Rename Tiddlers But Don't Break The Links To Them

[Adam]

Greetings,

I have seen that there has been many discussions around the same subject but because all of them were quite old I want to ask if there has been any update regarding this issue.

Is there any way to rename tiddlers but keep the links to them intact?

I have seen that when I rename a tiddler I am told that the references will not be maintained and I am presented with them. If TiddlyWiki already knows about all the references why doesn't it update them automatically like the tags?

Cheers,

Adam

[TonyM]

Adam,

It all depends on how you reference the tiddler. If the tiddlername is stored in the text or within a field (excluding the list field) the link may fall out. The Quickest and easiest way to avoid broken links is to use tags. When you rename a tag it is updated where ever it is used (Except as above). Remember any tidder can be a tag as well.

The other references and backlinks are maintained or refreshed.

As a long time user I have little need to worry about this by using careful naming standards, and being able to determine where I will need to change it if I have to.

The key thing to understand is tiddlers are effectively named with their unique key. This puts the tiddler at the centre of tiddlywiki and results in many of its strengths for organising information. Putting content into data tiddlers, and using the lookup operator are some of the ways to address renaming issues and a few of us have faced issues where we needed to build in renaming as a solution. We can help you with this. 

Another way is to use the caption field to have an alternate name appear in lists but use the tiddler name for links. See also the alias and uni-link plugin for even more alternatives.

Personally my solution is to create a unique tiddler ID in a tiddlers who I want to enable renaming for and create my own look up and link method that searches for the unique ID so whatever the tiddler name it can be located.

We can do anything in tiddlywiki, and there are a number of ways around this issue you see that are just design strategies or you can go further and provide an alternate link method that enables tiddler renaming and retaining links.

I can also see a method to actively search and replace a tiddlers names at the point of renaming. I have not built this yet. I was hoping for a minor change to enable this as a hack without changing a core tiddler.

You could also build a index you maintain both old and new names in which you can search when necessary (if exceptional), or if you make your links via a macro that is aware of your index.

First I suggest you review your design to see if you can organise your wiki so that either renames have no impact, you have a process to address it when you must or you alter the way to store information where renames are common.

If you want to go further, explain your use case here so we can help, but do not confuse it with how to do it, let the community suggest how, just explain to the community why and what you want from a users perspective.

Regards

Tony

[Adam]

Hey, thanks for the detailed reply. I will review the options you mentioned and  I will reply if I need something.

[PMario]

Hi Adam,

You could use my uni-link plugin, which contains an aliases definition. ... Those aliases can be used to create links like this: [[alias|?]].

Those links are independent from tiddler titles. See a more detailed info at the intro thread.

have fun!

mario

[Adam]

Hey Mario,

thanks for that reply. Your plugin seems very promising. I will check it out.

Cheers,

Adam