I think this could be a good way to hop between wiki mindset and database mindset
Lets talk about tables.Lately there has been a focus on tables of tiddlers and there fields (not static wikitext tables) and some great plugins has been developed. Lets talk about the what, the why and the future of tables in tiddlywiki
In advanced search under the filter tab, instead of just one text box, two. One to query a list of tiddler titles (filter format) and another to query fields/indexes (also filter format). If the second box is blank it defaults to a simple list of tiddler titles, if not it returns a table. You could even add a button to turn that query into a tiddler with the table rendered, but that isn't necessarily required. I think it would be a very useful feature and would expand the practicality of the advanced search.
It is important to recognise the interplay of non linear and linear information. I can collect information of any nature or detail in a non linear datastore. However as we start to learn more we create informal structures. We identify and record relationships and we see opportunities to fill gaps discover new sets. We can Actualy create linear views of non linear data often to identify missing data or ensure comprehensive data sets. The value of non linearity can remain even as we start to uncover similarities, differences and build consistency.
Tiddlywiki is open to almost any structure but its strength starts with its ability to be open before adding, not imposing structure in parallelle.
There is a danger to imposing structure too early durring discovery but finding structure in the unstructured is often the ultimate value that can be found in the unstructured real world.
Just some thoughts
Tony
However I am not sure if it breaks with the TW-philosophy of the tiddler as the smallest unit and tags as the main organiser.
Like TW has changed the way I think/interact with knowledge, I think these tables have done it too. when using tables I have a mindset of spreadsheets/DB. I tend to seek to find and overview, to fill missing fields,
where the "wiki mindset" gives me a mindset of seeking connections and mental maps.
I am not saying tables a bad but I think they change the room for doing an situating knowledge. Or is it just reinventing spreadsheets? that's worth pondering on.
So this is my proposal.Imaging that you make a standard TW list, and at the top left corner (or elsewhere) there is a small toggle button. table view on/of. with this you get a table view of your list with all fields present for the filtered tiddlers. You can do some edits and turn list view back on, or you can leave the table view on if it is more appropriate for what you are doing. Or you could use it to get an overview, make a quick sort by the relevant field and turn back to list again.I think this could be a good way to hop between wiki mindset and database mindset (as commented above) and give the flexibility to use the best of two worlds.what do you think. would it be something worth perusing?
Imaging that you make a standard TW list, and at the top left corner (or elsewhere) there is a small toggle button. table view on/of. with this you get a table view of your list with all fields present for the filtered tiddlers. You can do some edits and turn list view back on, or you can leave the table view on if it is more appropriate for what you are doing. Or you could use it to get an overview, make a quick sort by the relevant field and turn back to list again.
I think this could be a good way to hop between wiki mindset and database mindset (as commented above) and give the flexibility to use the best of two worlds.