File path to URI (an Obsidian.md plugin)

This plugin lets you convert a local path to a file url link that can be used to link to files or folders that are located outside of your Obsidian vault.

How to use this plugin

Convert written path

1. Select the whole path you want to convert.
2. Use the default hotkey Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + L or press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Toggle selected file path to URI and back.
3. The selected path will toggle between file path and file url.

Convert path from clipboard

1. Copy any path such as C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents or \\network\folder\ to your clipboard
2. Use the default hotkey Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Shift + L or press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri.
3. The converted path will be pasted into the editor (that is either file:///C:/Users/Obsidian/Documents or file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/ in this example)

Convert path from clipboard to link

1. Copy any path such as C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents or \\network\folder\ to your clipboard
2. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri link. There is no default hotkey for this command so if you want to use a keyboard shortcut you can set a custom one in Obsidian settings.
3. The converted path will be pasted into the editor (that is either [C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents](file:///C:/Users/Obsidian/Documents) or [\\\\network\folder\](file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/) in this example)

How to change the hotkey

You can change the hotkey combination in Obsidian settings under Hotkeys. Look for File path to URI: Toggle selected file path to URI and back and File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri.

Transforms

• C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents <-> file:///C://Users//Obsidian//Documents

• \\network\folder\ <-> file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/

• "C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents" -> file:///C://Users//Obsidian//Documents

  Strips the surrounding whitespace and double quotation marks from the selection

Version History

1.0.0 (2021-01-17)

• Initial release

1.1.0 (2021-02-11)

• Add support for network paths and trim whitespace and quotation marks from selection

1.2.0 (2021-04-22)

• Add command to paste converted file path from clipboard as file uri

1.3.0 (2021-07-25)

• Add command to paste converted file path from clipboard as file uri link

Credits

Code and readme inspired by https://github.com/agathauy/wikilinks-to-mdlinks-obsidian