newbie questions

[le...@linkline.com]

Hi. I'm just getting started expermenting with TiddlyWiki. I have a few
questions.

1. I find it a bit odd that there's no "back" or other navigation. As I
click around in a wiki, wandering from link to link, I'd like to go
back through the same path. I'm using IE by the way. I can sortof
understand why the browser's back/fwd buttons don't work because
everything is in javascript, but still would be nice to be able to
navigate. Is there a way to do it that I've missed?

2. When I edit a largish item, there's no "find" or "find&replace"
features in the text editor. Is that just a function of the browser?

3. I'm curious if anyone uses TW for keeping their "address book". I
can see how it would work nicely for free-form info, just make an
tiddle for each address book entry, but then is there a way to treat
the entries in a somewhat structured fashion, e.g. make an Excel table
out of it for doing mail-merge, or just make a printable list of names
and numbers.

Thanks,

Lee

[Simon Baird]

On 03/04/06, le...@linkline.com <le...@linkline.com> wrote:

Hi. I'm just getting started expermenting with TiddlyWiki. I have a few
questions.

1. I find it a bit odd that there's no "back" or other navigation. As I
click around in a wiki, wandering from link to link, I'd like to go
back through the same path. I'm using IE by the way. I can sortof
understand why the browser's back/fwd buttons don't work because
everything is in javascript, but still would be nice to be able to
navigate. Is there a way to do it that I've missed?

 

There are some plugins called BreadCrumbs or similar that give you a little panel at the top that lists your pathway from on tiddler to another. It allows you to navigate back easily. There is also a plugin that does enable the back button. I don't know if it works in all browsers though. Sorry I don't have the links for those plugins.

2. When I edit a largish item, there's no "find" or "find&replace"
features in the text editor. Is that just a function of the browser?

 

I believe there is a plugin on http://www.tiddlytools.com that addresses this problem.

http://www.tiddlytools.com/#TextAreaPlugin

3. I'm curious if anyone uses TW for keeping their "address book". I
can see how it would work nicely for free-form info, just make an
tiddle for each address book entry, but then is there a way to treat
the entries in a somewhat structured fashion, e.g. make an Excel table
out of it for doing mail-merge, or just make a printable list of names
and numbers.

 

I use simple tiddlers for addresses, but you should investigate Udo's plugins here:

http://tiddlywiki.abego-software.de/#Plugins

to see what is possible. If you're not afraid of writing a little javascript you can literally do anything.

Thanks,

--
Simon Baird < simon...@gmail.com>

[coolcold]

1/
there is a button called reference where you can go back one level

to add to simon's reply, you may be able to find a few plugins here
http://www.tiddlyforge.net/

[Jack]

1) I know a simple way to activate the back button. It only works in
FireFox when viewed over http so it's quite a narrow solution. Just add
this to the top of your Story.prototype.displayTiddler() function:
var t = encodeURIComponent(String.encodeTiddlyLink(title));
if(window.location.hash != t) {
window.location.hash = t;
document.title = wikifyPlain("SiteTitle") + " - " + title;
}

2) This is a niggler.
3) I agree with Simon. It's fairly easy with TW to do basic lists by
tagging your contacts e.g. John Smith would be tagged "J friend" so you
could make overview lists with the <<tagging>> plugin: J:<<tagging J>>
or Firends:<<tagging friend>>

Jack

[le...@linkline.com]

Thanks for all the replies. I tried some of the breadcrumbs
plugins/macros, but they don't do quite what I want -- the breadcrumbs
are all at the top of the page. The "reference" button isn't quite
right either. The "jump" button is close, but the items appear to be
alphabetical rather than visit-order. I think all I really want is a
"back" button in the collection of buttons above each tiddler (close,
closeOthers, view, permalink, etc). That seems like it should be easy
(and I'm surprised no one has done it).

Regarding #2: The TextAreaPlugin doesn't seem to work quite right on
IE, but does on FF. Sigh.

[Daniel Baird]

On 04/04/06, le...@linkline.com <le...@linkline.com> wrote:

I think all I really want is a
"back" button in the collection of buttons above each tiddler (close,
closeOthers, view, permalink, etc). That seems like it should be easy
(and I'm surprised no one has done it).

TiddlyWiki's non-linear content can bog you down sometimes.  The StepwiseNavigation plugin is surprisingly useful for solving that problem:  http://simonbaird.com/mptw/#StepWiseNavigation   ..but it's not for everybody.

I'm not sure a Back button would be a solution though.  Imagine you are in Tiddler A and click on a link to Tiddler B, Tiddler B opens up.

If you click the "Back" button on Tiddler B, I guess it would close tiddler B, and scroll the screen back to show Tiddler A (coz that's where you opened Tiddler B from).

But what happens if you are looking at Tiddler A, click on a link to open Tiddler B, and then click the Back button on Tiddler A?  A back button seems to imply a linear path, but there's not really such a path.

Thoughts anyone?

;Daniel

--
Daniel Baird
http://danielbaird.com (TiddlyW;nks! :: Whiteboard Koala :: Blog :: Things That Suck)
[[My webhost uptime is ~ 92%.. if no answer pls call again later!]]

[le...@linkline.com]

I'm not sure I understand. It seems to me that "back" should always
take you to the tiddler containing the link that was clicked on to get
to the one you're looking at. Nothing needs to be closed (as you
describe in your first example). In the second case you describe,
clicking back in A would take you to the one that got you to A in the
first place -- each tiddler would need to "remember" where it came
from. The only exception might be a self-referencing link (a tiddler
pointing to itself) -- those would be ignored when setting the
back-destination.

But then I'm rather new to this and perhaps I'm being too naive.

Lee

[Daniel Baird]

On 04/04/06, le...@linkline.com <le...@linkline.com> wrote:

I'm not sure I understand. It seems to me that "back" should always
take you to the tiddler containing the link that was clicked on to get
to the one you're looking at. Nothing needs to be closed (as you
describe in your first example). In the second case you describe,
clicking back in A would take you to the one that got you to A in the
first place -- each tiddler would need to "remember" where it came
from. The only exception might be a self-referencing link (a tiddler
pointing to itself) -- those would be ignored when setting the
back-destination.

Ahh I see, you're talking about scrolling the page around, but leaving all tiddlers open.  It would be possible to make a plugin do to it.. all you'd need is to record the "opener" for each tiddler.  I guess opening a tiddler from a sidebar or menu link would just make the back button do nothing.

But then I'm rather new to this and perhaps I'm being too naive.

Seems like a good idea.. are you a programmer by any chance?  This might be good first project in TiddlyWiki :)


;Daniel

[le...@linkline.com]

Yes, I guess it is just scrolling around (but would feel like more than
that). I was thinking that opening from a sidebar/menu would scroll up
to that sidebar/menu. Yes I am a programmer, but I've not done any
javascript plus I'm neck deep in real ($$) work these days. I was
hoping some Tiddly expert would see how wonderful this idea is and do
it! Thanks for your time.