Option to group tasks by file

[Angush]

Lets say I have two files with tasks, and I want these to appear in cardboard as two columns, like so:

Currently to do this, I have to add tags: [cardboardtasks/file-one] and tags: [cardboardtasks/file-two] to the frontmatter for each respective file, then go into the Cardboard board settings and create a definition for each of those tags and manually specify the tag and name for each prospective file/column.

It'd be nice to just say "grab tasks from this folder" and tick a checkbox to say "use file names as column headings" (minus the file extensions).

Could also optionally support using title: Note Title Here fields in file frontmatter, like the Frontmatter Titles plugin.

[roovo]

Thank you. I do have some other ideas on different ways to define and set up boards so will add this into that (virtual) pot :)

[replete]

Hi there, great plugin you have here - I've been hacking away at my first vault for the last couple of weeks and I'm trying to find a solution to migrate my task management system (GTD method) into obsidian. There's a lot of task plugins around and this plugin you've created looks like the best candidate I've found for making working wth tasks, in my book, feasible.

I've tried everything task related and have been pondering what plugin to fork and add the features I'm looking for. This plugin looks the best bet for me so far, because nobody seems to consider the value of subtasks, and the visual interaction with tasks are still primarily keyboard driven. I was thinking of forking Checklists, but your plugin looks closest to my needs.

I've been looking for something to implement a GTD methodology system in obsidian, where you have an inbox to dump tasks in initially, later processed into areas of focus. In that method a project is simply a task with multiple steps (sub-tasks). Tagging the next action is the last piece of the GTD puzzle, which could be achieved with tags if the UI made it quick enough to do.

Here's my ideal use-case scenario for a GTD-esque file-based cardboard view, which isn't too far away it seems. Let me dream for a moment!

• Inbox (File column: Inbox.md)
• Personal (File column: Personal.md)
• Work (File column: Work.md)
• Family (File column: Family.md)
• Next Actions (a special GTD methodology 'focus' view which is the primary place to get things done)
  • includes all 'tasks without sub-tasks' from the other 'File columns' that aren't excluded by tags like #blocked or #waitingfor
  • includes the first subtask of all 'tasks with sub-tasks' ('project' in GTD terminology) that isn't excluded by tags like #blocked or #waitingfor
  • This particular view is the best thing about GTD, it shows you only things you can do immediately which move any given project forward in one list

The concept here of file columns is that a file becomes an 'area', consisting of individual tasks and projects (tasks with subtasks). Individual tasks can then use #tags and other string metadata to enrich the task. A powerful benefit emerging from this file-based use-case is that the simple structure inherent in files/tasks/subtasks can be easily used in other plugins (canvas, excalidraw, dataview, etc) to visualize the work in other meaningful ways. I see a lot of attention in task plugins on collecting dispirate tasks all over the vault, and while powerful a simpler setup is going to be super effective. With this approach you can also realistically do task management in the vault in a plain text editor without Obsidian, super portable.

Combine 'file columns' with these killer features, and I think this plugin would really take off.

• Drag and drop re-ordering in file columns (manual sorting is really important and only works with a file-based context - key feature missing from all other task solutions), which changes the order in the source files
• Drag and drop between 'File columns'
• File columns also open up the plugin to 'Add task' actions (= full replacement for tasks), and now the plugin is a real task manager, not just a view
• magic sort by due date type things are possible just in the view, if the time metadata is included, but the above two features would be a home run for sure, nothing else has come close to this yet

I think the actual visual management of tasks has been a bit under-valued in lieu of the magic obsidian 'have stuff everywhere' graph. Managing tasks by text is actually painful. It's better to manage tasks with GUI for sure.

I see I've written a wall of text, but indeed this is a big problem I'm trying to solve and your solution looks the best so far. I really would like to abandon my other task app (2do).

Also as a seasoned contract frontend/UI developer i'd certainly offer my time and skills to discuss/contribute to this project (if desired, I'm not a loose cannon or anything) if it looks like it will be the solution for me. I'm pretty handy with CSS and I've already written a couple of dozen CSS snippets to fix up existing plugins in the vault I've been building, and contributed a few solutions for other plugins I'm using. I'm already writing styles in my head for this plugin.

Phil