More template automation and logic | Feedback

More template automation and logic

Steffen Bleher

More options for templates like

prefilled date properties
self-referencing filters
customizable duplication logic.

Feel free to add your requests below.

February 7, 2023

Beth

Pinned

Hi all, just wanted to update to say that we have just released variable queries (AKA self-referencing filters) and default templates. You can read about them in the latest release notes: https://capacities.io/whats-new/release-50, https://capacities.io/whats-new/release-51

Beth

Merged in a post:

More variable availability

James Alspach

I would like to be able to use variables in more places than just queries.

For instance, I would like to use the date and the People Involved properties in the Title in a template. That way the template doesn't add the current date into the title but, rather it uses the date of the meting from the date field (which is populated when I import from my calendar), and the name of the person which I can easily add.

2 days ago

Beth

Merged in a post:

When you turn a block into a item from the daily note populate the date

Judson Dunn

I like to create items in my daily note as embedded objects (like meetings etc). It's the same list as the create buttons, but when you do it via the "turn block into..." the date field isn't populated. Ideally it would be populated the same way as if I clicked the button for creating a new object linked to the day.

August 5, 2025

Beth

If you want them as embedded objects, I think the solution to this is a default template where the template fills in today's date when it's used. I'll merge this ticket into the request for that functionality.

Beth

Manja Cat

Prefilled (relative) date properties - either based on system clock (easier) or inherited from on the 'parent' (eg I make meeting notes as objects in daily notes) (more complex)

Beth

Merged in a post:

Date and time stamp in a block in my template (not just the title)

Elizabeth Lee

I want to use {date: D MMM YYYY LT} in my block text for my page template so that i can have the created at in view, without having to look at the metadata at the side

July 21, 2025

Beth

Merged in a post:

Enable new templates to be created within other templates

Yashaank ✨✨

Let's say I want to use a template 'new definition' in my daily notes. I should be able to add it within daily note's template, and it should create a new instance of 'new definition' each day. Currently a new instance is created in the template but that same reference is used everytime. I believe this is a crucial usecase for templates, and can help with much needed workflows.

Thanks!

July 21, 2025

Przemo Trepka

Prefilled relative date properties please

Jason Kerr

I'd love an option for templates to pre-fill an object select field. For me, templates are mostly useful for creating sub-objects (like chapters in an edited volume collecting essays by different people; the template would include a reference to the edited volume). It's a way of leveraging the new two-way linking feature, which I love.

Michael Forsman

The self-referencing filters would be amazing combined with customizable duplication logic. Or even either/or. For example I have a Project Task object that has a link to a Project the task is for. I desperately want to have a way to add a list of related tasks into the template. Right now I can do a query, but since the current duplication logic is just by reference, all projects made with that template will just have the same query and if I change which project it is filtered to, it changes that query on all other projects. So true duplicate logic would be great. 
And then of course the self-referencing filter would mean that I don't have to go onto each project and set the filter manually.
Honestly this is the biggest blocker for me now from moving all my project management to Capacities. I really hope it comes soon.

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