Templates

Templates let you define reusable note structures with dynamic content. Insert dates, prompt for input, run conditional logic, and loop over data — all from a Markdown file with YAML frontmatter.

Create a template

1. Press Cmd+K (macOS) or Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux) to open the command palette.
2. Select Create Template from Selection.
3. Fill in name, category, tags, and content.
4. Click Save Template.

Templates are stored as .md files in <workspace>/templates/.

Template file structure

Each template is a Markdown file with YAML frontmatter:

---
id: daily-standup
name: "Daily Standup Notes"
category: Work
tags:
  - meeting
  - daily
createdAt: 2025-11-06T00:00:00.000Z
updatedAt: 2025-11-06T00:00:00.000Z
---

# Daily Standup - {{date.format('MMMM do, yyyy')}}

## What I did yesterday
{{cursor}}

## What I'll do today

## Blockers

The id must be lowercase alphanumeric with hyphens or underscores.

Use a template

Press Cmd+K, type the template name or browse the list, and select it. Content is inserted at your cursor with all variables resolved.

Variables

Basic variables

Variable	Output
{{date}}	Current date (YYYY-MM-DD)
{{time}}	Current time (HH:mm:ss)
{{datetime}}	Current date and time
{{timestamp}}	Unix timestamp
{{user}}	Current username
{{uuid}}	Unique identifier
{{cursor}}	Places cursor here after insert

Date operations

Format dates, do arithmetic, and access properties — all chainable:

{{date.format('MMMM do, yyyy')}}           → February 22nd, 2026
{{date.add(7, 'days')}}                     → 7 days from now
{{date.subtract(2, 'weeks')}}               → 2 weeks ago
{{date.tomorrow}}                           → Tomorrow's date
{{date.nextMonday}}                         → Next Monday
{{date.startOfWeek}}                        → Start of current week
{{date.week}}                               → Week number (1-53)
{{date.quarter}}                            → Quarter (1-4)
{{date.add(7, 'days').format('MMM do')}}    → Chained operations

Format tokens: yyyy (year), MM (month), dd (day), MMMM (full month), dddd (full day name).

Arithmetic units: 'days', 'weeks', 'months', 'years'.

Relative dates: tomorrow, yesterday, nextWeek, lastWeek, nextMonday, previousFriday.

Boundaries: startOfWeek, endOfWeek, startOfMonth, endOfMonth, startOfYear, endOfYear.

Conditionals

{{#if priority == 'High'}}
This is a high priority task!
{{else if priority == 'Medium'}}
This is a medium priority task.
{{else}}
This is a low priority task.
{{/if}}

Operators: ==, !=, >, >=, <, <=, &&, ||. Conditionals can be nested.

Loops

{{#each tasks}}
  {{@index}}. {{this.title}} ({{this.status}})
{{/each}}

Loop variables: {{@index}} (0-based), {{@first}}, {{@last}}, {{@length}}, {{@key}}.

Filters

Transform values with the pipe (|) operator:

{{name | upper}}                → UPPERCASE
{{name | lower}}                → lowercase
{{name | truncate(50)}}         → Truncate to 50 chars
{{items | join(', ')}}          → Join array with comma
{{items | sort}}                → Sort alphabetically
{{date | dateFormat('yyyy-MM-dd')}}
{{date | timeAgo}}              → "3 days ago"
{{name | trim | upper | truncate(20)}}  → Chain filters

Other string filters: capitalize, title, slug, replace('old', 'new').

Other array filters: first, last, length, unique.

User prompts

Ask for input when the template is applied:

{{prompt:title:Meeting title:Team Sync}}

Format: {{prompt:variableName:label:defaultValue}}.

For dropdown choices:

{{suggest:status:Status:Planning,In Progress,Review,Done:Planning}}

Template includes

Reuse templates inside other templates:

{{include:header}}
{{include:greeting:name=John,time=morning}}

JavaScript execution

{{js: return new Date().getFullYear()}}
{{js: return Math.random() > 0.5 ? 'Yes' : 'No'}}

Available: Math, Date, JSON, standard object methods, plus helpers uuid(), format(), slugify().

Example: meeting notes

---
id: meeting-notes
name: "Meeting Notes"
category: Work
tags:
  - meeting
---

# {{prompt:meetingType:Meeting type:Team Sync}} - {{date.format('MMM do')}}

**Date:** {{date.format('MMMM do, yyyy')}}
**Attendees:** {{prompt:attendees:Who attended?:}}

## Agenda
1.
2.

## Discussion
{{cursor}}

## Action Items
- [ ] Task | Due: {{date.add(7, 'days').format('MMM do')}}

Manage templates

• List: Browse all templates, filter by category
• Update: Modify name, content, category, or tags
• Delete: Remove a template file

Edit template files directly in any text editor. Changes sync with Lokus when you refresh the Template Manager.