Bases Checkbox Router edits different status keys in one column

Name: Bases Checkbox Router
Author: theluckystrike

Change read or watched from one Bases column.

Install in Obsidian

Directory page Source on GitHub

MIT · no telemetry · core features free

A reading base shows source keys beside status controls and an inactive row without a valid key. — Open larger

version: 1.1.0
released: 2026-10-21
downloads: 22
review: Passed
health: Excellent
license: MIT
listed for: Desktop, Mobile
obsidian: 1.13.4 or later

Physical phones, tablets, screen readers and cross-device sync conflicts were not tested.

Directory facts fetched 2026-10-23 07:28 UTC from community.obsidian.md/users/theluckystrike.

About Bases Checkbox Router

You keep books and films in one base and use different Boolean properties for their status.

Your films can use watched while your books use read. Bases Checkbox Router puts their existing Boolean properties in one status column and shows the source key beside each control.

A false value still qualifies. The router skips text values and leaves controls inactive when no suitable Boolean property exists.

A reading base with free routing, type rules and a second routed column

Free features

One column with visible source keys

The router selects the first existing Boolean property in your saved order. It shows that key beside the control and doesn't create missing properties. Base filters, sort and limit choose the displayed notes.

Save the key order with the view

Save an ordered list of case-sensitive, top-level property names for each view. Putting read before watched changes which existing Boolean takes priority. An empty saved list leaves the controls inactive.

The saved order gives read priority for a note with both keys. — Open larger

Check the source before a write

The router checks the current key and prior Boolean value before writing. A changed value, deleted key or new higher-priority key stops that write. It reads the file again before enabling the controls.

A changed source stops a write and shows a refresh message. — Open larger

Open the source note

Select a note name to open its source, with the path shown underneath. Ctrl-click or Cmd-click asks Obsidian to open a new tab. Control labels include the note name, column name and source key.

Note names and paths appear beside controls with visible source keys. — Open larger

The free version has one Status column with a saved key order; type rules and extra columns need Pro.

Pro features

Pro costs $5 a month or $15 one time through GitHub Sponsors. One sponsorship turns on Pro in every plugin that has it.

Saved rules for note types Pro

Use book=read or movie=watched to choose main-column keys by the string type property. The first matching rule supplies its ordered keys. Types without a matching rule use the free key order.

A book type rule chooses read for the main status control. — Open larger

Several routed columns Pro

Add Review=reviewed,checked to create a column with its own ordered keys. Extra columns show their source keys and don't use the main column type rules. Saved extra columns stay inactive when Pro is off.

Status and Review columns show separate source keys for each note. — Open larger

See how Pro works

Set up Bases Checkbox Router

needs

Obsidian 1.13.4 or later
The core plugin Bases, turned on
Create Boolean properties in your source notes before using the router.

steps

Open a base and filter it to select your notes.
Add a view with the type Checkbox router.
Enter property keys in the required order in view options.
Check the source key beside a control before changing its value.
If a refresh message appears, inspect the current row before trying again.

If the app can't find a new plugin yet, try again later. Obsidian says a plugin that passes the review shows in the app within 24 hours.

How to edit different checkbox properties in one Obsidian base

Known limits of Bases Checkbox Router

The router edits existing top-level Boolean properties; it does not create missing keys or edit formula results.
Property keys and type values are case sensitive, and the rule syntax cannot enter a comma in a property name.
Group headings and extra plain property columns are outside this version.
Obsidian can normalize YAML formatting when it writes the chosen property.
Physical phones, tablets, screen readers, Linux app sessions and cross-device sync conflicts were not tested.
No performance limit has been measured for large vaults.

Questions about Bases Checkbox Router

Does false make the router try the next property?

No. False is a valid Boolean value. With watched before read, watched takes priority even when read is true.

Can it edit a formula or create a missing property?

No. The router edits existing Boolean properties in your notes. It can't invert a formula result or create a missing key.

Does it preserve YAML formatting exactly?

Obsidian writes the selected property through processFrontMatter, which can normalize YAML formatting. Byte-for-byte preservation is not promised.

What stays available when Pro turns off?

The free Status column and its ordered key list remain available. Saved type rules and extra columns stay in the base but don't affect routing.

Network use

Before you select Sign in with GitHub, the plugin makes no network requests. Sign-in sends a client ID, read:user scope and device-flow codes to github.com; authenticated requests to api.github.com check sponsorship. Checks reuse success for seven days, retry failures after six hours, or run on Refresh; they send no vault data.

Read the full network disclosure