Alphanumeric Zettel Identifier

Timestamp-based zettel identifier (14 digits) will be migrated to a new format. Instead of using the current date and time of zettel creation, the new format is based in incrementing zettel identifier. When creating a new zettel, its identifier is calculated by adding one to the current maximum zettel identifier. The external representation if the new format identifier is a sequence of four alphanumeric characters, i.e. the 36 characters 0 … 9, and a … z. The external representation is basically a “base-36” encoding of the number.

The characters A … Z are mapped to the lower-case a … z.

Migration process

Please note: the following is just a plan. Plans tend to be revised if they get in contact with reality.

Version 0.18

Provides some tools to check your own zettelstore for problematic zettel identifier. For example, zettel without metadata key created should be updated by the user, especially if the zettel identifier is below 19700101000000. Most likely, this is the case for zettel created before version 0.7 (2022-08-17).

Zettel Zettelstore Warnings (00000000000102) lists these problematic zettel identifier.¹ You should update your zettel to remove these warnings to ensure a smooth migration.

If you have developed an application, that defines a specific zettel identifier to be used as application configuration, you should must the new zettel Zettelstore Application Directory (00009999999998).

There is an explicit, but preliminary mapping of the old format to the new one, and vice versa. This mapping will be calculated with the order of the identifier in the old format. The zettel Zettelstore Identifier Mapping (00009999999999) will show this mapping.²

Version 0.19

The new identifier format will be used initially internal. The old format with 14 digits is still used to create URIs and to link zettel.

You will have some time to update your zettel data if you detect some issues.

Operation to rename a zettel, i.e. assigning a new identifier to a zettel, is remove permanently.

Version 0.20

The internal search index is based on the new format identifier.

Version 0.21

The new format is used to calculate URIs and to form links.

Version 0.22

Old format identifier are full legacy.

1. Only visible in expert mode. ↩︎
2. Only visible in expert mode. ↩︎