Difference between revisions of "What's a wiki?"
(New page: What's a '''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki wiki]''''' anyway? Click on the link to find out. OK, now you know what a ''wiki'' is. But, if you're like me, you are not sure how to...) |
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OK, now you know what a ''wiki'' is. But, if you're like me, you are not sure how to actually ''use'' one. So I'm adding a few "getting started" instructions right here at the outset. Please remind me ''not'' to delete these after I get past my own "newbie" stage, since the whole idea is to bring ''new'' newbies into the fold with minimal frustration. |
OK, now you know what a ''wiki'' is. But, if you're like me, you are not sure how to actually ''use'' one. So I'm adding a few "getting started" instructions right here at the outset. Please remind me ''not'' to delete these after I get past my own "newbie" stage, since the whole idea is to bring ''new'' newbies into the fold with minimal frustration. |
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The first thing you want to do is ''change this introduction'' (but not too much, please!) by clicking on the little "'''edit'''" tab at the top of the page. Then you will see the plain text that generates this formatted version, and can get the general idea of how it works. If you don't actually change anything, but just go down to the bottom of the ''edit'' page and click on "'''Show preview'''", you can see the formatted version above the text that generates it. |
The first thing you want to do is ''change this introduction'' (but not too much, please -- use the [[Sandbox]] for trying stuff out!) by clicking on the little "'''edit'''" tab at the top of the page. Then you will see the plain text that generates this formatted version, and can get the general idea of how it works. If you don't actually change anything (which is fine with me), but just go down to the bottom of the ''edit'' page and click on "'''Show preview'''", you can see the formatted version above the text that generates it. This may make ''MediaWiki'' syntax self-evident, but if you want an easy introduction, the [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing Editing Help page] is handy, and the more comprehensive [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide WikiPedia User's Guide] is always available if you want detailed expert advice. |
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For anyone accustomed to "plain text" HTML editing, it |
For anyone accustomed to "plain text" [http://localhost/Manuals/HTML/HTML.html HTML] editing, it may be annoying to have to learn yet another typesetting language to use ''MediaWiki'' -- but [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SGML SGML] tags (<...>...</...>) are dangerous to the security of a system, especially when we go out of our way to open it up for everyone to play with. The ''MediaWiki'' formatting syntax offer a nice way around this "''Catch-22''" problem. |
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Next you should flex those mental muscles and try out a few of the new tricks you have learned. To make this safe and fun at the same time, we provide a testing page where "anything goes" (within reason): |
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Next we try to ''create a new page''. The manual claims that all you have to do is enter the desired name (of the page you want to create) in the "'''search'''" box (which you should do anyway, to make sure it doesn't already exist!) and hit "'''Go'''", and if it doesn't yet exist you will be offered a "'''create the article'''" button to click on. This did ''not'' work for me. So I am using the suggested alternative method, namely to create a '''''link''''' to a nonexistant page, which you are allowed to do. Then when you Save the current page and click on the link, it will pop up a window where you can start entering the text for the new page. This seems to work fine. Here's an example: |
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==[[Sandbox]]== |
==[[Sandbox]]== |
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[[Category: How To]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:05, 10 July 2021
What's a wiki anyway? Click on the link to find out.
OK, now you know what a wiki is. But, if you're like me, you are not sure how to actually use one. So I'm adding a few "getting started" instructions right here at the outset. Please remind me not to delete these after I get past my own "newbie" stage, since the whole idea is to bring new newbies into the fold with minimal frustration.
The first thing you want to do is change this introduction (but not too much, please -- use the Sandbox for trying stuff out!) by clicking on the little "edit" tab at the top of the page. Then you will see the plain text that generates this formatted version, and can get the general idea of how it works. If you don't actually change anything (which is fine with me), but just go down to the bottom of the edit page and click on "Show preview", you can see the formatted version above the text that generates it. This may make MediaWiki syntax self-evident, but if you want an easy introduction, the Editing Help page is handy, and the more comprehensive WikiPedia User's Guide is always available if you want detailed expert advice.
For anyone accustomed to "plain text" HTML editing, it may be annoying to have to learn yet another typesetting language to use MediaWiki -- but SGML tags (<...>...</...>) are dangerous to the security of a system, especially when we go out of our way to open it up for everyone to play with. The MediaWiki formatting syntax offer a nice way around this "Catch-22" problem.
Next you should flex those mental muscles and try out a few of the new tricks you have learned. To make this safe and fun at the same time, we provide a testing page where "anything goes" (within reason):
