Johnny.Decimal Folder Setup for Obsidian

This project automates the creation of a comprehensive, multi-level Johnny.Decimal folder structure for use in an Obsidian vault (or any other system). It also provides specialized markdown templates for different categories, ensuring consistent note-taking.

What is Johnny.Decimal?

Johnny.Decimal is an organizational system that helps you structure your files and folders in a logical, numerical way. It uses a hierarchical structure:

• Areas (10-19, 20-29, etc.) - Broad categories of information
• Categories (11, 12, 13, etc.) - Specific topics within an area
• IDs (11.01, 11.02, etc.) - Individual items within a category

This system makes it easy to find information, maintain organization, and prevent folder sprawl.

Contents

1. setup_jd.sh
   A bash script that reads a lines-based configuration from jd_structure.txt and creates all folders accordingly.

   • Each "final folder" gets a markdown file named after the folder, based on the template type (e.g., inbox, archive, deal_memo, or generic).

2. jd_structure.txt.example
   An example configuration file showing how to structure your Johnny.Decimal system.

   • You'll rename this to jd_structure.txt and customize it for your needs.

3. README.md (this file)
   Explains what the project is, how to install and run it, and how to customize your Johnny.Decimal configuration.

Setup Instructions

1. Prepare Your Configuration

First, create your own configuration file by renaming the example:

cp jd_structure.txt.example jd_structure.txt

2. Customize Your Structure

Edit the jd_structure.txt file to match your desired Johnny.Decimal system:

nano jd_structure.txt  # or use any text editor you prefer

Each line in the file follows this format:

<Area> | <Category> | <Final Folder> | <TemplateType>

For example:

10-19 Personal|11 🙋 Identity & Documents|11.10 ■ Documents 📑|generic

• Area: The broad category (e.g., "10-19 Personal")
• Category: A subcategory (e.g., "11 🙋 Identity & Documents")
• Final Folder: The specific folder (e.g., "11.10 ■ Documents 📑")
• Template Type: The type of template to use (optional, defaults to "generic")
  • Available templates: generic, inbox, archive, deal_memo

Lines starting with # are treated as comments and ignored.

3. Make the Script Executable

chmod +x setup_jd.sh

4. Run the Script

./setup_jd.sh

The script will:

1. Create the entire folder structure defined in your jd_structure.txt
2. Generate appropriate markdown files in each final folder
3. Name each markdown file after its containing folder (with special characters handled properly)

5. Explore Your New Structure

After running the script, you'll have a complete Johnny.Decimal folder structure in the Johnny.Decimal directory. You can:

• Move this into your Obsidian vault
• Use it as a standalone organizational system
• Customize the templates further by editing the get_template() function in the script

Customizing Templates

The script includes several predefined templates:

• generic: A general-purpose template for most notes
• inbox: For temporary storage of unsorted items
• archive: For long-term storage of completed items
• deal_memo: A specialized template for deal memos (if applicable)

You can customize these templates by editing the get_template() function in the setup_jd.sh script.

Example Structure

The example structure includes areas for:

• 00-09 Meta System: System-level organization
• 10-19 Personal: Personal life management
• 20-29 Professional: Career and skills
• 30-39 Business: Business operations
• 40-49 Projects: Project management
• 50-59 Knowledge: Learning and ideas
• 90-99 Archive: Archived materials

Feel free to adapt this structure to your specific needs!

Compatibility

This script is designed to work with:

• macOS
• Linux
• Any system with a bash-compatible shell
• Older bash versions (no advanced features required)

License

This project is open source and available for anyone to use and modify.

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Happy organizing!