File path to URI (an Obsidian.md plugin)

This plugin lets you convert a local path to a file url link that can be used to link to files or folders that are located outside of your Obsidian vault.

Use Obsidian's native behaviour ❗

AFAIK this plugin isn't really needed anymore since you can drag any file or folder into your note while holding Ctrl and Obsidian will paste it as a link.

C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents will be pasted as [Documents](file:///C:%5CUsers%5CObsidian%5CDocuments)

How to use this plugin

Convert written path

1. Select the whole path you want to convert.
2. Use the default hotkey Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + L or press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Toggle selected file path to URI and back.
3. The selected path will toggle between file path and file url.

Convert path from clipboard

1. Copy any path such as C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents or \\network\folder\ to your clipboard
2. Use the default hotkey Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Shift + L or press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri.
3. The converted path will be pasted into the editor (that is either file:///C:/Users/Obsidian/Documents or file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/ in this example)

Convert path from clipboard to link

1. Copy any path such as C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents or \\network\folder\ to your clipboard
2. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri link. There is no default hotkey for this command so if you want to use a keyboard shortcut you can set a custom one in Obsidian settings.
3. The converted path will be pasted into the editor (that is either [C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents](file:///C:/Users/Obsidian/Documents) or [\\\\network\folder\](file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/) in this example)

Convert path from clipboard to link with only the name as title

1. Copy any path such as C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents or \\network\folder\ to your clipboard
2. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the command palette and search for File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri link - Name only. There is no default hotkey for this command so if you want to use a keyboard shortcut you can set a custom one in Obsidian settings.
3. The converted path will be pasted into the editor (that is either [Documents](file:///C:/Users/Obsidian/Documents) or [folder](file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/) in this example)

How to change the hotkey

You can change the hotkey combination in Obsidian settings under Hotkeys. Look for File path to URI: Toggle selected file path to URI and back and File path to URI: Paste file path as file uri.

Transforms

• C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents <-> file:///C://Users//Obsidian//Documents

• \\network\folder\ <-> file:///%5C%5Cnetwork/folder/

• "C:\Users\Obsidian\Documents" -> file:///C://Users//Obsidian//Documents

  Strips the surrounding whitespace and double quotation marks from the selection

Version History

1.0.0 (2021-01-17)

• Initial release

1.1.0 (2021-02-11)

• Add support for network paths and trim whitespace and quotation marks from selection

1.2.0 (2021-04-22)

• Add command to paste converted file path from clipboard as file uri

1.3.0 (2021-07-25)

• Add command to paste converted file path from clipboard as file uri link

1.4.0 (2022-07-01)

• Add another command that pastes converted file path from clipboard as file uri link but the link title is only the file/folder name

1.4.1 (2022-09-04)

• Fix '%20' instead of spaces in file/folder names only links

Credits

Code and readme inspired by https://github.com/agathauy/wikilinks-to-mdlinks-obsidian