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How to set up a collaborative vault for course in AiEthics

How to set up a vault for collaboration in Obsidian using Peerdrafts for Teams

Version: Ethics of AI module fo rDigital Ethics (Spring 2024)

  1. Download and install Obsidian.
  2. Set up a folder to contain your Obsidian vaults (you'll probably have more than one).
    • It makes sense to have all your Obsidian vaults in one folder in your "root directory".
    • I call my folder "Obsidian Vaults".
    • Putting it in the root directory avoids conflicts with cloud permissions, etc.
    • Keep in mind: Obsidian only works with file that are on your hard disk, and so if you put it in a folder synced by Dropbox or OneDrive, etc., and they flake out, you can get conflicts.
    • Make a note of the location.
  3. Now, download the most recent ZIP file of the "Seed vault" from the SurfDrive folder for AiEthics zip files. It is called "DigitalEthicsAi-2025 student version"
  4. After you download it, move it to your "Obsidian Vaults" folder and unzip the ZIP file in that folder (you can delete the ZIP file if you want, but it might be good to hang onto it. The resulting folder contains the foundation for your AiEthics vault, and contains THREE key elements.
    • .obsidian (config package): This is a key package file, and it might be "hidden". It's the "configuration package file" ; on a Mac, if you are in the Finder and press ⌘-⇧-. (that's a command-shift-period/full stop), you can see hidden files/folders. The configuration folder appears at the top of the folder and is named .obsidian. Inside that folder, the plugins and settings are stored. I've set you up with a lightly customized version.
    • "Synced Notes": This folder contains several subfolders of notes that are set up to synchronize with other collaborators using an Obsidian community plugin called "Peerdraft" (The sync updates once you open the folders in a vault with the plugin Peerdraft enabled.)
      • These are the primary notes for this collaboration, and any changes you make to them will affect the files in the Obsidian vaults
        • Remember what Spiderman says: "With great power comes great responsibility!" 🕸️
      • Each of the notes (as well as the top-level subfolder) also has a URL assigned to it, which means that anyone you share the (unguessable) URL with can work on a note from the browser – in real time with others, whether they have the note open in their browser or their Obsidian vault.
      • Using the Obsidian community plug-in "Colorful note borders", I've given all syncing notes a bright purple border. You can turn that off in the settings for the plug-in, if you like.
    • "Unsynced Notes": This is a static set of notes and any change you make to them will be changed only in your vault: they do not sync. Most of the more interesting notes are in the "Synced Folder" (see above).
      - The unsynced notes include the Attachments folder
      - For this vault, the This is called "AiEthics - Attachments (PDFs + images)"
      - Since Peerdraft (at this point) only synchronizes markdown files (lightweight plain-text files), this is where other files – PDFs, image files, etc. – have to be stored.
      - This vault's settings ensure that any non-plain-text files are moved to the designated folder with attachments.
      - If you want others to be able to see the attachments you add, please put them in the External Link to folder with more attachments – and you may want to go there to check whether new items have been added.
  5. Back in Obsidian… you now need to set up your AiEthics vault.
    • In the Command Palette select Open Another Vault
      • You can also go to the bottom of the left side panel and click on the name of the vault that is open and select "Manage vaults".
    • Select the option "OPEN" next to Open folder as vault: Choose an existing folder of Markdown files.
    • Navigate in your computer's file system to the folder you just unzipped, "DigitalEthicsAI". Select the folder and click "OPEN."
    • You'll get a warning about trusting where you got this folder and about turning on the Community Plugins. Be sure to accept "turn on Community Plugins" – you'll need this.
    • If you have questions, review the Obsidian help page's instructions for Obsidian Help: How to set up a vault by opening an existing folder
  6. Congratulations! At this point, you'll have a working vault which will include both syncing folder (with Peerdraft) and static folders.
    • If you ever need to add a further folder or note that is set up to share with Peerdraft, you can do that with the "Peerdraft: Join session and add document from someone else" command and the relevant URL.
    • More on working with the Peerdraft plugin
These are the CURRENT URLs for the shared folders for this collaboration (with date-stamp)

This can also be viewed in a browser, but most of the formatting is missing, and the links between the notes don't work. But this URL can be shared, and sometimes it's an easy way to make quick changes.