Simple tasks blocks advanced is a standalone task manager for Obsidian that lives in your sidebar. It offers a unique dual-storage system (local vault or shared JSON file) for seamless cross-vault synchronization, featuring intuitive category blocks, recurring tasks, and full multilingual support.
The core strength of this plugin is its flexibility in how your data is stored:
- Local mode: Tasks are stored within your current vault settings. Perfect for private, vault-specific organization.
- Shared mode (Cross-vault sync): Link the plugin to an external JSON file anywhere on your computer. This allows you to synchronize the same task list across multiple Obsidian vaults in real-time.
- Standalone management: Tasks are stored internally or in a shared file; they never clutter your Markdown notes.
- Categorized and movable blocks: Group your tasks into clean, rounded blocks. Easily reorder them using the vertical drag handle.
- Optional due dates and Advanced recurrence: Set up daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals with the ability to skip occurrences or set end dates.
- Task scratchpad: Each task has its own dedicated note area for detailed information, accessible via a pop-up window.
- Smart sorting & Visual alerts: Tasks are sorted chronologically. Overdue tasks and tasks due today are automatically highlighted.
- Multilingual support: Fully localized in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German.
- Highly customizable:
- Change block colors via a right-click menu.
- Duplicate tasks within a block.
- Configure date formats (DD-MM-YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD).
- Adjust the number of future recurring dates displayed (up to 15).
- Open the Simple tasks blocks view from the ribbon icon (
list-checks). - Choose your mode: Go to the settings icon in the view header to toggle between Local and Shared storage.
- Click + category to create your first block.
- Add tasks and manage their dates or recurrence using the interactive icons if you need.
The Shared Mode allows you to synchronize your tasks across different Obsidian vaults in real-time using a single JSON file.
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Toggle Mode in the Header: Open the plugin in the sidebar. You will find the Local / Shared switch directly in the plugin header (at the top of the view).
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Activate Shared Mode: Click the toggle to switch from Local to Shared.
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Select your JSON file:
- A file selection window will open automatically.
- Choose a location outside your vault if you want to sync with other vaults.
- Name or select your sync file (e.g., tasks-sync.json).
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Connect other vaults: Install the plugin in your other vaults.
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Use the header toggle to switch to Shared Mode and select the exact same tasks-sync.json file.
Real-time Sync: Any change made in one vault will now instantly reflect in all connected vaults.
Since this version of the plugin requires access to the system file system (to allow sharing tasks between different vaults or external folders), it is distributed as a Beta Plugin. It cannot be found on the official Obsidian Community Store due to security sandboxing restrictions.
To install it, please follow these steps:
- Install BRAT: If you haven't already, install the Obsidian 42 - BRAT plugin from the official Community Plugins store.
- Open BRAT settings in Obsidian.
- Click on the Add Beta Plugin button.
- Paste the URL of this repository: https://github.com/Walden73/simple-tasks-blocks-advanced
- Click Add Plugin.
- Enable the Plugin
Check for Updates: BRAT will automatically notify you or update the plugin when a new version is pushed to this repository.
- Download
main.js,manifest.json, andstyles.cssfrom the latest release. - Create a folder named
simple-tasks-blocks-advancedin your vault's.obsidian/plugins/directory. - Move the downloaded files into that folder.
- Reload Obsidian and enable the plugin in the settings.
This project is licensed under the MIT License.