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Find notes by meaning

Updated for SystemSculpt 6.18 ·

SystemSculpt's semantic index helps find notes about a similar idea, even when they use different words. Indexing sends eligible note text, and semantic search sends query text, to hosted SystemSculpt AI to generate embeddings using credits. The vector index is stored locally. These requests are separate from using a native CLI for chat.

On this page

Choose what to index

  1. Open Settings → SystemSculpt AI → Knowledge and turn on Similar notes.
  2. Review Exclude chat history and Respect Obsidian exclusions.
  3. Use Excluded folders → Add folder and Excluded patterns → Add pattern for content you do not want in ordinary discovery.
  4. Inspect Index status, Refresh status and View remaining files to see progress.

Indexing runs in the background or on demand. Ordinary edits do not require a full manual rebuild. Exclusions also affect hosted discovery tools, but an explicitly named or pinned file can still be supplied to chat. Exclusions are not a security boundary for content you deliberately attach.

SystemSculpt's Knowledge settings with Similar notes turned on, Index status, Rebuild index, Exclude chat history and Respect Obsidian exclusions.SystemSculpt's Knowledge settings with Similar notes turned on, Index status, Rebuild index, Exclude chat history and Respect Obsidian exclusions.
Knowledge settings: turn on Similar notes, check the index status and choose what to skip.

Run Open search to search your vault, or Open similar notes panel to find notes related to your current note. Text matches appear as you type; semantic matches appear after a pause when the query has at least three characters. That mix of exact words and meaning is hybrid search. Open a result to read it in context before relying on the match.

SystemSculpt vault search for where the old boat used to cross, with the Old ferry crossing note as the first result.SystemSculpt vault search for where the old boat used to cross, with the Old ferry crossing note as the first result.
Vault search adds matches by meaning to ordinary text matches.
Obsidian with Chapter 3 open and the Similar Notes panel listing related notes with their scores, from Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 to Saltmarsh plants, Harbourmaster — Ines and Old ferry crossing.Obsidian with Chapter 3 open and the Similar Notes panel listing related notes with their scores, from Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 to Saltmarsh plants, Harbourmaster — Ines and Old ferry crossing.
Similar Notes lists related notes beside the chapter you're editing.

Indexing and meaning matches use SystemSculpt credits; text matches do not. Eligible new accounts can claim 500 one-time starter credits with no card. Paid plans add credits every month: compare plans.

Repair an index only when needed

Check enabled state, exclusions and remaining files first. If the index genuinely needs replacing, use Knowledge → Rebuild index → Rebuild, then confirm Rebuild. Re-indexing is hosted work and can use credits. Portable index files exist, but your sync tool must actually include the required files; do not assume every sync service handles dot-folders the same way.

Read the semantic-search guide or use Troubleshooting if expected results are missing.

Still need help? Contact SystemSculpt.