> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.glyphformac.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Database Views

> Organize notes as structured databases with flexible table and board layouts

Database views transform folders, tags, or search results into structured tables and boards. Each database is a special markdown file that displays your notes as rows with customizable columns and properties.

## Creating a Database

Databases are markdown files with a special structure:

1. Create a new note
2. Configure the source (folder, tag, or search query)
3. Add columns for the properties you want to track
4. Switch between table and board views

<Note>
  Database configurations are stored in the note's frontmatter, making them version-controllable and shareable.
</Note>

## Data Sources

Databases can pull notes from three types of sources:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Folder" icon="folder">
    Display all notes from a specific folder, with optional recursive subfolder inclusion.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tag" icon="tag">
    Aggregate all notes that use a specific tag across your entire space.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Search" icon="magnifying-glass">
    Use advanced search queries to dynamically filter notes based on content and metadata.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Folder Sources

When using folder sources:

* **Folder path**: Choose any folder in your space
* **Recursive**: Toggle to include/exclude subfolders
* **Scope**: Non-recursive shows only direct children

### Tag Sources

Tag sources aggregate notes across your entire space:

* All notes with the specified tag appear as rows
* Updates automatically when you tag/untag notes
* Great for project management and cross-cutting concerns

### Search Sources

Use Glyph's advanced search syntax:

```
tag:projects "roadmap"
```

Search sources update as your content changes, providing dynamic views into your knowledge base.

## Table View

The table layout displays notes as rows with configurable columns:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/sidhuk-glyph-76/images/database-table.png" alt="Database table view showing notes with multiple columns" />
</Frame>

### Built-in Columns

Every database has access to these system columns:

* **Title**: Note title extracted from frontmatter or first heading
* **Tags**: All tags associated with the note
* **Path**: Relative path within your space
* **Created**: Note creation timestamp
* **Updated**: Last modification timestamp

### Custom Property Columns

Add columns for any frontmatter property:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the columns dialog">
    Click the columns button in the database toolbar to manage your columns.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a property column">
    Choose from existing properties or create new ones. Glyph automatically detects properties from your notes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the column">
    Set the label, icon, width, and visibility for each column.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Property Types

Glyph supports multiple property types:

* **Text**: Single-line text values
* **Boolean**: True/false checkboxes
* **Tags**: Multi-select tag values
* **Date**: ISO date strings (YYYY-MM-DD)

### Sorting

Click any column header to sort:

* **First click**: Sort ascending
* **Second click**: Sort descending
* **Third click**: Clear sort

Only one sort is active at a time.

### Inline Editing

Click any cell to edit it directly:

* Text fields open inline editors
* Boolean fields toggle with a single click
* Tags open a multi-select picker
* Changes save automatically to the note's frontmatter

## Board View

Board view organizes notes into vertical lanes using a grouping column:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/sidhuk-glyph-76/images/database-board.png" alt="Database board view with cards organized in lanes" />
</Frame>

### Setting Up a Board

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add a grouping column">
    Boards require a single-value property column (text, boolean, or single tag) to group cards.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch to board view">
    Click the board icon in the toolbar to switch layouts.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the grouping column">
    Use the dropdown in the toolbar to choose which column groups the cards.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Board Lanes

Each unique value in the grouping column becomes a lane:

* **Status property**: "Todo", "In Progress", "Done" lanes
* **Boolean property**: "True" and "False" lanes
* **Tag property**: One lane per unique tag value

### Card Layout

Each card displays:

1. **Title**: Note title (or filename fallback)
2. **Preview**: First 100 characters of note content
3. **Tags**: Up to 4 tags (excluding the grouping tag)
4. **Additional column**: First visible non-title column
5. **Path**: Note location for reference

### Drag and Drop

Move cards between lanes by dragging:

* Dragging updates the grouping property automatically
* Right-click for a context menu with "Move to" options
* Double-click a card to open the full note

## Filters

Narrow your database view with column filters:

### Filter Operators

* **Contains**: Text match (case-insensitive)
* **Equals**: Exact match
* **Is empty**: No value set
* **Is not empty**: Any value present
* **Is true**: Boolean = true
* **Is false**: Boolean = false

### Multiple Filters

Add multiple filters to create precise views:

* All filters use AND logic (all must match)
* Filters apply to both table and board views
* Filter count shows in the toolbar

<CodeGroup>
  ```yaml Example: Status filter theme={null}
  ---
  filters:
    - column_id: "property:status"
      operator: "equals"
      value_text: "active"
  ---
  ```

  ```yaml Example: Tag filter theme={null}
  ---
  filters:
    - column_id: "tags"
      operator: "tags_contains"
      value_list: ["project"]
  ---
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Creating New Rows

Add notes directly from the database:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click the + button">
    The toolbar has an "Add row" button to create new notes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Auto-created in target folder">
    New notes appear in the configured "New Rows" folder with the specified title prefix.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Appears in database immediately">
    If the new note matches your filters and source, it appears as a row instantly.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Configuring New Rows

In the source dialog, configure:

* **Target folder**: Where new notes are created
* **Title prefix**: Default prefix for new note titles (e.g., "Project -")

## Column Management

Customize which columns appear and how they're displayed:

### Column Properties

* **Label**: Display name in the header
* **Icon**: Visual indicator (from a curated set)
* **Width**: Column width in pixels (default 180px)
* **Visible**: Toggle visibility without deleting

### Reordering Columns

Drag column rows in the columns dialog to reorder them in the table.

### Column Icons

Choose from semantic icons:

* Text properties: Document, note, text icons
* Boolean properties: Checkbox, toggle icons
* Tag properties: Tag, folder, category icons
* Date properties: Calendar, clock icons

## Real-time Updates

Databases stay synchronized with your notes:

* **File changes**: Database reloads when source notes change
* **Cell edits**: Updates write to frontmatter immediately
* **New notes**: Automatically appear if they match the source
* **Deleted notes**: Removed from database view instantly

<Warning>
  Recent local mutations are debounced to prevent reload flicker during rapid edits.
</Warning>

## Advanced Configuration

Database configurations are stored in the note's frontmatter:

<CodeGroup>
  ```yaml Complete example theme={null}
  ---
  database:
    version: 1
    source:
      kind: folder
      value: projects
      recursive: true
    new_note:
      folder: projects
      title_prefix: "Project"
    view:
      layout: board
      board_group_by: "property:status"
    columns:
      - id: title
        type: title
        label: Title
        width: 300
        visible: true
      - id: "property:status"
        type: property
        label: Status
        property_key: status
        property_kind: text
        icon: checkbox
        width: 180
        visible: true
    sorts:
      - column_id: updated
        direction: desc
    filters:
      - column_id: "property:status"
        operator: is_not_empty
        value_list: []
  ---
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut         | Action             |
| ---------------- | ------------------ |
| Click header     | Toggle sort        |
| Click cell       | Edit value         |
| Double-click row | Open note          |
| Drag card        | Move between lanes |
| Right-click      | Context menu       |

## Use Cases

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Project Management" icon="list-check">
    Track project status, priority, and deadlines with a board view grouped by status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reading List" icon="book">
    Maintain a table of articles with rating, tags, and read status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Meeting Notes" icon="calendar">
    Sort meetings by date with attendees, topics, and action items columns.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Research Database" icon="flask">
    Aggregate papers by topic tag with custom properties for authors, year, and citations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Best Practices

1. **Start with folder sources** for simplicity, then graduate to tags or search
2. **Use board view for workflows** (todo → doing → done)
3. **Keep column count low** (5-7 visible columns) for readability
4. **Leverage filters** instead of creating multiple similar databases
5. **Name grouping properties semantically** ("status" not "column1")
6. **Set reasonable column widths** to avoid horizontal scrolling

## Limitations

* Only one active sort at a time
* Board view requires a single-value grouping column
* Maximum 2000 rows loaded (configurable limit)
* No nested grouping in board view
* Filters use AND logic only (no OR)

## Related Features

* [Task Management](/features/task-management) - Track todos within notes
* [Tags & Search](/features/tags-search) - Advanced search syntax for database sources
* [Notes](/features/notes) - Understanding note properties and frontmatter