Help:Editing

This page has several links to Wikipedia to provide detailed explanations. If you are editing a section, make sure you are NOT editing Wikipedia.

This Editing Overview has a lot of wikitext examples. You may want to keep this page open in a separate browser window for reference while you edit.

Each of the topics covered here is covered somewhere else in more detail. Please look in the box on the right for the topic you are interested in.

Editing basics

Start editing

To start editing a MythTV page, click on the "Edit this page" (or just "edit") link at one of its edges. This will bring you to the edit page: a page with a text box containing the wikitext: the editable source code from which the server produces the webpage.

Summarize your changes

You should write a short edit summary in the small field below the edit-box. You may use shorthand to describe your changes, as described in the legend.

Preview before saving

When you have finished, press preview to see how your changes will look -- before you make them permanent. Repeat the edit/preview process until you are satisfied, then click "Save" and your changes will be immediately applied to the article.

Wikitext markup -- making your page look the way you want

Basic text formatting

What it looks like	What you type
You can emphasize text by putting two apostrophes on each side. Three apostrophes will emphasize it strongly. Five apostrophes is even stronger.	You can ''emphasize text'' by putting two apostrophes on each side. Three apostrophes will emphasize it '''strongly'''. Five apostrophes is '''''even stronger'''''.
A single newline has no effect on the layout. But an empty line starts a new paragraph.	A single newline has no effect on the layout. But an empty line starts a new paragraph.
You can break lines without starting a new paragraph. Please use this sparingly.	You can break lines<br> without starting a new paragraph.<br> Please use this sparingly.
You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: Three tildes gives your user name: Gregturn Four tildes give your user name plus date/time: Gregturn 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) Five tildes gives the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)	You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: : Three tildes gives your user name: ~~~ : Four tildes give your user name plus date/time: ~~~~ : Five tildes gives the date/time alone: ~~~~~
You can use HTML tags, too, if you want. Some useful ways to use HTML: Put text in a typewriter font. The same font is generally used for computer code. Strike out or underline text, or write it in small caps. Superscripts and subscripts: x2, x2 Invisible comments that only appear while editing the page. Comments should usually go on the talk page, though.	You can use <b>HTML tags</b>, too, if you want. Some useful ways to use HTML: Put text in a <tt>typewriter font</tt>. The same font is generally used for <code>computer code</code>. <strike>Strike out</strike> or <u>underline</u> text, or write it <span style="font-variant:small-caps"> in small caps</span>. Superscripts and subscripts: x<sup>2</sup>, x<sub>2</sub> Invisible comments that only appear while editing the page. <!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. --> Comments should usually go on the talk page, though.

For a list of HTML tags that are allowed, see HTML in wikitext. However, you should avoid HTML in favor of Wiki markup whenever possible.

Organizing your writing

What it looks like	What you type
Section headings Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them. Subsection Using more equals signs creates a subsection. A smaller subsection Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with two equals signs; don't use single equals signs.	== Section headings == Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them. === Subsection === Using more equals signs creates a subsection. ==== A smaller subsection ==== Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with two equals signs; don't use single equals signs.
Unordered lists are easy to do: Start every line with a star. More stars indicate a deeper level. A newline in a list marks the end of the list. Of course you can start again.	* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do: ** Start every line with a star. *** More stars indicate a deeper level. *A newline *in a list marks the end of the list. *Of course you can start again.
Numbered lists are also good: Very organized Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. New numbering starts with 1.	# Numbered lists are also good: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. #New numbering starts with 1.
You can even do mixed lists and nest them or break lines in lists.	* You can even do mixed lists *# and nest them *#* or break lines<br>in lists.
Another kind of list is a definition list: word  definition of the word longer phrase phrase defined	Another kind of list is a '''definition list''': ; word : definition of the word ; longer phrase : phrase defined
A colon indents a line or paragraph. A newline after that starts a new paragraph. This is often used for discussion on Talk pages.	:A colon indents a line or paragraph. A newline after that starts a new paragraph. ::This is often used for discussion on talk pages.
You can make horizontal dividing lines to separate text. But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.	You can make horizontal dividing lines to separate text. ---- But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.

Links

You will often want to make clickable links to other pages.

What it looks like	What you type
Here's a link to a page named Video Capture Card. You can even say Video Capture Cards and the link will show up correctly. You can put formatting around a link. Example: bttv. The first letter will automatically be capitalized, so hauppauge PVR-350 goes to the same place as Hauppauge PVR-350. Capitalization matters after the first letter. The weather in London is a page that doesn't exist yet. You can create it by clicking on the link.	Here's a link to a page named [[Video Capture Card]]. You can even say [[Video Capture Card]]s and the link will show up correctly. You can put formatting around a link. Example: ''[[bttv]]''. The ''first letter'' will automatically be capitalized, so [[hauppauge PVR-350]] goes to the same place as [[Hauppauge PVR-350]]. Capitalization matters after the first letter.
You can link to a page section by its title: Linux Distros#Debian. Linux Distros#Ubuntu. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. #Example section 3 goes to the third section named "Example section".	You can link to a page section by its title: *[[Linux Distros#Debian]]. *[[Linux Distros#Ubuntu]]. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the third section named "Example section".
You can make a link point to a different place with a piped link. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text. About Links Ubuntu Linux distribution	You can make a link point to a different place with a [[wikipedia:Help:Piped link|piped link]]. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text. *[[wikipedia:Help:Link|About Links]] *[[Linux Distros#Ubuntu|Ubuntu Linux distribution]]
You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: Nupedia Or leave the title blank: [1]	You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: [http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia] Or leave the title blank: [http://www.nupedia.com]
You can redirect the user to another page with a special link. For example, you might want to redirect USA to United States.	#REDIRECT [[United States]]
Category links don't show up, but add the page to a category. Add an extra colon to actually link to the category: Category:Knowledge Base	Category links don't show up, but add the page to a category. [[Category:Knowledge Base]] Add an extra colon to actually link to the category: [[:Category:Knowledge Base]]
The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your Preferences: July 20, 1969 20 July 1969 1969-07-20	The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your [[Special:Preferences|]]: * [[July 20]], [[1969]] * [[20 July]] [[1969]] * [[1969]]-[[07-20]]

Just show what I typed

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki to display things as you typed them.

	What it looks like	What you type
<nowiki> tags	The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →	<nowiki> The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </nowiki>
<pre> tags	The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets special characters: →	<nowiki> <pre> The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </nowiki></pre>
Leading spaces	Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets wikipedia:Wiki markup and special characters: →	Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets [[wikipedia:Wiki]] ''markup'' and special characters: &rarr;

Images, tables, video, and sounds

This is a very quick introduction. For more information, see:

• wikipedia:Help:Images and other uploaded files for how to upload files
• wikipedia:Help:Extended image syntax for how to arrange images on the page
• wikipedia:Help:Table for how to create a table

What it looks like	What you type
A picture, including alternate text: You can put the image in a frame with a caption: The logo for this Wiki	A picture, including alternate text: [[Image:Wiki.png|The logo for this Wiki]] You can put the image in a frame with a caption: [[Image:Wiki.png|frame|The logo for this Wiki]]
A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: Image:Wiki.png Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wiki.png	A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: [[:Image:Wiki.png]] Or a link directly to the image itself: [[Media:Wiki.png]]
Use media: links to link to sounds or videos: A sound file	Use '''media:''' links to link to sounds or videos: [[wikipedia:media:Sg_mrob.ogg|A sound file]]
This is a table	<center> {| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | This | is |- | a | '''table''' |} </center>

Templates

Templates are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be copied automatically ("transcluded") into a page. You add them by putting the template's name in {{double braces}}.

Some templates take parameters, as well, which you separate with the pipe character.

What it looks like	What you type
	{{Click || image=Hardware.png | link=:Category:Hardware | width=48px | height=48px }}

Template:Editing tips and tricks

Minor edits

A logged-in user can mark an edit as "minor". Minor edits are generally spelling corrections, formatting, and minor rearrangement of text. Users may choose to hide minor edits when viewing Recent Changes.

Marking a significant change as a minor edit is considered bad Wikiquette. If you have accidentally marked an edit as minor, make a dummy edit, verify that the "[ ] This is a minor edit" check-box is unchecked, and explain in the edit summary that the previous edit was not minor.

External links

• Special characters in HTML