# Introducing Send to Canvas [![GitHub release (Latest by date)](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/wenlzhang/obsidian-send-to-canvas)](https://github.com/wenlzhang/obsidian-send-to-canvas/releases) ![GitHub all releases](https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/wenlzhang/obsidian-send-to-canvas/total?color=success) An [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) plugin that allows you to send tasks, blocks, and notes to Canvas files as plain text, links, and embeds. ![[Send-to-Canvas-Demo.gif]] ## Features - **Multiple content formats**: - Send text as plain text - Send text as block links - Send text as block embeds - Send entire notes as note links - Send entire notes as note embeds - **Open task customization**: - Append custom text to open tasks (lines starting with "- [ ]") - Preserve original task formatting - **Block ID customization**: - Use date-based or random block IDs - Customize block ID format using MomentJS tokens - **Timestamp tracking**: - Append timestamps to links and embeds - Customize timestamp format - **Canvas node customization**: - Set custom sizes for different node types (links, content, notes) - Consistent sizing between block embeds and text content - **User experience**: - Remember last selected canvas file - Status bar indicator selecting and showing target canvas - Customizable startup delay for large vaults - **Smart text selection**: Automatically uses the entire line when no text is selected ## Videos and Articles ### Videos <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/09PXwqUVm_U?si=t_2Ksd7mooIhPMUM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Commands - **Send block text**: Send the selected text (or current line) to canvas as plain text - **Send block link**: Send the selected text (or current line) to canvas as a block link - **Send block embed**: Send the selected text (or current line) to canvas as a block embed - **Send note link**: Send the current note to canvas as a note link - **Send note embed**: Send the current note to canvas as a note embed ## Usage ### Getting Started 1. Install the plugin from the Obsidian Community Plugins browser 2. Enable the plugin in Obsidian settings 3. Open a canvas file that you want to send content to 4. Use the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd+P) to select "Send to Canvas: Select Canvas File" 5. Choose your canvas file from the dropdown ### Sending Content to Canvas 1. Select text in a note or place your cursor on a line (no selection needed) 2. Open the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd+P) 3. Choose one of the "Send to Canvas" commands: - "Send block text" for plain text - "Send block link" for a link to the block - "Send block embed" to embed the block - "Send note link" for a link to the current note - "Send note embed" to embed the current note 4. The content will be added to your selected canvas file ### Context Menu Right-click in the editor to access the "Send to canvas" context menu option. This provides a convenient way to send content to canvas without using commands or keyboard shortcuts: 1. Right-click anywhere in your note 2. Select "Send to canvas" from the context menu 3. Choose from the available options that appear near your cursor: - Send as plain text - Send as block link - Send as block embed - Send note link - Send note embed If no text is selected when you use the context menu, the plugin will automatically use the entire line where your cursor is positioned. ## Settings ### Canvas Selection - **Default send format**: Choose the default format (plain text, block link, or block embed) when sending content to canvas - **Remember last canvas**: Automatically select the last used canvas file when Obsidian restarts ### Block ID Format You can customize the format of block IDs using MomentJS formatting tokens. Here are some examples: - `YYYYMMDDHHmmss` → 20250308120000 (basic timestamp) - `YYYY-MM-DDTHH-mm-ss` → 2025-03-08T12-00-00 (with date separators) - `YYMMDD-HHmm` → 250308-1200 (shorter format) - `YYYYMMDDHHmmssSSS` → 20250308120000123 (with milliseconds) ### Open Task Customization You can append custom text to open tasks (lines starting with "- [ ]") when sending them to Canvas. This is useful for adding tags, metadata, or other information to tasks. Example: - Original: `- [ ] Task description` - Modified: `- [ ] Task description [l:: #Canvas ]` ### Timestamp Format When appending timestamps to links, you can customize the format using MomentJS formatting tokens. Here are some examples: - `[📝 ]YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm` → 📝 2025-03-08T08:07 (with emoji) - `[(]YYYY-MM-DD[)]` → (2025-03-08) (with parentheses) - `[Added: ]HH:mm` → Added: 08:07 (with text prefix) - `[on ]dddd[, ]MMMM Do` → on Saturday, March 8th (with day name) ### Canvas Node Sizes You can customize the dimensions of nodes created in canvas files: - **Link nodes**: For note links and block links (default: 400×100) - **Content nodes**: For block embeds and plain text (default: 400×200) - **File nodes**: For note content (default: 400×400) ### Canvas File Loading The plugin needs time to find canvas files after Obsidian starts. If you have a large vault or if the plugin has trouble finding your canvas files after restart, you can increase the startup delay. ## Installation ### Obsidian Community Plugin Store 1. Open Obsidian Settings 2. Go to Community Plugins and disable Safe Mode 3. Click Browse and search for "Send to Canvas" 4. Install the plugin and enable it ### Manual Installation 1. Download the latest release from the [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/wenlzhang/obsidian-send-to-canvas/releases) 2. Extract the files to your Obsidian plugins folder: `.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-send-to-canvas/` 3. Reload Obsidian 4. Enable the plugin in Obsidian settings ## Supporting If you find this plugin useful, please consider [[Support Us]].