Help:Editing

The original version of this page can be found at 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.

Editing basics

 * Start editing
 * To start editing a MediaWiki page, click the Edit this page (or just edit) link at one of its edges. This brings 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. If you just want to experiment, please do so in the sandbox, not here.


 * Type your changes
 * You can just type your text. However, also using basic wiki markup (described in the next section) to make links and do simple formatting adds to the value of your contribution.


 * Summarize your changes
 * 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, click Show 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 page and your changes will be immediately applied to the article.



Basic text formatting
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
{| width="100%"  border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" !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 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.

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 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title. marks the end of the list. marks the end of the list. A new line marks the end of the list.
 * Unordered lists are easy to do:
 * Start every line with a star.
 * More stars indicate a deeper level.
 * Previous item continues.
 * A new line
 * in a list
 * A new line
 * in a 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.
 * Previous item continues.
 * A new line
 * in a list
 * in a list
 * Of course you can start again.
 * 1) Numbered lists are:
 * 2) Very organized
 * 3) Easy to follow
 * 1) Very organized
 * 2) Easy to follow
 * 1) New numbering starts with 1.

A new line marks the end of the list. Another kind of list is a definition list:
 * 1) Numbered lists are:
 * 2) Very organized
 * 3) Easy to follow
 * 1) Easy to follow
 * 1) New numbering starts with 1.
 * Word : Definition of the word
 * Here is a longer phrase that needs a definition
 * Phrase defined


 * A word : Which has a definition
 * Also a second one
 * And even a third

Another kind of list is a definition list:
 * Word : Definition of the word
 * Here is a longer phrase that needs a definition
 * Phrase defined


 * A word : Which has a definition
 * Also a second one
 * And even a third

in lists. in lists.
 * You can even do mixed lists
 * and nest them
 * inside each other
 * or break lines
 * inside each other
 * or break lines
 * definition lists
 * can be
 * nested too
 * You can even do mixed lists
 * and nest them
 * inside each other
 * or break lines
 * or break lines
 * definition lists
 * can be
 * nested too
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.

A new line after that starts a new paragraph.

This is often used for discussion on talk pages.
 * We use 1 colon to indent once.
 * We use 2 colons to indent twice.
 * We use 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.


 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.

A new line after that starts a new paragraph.

This is often used for discussion on talk pages.
 * We use 1 colon to indent once.
 * We use 2 colons to indent twice.
 * We use 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

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. You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source.


 * There are over six billion people in the world.

References:

For details, see Footnotes and Help:Footnotes. You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source.


 * There are over six billion people in the world.

References:

For details, see Footnotes and Help:Footnotes.
 * }

Just show what I typed

 * ''See also Help:Wiki markup examples.

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

Images, tables, video, and sounds
After uploading, just enter the filename, highlight it and press the "embedded image"-button of the edit_toolbar.

This will produce the syntax for uploading a file  

This is a very quick introduction. For more information, see:
 * Help:Images and other uploaded files for how to upload files
 * Help:Extended image syntax for how to arrange images on the page
 * Help:Table for how to create a table

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" !What it looks like !What you type A picture, including alternate text:



You can put the image in a frame with a caption: A picture, including alternate text:



You can put the image in a frame with a caption: 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 directly to sounds or videos: [[media:Sg_mrob.ogg|A sound file]] Use media: links to link directly to sounds or videos: [[media:Sg_mrob.ogg|A sound file]]


 * }

Mathematical formulas
You can format mathematical formulas with TeX markup. See Help:Formula.

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.

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

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.