[tw] [TW5] User interface for copy by value (vs reference) operations on singleton tiddlers

[Daniel Cunningham]

Hi All:

I hope this is not going to be an embarrassing question. But I did search
the docs and groups/forums to no avail, so here goes...

I am trying to do a copy of a single tiddler from one local TW5 file to
another. For example, an "action item" exists in a small "to-do list" TW5
wiki, but perhaps now I am wanting to file & cross reference it into a
larger "research notes" TW5 wiki, and then delete it from the "action
items" wiki (which I want to keep as small as possible).

I see from the TW5 docs that a copy operation is done by a drag & drop of
the source URL onto the destination browser window. So I generated a
permalink for the tiddler in the "source window", and dragged it onto the
destination window, which kicked off the import process.

The result of this is import process yields a tiddler with a URI to the
permalink. So it's (kind of) like a "copy-by-reference". What I seek is
more of a a "copy-by-value". So then I tried the "import" tool via the
tool tab. Which will work to do the copy by value. But...

...For a single tiddler, it's not very user friendly. To import the one
tiddler from the source wiki took about 120 clicks, as I had to disable all
the tiddlers that I did not want to copy over. That's a lot of
clickity-clicking! I did not see any "select/deselect all", which could
have made it take only 2 or 3 clicks.

So, am I missing a key user interface? It there a simpler way to import
(or copy by value) the content (versus the URI/URL) of a single tiddler?

I can see one response being: "why not just cut/paste"? As I explore TW5,
and think about moving tiddlers from one TW5 "notebook" to another, I also
think it's important to try to preserve tagging states, and also custom
field states, which a simple copy/paste operation seems insufficient to
do.

If it's missing functionality, perhaps a column header with the
aforementioned "select/deselect all/none" functionality would suffice?

Details: I am operating TW5 with Firefox 50.0.2 on Linux Mint 18 (Sarah)
XFCE (and loving it, BTW).

Best regards,

-- Daniel

[BJ]

Hi Daniel,
you can drag tiddlers from the 'open' tab on the right hand side - just
open the tiddler you want to copy, then drag it from the list in the 'open'
tab to the destination tidwiki

all the best
BJ

Post by Daniel Cunningham
I hope this is not going to be an embarrassing question. But I did search
the docs and groups/forums to no avail, so here goes...
I am trying to do a copy of a single tiddler from one local TW5 file to
another. For example, an "action item" exists in a small "to-do list" TW5
wiki, but perhaps now I am wanting to file & cross reference it into a
larger "research notes" TW5 wiki, and then delete it from the "action
items" wiki (which I want to keep as small as possible).
I see from the TW5 docs that a copy operation is done by a drag & drop of
the source URL onto the destination browser window. So I generated a
permalink for the tiddler in the "source window", and dragged it onto the
destination window, which kicked off the import process.
The result of this is import process yields a tiddler with a URI to the
permalink. So it's (kind of) like a "copy-by-reference". What I seek is
more of a a "copy-by-value". So then I tried the "import" tool via the
tool tab. Which will work to do the copy by value. But...
...For a single tiddler, it's not very user friendly. To import the one
tiddler from the source wiki took about 120 clicks, as I had to disable all
the tiddlers that I did not want to copy over. That's a lot of
clickity-clicking! I did not see any "select/deselect all", which could
have made it take only 2 or 3 clicks.
So, am I missing a key user interface? It there a simpler way to import
(or copy by value) the content (versus the URI/URL) of a single tiddler?
I can see one response being: "why not just cut/paste"? As I explore TW5,
and think about moving tiddlers from one TW5 "notebook" to another, I also
think it's important to try to preserve tagging states, and also custom
field states, which a simple copy/paste operation seems insufficient to
do.
If it's missing functionality, perhaps a column header with the
aforementioned "select/deselect all/none" functionality would suffice?
Details: I am operating TW5 with Firefox 50.0.2 on Linux Mint 18 (Sarah)
XFCE (and loving it, BTW).
Best regards,
-- Daniel

[Eric Shulman]

Post by BJ
Hi Daniel,
you can drag tiddlers from the 'open' tab on the right hand side - just
open the tiddler you want to copy, then drag it from the list in the 'open'
tab to the destination tiddlywiki

Step by step:

1) Open both the "source" TW and "target" TW in separate browser windows
2) In the source TW, find a link to the desired tiddler (e.g., in the
sidebar, or in any other content where there is a link to the tiddler)
3) Drag that link from the source window to the target window
4) Move near the TOP of the target window, a green "drop here" bar will
appear
5) Drop the link
6) A core-generated $:/Import tiddler will appear, listing ONLY the tiddler
you dropped.
7) Press the Import button

Note: if you want to import a few tiddlers at once, you can drag/drop each
of them, one at a time, to the target TW. This adds them to the $:/Import
list. When you have all the tiddler you want listed, press Import once to
complete the action.

enjoy,
-e
Eric Shulman
TiddlyTools: "Small Tools for Big Ideas" (tm)
InsideTiddlyWiki: The Missing Manuals

[Thomas Elmiger]

Hi

It is also possible to perform a search and drag a title from the search results (the list in the popup) directly.

As Eric noted, you can drag any LINK pointing to the tiddler you want to copy (no visible URL needed).

All the best!
Thomas

(In Firefox I can drag from one tab to another tab in the same window.)

[Daniel Cunningham]

Now, THAT (the inter-window tab-to-tab drag/drop) is a thing of beauty.
That works SO well with my workflow. I'm getting misty-eyed.

I'm serious -- that's awesome. Thanks so much!

Post by Thomas Elmiger
Hi
It is also possible to perform a search and drag a title from the search
results (the list in the popup) directly.
As Eric noted, you can drag any LINK pointing to the tiddler you want to
copy (no visible URL needed).
All the best!
Thomas
(In Firefox I can drag from one tab to another tab in the same window.)

[Daniel Cunningham]

Thanks for your time on this Eric. I saw in the TW5 intro tiddlers that
newbies like me can volunteer to update the docs and initiate git pull
requests. So I'll try to do that soon, and add some of your instructions,
and the other clarifications in this thread. It's what lesser minions like
me should do in return for the help & advice.

But I'll need to get spun-up on git first, as I am from the paleological
age of CVS, which I think was before the great version control extinction
event. :-)

Post by Eric Shulman

Post by BJ
Hi Daniel,
you can drag tiddlers from the 'open' tab on the right hand side - just
open the tiddler you want to copy, then drag it from the list in the 'open'
tab to the destination tiddlywiki

1) Open both the "source" TW and "target" TW in separate browser windows
2) In the source TW, find a link to the desired tiddler (e.g., in the
sidebar, or in any other content where there is a link to the tiddler)
3) Drag that link from the source window to the target window
4) Move near the TOP of the target window, a green "drop here" bar will
appear
5) Drop the link
6) A core-generated $:/Import tiddler will appear, listing ONLY the
tiddler you dropped.
7) Press the Import button
Note: if you want to import a few tiddlers at once, you can drag/drop each
of them, one at a time, to the target TW. This adds them to the $:/Import
list. When you have all the tiddler you want listed, press Import once to
complete the action.
enjoy,
-e
Eric Shulman
TiddlyTools: "Small Tools for Big Ideas" (tm)
InsideTiddlyWiki: The Missing Manuals

[Daniel Cunningham]

Thanks, BJ. Now it's clear. I was confusing "link" with URL/URI. I'm off
to the races now!

Post by BJ
Hi Daniel,
you can drag tiddlers from the 'open' tab on the right hand side - just
open the tiddler you want to copy, then drag it from the list in the 'open'
tab to the destination tidwiki
all the best
BJ

Post by Daniel Cunningham
I hope this is not going to be an embarrassing question. But I did
search the docs and groups/forums to no avail, so here goes...
I am trying to do a copy of a single tiddler from one local TW5 file to
another. For example, an "action item" exists in a small "to-do list" TW5
wiki, but perhaps now I am wanting to file & cross reference it into a
larger "research notes" TW5 wiki, and then delete it from the "action
items" wiki (which I want to keep as small as possible).
I see from the TW5 docs that a copy operation is done by a drag & drop
of the source URL onto the destination browser window. So I generated a
permalink for the tiddler in the "source window", and dragged it onto the
destination window, which kicked off the import process.
The result of this is import process yields a tiddler with a URI to the
permalink. So it's (kind of) like a "copy-by-reference". What I seek is
more of a a "copy-by-value". So then I tried the "import" tool via the
tool tab. Which will work to do the copy by value. But...
...For a single tiddler, it's not very user friendly. To import the one
tiddler from the source wiki took about 120 clicks, as I had to disable all
the tiddlers that I did not want to copy over. That's a lot of
clickity-clicking! I did not see any "select/deselect all", which could
have made it take only 2 or 3 clicks.
So, am I missing a key user interface? It there a simpler way to import
(or copy by value) the content (versus the URI/URL) of a single tiddler?
I can see one response being: "why not just cut/paste"? As I explore
TW5, and think about moving tiddlers from one TW5 "notebook" to another, I
also think it's important to try to preserve tagging states, and also
custom field states, which a simple copy/paste operation seems insufficient
to do.
If it's missing functionality, perhaps a column header with the
aforementioned "select/deselect all/none" functionality would suffice?
Details: I am operating TW5 with Firefox 50.0.2 on Linux Mint 18 (Sarah)
XFCE (and loving it, BTW).
Best regards,
-- Daniel

[Jeremy Ruston]

Hi Daniel

To import the one tiddler from the source wiki took about 120 clicks, as I had to disable all the tiddlers that I did not want to copy over. That's a lot of clickity-clicking! I did not see any "select/deselect all", which could have made it take only 2 or 3 clicks.

Thanks for reminding me; I’ve added a new select all/none checkbox in the heading of the $:/Import tiddler for 5.1.14. There’s a prerelease you can try at:

http://tiddlywiki.com/prerelease <http://tiddlywiki.com/prerelease>

Best wishes

Jeremy

[Daniel Cunningham]

What can I say, sir? You are... the best.

Can't wait to try it out.

And I take back everything evil I've ever said about JavaScript (as an
unrepentant C++ programmer and all around strongly-typed/OO type of guy).

Post by BJ
Hi Daniel
To import the one tiddler from the source wiki took about 120 clicks, as I
had to disable all the tiddlers that I did not want to copy over. That's a
lot of clickity-clicking! I did not see any "select/deselect all", which
could have made it take only 2 or 3 clicks.
Thanks for reminding me; I’ve added a new select all/none checkbox in the
heading of the $:/Import tiddler for 5.1.14. There’s a prerelease you can
http://tiddlywiki.com/prerelease
Best wishes
Jeremy

[@TiddlyTweeter]

i have not seen the use of the word "singleton" for a very long time.

it is a *beautiful* word.