TB Preview confusion

Tinderbox Tasks
1

I am trying to preview the contents of the children of a selected folder that is further down in the outline. However, only the contents of the children of the folder that is at the top of the outline are displayed. I am using the HTMLExportTemplate. I wish I could attach the small TB test file.

2

You can attach a Tinderbox file: use the icon in the editor box with an upward-pointing arrow.

3

What is the value of $HTMExportTemplate, e.g., “HTML Page”? Have you modified the template in any way? You can also provide screenshots.

4

Here are the tbx file and a screenshot
PreviewJumptoTop.tbx (202.2 KB)

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 1.25.14 PM
Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 1.25.14 PM1530×836 145 KB

5

Hmm. there is a lot of evidence of failed tweaking here. After a while, testing preview, I find the file deletes the log containers and contents. I can’t find any action code but the smell of it is too much tinkering without removing each failed tests changes before starting a new test.

Some obvious errors:

  • The HTML template has been added without the usual (built-in) prototype ‘HTML’. [Added and applied prototype to template notes]
  • The log containers are using the ‘HTML item’ template which is only intended for *included’ content. the correct choice should be ‘HTML page’. This caused by wrong default set via prototype pLog. [set correct choice in prototype]
  • The note ‘Fri, Jul 18 2025’ contains date f
    PreviewJumptoTop.tbx (239.7 KB)
    or days logged in the second container. More evidence of failed experiments. [Fixed by deleting data not for data of note title]
  • The ‘ff’ in the names of containers are there for what reason. [deleted as no apparent need.]
  • The document default for $OnAdd is $Prototype="pMyPrototype";. There is no such prototype! [reset attribute’s default a doc level]

Fixed all that but previewing containers has same problem, on previewing container #2, #1 is selected. Hm. Renamed container #2 and problem stopped. Aha! Checked the default for HTMLFileNameMaxLength and is is 8. What? That default value changed in v3.0.3 from 8 to 24 characters (see) … back in March 2006!

Document Inspector: PreviewJumptoTop 2025-08-01 20-51-07
Document Inspector: PreviewJumptoTop 2025-08-01 20-51-07746×990 102 KB

See the problem? With a setting of 8 both containers have an export/preview filename of “Daily L”. Setting the correct current doc-level default to the HTMLFileNameMaxLength default of 24 and problem is fixed.†

Learning points:

  • Unless a very experienced user, do not base new projects off very old files. Make a new file with current defaults and port across note(s)/code from older files fixing effors as you go.

This file now works as expected (I think!):

PreviewJumptoTop.tbx (238.5 KB)

But, rather than build on sand, here is the same in a Tinderbox v10.2.0 new file:

PreviewJumptoTop-new.tbx (207.1 KB)

An interesting Saturday evening puzzler

†. ‘Behind the curtain’ the app makes an HTML export of the note and it is the non=unique names of those files that were causing your issue.

6

Thank you Mark. Indeed it works now as it should. And as you suspected what I submitted was generated from a more elaborate file. Handling the problem in a small tbx was trying to keep it simple and (perhaps) easier to handle. Unfortunatly I was not aware that TB would remember most if not all of my previous messy manipulations. Lesson learned: better start fresh!

7

This is a good general approach. It is also good if trying a new technique: if it works in a small test and not in the bigger file, some extra interaction is occurring.

I’ll admit the cause of your original problem was a real head-scratcher as it’s not obvious to most users that the text pane preview is actually a web browser view of an HTML export of the note. By default this is done internally by the app (and files then cleaned up for you by the app). I stumbled on the cause when I accidentally mis-editing a file name and the change was in the first 8 characters of the container’s name: then the penny dropped as to the possible cause. HTH.

BTW, if unsure about whether system attribute defaults in your older files might have changed in newer versions, see aTbRef’s listing of system attributes. When copying notes from old to new files, any attributes inheriting defaults will inherit the new files defaults. But for $Text it is a good idea to copy the text and paste-and-match-style into the new note if you want to adopt current settings. Think beyond the font/size but consider pargins, tabes, line(paragraph) spacing, etc.

8

The basic problem seems to be that I am a rather old unexperienced user going back to version 3 :-). Hope you got some satisfaction from soving the puzzle, and I am indeed grateful that you did.

1 Like
9

On the upside, imagine trying to do the equivalent version bridge in something like MS Word :rofl:

I’d agree it is a judgement call whether to try and update a TBX made in a much older version or to start over and copy over notes. There is no simple right answer. In context, 8 character filenames for web pages weren’t so odd back when Tinderbox first came out in2001, but changed the current default of 24 in early 2003. Conversely, the current preview mechanism dates from v9.5.0 (December 2022). Despite Tinderbox’s admirable support for old files, sometimes it throws up oddities like this. Don’t be put off experimenting, and asking in the forum was a good idea. :slight_smile: