FeaturesTemplatesVariables

Template Variables

Template variables are the power behind dynamic content in Lokus. They enable automatic date insertion, user prompts, conditional logic, and much more.

Basic Variables

Use these core variables in any template:

Standard Variables

---
title: {{title}}
date: {{date}}
author: {{author}}
---
 
# {{title}}
 
Created: {{date}}
By: {{author}}

Available Variables:

  • {{title}} - Note title with automatic capitalization
  • {{date}} - Current date (YYYY-MM-DD)
  • {{time}} - Current time (HH:MM)
  • {{datetime}} - Combined date and time
  • {{author}} - Current user from workspace settings
  • {{workspace}} - Workspace name
  • {{folder}} - Current folder path
  • {{uuid}} - Unique identifier for tracking

Variable Syntax

Variables follow a simple {{variable_name}} syntax:

# Meeting with {{client_name}}
 
**Date:** {{date}}
**Time:** {{time}}
**Location:** {{location}}
 
Notes from today's meeting...

When you create a note from this template, Lokus will prompt you for client_name and location, while automatically filling in date and time.

Date Variables

Current Date

The {{date}} variable inserts the current date:

{{date}}           → 2025-10-23
{{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} → 2025-10-23
{{date:MMM D, YYYY}} → Oct 23, 2025
{{date:DD/MM/YYYY}} → 23/10/2025

Date Formats

Customize date format using format specifiers:

{{date:YYYY}}        → 2025
{{date:MMMM}}        → October
{{date:dddd}}        → Thursday
{{date:MMM D, YYYY}} → Oct 23, 2025
{{date:DD-MM-YY}}    → 23-10-25

Format Tokens:

  • YYYY - 4-digit year (2025)
  • YY - 2-digit year (25)
  • MMMM - Full month (October)
  • MMM - Short month (Oct)
  • MM - Month number (10)
  • DD - Day with zero (23)
  • D - Day without zero (23)
  • dddd - Full day (Thursday)
  • ddd - Short day (Thu)

Relative Dates

Add or subtract days from the current date:

{{date+1}}    → Tomorrow
{{date+7}}    → One week from now
{{date+30}}   → One month from now
{{date-1}}    → Yesterday
{{date-7}}    → One week ago

Practical Examples:

**Due Date:** {{date+7}}
**Week Starting:** {{date}}
**Week Ending:** {{date+6}}
**Last Review:** {{date-30}}
**Next Review:** {{date+30}}

Named Date Variables

Shortcuts for common dates:

{{today}}       → Current date
{{tomorrow}}    → Tomorrow's date
{{yesterday}}   → Yesterday's date
{{week-start}}  → Start of current week (Monday)
{{week-end}}    → End of current week (Sunday)
{{month-start}} → First day of current month
{{month-end}}   → Last day of current month

Time Variables

Current Time

{{time}}         → 14:30
{{time:HH:mm}}   → 14:30
{{time:hh:mm A}} → 02:30 PM
{{time:h:mm A}}  → 2:30 PM

Format Tokens:

  • HH - Hour 24-format (14)
  • hh - Hour 12-format (02)
  • h - Hour 12 without zero (2)
  • mm - Minutes (30)
  • ss - Seconds (45)
  • A - AM/PM

DateTime Combined

{{datetime}}                    → 2025-10-23 14:30
{{datetime:YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm}}   → 2025-10-23 14:30
{{datetime:MMM D, YYYY h:mm A}} → Oct 23, 2025 2:30 PM

Custom Variables

Prompt Variables

Ask users for input when creating from template:

{{prompt:variable_name}}
{{prompt:project_name:Enter project name}}
{{prompt:client:Who is the client?}}

Example:

# {{prompt:project_name:Enter the project name}}
 
**Client:** {{prompt:client_name}}
**Budget:** ${{prompt:budget:Enter budget amount}}
**Start Date:** {{date}}

When creating a note from this template, you’ll see a dialog prompting for:

  1. Project name
  2. Client name
  3. Budget amount

Select Variables

Dropdown menus for predefined options:

{{select:status:active,planning,completed}}
{{select:priority:low,medium,high,critical}}
{{select:type:bug,feature,enhancement}}

Example:

---
status: {{select:status:draft,review,published}}
priority: {{select:priority:low,medium,high}}
---
 
# {{title}}
 
**Status:** {{status}}
**Priority:** {{priority}}

Multiline Variables

Text areas for longer content:

{{multiline:description}}
{{multiline:notes:Enter detailed notes}}
{{multiline:summary:Brief summary}}

Example:

## Project Description
 
{{multiline:description:Enter project description}}
 
## Key Objectives
 
{{multiline:objectives:List main objectives}}

Checkbox Variables

Boolean yes/no options:

{{checkbox:urgent}}
{{checkbox:requires_approval:Needs approval?}}
{{checkbox:billable:Is this billable?}}

Example:

**Urgent:** {{checkbox:urgent}}
**Requires Approval:** {{checkbox:requires_approval}}
 
{{#if urgent}}
**This is marked as urgent!**
{{/if}}

Number Variables

Numeric input fields:

{{number:budget}}
{{number:hours:Estimated hours}}
{{number:participants:Number of attendees}}

Example:

**Budget:** ${{number:budget:Enter budget}}
**Estimated Hours:** {{hours}}h
**Team Size:** {{number:team_size}} people

Conditional Logic

If Statements

Show content based on variable values:

{{#if variable_name}}
This content shows if variable_name is set
{{/if}}

Example:

{{#if urgent}}
## URGENT TASK
 
This requires immediate attention!
{{/if}}
 
{{#if status == "completed"}}
This project is complete!
{{/if}}

If-Else Statements

Alternative content based on conditions:

{{#if status == "active"}}
🟢 Project is active
{{else}}
 Project is not active
{{/if}}

Example:

{{#if priority == "high"}}
High Priority Task
{{else if priority == "medium"}}
Medium Priority Task
{{else}}
Low Priority Task
{{/if}}

Unless Statements

Show content when condition is false:

{{#unless completed}}
This task is still pending.
{{/unless}}

Example:

{{#unless approved}}
**Waiting for approval**
 
Please review and approve this document.
{{/unless}}

Advanced Variables

Loops and Repeating

Repeat sections multiple times:

{{#repeat:3}}
- [ ] Task {{index}}
{{/repeat}}

Output:

- [ ] Task 1
- [ ] Task 2
- [ ] Task 3

For Loops:

{{#for item in items}}
- {{item}}
{{/for}}

Variable Defaults

Set fallback values:

{{author || "Unknown"}}
{{project_name || "Untitled Project"}}
{{budget || "Not specified"}}

Variable Transformations

Modify variable output:

{{title | uppercase}}
{{title | lowercase}}
{{title | capitalize}}
{{title | kebab-case}}
{{title | snake_case}}

Example:

# {{title | uppercase}}
 
Filename: {{title | kebab-case}}.md
Variable: {{title | snake_case}}

Template Frontmatter Variables

Setting Default Properties

Define template metadata and defaults:

---
template: meeting-notes
tags: [meeting, {{team}}]
status: {{select:status:draft,active,completed}}
attendees: {{prompt:attendees:Enter attendees}}
date: {{date}}
priority: {{select:priority:low,medium,high}}
---

Variable Documentation

Document variables in frontmatter:

---
template: project-plan
template_version: 1.0
template_description: Comprehensive project planning template
 
# Define expected variables
variables:
  - name: project_name
    description: Name of the project
    type: text
    required: true
  - name: project_lead
    description: Project lead name
    type: text
    default: "{{author}}"
  - name: status
    description: Project status
    type: select
    options: [planning, active, on-hold, completed]
    required: true
  - name: budget
    description: Project budget
    type: number
    required: false
---

Practical Examples

Meeting Notes with Dynamic Variables

---
template: meeting-notes
date: {{date}}
time: {{time}}
attendees: {{prompt:attendees:Enter attendee names}}
---
 
# {{prompt:meeting_title:Meeting Title}}
 
**Date:** {{date:MMMM D, YYYY}}
**Time:** {{time:h:mm A}}
**Attendees:** {{attendees}}
**Location:** {{select:location:Office,Remote,Client Site}}
 
## Agenda
 
1. {{prompt:agenda_1:First agenda item}}
2. {{prompt:agenda_2:Second agenda item}}
3. AOB
 
## Discussion
 
{{multiline:discussion:Enter discussion notes}}
 
## Action Items
 
{{#repeat:3}}
- [ ] {{prompt:action_{{index}}}} @{{prompt:assignee_{{index}}}}  {{date+7}}
{{/repeat}}
 
## Next Meeting
 
**Date:** {{prompt:next_meeting:Next meeting date}}

Project Plan with Conditional Sections

---
template: project-plan
project_name: {{prompt:project_name}}
status: {{select:status:planning,active,on-hold,completed}}
priority: {{select:priority:low,medium,high}}
---
 
# {{project_name}}
 
{{#if priority == "high"}}
**HIGH PRIORITY PROJECT**
{{/if}}
 
**Project Lead:** {{prompt:lead}}
**Start Date:** {{date}}
**Target Completion:** {{prompt:target_date}}
**Status:** {{status}}
 
{{#if status == "planning"}}
## Planning Phase
 
- [ ] Define requirements
- [ ] Create specifications
- [ ] Get stakeholder approval
{{/if}}
 
{{#if status == "active"}}
## Active Development
 
**Current Sprint:** {{prompt:sprint}}
**Progress:** {{number:progress:Progress percentage}}%
{{/if}}
 
## Timeline
 
### Phase 1: Planning ({{date}} - {{date+14}})
- [ ] Requirements gathering
- [ ] Technical design
 
### Phase 2: Execution ({{date+15}} - {{date+45}})
- [ ] Development
- [ ] Testing
 
### Phase 3: Launch ({{date+46}} - {{date+60}})
- [ ] Deployment
- [ ] Documentation
 
{{#unless budget}}
**Budget not specified**
{{/unless}}

Daily Note with Time-based Greetings

---
template: daily-note
date: {{date}}
---
 
# {{date:dddd, MMMM D, YYYY}}
 
{{#if time < 12}}
 Good morning! Let's make today productive.
{{else if time < 18}}
 Good afternoon! Keep up the great work.
{{else}}
 Good evening! Time to reflect on the day.
{{/if}}
 
## Today's Focus
 
**Top Priority:** {{prompt:top_priority}}
 
## Schedule
 
{{#repeat:8}}
- {{time+index}}:00 - {{prompt:schedule_{{index}}}}
{{/repeat}}
 
## Tasks
 
### Must Do
- [ ] {{prompt:must_1}}
- [ ] {{prompt:must_2}}
 
### Should Do
- [ ] {{prompt:should_1}}
 
## Notes
 
{{multiline:notes:Enter today's notes}}
 
---
 
**Links:** [[{{yesterday}}]] ← → [[{{tomorrow}}]]

Best Practices

Variable Naming

Good practices:

  • Use descriptive names: {{project_name}} not {{pn}}
  • Use underscores for multi-word: {{client_name}}
  • Be consistent across templates
  • Document complex variables

Examples:

Good: {{project_name}}, {{start_date}}, {{team_lead}}
Bad: {{p}}, {{d1}}, {{tl}}

Required vs Optional

Mark required variables clearly:

variables:
  - name: project_name
    required: true
  - name: description
    required: false
    default: "No description provided"

Variable Descriptions

Provide helpful descriptions:

{{prompt:project_name:Enter the official project name}}
{{prompt:budget:Enter total budget in USD}}
{{number:team_size:How many team members?}}

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue: Variables not replacing Solution: Check syntax, ensure proper {{}} format, verify variable name spelling

Issue: Prompt not appearing Solution: Verify {{prompt:name}} syntax, check for typos

Issue: Date format not working Solution: Verify format string, use correct tokens (YYYY, MM, DD, etc.)

Issue: Conditional not working Solution: Check operator syntax (==, !=), verify variable exists

Next Steps

OverviewTemplate Types