Catastrophic problem with layout

#32

Delighted to hear you have your TiddlyWiki back!

I wonder if Ben Webber’s motion plugin for TiddlyWiki might help you use your TiddlyWiki efficiently. It uses simple keyboard shortcuts to start common TiddlyWiki processes – e.g. press N to start a new tiddler. However, I am not sure whether a keyboard would be easier or trickier to use than a mouse, given the mechanical issues you mention in your first post.

Just in case, the Motion plugin is here: https://benwebber.github.io/tiddlywiki-plugins/#motion

You can test the plugin on that TiddlyWiki page, to see if it is suitable or helpful for you.

If it is easy to do and seems helpful, you can drag the Motion button at the top of the Motion tiddler to your TiddlyWiki, then click “import” to add it.

All best wishes

Simon

2 Likes
#33

I’d not encountered that motion plugin before, but had definitely had thoughts of “the default keybindings are very editing-focused, nothing much for the reading/navigating experience”, and this fills that itch wonderfully.

(how much I’ll use it? no idea, but I’m happy to have it installed!)

1 Like
#34

Everything for me is a steep learning curve for physical motions. But I tested it, and typing the shortcuts only works from the story river, so I can’t accidentally typo a command in the tiddler while writing. This is a good thing; every word in this message has had at least one typo to correct.

Slow going, but now I get to install my first-ever plugin. Thank you so much for suggesting it!

2 Likes
#35

Maybe it’s a moot point now, but would “safe mode” have worked in this scenario?

From Tiddlyhost you can get to a “View in safe mode” option. Click the … menu button to see it. In some cases safe mode can get you out of trouble.

1 Like
#36

I have no … menu button, even under the “more” tab. I’ll have to find it.

One of the problems is that I kept making the original disaster worse by trying to fix it in the appearance tab.

I’ve been using Tiddlywiki for five years, but it’ s much like using my cell phone: I don’t get “under the hood” unless I’m desperate. It’s time to change that, one piece of information at a time.

2 Likes
#37

Do you happen to remember if you were on the Theme Tweaks page (tiddler) ? Because that is one place where you can definitely blow things up.

For instance, if you try to change the tiddler font-size, you will probably start by back-spacing over existing values … and when you do, the whole page becomes unreadable. Likewise changing the tiddler width, back-spacing over existing values, can make the page unreadable.

This is why I’ve added a sizer tool to the sidebar on most of my TW files. So I can pick a size and then apply it, rather than have it happen while I’m changing the size. The tool also included a way to change the sidebar size, but I don’t use that much now the sidebar resizer plugin exists.

1 Like
#38

Simon means, I think, back in the TiddlyHost dashboard:

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#39

I don’t actually know how it originally happened, just that I did a sweep with the mouse and suddenly the text and display are screwy. Going in to try to fix the layout only made it worse.

Which reminds me, time to save AND back up the file again!

1 Like
#40

Additionally to backups. you may want to look into a complementary approach that is versioning your wiki (when working with it locally at least), which is more user friendly from the perspective of having to track which particular change broke your wiki.

Here’s an example reference (easy) webdav saving à la Timimi - #2 by vuk

But since you seem to be using Windows, somebody else would have to step in to provide instructions about getting Git in Windows and rewrite the Bash snippet above, maybe using PowerShell.

#41

If you can afford the $8 subscription to TiddlyHost, I so highly recommend that approach, for keeping the most recent 100 saves.

And if you name a saved version in your history list (as in “finished adding notes on XYZ” or “before plugin ABC added”) then those named versions don’t “age out” even if you have a bunch of saves that would otherwise displace them.

#42

I don’t even have a streaming service. Free is my only option, which only makes me worry more.

1 Like
#43

Understood! In that case, a routine for regularly downloading your wiki would be very helpful! If you’re interested, we can also discuss a modification to your wiki that would download a copy whenever you save to TiddlyHost, or whenever you save after a certain interval of time. This would potentially clutter your computer, and require clean-up, but having that routine is a bit more forgiving than needing a routine of making backups.

TiddlyHost is an amazing resource! I use it all the time and I’m grateful to @simon … AND making backups is critical for any online service, since of course you also don’t want to lose access to your data during times that you lose internet, or if/when some technical trouble happens to the TiddlyHost server.

#44

First let me say I too am a paid up member of tiddlyhost.

Second, I make a clear differentiation between design and usage of my wikis. I try to seperate these activities in time, so if I am redesigning my wiki I start with a backup, take a step at a time, save and reload regularly etc…

When I am just using it I save occasionaly and are less vigelent.

I had a few disasters in the early days, but its very rare now because I know better.

1 Like
#45

You’re welcome! I’m glad it’s useful.

There are a number of amazing plugin collections out there (for example, (I believe) @linonetwo 's curated Central Plugin Library, @DaveGifford 's TiddlyWiki toolmap, and @Mohammad’s Kookma plugin library), but exploring these can be a real time-sink, and the opposite of keeping your TiddlyWiki as simple as possible!

All best wishes

Simon

#46

Considering that I’ve never installed a plugin, yeah, it’s going to be
a HUGE adventure!

1 Like
#47

Relink is the first plugin I would consider. Without it, you either have to avoid using links, or you have to avoid changing title names. Of course, if your work-flow doesn’t involve making links, than that isn’t an issue.

1 Like
#48

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Where were you four days ago when I had to insert a separate scene, disrupting my plot “table of contents”… and then had to hand correct the following sixteen tiddlers?

Or yesterday, when a side story became integral to the main plot, and I had to renumber and relink them again?

NOT putting numbers on them is just begging for complete chaos, though.

I am still laughing. I am also very grateful for the suggestion. Off to install my second-ever plugin!

2 Likes
#49

Oh, you’re writing a play or script? Maybe @TiddlyTitch would have some advice.

Possibly someone has incorporated Fountain into TW.

#50

I’ve never heard of “Fountains”. Off to do some googling! Thank you!

#51

Just to clarify - personally my upload to Google drive is basic, I decide when I want to make a backup on Google drive and open the Google Drive web page (if I am on laptop) and select the file to upload manually from my laptop. My Google drive “safe points” are less frequent than my other backups - these are absolute last resort. Just mentioned in case it sounded like it was slick and automatic.

Just look for Google Drive in your Google account if you don’t have it already.