callumalpass_tasknotes/docs/settings/inline-task-settings.md

Inline Task Settings

Inline task settings control how TaskNotes integrates with your regular note-taking workflow. These settings manage the display of task widgets, instant conversion features, and natural language processing capabilities.

Task Link Overlay

Enable Task Link Overlay

Setting: enableTaskLinkOverlay Default: true

When enabled, TaskNotes replaces standard wikilinks to task files with interactive task widgets that display key task information and allow basic task management operations directly within your notes.

Widget Features When Enabled:

• Status indicator with click-to-cycle functionality
• Priority indicator with click-to-change capability
• Due date display with date picker access
• Scheduled date display with date picker access
• Task title with link to full task note
• Context menu for additional task operations

When Disabled:

• Task links appear as normal Obsidian wikilinks
• No inline task management capabilities
• Standard hover preview functionality applies

Instant Task Conversion

Enable Instant Task Convert

Setting: enableInstantTaskConvert Default: true

Controls whether convert buttons appear next to checkbox tasks in edit mode, allowing one-click conversion from simple checkboxes to full TaskNotes.

When Enabled:

• File-plus icons appear next to checkbox tasks (- [ ] and - [x])
• Click to instantly convert checkbox to TaskNote file
• Multi-line conversion support for additional details
• Automatic link replacement in original location

When Disabled:

• No convert buttons appear in edit mode
• Checkbox tasks remain as standard Obsidian checkboxes
• Manual task creation required for TaskNotes functionality

Apply Defaults on Instant Convert Setting: useDefaultsOnInstantConvert Default: true

Determines whether instant conversion applies your configured task defaults (status, priority, contexts, tags, etc.) to converted tasks.

When Enabled:

• Converted tasks receive default status and priority
• Default contexts and tags are applied
• Default time estimates and other properties included
• Template processing applied if configured

When Disabled:

• Converted tasks use minimal default values
• Only basic task structure created
• No automatic property assignment
• Faster conversion with less processing

Natural Language Processing

Enable Natural Language Input

Setting: enableNaturalLanguageInput Default: true

Controls whether the smart input field appears in task creation modals, allowing you to create tasks by typing natural language descriptions.

When Enabled:

• Natural language input field appears in task creation modal
• Parse button available to process descriptions
• Live preview of parsed task properties
• Integration with task defaults and templates

When Disabled:

• Only standard task property fields available
• No natural language parsing capabilities
• Manual entry required for all task properties

Default Date Type for Natural Language

Setting: nlpDefaultToScheduled Default: true

When the natural language parser encounters ambiguous date references (like "tomorrow" without explicit "due" or "scheduled" keywords), this setting determines how those dates are interpreted.

When True (Default to Scheduled):

• Ambiguous dates become scheduled dates
• "Buy groceries tomorrow" → scheduled for tomorrow
• Explicit keywords still override: "due tomorrow" → due date

When False (Default to Due):

• Ambiguous dates become due dates
• "Buy groceries tomorrow" → due tomorrow
• Explicit keywords still override: "scheduled tomorrow" → scheduled date

Parsing Examples:

With nlpDefaultToScheduled: true:

• "Meeting tomorrow" → scheduled: tomorrow
• "Report due Friday" → due: Friday (explicit)
• "Call client next week" → scheduled: next week

With nlpDefaultToScheduled: false:

• "Meeting tomorrow" → due: tomorrow
• "Report scheduled Friday" → scheduled: Friday (explicit)
• "Call client next week" → due: next week

Integration Behavior

Interaction with Task Defaults

Inline task settings work together with task defaults:

Instant Conversion with Defaults:

• When useDefaultsOnInstantConvert is enabled, converted tasks inherit all configured defaults
• Default contexts, tags, status, and priority are applied
• Template processing occurs if body templates are enabled

Natural Language with Defaults:

• Parsed values override defaults where specified
• Unspecified properties use configured defaults
• Template variables populated with parsed or default values