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Obsidian Dataview File.size

5 min read Oct 08, 2024
Obsidian Dataview File.size

Unlocking File Size Insights with Obsidian Dataview

Obsidian's Dataview plugin is a powerful tool for manipulating and visualizing your notes. It offers a wide range of functionalities, including the ability to work with file sizes. But how can you harness this power to get meaningful insights into your file sizes?

Let's explore the possibilities of file.size within Obsidian Dataview.

Understanding file.size

The file.size function allows you to retrieve the size of a specific file within your vault. It returns the size in bytes.

For example:

TABLE file.size AS Size, file.ctime AS Created 
FROM "My Documents" 
WHERE file.name CONTAINS "report"

This query displays a table with the size and creation time of all files in the "My Documents" folder that contain "report" in their name.

Using file.size for Analysis and Insights

1. Identifying Large Files:

You can easily identify large files within your vault using file.size.

Example:

TABLE file.size AS Size, file.name AS Name 
FROM "My Documents" 
WHERE file.size > 1000000

This query will list files in the "My Documents" folder with a size larger than 1 MB (1,000,000 bytes).

2. Tracking File Size Growth:

Over time, your notes might become more complex and therefore larger. You can track file size changes using file.size and the file.ctime function.

Example:

TABLE file.size AS "Current Size", file.ctime AS Created, file.mtime AS Modified
FROM "My Documents" 
WHERE file.name = "My Big Note"

This query shows the current size, creation time, and modification time of the file "My Big Note".

3. Visualizing File Sizes:

Dataview allows you to create visual representations of your data. You can use file.size to create a bar graph or other visualizations to represent the size distribution of files within a folder or the entire vault.

Example:

LIST file.size AS Size, file.name AS Name
FROM "My Documents"
WHERE file.size > 1000000

This query will list the size and name of all files larger than 1 MB.

Tips and Considerations

  • Using Filters: You can filter your query by specifying criteria like file type, date created, or specific folders to target your analysis.
  • Units: While file.size returns the size in bytes, you might find it helpful to convert these bytes into more readable units such as kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB) by dividing the size by the appropriate conversion factor.
  • Time Complexity: Be mindful that using file.size for large numbers of files can impact performance. You may want to consider limiting your query to specific folders or using more efficient filters to optimize speed.

Conclusion

Obsidian Dataview's file.size function empowers you to gain valuable insights into the sizes of your files. This allows you to identify large files, track growth, and understand file distribution patterns. By combining file.size with other Dataview functionalities and filters, you can unlock a comprehensive understanding of your note files and optimize your note-taking workflow.

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