Choosing which heading to add a capture only if a certain one doesn't exist

[asmagen]

I'm trying to capture to any file I choose in the DB, to a default column called To Do, but in files where I have a different format for whatever reason, I want to be asked for which existing column to add to (but not asked when To Do exists). How can I do that?

Thanks

[chhoumann]

Coming back to this one very, very late - sorry about that. The good news: both halves of what you asked for exist now, and neither did back in 2022.

Option A, which I'd recommend: set Insert after to ## To Do and enable Create line if not found. Files that already have the heading get the capture under it, silently; files that don't get the heading created automatically instead of asking you anything. Every file ends up with the same structure, which sounds like what you were normalizing toward anyway.

Option B, if you'd rather choose yourself in the odd-format files: enable Choose heading when capturing. At capture time you get a dropdown of the destination note's actual headings, and you can type one that doesn't exist yet (with Create line if not found on, QuickAdd creates it). The trade-off: it always asks, not only when To Do is missing.

The exact conditional you described - silent when To Do exists, prompt otherwise - isn't declarative in the UI. It would take a small macro user script that reads app.metadataCache.getFileCache(file).headings and branches. Happy to sketch that if neither option above fits your workflow.

Docs: https://quickadd.obsidian.guide/docs/Choices/CaptureChoice#insert-after