Templates let you start any note with a pre-filled structure instead of a blank page. Vist ships with a set of default templates for common note types — meeting notes, daily journals, project kick-offs — and you can create and edit your own. Template variables make notes dynamic: the current date fills in automatically, today's tasks appear as a live checklist, and a daily journal prompt changes each morning.
Using a template
When you create a new note, the template picker appears. Select any template and the new note opens with its content pre-filled and all variables resolved.
You can also open the template picker from:
- The command palette (
Cmd+K, then type "new note from template") - The New note button dropdown in the note list panel
Modifying a template
- Open Settings → Templates
- Hover over any template and click Edit
- The template editor opens — it uses the same rich text editor as your notes, so all formatting options are available
- Make your changes and save
Templates marked Default are built-in system templates. They can be edited but not deleted.
Creating your own template
- Open Settings → Templates
- Click Create new template at the bottom of the list
- Give the template a name, an optional short description, and an optional emoji icon
- Write the template body — include variables (see below) to make it dynamic
- Save
Your template appears in the template picker immediately.
Template variables
Insert variables by typing them directly in the template editor. They are replaced with their resolved values each time you use the template.
Date and time
| Variable | Output | Example |
|---|---|---|
{{date}} |
Full date | January 21, 2026 |
{{date:short}} |
Short date | 21-Jan-26 |
{{date:iso}} |
ISO 8601 | 2026-01-21 |
{{date:long}} |
Full date with weekday | Tuesday, January 21, 2026 |
{{date:time}} |
Time only | 14:30 |
{{date:datetime}} |
Date and time | January 21, 2026 14:30 |
All date variables use your account's time zone.
Dynamic content
| Variable | Inserts |
|---|---|
{{tasks:today}} |
A checklist of all tasks due today |
{{tasks:overdue}} |
A checklist of all overdue tasks |
{{tasks:incomplete}} |
A checklist of all incomplete tasks |
{{journal:prompt}} |
Today's journal prompt — a quote or reflection question, changes daily |
{{briefing}} |
A short AI-generated briefing summarising your day's context |
Daily note template
A daily note is a note Vist creates automatically on your first visit of each day, using a template you choose and a folder you specify.
To set it up:
- Open Settings → Daily Note
- Choose the folder where daily notes should be created
- Choose the template to use
Recommended template content:
Use {{date:long}} as the note title (e.g. "Tuesday, January 21, 2026"). In the body, {{tasks:today}} gives you your task list for the day and {{briefing}} adds a short AI-generated summary of your context. {{journal:prompt}} adds a daily reflection question at the top if you keep a journal alongside your tasks.