Difference between revisions of "Wiki Quick Start"

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(Edit performed by mwstuffer.pl)
(Refactor WQS for MW: go link from Main Page)
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Since it keeps a history of pages, it's so easy to fix graffiti that it's almost not worth trashing stuff.  (Hint.)
 
Since it keeps a history of pages, it's so easy to fix graffiti that it's almost not worth trashing stuff.  (Hint.)
  
The only two things that some people have trouble with about Wiki's (and especially ones based on Moin, this one's engine) are that the markup syntax (which is not HTML on purpose) can occasionally be [[Somewhat Obscure]], and that the links are automatically created when you type a word in StudlyCaps.
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The only two things that some people have trouble with about Wiki's (and especially ones based on Moin, this one's engine) are that the markup syntax (which is not HTML on purpose) can occasionally be [[Somewhat Obscure]], and that the internal links are created using <nowiki>[[square brackets]]</nowiki>.
  
We're not sure *why* this irks people so much, but for those who care, you can go to your [[User Preferences]] page, and turn on a switch that adds spaces in the links you see when reading pages.   
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Since we've moved to MediaWiki from MoinMoin, StudlyCapped words are no '''no longer'' automatically made into links, which we know will make some people ''much'' happier:-)
  
Page writers are, I'm afraid, just gonna have to cope for now, for stylistic consistency reasons, if no other.  If what irks you is that *any* word you type in StudlyCaps is automagically WikiLinked, then you're invited to note that I managed to avoid it twice in this one paragraph; take a look at EditText to see how.  (That is, after all, how *I* learned it.)
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And, lastly before we tell you how to edit, let us encourage you to ''create an account'' if you're going to be doing any appreciable amount of editing or contribution; it makes your life (and ours ;-) ) much easier.  Click the [[Special:Userlogin|Create an account]] link and fill out the form.  It's easy!  :-)
 
 
And, lastly before we tell you how to edit, let us encourage you to ''create an account'' if you're going to be doing any appreciable amount of editing or contribution; it makes your life (and ours ;-) ) much easier.  Click the [[User Preferences]] link in the top right corner of your screen, and fill out the form.  It's easy!  :-)
 
  
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=== Wiki writing Syntax ===
  
 
Anyway, the one 'graf explanation of WikiWriting is:
 
Anyway, the one 'graf explanation of WikiWriting is:
  
Just write.  Empty lines force paragraph breaks, <code><nowiki>[BR]</nowiki></code> forces a mid-line break, and you can do all the stuff you'd do in HTML markup, but with slightly different syntax.  StudlyCapped words automatically become intra-Wiki links -- if the page doesn't exist yet, readers will see it with a ?-mark, or in a different color, and you can either write the new page yourself, by clicking through to it after you save, or you can just use it as a hint for others to follow. If you *do* preview the page, don't forget to *save it* before clicking through to create subsidiary pages. Finally, please fill in the 'Optional comment' with a half-sentence description of what you changed.  It's not *really* optional.
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Just write.  Empty lines force paragraph breaks, <code><nowiki><br></nowiki></code> forces a mid-line break (and indeed, most HTML works), and you can do all the stuff you'd do in HTML markup, but with slightly different (read: easier) syntax.  <nowiki>[[Words or phrases]]</nowiki> in square brackets automatically become intra-Wiki links -- if the page doesn't exist yet, readers will see its link displayed in red instead of blue, and you can either write the new page yourself, by clicking through to it after you save, or you can just leave it as a hint for others to follow. If you *do* preview the page, don't forget to *save it* before clicking through to create subsidiary pages.
 
 
  
It's really pretty much that simpleOnce you find something you want to do (like offsite links or inline images) that isn't explained here, you can go check out [[Help Contents]].
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Finally, please fill in the 'Summary' with a half-sentence description of what you changedThe summaries are displayed in the [[Special:Recentchanges|Recent Changes]] page listing, and make it a lot easier to figure out what's going on and why.  Think of them as CVS comments.
  
Once you learn about [[Sub Pages]], if you're not sure which to use, go check out  
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It's really pretty much that simple.  Once you find something you want to do (like offsite links or inline images) that isn't explained here, you can go check out [[Help:Contents]].
[[Its The Wiki Way]]/[[Wiki Information Architecture]].
 
  
 
And, finally, remember: anyone can come along and edit what you write... and that's the *point*.  So it's important to keep this frame of mind when you're writing.  If you hate editors, writing for a Wiki will probably drive you batty.
 
And, finally, remember: anyone can come along and edit what you write... and that's the *point*.  So it's important to keep this frame of mind when you're writing.  If you hate editors, writing for a Wiki will probably drive you batty.

Revision as of 00:15, 10 January 2006

A Quick Introduction to Wikidom

This site is a Wiki Wiki. That means it's an engine that makes it easier to enter the contents you want on a page, and easier to create new pages -- even if you don't know what to put on them yet.

The admins chose a Wiki because they (Wiki's, not the Admins :-) ) are really handy for collaborative documentation; it's easier for random people to contribute useful information, and random editors to edit it.

Since it keeps a history of pages, it's so easy to fix graffiti that it's almost not worth trashing stuff. (Hint.)

The only two things that some people have trouble with about Wiki's (and especially ones based on Moin, this one's engine) are that the markup syntax (which is not HTML on purpose) can occasionally be Somewhat Obscure, and that the internal links are created using [[square brackets]].

Since we've moved to MediaWiki from MoinMoin, StudlyCapped words are no 'no longer automatically made into links, which we know will make some people much happier.  :-)

And, lastly before we tell you how to edit, let us encourage you to create an account if you're going to be doing any appreciable amount of editing or contribution; it makes your life (and ours ;-) ) much easier. Click the Create an account link and fill out the form. It's easy!  :-)

Wiki writing Syntax

Anyway, the one 'graf explanation of WikiWriting is:

Just write. Empty lines force paragraph breaks, <br> forces a mid-line break (and indeed, most HTML works), and you can do all the stuff you'd do in HTML markup, but with slightly different (read: easier) syntax. [[Words or phrases]] in square brackets automatically become intra-Wiki links -- if the page doesn't exist yet, readers will see its link displayed in red instead of blue, and you can either write the new page yourself, by clicking through to it after you save, or you can just leave it as a hint for others to follow. If you *do* preview the page, don't forget to *save it* before clicking through to create subsidiary pages.

Finally, please fill in the 'Summary' with a half-sentence description of what you changed. The summaries are displayed in the Recent Changes page listing, and make it a lot easier to figure out what's going on and why. Think of them as CVS comments.

It's really pretty much that simple. Once you find something you want to do (like offsite links or inline images) that isn't explained here, you can go check out Help:Contents.

And, finally, remember: anyone can come along and edit what you write... and that's the *point*. So it's important to keep this frame of mind when you're writing. If you hate editors, writing for a Wiki will probably drive you batty.