Default Base Templates

TaskNotes automatically generates Bases files for its built-in views when you first open them. These templates are configured based on your TaskNotes settings, including custom property names, statuses, and task identification methods.

This page shows the default templates as they would appear with TaskNotes' default settings. The actual templates generated in your vault may differ if you've customized your settings. This page documents generated defaults. It is reference material for understanding and editing .base files already created in your vault.

Default settings assumptions

The examples below assume:

• Task identification: Tag-based using #task
• Field mapping: Default property names (e.g., status, due, scheduled, projects, contexts)
• Statuses: none, open, in-progress, done (only done is completed)
• Priorities: none, low, normal, high (sorted by weight)
• Visible properties: status, priority, due, scheduled, projects, contexts, tags, blocked, blocking

Included formulas

All templates include the following calculated formula properties that you can use in views, filters, and sorting. The formula set is broad so views can reuse shared computed properties without custom plugin code.

Date calculations

Boolean formulas

Time tracking

Grouping formulas

These formulas return string values useful for grouping tasks in views:

Combined due/scheduled formulas

These formulas work with either due date or scheduled date, useful for finding the "next action date":

Sorting

Display formulas

Mini Calendar

Used by the Mini Calendar command to display tasks on a calendar grid. YAML examples in this document are complete snapshots. In custom files, targeted edits (for example dateProperty, sort, or a filter clause) are easier to compare and troubleshoot.

# Mini Calendar
# Generated with your TaskNotes settings

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  # Sorting
  priorityWeight: 'if(priority=="none",0,if(priority=="low",1,if(priority=="normal",2,if(priority=="high",3,999))))'
  urgencyScore: 'if(!due, formula.priorityWeight, formula.priorityWeight + max(0, 10 - formula.daysUntilDue))'
  # Date calculations
  daysUntilDue: 'if(due, ((number(date(due)) - number(today())) / 86400000).floor(), null)'
  daysUntilScheduled: 'if(scheduled, ((number(date(scheduled)) - number(today())) / 86400000).floor(), null)'
  daysSinceCreated: '((number(now()) - number(file.ctime)) / 86400000).floor()'
  daysSinceModified: '((number(now()) - number(file.mtime)) / 86400000).floor()'
  # Booleans
  isOverdue: 'due && date(due) < today() && status != "done"'
  isDueToday: 'due && date(due).date() == today()'
  isDueThisWeek: 'due && date(due) >= today() && date(due) <= today() + "7d"'
  isScheduledToday: 'scheduled && date(scheduled).date() == today()'
  isRecurring: 'recurrence && !recurrence.isEmpty()'
  hasTimeEstimate: 'timeEstimate && timeEstimate > 0'
  # Time tracking
  timeRemaining: 'if(timeEstimate && timeEstimate > 0, timeEstimate - if(timeEntries, list(timeEntries).filter(value.endTime).map((number(date(value.endTime)) - number(date(value.startTime))) / 60000).reduce(acc + value, 0), 0), null)'
  efficiencyRatio: 'if(timeEstimate && timeEstimate > 0 && timeEntries, (list(timeEntries).filter(value.endTime).map((number(date(value.endTime)) - number(date(value.startTime))) / 60000).reduce(acc + value, 0) / timeEstimate * 100).round(), null)'
  timeTrackedThisWeek: 'if(timeEntries, list(timeEntries).filter(value.endTime && date(value.startTime) >= today() - "7d").map((number(date(value.endTime)) - number(date(value.startTime))) / 60000).reduce(acc + value, 0).round(), 0)'
  timeTrackedToday: 'if(timeEntries, list(timeEntries).filter(value.endTime && date(value.startTime).date() == today()).map((number(date(value.endTime)) - number(date(value.startTime))) / 60000).reduce(acc + value, 0).round(), 0)'
  timeTrackedFormatted: '...'  # Formats total tracked time as "Xh Ym"
  # Grouping
  dueMonth: 'if(due, date(due).format("YYYY-MM"), "No due date")'
  dueWeek: 'if(due, date(due).format("YYYY-[W]WW"), "No due date")'
  scheduledMonth: 'if(scheduled, date(scheduled).format("YYYY-MM"), "Not scheduled")'
  scheduledWeek: 'if(scheduled, date(scheduled).format("YYYY-[W]WW"), "Not scheduled")'
  dueDateCategory: 'if(!due, "No due date", if(date(due) < today(), "Overdue", if(date(due).date() == today(), "Today", if(date(due).date() == today() + "1d", "Tomorrow", if(date(due) <= today() + "7d", "This week", "Later")))))'
  dueDateDisplay: '...'  # Shows "Today", "Tomorrow", "3d ago", "Mon", "Dec 15"
  timeEstimateCategory: 'if(!timeEstimate || timeEstimate == 0 || timeEstimate == null, "No estimate", if(timeEstimate < 30, "Quick (<30m)", if(timeEstimate <= 120, "Medium (30m-2h)", "Long (>2h)")))'
  ageCategory: 'if(((number(now()) - number(file.ctime)) / 86400000) < 1, "Today", if(((number(now()) - number(file.ctime)) / 86400000) < 7, "This week", if(((number(now()) - number(file.ctime)) / 86400000) < 30, "This month", "Older")))'
  createdMonth: 'file.ctime.format("YYYY-MM")'
  modifiedMonth: 'file.mtime.format("YYYY-MM")'
  priorityCategory: 'if(priority=="high","High",if(priority=="normal","Normal",if(priority=="low","Low","No priority")))'
  projectCount: 'if(!projects || list(projects).length == 0, "No projects", if(list(projects).length == 1, "Single project", "Multiple projects"))'
  contextCount: 'if(!contexts || list(contexts).length == 0, "No contexts", if(list(contexts).length == 1, "Single context", "Multiple contexts"))'
  trackingStatus: 'if(!timeEstimate || timeEstimate == 0 || timeEstimate == null, "No estimate", if(!timeEntries || list(timeEntries).length == 0, "Not started", if(formula.efficiencyRatio < 100, "Under estimate", "Over estimate")))'
  # Combined due/scheduled
  nextDate: 'if(due && scheduled, if(date(due) < date(scheduled), due, scheduled), if(due, due, scheduled))'
  daysUntilNext: 'if(due && scheduled, min(formula.daysUntilDue, formula.daysUntilScheduled), if(due, formula.daysUntilDue, formula.daysUntilScheduled))'
  hasDate: 'due || scheduled'
  isToday: '(due && date(due).date() == today()) || (scheduled && date(scheduled).date() == today())'
  isThisWeek: '(due && date(due) >= today() && date(due) <= today() + "7d") || (scheduled && date(scheduled) >= today() && date(scheduled) <= today() + "7d")'
  nextDateCategory: '...'  # "Overdue/Past", "Today", "Tomorrow", "This week", "Later", "No date"
  nextDateMonth: '...'  # YYYY-MM format for next date
  nextDateWeek: '...'  # YYYY-[W]WW format for next date

views:
  - type: tasknotesMiniCalendar
    name: "Due"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - property: due
        direction: ASC
    dateProperty: due
  - type: tasknotesMiniCalendar
    name: "Scheduled"
    order: []
    dateProperty: scheduled
  - type: tasknotesMiniCalendar
    name: "Created"
    dateProperty: file.ctime
  - type: tasknotesMiniCalendar
    name: "Modified"
    dateProperty: file.mtime

Kanban Board

Used by the Kanban command to display tasks organized by status.

# Kanban Board

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  # ... same formulas as Mini Calendar above ...

views:
  - type: tasknotesKanban
    name: "Kanban Board"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC
    options:
      columnWidth: 280
      hideEmptyColumns: false

Tasks List

Used by the Tasks command to display filtered task views.

This template includes multiple views: All Tasks, Not Blocked, Today, Overdue, This Week, and Unscheduled. Each view (except All Tasks) filters for incomplete tasks, handling both recurring and non-recurring tasks. The "Not Blocked" view additionally filters for tasks that are ready to work on (no incomplete blocking dependencies). The default views cover common review horizons and can be kept, removed, or cloned with modified filters.

# All Tasks

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  # ... same formulas as Mini Calendar above ...

views:
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "All Tasks"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: due
        direction: ASC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Not Blocked"
    filters:
      and:
        # Incomplete tasks
        - or:
          # Non-recurring task that's not in any completed status
          - and:
            - recurrence.isEmpty()
            - status != "done"
          # Recurring task where today is not in complete_instances
          - and:
            - recurrence
            - "!complete_instances.contains(today().format(\"yyyy-MM-dd\"))"
        # Not blocked by any incomplete tasks
        - or:
          # No blocking dependencies at all
          - blockedBy.isEmpty()
          # All blocking tasks are completed (filter returns only incomplete, then check if empty)
          - 'list(blockedBy).filter(file(value.uid).properties.status != "done").isEmpty()'
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: formula.urgencyScore
        direction: DESC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Today"
    filters:
      and:
        # Incomplete tasks (handles both recurring and non-recurring)
        - or:
          # Non-recurring task that's not in any completed status
          - and:
            - recurrence.isEmpty()
            - status != "done"
          # Recurring task where today is not in complete_instances
          - and:
            - recurrence
            - "!complete_instances.contains(today().format(\"yyyy-MM-dd\"))"
        # Due or scheduled today
        - or:
          - date(due) == today()
          - date(scheduled) == today()
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: formula.urgencyScore
        direction: DESC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Overdue"
    filters:
      and:
        # Incomplete tasks
        - or:
          # Non-recurring task that's not in any completed status
          - and:
            - recurrence.isEmpty()
            - status != "done"
          # Recurring task where today is not in complete_instances
          - and:
            - recurrence
            - "!complete_instances.contains(today().format(\"yyyy-MM-dd\"))"
        # Due in the past
        - date(due) < today()
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: formula.urgencyScore
        direction: DESC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "This Week"
    filters:
      and:
        # Incomplete tasks
        - or:
          # Non-recurring task that's not in any completed status
          - and:
            - recurrence.isEmpty()
            - status != "done"
          # Recurring task where today is not in complete_instances
          - and:
            - recurrence
            - "!complete_instances.contains(today().format(\"yyyy-MM-dd\"))"
        # Due or scheduled this week
        - or:
          - and:
            - date(due) >= today()
            - date(due) <= today() + "7 days"
          - and:
            - date(scheduled) >= today()
            - date(scheduled) <= today() + "7 days"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: formula.urgencyScore
        direction: DESC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Unscheduled"
    filters:
      and:
        # Incomplete tasks
        - or:
          # Non-recurring task that's not in any completed status
          - and:
            - recurrence.isEmpty()
            - status != "done"
          # Recurring task where today is not in complete_instances
          - and:
            - recurrence
            - "!complete_instances.contains(today().format(\"yyyy-MM-dd\"))"
        # No due date and no scheduled date
        - date(due).isEmpty()
        - date(scheduled).isEmpty()
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    sort:
      - column: status
        direction: ASC

Calendar

Used by the Calendar command to display tasks in a full calendar view with time slots.

# Calendar

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  # ... same formulas as Mini Calendar above ...

views:
  - type: tasknotesCalendar
    name: "Calendar"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    options:
      showScheduled: true
      showDue: true
      showRecurring: true
      showTimeEntries: true
      showTimeblocks: true
      showPropertyBasedEvents: true
      calendarView: "timeGridWeek"
      customDayCount: 3
      firstDay: 0
      slotMinTime: "06:00:00"
      slotMaxTime: "22:00:00"
      slotDuration: "00:30:00"

Agenda

Used by the Agenda command to display tasks in a list-based agenda view.

Note: Property-based events are disabled by default to avoid duplicate entries when tasks already have due/scheduled dates.

# Agenda

filters:
  and:
    - file.hasTag("task")

formulas:
  # ... same formulas as Mini Calendar above ...

views:
  - type: tasknotesCalendar
    name: "Agenda"
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    options:
      showPropertyBasedEvents: false
    calendarView: "listWeek"
    startDateProperty: file.ctime
    listDayCount: 7
    titleProperty: file.basename

Relationships

Used by the Relationships widget to display task relationships (subtasks, projects, blocked by, blocking).

This template uses the special this object to reference the current file's properties, enabling dynamic relationship queries.

Note: Unlike other templates, this one does not have a top-level task filter. Each view applies filters as appropriate:

• Subtasks, Blocked By, Blocking: Include the task filter (these views show tasks)
• Projects: No task filter (project files can be any file type, not just tasks) When debugging empty relationship tabs, check tab-specific filters first, then verify property values on linked notes.

# Relationships
# This view shows all relationships for the current file
# Dynamically shows/hides tabs based on available data

formulas:
  # ... same formulas as Mini Calendar above ...

views:
  - type: tasknotesKanban
    name: "Subtasks"
    filters:
      and:
        - file.hasTag("task")
        - note.projects.contains(this.file.asLink())
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Projects"
    filters:
      and:
        - list(this.projects).contains(file.asLink())
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
  - type: tasknotesTaskList
    name: "Blocked By"
    filters:
      and:
        - file.hasTag("task")
        - list(this.note.blockedBy).map(value.uid).contains(file.asLink())
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
  - type: tasknotesKanban
    name: "Blocking"
    filters:
      and:
        - file.hasTag("task")
        - list(note.blockedBy).map(value.uid).contains(this.file.asLink())
    order:
      - status
      - priority
      - due
      - scheduled
      - projects
      - contexts
      - tags
      - blockedBy
      - file.name
      - recurrence
      - complete_instances
      - file.tasks
    groupBy:
      property: status
      direction: ASC

Customization

If you've customized your TaskNotes settings (e.g., renamed properties, added custom statuses, or changed task identification methods), the generated templates will reflect those changes:

• Custom property names: If you've renamed due to deadline, the templates will use deadline
• Custom statuses: The incomplete task filters will check against all your configured completed statuses
• Custom priorities: The priorityWeight formula will include all your configured priorities with their weights
• Property-based identification: If you identify tasks by a property instead of a tag, the filters will use that property
• Custom visible properties: The order arrays will include your configured visible properties
• Essential card properties: file.name, recurrence, complete_instances, and file.tasks are always included in generated order arrays for TaskNotes card rendering After major settings changes, regenerate default files and diff against customized versions to merge template updates.

Related

• Bases syntax - Complete syntax reference
• Functions - Available functions for filters and formulas
• Views - Information about view types and configuration