Cover Notes

When creating PDF or SRT files, you can automatically generate markdown cover notes that link to them:

  1. Enable "Create cover note" in Settings → YouTube Transcript Settings
  2. Configure the cover note location (supports template variables: {ChannelName}, {VideoName})
  3. Optionally specify a custom template file for cover notes
  4. When a PDF or SRT file is created, a markdown cover note will be automatically generated and opened

No open file required: If "Cover note location" is configured, you can create PDF/SRT transcripts even when no document is open (the cover note location acts as the target directory). This also works with the clipboard command.

Nesting PDF and SRT Files Under Cover Notes

When "Create cover note" is enabled, PDF and SRT files are automatically nested in subfolders underneath the cover note location:

  1. Enable "Create cover note" in Settings → YouTube Transcript Settings
  2. Set the "Attachment folder" name (e.g., "Attachments", "Subtitles", etc.)
  3. Files will be automatically nested under a folder with your specified name
  4. Files will be created in: {coverNoteLocation}/{attachmentFolder}/{filename}
  5. Cover notes will be created in: {coverNoteLocation}/{videoTitle}.md and will link to all created files

Example:

  • Cover note location: Attachments
  • Attachment folder: Attachments
  • Creating both PDF and SRT:
    • Cover note: Attachments/My Video.md
    • PDF: Attachments/Attachments/My Video.pdf
    • SRT: Attachments/Attachments/My Video.srt

Cover Note Template Variables

  • {ChannelName} - Sanitized channel name
  • {VideoName} - Sanitized video title
  • {VideoUrl} - YouTube video URL
  • {Summary} - Video summary (if available)
  • {PdfLink} - Path to the PDF file (for Obsidian links)
  • {SrtLink} - Path to the SRT subtitle file (populated when SRT format is enabled in settings)
  • {VideoId} - YouTube video ID
  • {LengthSeconds} - Video duration in seconds
  • {ViewCount} - Number of views
  • {PublishDate} - Upload/publish date
  • {Description} - Video description
  • {ChannelId} - YouTube channel ID
  • {IsLive} - Whether the video is a live stream (true/false)
  • {IsPrivate} - Whether the video is private (true/false)
  • {IsUnlisted} - Whether the video is unlisted (true/false)
  • {VideoDetails.*} - Access any videoDetails field using dot notation (e.g., {VideoDetails.thumbnail.thumbnails[0].url})

Cover Note Location

  • Uses FolderSuggest for easy path selection
  • Supports template variables {ChannelName} and {VideoName} for dynamic folder organization
  • If empty, cover notes are created in the same directory as the PDF
  • Folders are automatically created if they don't exist

Custom Templates

  • Create a markdown template file with any of the template variables above
  • Set the template path in Settings → YouTube Transcript Settings → Cover Note Settings → Cover note template
  • The template will be processed with all available variables
  • If the template file is not found, the default template will be used

Migration Note (Previous Behavior)

If you previously used the plugin with useAttachmentFolderForPdf and pdfAttachmentFolderName settings, these options have been removed for simplification. The new behavior:

  • PDFs are now nested under a folder with the video title when cover notes are enabled (no configuration needed)
  • Previous custom folder names set in pdfAttachmentFolderName are no longer used
  • To organize files by channel or other criteria, use the {ChannelName} or {VideoName} template variables in the Cover note location setting instead
  • The useAttachmentFolderForPdf setting has also been removed; simply set your preferred directory in the saved directories list