You are reading a Tiddler right now.

Tiddlers contain the content in a Tiddlywiki - they are like pages, only they are much more flexible than paper. They are like paragraphs, only they can be longer, they can contain video clips, or pictures. They are like 'notes' or cards in a card-index... but again, they are slightly different from these, too. if you are puzzled about the name there is a bit of explanation/apology below!

Integrating information

Tiddlers are where you display information in your Wiki, but they are also concerned with linking or integrating information with other relevant content. They can be tagged, linking them together as Sub-topics under a particular heading. The same tiddler can be a sub-topic under multiple different topic headings (like a page that belongs in multiple chapters), and a tiddler can itself act as a topic heading (which is what a tag is.) Confused? Please don't be - it is simpler than it sounds, and really its just a database of content that can be organised in masses of different ways.

Tiddler menus

Tiddlers have their own Menus that allow you to do all kinds of things like compare them, sort them, edit them, etc

Show references and info

Tiddlers are where you read or watch information, but they are also grouped in lots of ways that help you read around a subject. An important menu that you find (top right, beside the title) on every tiddler is the Show references and info menu - clicking the black sign opens a panel that helps you see how this material relates to the wider content. Try it with this tiddler.

About Tiddlers

What you can do with them:

You can Edit Tiddlers very easily, as well as write your own ones to add to your local version of this Manual.
In general we find it helps to use the + Manualize our work page to generate brand new content, as it helps ensure that your new tiddler has some appropriate Tags that will help others locate it, but you can also start from scratch!
To generate a new Tiddler click here:

Tiddlers - just web-pages?

Unlike other web - based 'Wikis' the TiddlyWiki consists not of multiple web pages (that each have to "load" separately via your internet connection) but instead it is formed of multiple Tiddlers, that can be manipulated within a single web page - so as you read a tiddlywiki you are opening and closing series of separate Tiddlers that are part of a single file, a 'non-linear document'. This is generally quicker than having to load whole new web-pages with each click on the many Links between different parts of the text. It also means that you actually download the whole thing into your local computer when you open the manual, so if you disconnect the internet after you have opened the manual, you can still keep reading and flicking through pages (though you wont get streaming video and pretty pictures!)

Opening Tiddlers on my Desktop

The manual allows you to open as many tiddlers as you want on your Desktop, and you can see what you have opened at any one time using your Currently Open list.

About that name:

The designer of the software that powers Tiddlymanuals (called TiddlyWiki) refer to the chunks of MicroContent that make up a larger wiki document as "Tiddlers".

In developing the manual we first tried to minimise the 'shock of the new' and stick to naturalistic language where possible. We thought about 'pages', notes' 'cards' but found that none of these names quite captured the more dynamic quality of tiddlers. So for a while we referred to tiddlers as "Thoughts". A "Thought" and a "Tiddler" were synonymous. We have since 'recanted' from this, and find that the neologism 'Tiddler' is more effective and less confusing.

JeremyRuston, the original author of tiddlywiki described some deliberate intention behind the playfulness in his naming; "as though leaving the door open for purposeful renaming/reclaiming of this very plastic software form". It was in this spirit that we originally decided to change the name "Tiddlers" to "Thoughts" for this manual; on the basis that it avoided the neologising that frightens/repels many non-technologically minded users. In the end, though, we have returned to Tiddlers, as we decided our use of the word Thought was equally uncomfortable and forced. Let us know what you think at Feedback please!