my one big text file (OBTF)

July 14, 2026 — version 2 (I translated version 1 into English using Deepl and updated it after Ellane W. linked to this post on her blog 🙏)

On this page you will find:

For the what and why of an OBTF, please see other websites:

How I use my OBTF

I discovered the existence of the OBTF phenomenon on July 1, 2025.

Since that day, I put everything I record (and that’s a lot) into my OBTF

I only save photos and files like PDF letters from companies as-is.

And I convert everything else to plain text and paste it into my OBTF.

I’ve tried all kinds of organizational systems, but I’ve never experienced such peace of mind, gotten such accurate search results, or managed to generate such handy overviews as I do with my OBTF.

I create one file per year

Both OBTF 2025 and OBTF 2026 contain thousands of lines.

I keep my OBTF in Obsidian

Althought any other .txt or .md editor would work too.

But Obsidian offers some clever search features, as I will explain later.

The main structure is as follows:

  • Top section — which I will explain later.
  • Items — I add new items to the top of the file.

The first line of each item has a fixed structure

This serves searching and selecting.

It is structured as follows:

# [date] [type of information] [title] [tag(s)]

There are two types of items:

And a third type, which displays a selection of existing items: collections.

# [date] is the same for every item type

I start every new item with a # — I do this for two reasons:

  • Because I create a new OBTF file every year, it isn’t necessary to put the year before the date — the year is in the title of the file, for example OBTF2026.

    If I ever want to change that, I can do so relatively easily by searching the OBTF2026 file for “# jul” and replacing it with, for example, “26jul”.

  • I use Obsidian with the Minimal theme, and within that I have level 1 headings displayed as default font and font size, just in another color.

    That way, I stay close to the plain-text feel, but I can still collapse all these level 1 headings (Markdown) in one go.

    That’s rarely necessary — I only do it when I know I’ve typed something a few entries back that I want to find quickly.

I type the date as: jul14tu

I find this format (month, date, day of the week) visually appealing and easy to read, but you might just as well opt for 2026-07-14 or something else.

At the start of the day, I type # [date] [space] and copy that line several times in advance.

[type of information], [title] and [tag(s)] vary depending on the type of note or task

I’ll explain both of these below.

Notes

I keep notes to record what I’ve done, what has happened, what I want to remember, what I want to be able to find again.

[types of information] and [title]

I’ve noticed that everything I want to record can be divided into three types of information:

  • #H (clickable in Obsidian) => A history / log of everything that happens in my life and to the people and things around me.

    In other words, the ‘history of my life’.

    (In Obsidian, words preceded by # are displayed as clickable tags — visually, this is clearer than the examples on this page.)

    Such as:

    – #H Spaghetti
    – #H Cleaned bathroom
    – #H ==Walk in the woods==
    – #H ==J. visiting here==
    – #H Book finished: [title] – [author]
    – #H Headache

    I use Markdown symbols == to highlight special events.
  • #N => Notes on things that are going on and that I want to be able to look up later, but which do not form part of the ‘history of my life’.

    (Please note: I am using the word ‘note’ on this page both to refer to a category within my OBTF and to a type of information within the ‘note’ category.)

    Such as:

    – #N Phone call with company N.
    – #N Message from P.
    – #N @website change log
  • #R => Articles I’ve read, books I’ve read, podcasts I’ve listened to.

    Such as:

    – #R Fascinating episode of podcast X.
    – #R Interesting article about z: [main point]

[tag(s)]

# plus three letters, representing the main categories and, where applicable, sub-categories of my life (clickable in Obsidian).

It’s a matter of once sitting down and giving it some proper thought — these tags need to be so logical that they feel completely natural, so that you hardly have to think about them in everyday use.

Such as:

  • #fam => family
  • #fri => friends
  • #hbl => house and belongings
  • #adm => administration

Please note: all of the above was about the first line of each note item in my OBTF

Below that first line, anything goes — as long as it’s in plain text!

It may be that just the first line is enough.

Sometimes I want to add just a few sentences of a link — sometimes I want to copy and paste a whole article into it.

The length doesn’t matter, because scrolling doesn’t have sense in such a big file.

I get an overview of what happenend in my life by clicking on (in Obsidian) #H, or by searching for tag:#H.

Or if I just want to see the special events: search for “#H ==”.

Or everything what I wrote down on my family: click on #fam.

Or combinations of these (see the Obsidian manual).

Examples:

# jul13mo #N Phone call with company N.

- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
- Proin tortor purus platea sit eu id nisi litora libero.
- Neque vulputate consequat ac amet augue blandit maximus aliquet congue.

Tasks and projects

Tasks are things I want to do or have to do.

[type of information] and [title]

The information type for each task is [ ].

(Instead of #H / #N / #R for notes.)

This is followed by the task (title) itself, such as: select new books.

[tag]

Task tags show when I want to do someting.

I use the following tags:

(Please note that some of these change depending on the time of the year.)

  • #t=> tasks for today
  • #wk28 => unfinished tasks from last week
  • #wk29 => tasks for this week
  • #june => unfinished tasks from last month
  • #july => tasks for this month
  • #yr => tasks for this year
  • #lr => tasks for after this year (later)
  • #ml => maybe later

Examples

# jul13mo [ ] @website Add new photo's #july

# jul13mo [ ] Make pizza dough #v

# jul12su [ ] Order groceries — check: #wk29 #v
- [ ] Milk
- [ ] Bread

# jul12su [ ] Take screenshot of error message #wk29

# jun09tu [ ] NOV Cancel subscription to newspaper #yr

# may20we [ ] Renew museum card #aug

These ‘when’ tags also appear at the top section of the file

Which is:

#wk28 #wk29 #june #july #prb #prp #yr #lr #ml #coll

```query
"#t"
```

In Obsidian these are clickable tags — when I click on #wk29, all the tasks I want to do in week 29 appear on the left-hand side.

Below this first line, a list appears of tasks for today.

This is done using an embedded query: any task to which I have added #t (today) is displayed here.

(With thanks to Ellane W.)

A task can stand on its own, but it can also be attached to a note

Such as:

# jul06mo #N @projectX Invoice sent #biz #adm [ ] #july 20/7 ? Invoice paid

‘@website’ and ‘@projectX’, which I mentioned in the examples, are project names — included in a note or a task.

I record a new project in the form of a note

# jun09tu #H #prb @projectX Commissioned drawing #biz #adm

```query
"@projectX"
```

The only difference between the first line of a project and the first line of a normal note is that I add ‘#prb’ (business project) or ‘#prp’ (private project) after the #H.

The embedded query shows any note or task that starts with ‘@projectX’.

I get an overview of all current projects by clicking on #prb or #prp in the top section

It appears on the left-hand side in Obsidian — then it’s easy to click through to a specific project.

I list all the tasks I can foresee for a project above the line for the new project, in reverse chronological order

But I can also add them later as individual tasks.

Examples

# jun09tu [ ] @projectX 20/7 ? Invoice paid

# jun09tu [ ] @project X Send invoice

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Send drawing

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X ? Drawing approved

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Process photos

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Make photos #wk29

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Make drawing #wk29

I usually only add the ‘when’ tags once I’ve completed the previous task in a project.

I mark completed tasks and projects as follows:

  • #x => Task completed (but I usually delete a completed task because, if it’s worth remembering, I make a new note of it)
  • #/ => A task I no longer want to do (or delete it)
  • #xprb => Completed business project
  • #xprp => Completed private project

Collections

Collections are a way to generate lists of specific notes, tasks or projects

For example books I’ve read, books I want to read, gift ideas, ideas for days out, recipes I want to try out, things I want to buy.

I jot them down at the top of my OBTF as soon as they spring to mind, in the form of notes

But I’ also like to be able to see to see them listed together, as a collection.

One way to do that is by using the search function — all the relevant items will then appear in a list on the left-hand side.

But it can also be done via embedded queries

At the bottom of my OBTF — in the form of notes dated January 1, to ensure consistency.

The advantages of this are:

  • By clicking on #coll in the top section, I get an overview on the left-hand side of which collections I have or wish to consult regularly — from there, I can then click through to the collection I want.
  • I don’t have to type the whole search term every time.
  • It’s easy to copy and paste the contents of an embedded query — for example if I want to send someone else a list of books I’ve read.

Example

# jan01th #N #coll Finished books #bkn

```query
"finished book"
```

In Obsidian, a list appears of all the (first lines of) notes in which I’ve noted that I’ve finished a book.

It is, however, important to phrase such (first lines of) notes in the same way

For example, ‘finished book’, ‘book idea’, ‘try out recipe’.

It’s possible to view projects (#prb and #prp) via collections

However, I prefer clicking directly on #prb and #prp in the top section.

Firstly, because I want to view them much more often than I view collections.

Secondly, because when I click on #prb or #prp at the top, I see an overview of all current projects on the left — and from there I can click on a specific project so that the embedded query for everything related to that project appears in the main section.

If you try out the example yourself, this will become clear.

Example

Here’s an example that you can copy and paste into (a separate vault in) Obsidian.

That way, you can ‘play around’ with my method.

(Don’t be put off by the large level 1 headings: if you’re using the Minimal theme, you can make the level 1 headings as small as you like).

#wk28 #wk29 #june #july #prb #prp #yr #lr #ml #coll

```query
"#t"
```


# jul14tu #H @obtf-post Updated page #org

# jul14tu #N @projectX Sent invoice #biz #adm [ ] ? 28/7 Invoice paid 

# jul14tu [ ] Do laundry #t

# jul14tu [ ] Fold laundry #t

# jul14tu [ ] Clean toilets #t

# jul13mo #H Spaghetti #edr

# jul13mo #H Phone call with N #fri

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ullamcorper laoreet pharetra praesent in libero rhoncus habitasse torquent quisque. 

# jul13mo [ ] ? Received new museum card

# jul13mo #N Book idea: [title] - [author] #bks 

# jul13mo [ ] Find out how this or that works #yr

# jul13mo [ ] NOV Cancel subscription to newspaper #yr

# jul13mo [ ] Buy at the chemist’s: #wk29
- [ ] Shampoo
- [ ] Tooth paste

# jul13mo [ ] @projectX Send invoice #july

# jul12su [ ] Order groceries — check: #wk29 #t
- [ ] Milk
- [ ] Bread

# jul12su #H Spaghetti #edr

# jul12su #H ==Walk in the woods== #out 

# jul12su #H Finished book: [title] - [author] #bks

https://...

# jul11sa [ ] Ask F. about health #july

# jul11sa #N Update health F. #fam

- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit
- Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat
- In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis

# jul11sa #H ==Visit to F.== #fam

# jun09tu [ ] @projectX 20/7 ? Invoice paid

# jun09tu [ ] @project X Send invoice

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Send drawing

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X ? Drawing approved

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Process photos

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Make photos #wk29

# jun09tu [ ] @project-X Make drawing #wk29

# jun09tu #H #prb @projectX Commissioned drawing #biz #adm

```query
"@projectX"
```
# jun08mo #H Panzanella salad #edr

# jun08mo [ ] @website Check example K. #yr

https://...

# jun08mo #R Fascinating episode podcast X [ ] listen again #ml

https://...

# jun08mo #H Sweet message from G. #fri 

>  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ullamcorper laoreet pharetra praesent in libero rhoncus habitasse torquent quisque. Semper arcu interdum venenatis habitasse pellentesque ac. Suscipit dui dolor nunc suscipit ac massa augue accumsan per. Himenaeos cubilia ornare quis leo egestas amet inceptos dui fames magna mauris nisi quis eget. Purus enim venenatis pharetra vitae elementum inceptos molestie.

# jun07su #H Finished book: [title] - [author] #bks

https://...

# may21th [ ] @website Sort Schotland drawings #biz #mrk

# may21th #H Cleaned bathroom #hbl  

# may20we #H Headache #hlt

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis.

# may10tu #N @website Drawn up inventory of x, y and z #biz #mrk 

# may10tu #N Recipe panzanella salad #edr 

*Nodig voor 3 personen:*
- 1 ciabatta of 3/4 stokbrood
- 6 tomaten
- 4 bosuitjes
- 1 citroen (wel echt vers doen)
- 1 gele paprika
- 30 gram peterselie
- 4 el olijfolie extra vierge
- 2 eetrijpe avocado's (wel echt vers doen, niet uit diepvries)

Brood evt afbakken (niet te hard). Tomaten, uitjes, paprika in stukjes snijden, peterselie hakken. Brood in stukken scheuren en alles door elkaar roeren.

Citroen persen en sap kloppen met olie en peper en zout. Door het groente-brood mengsel roeren. Avocado schillen en in stukjes snijden en ook door het mengsel.

Lekkerder dan verwacht en voor herhaling vatbaar!

Bron: https://www.ah.nl/allerhande/recept/R-R487626/panzanellasalade

# may10tu [ ] @website edit headings #biz #mrk 

# apr13mo #n #prb @website changes #biz #mrk 

```query
"@website"
```
# apr12su [ ] To exhibition Fiep Westendorp #aug

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/zien-en-doen/tentoonstellingen/fiep-westendorp

# apr12su #R Interesting article about z: lorem ipsum #mts 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ullamcorper laoreet pharetra praesent in libero rhoncus habitasse torquent quisque. Semper arcu interdum venenatis habitasse pellentesque ac. Suscipit dui dolor nunc suscipit ac massa augue accumsan per. Himenaeos cubilia ornare quis leo egestas amet inceptos dui fames magna mauris nisi quis eget. Purus enim venenatis pharetra vitae elementum inceptos molestie.

Nulla purus commodo phasellus torquent hac ornare vel suscipit habitasse phasellus viverra finibus iaculis. Nullam sociosqu sed ultrices enim cras eu dolor. Tempor conubia mattis nibh ultricies senectus eros nunc. Fusce id eleifend neque aptent praesent amet facilisis et id.

Eget vel nisi rhoncus ligula at pellentesque vestibulum habitant dapibus vulputate netus sapien est. Iaculis malesuada tristique ultricies primis eleifend porta habitant ad nibh fusce ultrices.

Dolor eget vestibulum cubilia proin tempor vitae nulla vel. Donec habitasse dictum vivamus non ex. Venenatis bibendum ultrices volutpat porttitor curae rhoncus odio a risus. Ac egestas nullam porttitor leo curae ante dui congue maecenas amet metus laoreet.

Vitae quis viverra quisque sed orci tempus. Nisi velit lacinia nostra habitant sociosqu vel aliquam sem urna.

https://...

# apr11sa #H ==J. visiting here== #fri

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis.

# apr11sa #N Book idea: [title] - [author] #bks 

---

# jan01th #N #coll Finished books #bks 

```query
"finished book"
```


# jan01th #N #coll Book ideas #bks 

```query
"book idea"
```

I hope I’ve managed to give you a good idea of how I use my OBTF

If you have any questions or comments, please do let me know: