry, Dairy, Other categories |
Template Variables
Templates support variable placeholders that are expanded when a note is created:
| Variable | Expands To |
|---|---|
{{title}} | The note title |
{{date}} | Today's date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
{{datetime}} | Current date and time (RFC 3339) |
{{author}} | Author name |
{{block:slug}} | Inserts the content block with the given slug |
Custom Templates
Create your own templates in Settings > Note Management. A template builder lets you define sections (free-text or block references), add AI hints for each section, and preview the result.
When creating a template, you can ask AI for a proposal from a plain-language description. The proposal is review-only until you apply it to the builder, and the template is not saved until you choose Create Template. Suggested reusable blocks are created only when explicitly selected.
AI proposals can also recommend Linked Item types, such as trips, loadouts, inventory items, tasks, or notes. Add the actual records from the note sidebar after creating a note; the picker searches by name so you do not need record IDs.
Content Blocks
Blocks are reusable content components that can be inserted into any note via the block picker in the editor, or included in templates using the {{block:slug}} syntax.
Structural Blocks
| Block | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Table of Contents | Auto-layout TOC placeholder |
| Metadata Header | Document metadata table (author, date, version) |
| Changelog | Change tracking table |
| Signature Block | Approval signatures table |
| Revision History | Version tracking table |
Content Blocks
| Block | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SWOT Analysis | Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats matrix |
| Pros & Cons | Simple two-column comparison |
| Decision Matrix | Weighted comparison of options |
| Risk Register | Risk tracking and mitigation plan |
| Action Items | Task tracking table with assignee and status |
Custom Blocks
You can create your own blocks in Settings. Each block has a slug (unique identifier), name, category, and markdown body.
Table Blocks
Table blocks are structured, interactive tables stored as JSON within your note. They support typed columns:
| Column Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Text | Plain text input |
| Number | Numeric values (right-aligned) |
| Checkbox | Boolean toggle |
| Date | Date values |
| Select | Dropdown with predefined options |
| URL | Clickable hyperlinks |
Formal Note Collections
Templates can be grouped into collections. A collection is a named category of notes (e.g., "Meeting Minutes Q1 2026") that can have its own default template and note type. Collections appear in the sidebar under the Library section and can also be browsed from /notes/collections.
- Create and edit collections in Settings > Note Management
- Assign a default template so new notes in that collection start with the right structure
- Open a collection to create a new note directly inside it or attach existing notes to it
- Use the notes filter bar to narrow the main library view to a single collection