Create your first TA theme in Obsidian

This part is relatively easy. Once you have at least one code created (although probably after you have created quite a few and are beginning to see themes emerging)….

1. Create the theme notes

1. Navigate to one of your codes
2. In the ‘Themes’ property, type the two left square brackets, like you did when you were creating the code. This starts the note creation process.
3. Type the name of your theme.
4. Type two right square brackets and press return to finish the process. See screenshot below.

![[Creating a theme.png]]

Apply the template

1. Click on the note name to navigate to it.
2. Insert your theme template in one of these ways:
   1. Slightly cool way: Type Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) and type temp to filter to the Templates: insert template command, and press return.

   2. Coolest way: Type the keyboard shortcut you selected in the [[1. Setting up your vault for Thematic Analysis

      setup phase]] (like Cmd+Option+T)

   3. Select your Semantic theme template.
3. The properties will populate. The Auto note mover plugin will move your code into the Codes folder and you will see a little notification that it has been moved.
4. You will notice that the ‘Relevant codes’ list will already be populated by the code that you just linked from.

Applying the same theme to new codes Once you’ve linked to a theme once from a code’s properties, Obsidian will remember it. Next time you can just click into that property and start typing the two left square brackets, start typing the name of the theme you want to link to.

Created for the ResBaz 2026 workshop: Thematic Analysis Using Obsidian — Thursday 25 June, 11am–12:30pm, Room KG-5151.