**Created**:: [[2021-10-15 Friday]] **Link**:: https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU **Duration**:: 5:20  # Summary In this video, the presenter discusses how to integrate actions captured during drawing sessions on an Excalidraw whiteboard into a GTD (Getting Things Done) workflow within Obsidian. The use of Excalidraw enhances creativity during discussions, and the presenter highlights the ease of capturing actionable items in a way that prevents them from being lost or forgotten. Overall, the method promotes effective follow-up on promises made during workshops. # Key Takeaways - Excalidraw offers a flexible platform for collaborative drawing, making it ideal for capturing ideas and actions during discussions. - Incorporating a GTD workflow in Obsidian allows for structured tracking of tasks derived from whiteboard sessions. - The presenter demonstrates multiple ways to access and manage captured actions, including a custom GTD plugin, DataView queries, and the built-in search functionality in Obsidian. # Content Hey. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=0) In today's video, I will explore how to integrate actions captured on an Excalidraw whiteboard into your GTD workflow in Obsidian. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=1) Needless to say, I love whiteboards and flip charts. There are few things more effective in focusing a discussion than a simple drawing that everyone can point to and reference. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=4) The process of drawing catalyzes the creativity of the people in the room, but I struggle with capturing and tracking actions scribbled on the whiteboard or flip chart. In a traditional setting, these actions typically end up in eight minutes of meetings and several days—maybe weeks—after the event, most probably taken out of context of the whiteboard. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=10) After another couple of weeks, we all scratch our heads trying to make sense of them until we give up, and the action everyone was so passionate about at the time of the workshop ends up in the recycle bin. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=43) This is an example whiteboard from a two-day workshop with my team from just last week. We were discussing teams' ways of working and developed the Middle Theme Interaction Chart using Excalidraw to facilitate our discussion. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=56) Excalidraw proved to be an excellent whiteboard. There were 17 of us in the conference room engaged in a discussion around the drawing. Excalidraw's flexibility to rearrange ideas on the whiteboard was essential to the end result. Even though we also had a flip chart in the room, we barely touched it. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=88) Given the nature of our topic, it would have been significantly more difficult to draw this on a flip chart or whiteboard, even if we were using post-it notes to make the drawing a bit easier to rearrange. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=104) Not to mention that post-its tend to fall off the whiteboard and are impossible to pack at the end of the meeting. All you can do is take a photo and hope for the best. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=112) With the Excalidraw whiteboard, however, I was able to work on the material even after the workshop. In the case of our workshop last week, we simply listed actions at the top of the chart. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=126) In case you would want to link action parties and dates to your to-do items, it is best to open Excalidraw in markdown mode and add the actions there. For this to work, you first need to create the text element that will hold the actions, then switch to markdown mode to edit the actions. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=141) I have a GTD pattern to capture to-dos. I start with a tag to identify the context of the action. My three contexts are "waiting for," "discuss with," and "promised to." This is followed by the name of the person, then the deadline, and finally the action itself. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=169) Because Excalidraw does not wrap text, I place action details into bullet points nested under the action. When I'm done, these actions become standard Obsidian to-do items. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=195) I'll quickly show you three ways to access these actions. The first is my own GTD plugin. It is not perfect, and I haven't published it in the community plugin store, but it gets the job done. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=203) As you can see, I can click to complete an action, and it immediately gets completed on the drawing as well. Another option for accessing to-do items is using DataView. In this example, I'm using the query published by Chris alias TFT Hacker. I'll include a link to his script in the video description. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=221) Finally, you can also use the built-in Obsidian search function to access actions and to view action details. I recommend learning the task "to do" and "task done" search options to filter on to-do items with this approach. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=248) Capturing actions on the whiteboard allows me to follow up on promises made at the workshop during the coming weeks using my already established GTD workflow. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=266) In closing, I've found this process efficient and straightforward. Excalidraw provided a very flexible infinite whiteboard to help facilitate the discussion. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=280) Integration between Excalidraw and Obsidian ensures that actions captured during the meeting will not get forgotten on flip charts or get lost in emails, but are picked up by my task management workflow in Obsidian, helping me follow up actions and delivering on agreements. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=292) This simple, interactive process has made a huge difference in our workshop. Thank you. [* ](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=316) # YouTube Details ## YouTube Description If you find the plugin and/or my videos helpful, please say thanks by buying me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/zsolt If you'd like to request a feature or report a bug, please raise it on GitHub: https://github.com/zsviczian/obsidian-excalidraw-plugin If you want to connect, you can reach me (@zsviczian) in the Obsidian Members Group (OMG) on Discord or on Twitter. Links --------- @TfTHacker's Tasks by Date - for Obsidian and Dataview.js: https://gist.github.com/TfTHacker/4e019abd25c58de57376add6e3aa4173 My GTD plugin: https://github.com/zsviczian/Obsidian-GTD-plugin/releases GTD related articles on my blog: https://www.zsolt.blog/search/label/GTD Obsidian: https://obsidian.md Credits ----------- Whiteboard photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/@thisisengineering?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels Paper dumpster photo by Alfonso Navarro from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@poncho_nj?utm_source=beautifulai&utm_medium=referral Sticky notes on the floor photo by Brands&People from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@brandsandpeople?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText ## YouTube Transcript [hey](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=0) [in today's video i will explore how to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=1) [integrate actions captured on an](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=4) [xcolidro whiteboard into your gtd](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=6) [workflow in obsidian](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=10) [needless to say i love white boards and](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=13) [flip charts](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=15) [there are few things more effective in](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=17) [focusing a discussion than a simple](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=19) [drawing that everyone can point to and](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=21) [reference](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=24) [the process of drawing catalyzes the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=25) [creativity of the people in the room](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=27) [but i struggle with capturing and](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=31) [tracking actions scribbled on the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=34) [whiteboard or flip chart](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=36) [in a traditional setting these actions](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=38) [typically end up in eight minutes of](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=41) [meetings and several days](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=43) [maybe weeks after the event most](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=45) [probably taken out of context of the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=47) [white board](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=49) [after another couple of weeks we all](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=51) [scratch our heads trying to make sense](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=53) [of them](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=55) [until we give up and the action everyone](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=56) [was so passionate about at the time of](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=59) [the workshop ends up in the recycle bin](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=61) [this is an example whiteboard from a two](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=65) [days workshop with my team from just](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=67) [last week](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=70) [we were discussing teams ways of working](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=71) [and developed the middle theme](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=74) [interaction chart using xcollidraw to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=76) [facilitate our discussion](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=79) [exculidrop proved to be an excellent](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=82) [whiteboard there were 17 of us in the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=84) [conference room engaged in a discussion](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=88) [around the drawing](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=90) [xcolidro's flexibility to rearrange](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=92) [ideas on the whiteboard was essential to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=95) [the end result even though we also had a](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=98) [flip chart in the room we barely touched](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=102) [it](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=104) [given the nature of our topic it would](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=105) [have been significantly more difficult](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=108) [to draw this on a flip chart or white](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=110) [board even if we were using post-it](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=112) [notes to make the drawing a bit easier](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=115) [to rearrange](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=117) [not to mention that post-its tend to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=119) [fall off the whiteboard](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=121) [and are impossible to pack at the end of](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=123) [the meeting all you can do is take a](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=126) [photo and hope for the best](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=129) [with the excalitra white board however i](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=132) [was able to work on the material even](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=135) [after the workshop in case of our](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=137) [workshop last week we simply listed](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=140) [actions at the top of the chart](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=142) [in case you would want to link action](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=145) [parties and dates to your to-do items it](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=147) [is best to open xcolitra in markdown](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=150) [mode and add the actions there for this](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=152) [to work you first need to create the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=156) [text element that will hold the actions](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=159) [then switch to markdown mode to edit the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=162) [actions](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=165) [i have a gtd pattern to capture to-do's](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=166) [i start with a tag to identify the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=169) [context of the action](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=172) [my three contacts are waiting for](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=174) [discuss with and promised to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=177) [this is followed by the name of the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=180) [person then the deadline and finally the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=182) [action itself](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=186) [because excalidraw does not wrap text i](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=188) [place action details into bullet points](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=191) [nested under the action](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=195) [when i'm done these actions become](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=197) [standard obsidian to do items](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=200) [i'll quickly show you three ways to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=203) [access these actions](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=205) [the first is my own gtd plugin it is not](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=207) [perfect and i haven't published it in](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=210) [the community plugin store but it gets](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=214) [the job done](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=217) [as you can see i can click to complete](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=218) [an action](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=221) [and it immediately gets completed on the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=222) [drawing as well](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=226) [another option for accessing to do items](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=227) [is using data view](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=230) [in this example i'm using the query](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=232) [published by chris alias tft hacker](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=235) [i'll include a link to his script in the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=239) [video description](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=242) [finally you can also use the built in](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=244) [obsidian search function to access](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=248) [actions and to view action details](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=251) [i recommend learning the task to do and](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=255) [task done search options to filter on](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=258) [to-do items with this approach to](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=262) [capturing actions on the whiteboard i](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=264) [will be able to follow up promises made](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=267) [at the workshop during the coming weeks](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=270) [using my already established gtd](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=273) [workflow in closing i found this process](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=276) [efficient and straightforward xcolidraw](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=280) [provided a very flexible infinite](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=283) [whiteboard to help facilitate the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=285) [discussion](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=287) [integration between excolidron obsidian](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=289) [ensures that actions captured during the](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=292) [meeting will not get forgotten on flip](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=295) [charts or get lost in emails but are](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=297) [picked up by my task management workflow](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=300) [in obsidian](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=304) [helping me follow up actions and](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=305) [delivering on agreements](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=308) [this simple](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=310) [interactive process](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=312) [has made a huge difference in our](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=314) [workshop](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=316) [thank you](https://youtu.be/3MNFkhQcFTU?t=318)