# Template: Create an MOC Note with a Link Dashboard

> Create a map-of-content note with an embedded Base dashboard showing its backlinks and outgoing links, via a Template choice

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

Use this pattern when you want QuickAdd to create a new map-of-content note
that already contains a live Base dashboard for both backlinks and outgoing
links.

:::note
This example uses Obsidian's [Bases](https://help.obsidian.md/bases) core plugin
to render the dashboard, so make sure Bases is enabled in **Settings > Core
plugins** before you begin.
:::

## Why this pattern

A Template choice can create the note and insert the dashboard in one step.
The note stays markdown, while the embedded `.base` block gives you a live view
of how that note connects to the rest of your vault.

This works well for maps of knowledge, hub notes, topic notes, and evergreen
indexes.

## Setup

Imported the package above? Run **New MOC note** from the command palette and enter a title, then skip to [What you get](#what-you-get).

1. Create a reusable `.base` template, for example
   `Templates/MOC Link Dashboard.base`:

```yaml
formulas:
  note_link: "file.asLink()"
properties:
  formula.note_link:
    displayName: Note
  file.folder:
    displayName: Folder
  file.mtime:
    displayName: Updated
views:
  - type: table
    name: Backlinks
    filters:
      and:
        - 'file.ext == "md"'
        - "file.hasLink(this.file)"
        - "file.path != this.file.path"
    order:
      - formula.note_link
      - file.folder
      - file.mtime
  - type: table
    name: Outgoing links
    filters:
      and:
        - 'file.ext == "md"'
        - "this.file.hasLink(file)"
        - "file.path != this.file.path"
    order:
      - formula.note_link
      - file.folder
      - file.mtime
```

2. Create a markdown template, for example `Templates/MOC Link Dashboard.md`:

````markdown
---
tags:
  - moc
---

# {{VALUE:moc_title}}

## Link Dashboard

Use the view picker in this embedded base to switch between backlinks and
outgoing links for this note.

```base
{{TEMPLATE:Templates/MOC Link Dashboard.base}}
```

## Notes

- Start linking this note to related ideas.
````

3. Create a **Template** choice (see [the Template choice docs](/docs/Choices/TemplateChoice/)) with settings like these:

- **Template Path**: `Templates/MOC Link Dashboard.md`
- **File name**: `{{VALUE:moc_title}}` (before QuickAdd 2.30.0, this is **File name format**; turn its toggle on first)
- **Create in folder**: your MOC folder, for example `MOCs`
- **Open**: enabled
- **If the target file already exists**: `Create another file`
- **New file naming**: `Increment trailing number`

4. Run the Template choice and enter a title such as `Alpha Project`.

## What you get

QuickAdd creates a new markdown note with an embedded Base block.
Inside the note:

- `Backlinks` shows notes that link to the new MOC.
- `Outgoing links` shows notes the MOC links to.
- Both views use `this.file`, so the dashboard automatically scopes itself to
  the note that was just created.

After the note exists, add links in either direction and the dashboard updates
with the current graph around that note.

![MOC link dashboard template demo](../Images/template_moc_link_dashboard_demo.png)