# Create a meeting note and start typing

> Create a meeting note or add a project update, then keep typing where you put the CURSOR marker.

> Ready-made QuickAdd package for this workflow: [package JSON](https://quickadd.obsidian.guide/packages/meeting-notes.quickadd.json). Copy its contents and import them in Obsidian via **Settings → QuickAdd → Import package…**.

Create a dated meeting note, answer one question, and start typing under **Notes**. Then use the same `{{CURSOR}}` marker to add an update to an existing project note.

These examples require QuickAdd 2.27.0 or later, and the package above needs QuickAdd 2.30.0 or later. They use QuickAdd's own templates, so you do not need Templater.

## Create the meeting template

Imported the package above? Both templates and both choices are already set up, so skip to [Run it and start typing](#run-it-and-start-typing).

Create folders named `Templates` and `Meetings` in your vault. In `Templates`, create a note named `Meeting` and paste this content:

```markdown title="Templates/Meeting.md"
# {{VALUE:Meeting}}

Date: {{DATE:YYYY-MM-DD}}

## Notes
- {{CURSOR}}

## Next steps
- [ ] 
```

`{{VALUE:Meeting}}` asks for the meeting name. `{{DATE:YYYY-MM-DD}}` fills in today's date. `{{CURSOR}}` marks where you want to type after QuickAdd creates the note.

## Configure the choice

1. Open **Settings → QuickAdd** and choose **New choice → New note from a template**.
2. Set **Name** to `New meeting`. (Before QuickAdd 2.30.0, click the choice name at the top of the settings window, rename it, and confirm with **Ok**.)
3. Set **Template** to `Templates/Meeting.md`.
4. In **Note name**, enter (before QuickAdd 2.30.0, this is **File name format**; turn its toggle on first):

   ```text
   {{DATE:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{VALUE:Meeting}}
   ```

5. In **Folder**, enter `Meetings`. (Before QuickAdd 2.30.0, set **New note location** to **In a specific folder**, enter `Meetings` in **Folder path**, and click **Add**.)
6. Click **More settings**. Turn **Open** on. Set **Opening location** to **Reuse current tab** and **View mode** to **Live Preview**.
7. Close Settings. Leaving the page saves it. (Before QuickAdd 2.30.0, choose **Done** first.)

![The New meeting choice's Behavior settings with Open on, Opening location set to Reuse current tab, and View mode set to Live Preview](../Images/examples/meeting-open-settings.png)

## Run it and start typing

1. Open Obsidian's command palette and run **QuickAdd: Run**.
2. Choose **New meeting**.
3. Enter `Website planning` for **Meeting** and choose **Ok**.
4. Without clicking in the note, type `Agree on the first three pages.`

QuickAdd creates a note in `Meetings` with today's date in the file name. On September 20, 2026, that file is `Meetings/2026-09-20 Website planning.md`:

```markdown
# Website planning

Date: 2026-09-20

## Notes
- Agree on the first three pages.

## Next steps
- [ ]
```

The marker is gone, and your sentence appears in the first bullet under **Notes**. QuickAdd uses your meeting name in both the file name and the heading without asking twice.

![A meeting note created in Obsidian, with the title and date filled in and the first sentence typed under Notes](../Images/examples/meeting-result.png)

To start in **Next steps** instead, remove the marker from **Notes** and change the checklist line to `- [ ] {{CURSOR}}`. The first marker in the note body sets the cursor position. QuickAdd removes any additional markers.

## Add an update to an existing project

Use a second template when you want to keep a project's history in one note.

Imported the package? Open a project note in **Live Preview**, click in the note body, and run **Add project update** from the command palette. The steps below build the same thing by hand.

1. Create a `Templates` folder if you do not already have one. Create `Templates/Project update.md` with:

   ```markdown
   ## Update - {{DATE:YYYY-MM-DD}}

   ### Progress
   - {{CURSOR}}

   ### Next steps
   - [ ] 
   ```

2. Open **Settings → QuickAdd**.
3. Under **Template folders**, click **Add folder** (or **+**, once you have a folder) and choose `Templates`. If `Templates` is already listed, leave it as it is. Before QuickAdd 2.30.0, the setting is **Template folder paths** under **Templates & properties**: enter `Templates` and click **Add**.
4. Close Settings.
5. Create a `Projects` folder and `Projects/Website.md` with:

   ```markdown
   # Website

   Build a clear three-page site for the pottery studio.

   ## Decisions
   - Start with Home, Work, and Contact.
   ```

6. Open `Projects/Website.md` in **Live Preview** or **Source mode** and click in the note body.
7. From the command palette, run **QuickAdd: Apply template to active note**.
8. Choose **Template: Templates/Project update.md**.
9. Choose **Append to bottom**.
10. Without clicking in the note, type `The homepage draft is ready for review.`

The file keeps its name, description, and **Decisions** section. QuickAdd adds a dated section at the bottom:

```markdown
## Update - 2026-09-20

### Progress
- The homepage draft is ready for review.

### Next steps
- [ ]
```

![Applying the Project update template in Obsidian, choosing Append to bottom, and typing into the new Progress bullet while the original Decisions remain above](../Images/examples/project-update-demo.gif)

Recorded in Obsidian; played at twice the original speed.

Apply this template again for the next update. You do not need a separate Template choice for this workflow.

## Use the marker in your own templates

Put `{{CURSOR}}` wherever you want to continue typing in the note body. The destination must be focused in an editing mode. For a Template choice that creates a note, turn **Open** on and choose **Live Preview** or **Source**. If you open a new tab or pane, also turn **Focus new pane** on.

For a note you already have open, use **Live Preview** or **Source mode**. The marker does not switch a note out of Reading view or bring a background tab into focus.

See [cursor position](/docs/FormatSyntax/#cursor) for the full behavior and [Apply Template to Note](/docs/ApplyTemplateToNote/) for the other insertion modes.