katalorg

Note that this tool has been superceded by NoteExplorer. It still works, but won't be maintained by me.

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Python library/script that help with catalogueing and organizing your Zettelkasten-like pile of notes with [[wiki-style]] links between them.

Collecting backlinks

By running the script xyz.py and pointing it at your pile of notes, all wiki-style links will be collected, and each note will get a list of backlinks at the end:

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**Links to this note**

- [[20201020093536]] Some random thoughts
- [[20201020113715]] The meaning of life, the universe, and everything

These lists will update every time the script is run. Do not write anything after them, as that will be removed.

(Why is this not a section with its own heading? Syntactically, it probably should be, but I prefer my backlinks a bit less intrusive.)

Linking notes

Notes can be linked by using either

1. the target note's file name without the extension: [[Some random thoughts]], or
2. the target note's (Zettelkasten) id: [[20201020093536]]

The idea of using an id (pun intended) comes from the Zettelkasten principles, and Zettlr specifically.

The script defaults to the same id format as Zettlr, which is 14 digits (a timestamp).

A note is given an id by including it in either the note text (anywhere), or the filename.

The note's title (in the backlink list) is either the first level-1 Markdown heading (#) or the filename (after the id).

Inspiration and related projects

• Andy Matuschak's note-link-janitor does about the same thing, but probably not exactly the same. I haven't tried it.
• Foam gives you backlinks and a graph inside Visual Studio Code.
• Obsidian has this stuff built into the application itself. (But make sure you read the license if you don't want to pay for it.)