Change Title

Sometimes a page with a certain title gets generated but is not used, or there is a better solution for the title.

In such cases it might be useful to have the possibility to change a title. All BackLinks have to be adjusted of course. [Which wikis do this?]

• AFAIK SwikiWiki (CoWeb) does it. Implementation is relatively easy, because pages are numbered and the page title is just an attribute of the page. -- HelmutLeitner.
• QuickiWiki / ClusterWiki.
• FoswikiEngine

---

How about using a redirect command? The old page name still works, but all it contains is a redirect to the new page. Ways to implement redirect:

• server transparent - user still sees the URL they requested, but server replaces (secretly!) the old page with the redirect with the content from the new page.
  • plusses: automatic, fastest for client, server can detect redirect loops
  • minuses: not revokable without a mess

• HTTP redirect - server reads redirect on old page, sends a location header to the client directing it to load the new page
  • plusses: automatic, old URL becomes the new URL
  • minuses: redirect loops are possible, not easily revokable

• meta-refresh or JavaScript redirect - old page serves message saying "this page will redirect in 5 seconds", and redirects
  • plusses: automatic (on most browsers), revokable
  • minuses: a little clumsy, not easily machine readable, breaks on non-JS browsers (e.g., Lynx)

• forwarding address message - just leave a text note saying where the new page is.
  • plusses: no new functionality, revokable
  • minuses: no automatic forwarding

I guess a simple forwarding address message is best.

-- VincentPribish

---

CategoryWikiEditing