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Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions. For general questions, see FAQ.

Bases View Filter Errors​

Error:

Failed to evaluate a filter: Type error in "contains" parameter "value". Expected String, given File.

Cause: Relationship properties are set to empty strings ("") instead of valid values.

Fix: Use null for empty relationships, not empty strings:

# Correct
Parent: null
Child: null

# Incorrect — causes filter errors
Parent: ""
Child: ""

Valid formats are null (no relationship), a single wiki link ("[[Note]]"), or a list of wiki links. See Bidirectional Sync for property formats.

note

Nodes created after v1.6.0 use null for excluded properties automatically.

Graph Not Showing Nodes​

  1. File must be in an indexed directory (default: ["*"] scans all)
  2. File needs Parent, Child, or Related properties in frontmatter
  3. Clear any active filters to test
  4. Match view mode to relationship type (Hierarchical for parent-child, Related for related)

Expression Rules Not Working​

Applies to both color rules and filter expressions:

  1. Expression must be valid JavaScript
  2. Property names are case-sensitive — status is not Status
  3. Strings need quotes: status === 'active' (not status === active)
  4. Rule must be enabled (checkbox checked)
  5. For color rules: order matters — first match wins
  6. Verify the property exists using tooltips
  7. Check console for errors: Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I

Console Errors​

Open the developer console (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I → Console tab) to check for errors.

Common errors:

  • "File not found" — Orphaned relationship; run a full rescan
  • "Invalid expression" — Fix JavaScript syntax in color rules or filters
  • "Circular relationship" — System prevented a circular link (working as intended)
  • "Property not found" — Property doesn't exist in the file's frontmatter

Get Help​

Bug report checklist:

  • Obsidian version (Help → About)
  • Plugin version (Settings → Community Plugins)
  • Console errors (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I)
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Expected vs actual behavior

Where to get help: