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First Line is Title

Automatically set the first line as note title, just like in Apple Notes! Forget about manual file name entry or nondescript timestamps.

Tip

The plugin is best used with the tab title bar and/or inline title enabled in Obsidian settings > Appearance > Interface.

Key features

• Rename notes automatically or manually.
• Move cursor to first line on note creation.
• Put any first line content in title or headings only.
• Replace characters forbidden in file names with safe alternatives, or omit them entirely.
• Strip Markdown syntax from file names.
• Add custom replacement rules.
• Automatically populate first line alias property — make forbidden characters searchable in Quick switcher and link suggester, or set as note title in plugins like Quick Switcher++, Omnisearch, Notebook Navigator and Front Matter Title.
• Commands to batch rename all notes in folder, all notes with tag, all search results, or entire vault.
• Automatically insert file name in first line on note creation.
• Exclude select notes, folders, tags, properties or file names from renaming, or only enable renaming in some.
• Command to convert selection containing forbidden characters into valid internal link, with original text preserved in link caption.

File integrity

• Only notes that are currently open in the editor are processed, along with any notes you explicitly select for batch operations (like renaming all notes in a folder).
• By default, note modification time is preserved on rename.
• Multiple safeguards are in place to prevent unintended changes but regular backups remain your ultimate safety net.

Commands

Ribbon

Command	Description
Put first line in title	Rename active note, even if in excluded folder or with excluded tag or property.
Put first line in title in all notes	Rename all notes in vault except if in excluded folder or with excluded tag or property.
Toggle automatic renaming	Toggle the Rename notes setting between Automatically and Manually.

Command palette

Command	Description
Put first line in title	Rename active note, even if in excluded folder or with excluded tag or property.
Put first line in title (unless excluded)	Rename active note except if in excluded folder or with excluded tag or property.
Put first line in title in all notes	Rename all notes in vault except if in excluded folder or with excluded tag or property.
Toggle automatic renaming	Toggle the Rename notes setting between Automatically and Manually.
Disable renaming for note	Exclude active note from renaming.
Enable renaming for note	Stop excluding active note from renaming.
Add safe internal link	Create internal link with forbidden characters handled as set in Replace characters.
Add safe internal link with caption	Create internal link with forbidden characters handled as set in Replace characters, and with original text in caption.
Add internal link with caption and custom target	Create internal link with selected text in caption. Set link path manually.
Insert file name at cursor position	Insert current file name at cursor position. Convert forbidden character replacements back to their original forms, as set in Replace characters.

File, folder, tag and vault search context menu

Command	Description
Put first line in title	Rename selected note(s).
Disable renaming	Exclude selected note(s), folder(s) or tag from renaming.
Enable renaming	Stop excluding selected note(s), folder(s) or tag from renaming.

Installation

Until First Line is Title is made available in the plugin directory, follow the steps below to install it:

1. Download and enable the BRAT plugin.
2. Run Add a beta plugin for testing in the Command palette.
3. Paste https://github.com/churnish/first-line-is-title.
4. Select Latest version.
5. Check Enable after installing the plugin.
6. Press Add Plugin.

Install manually

1. Download first-line-is-title.zip in the Assets of the latest release.
2. Open the vault folder in the system file manager.
3. Open your Obsidian configuration folder (.obsidian by default, hidden on most OSes).
4. Unzip first-line-is-title.zip and place it in the plugins folder.
5. Reload plugins or app.
6. Enable First Line is Title in Obsidian settings > Community plugins > Installed plugins.

Support

• Found a bug or have a feature request? Open an issue.
• Have a question? Start a discussion.
• PRs welcome.