Help:Editing

From PotC Wiki

This is a help page designed to offer guidelines and assistance to users unfamiliar with the wiki editing process.

[edit] Editing basics

[edit] Be relevant

All information added to a page on this wiki must be related in some way to Pirates of the Caribbean; that includes the original theme park ride, the films, spin-off material and real-life people, places and objects associated with the same. You can always use talk pages to ask questions and check to see if your idea is acceptable.

[edit] Start editing

To start editing a page, click the Edit link at the top of the article. This brings you to the edit page: a page with a text box containing the wikitext—the editable code from which the server produces the finished page. If you just want to experiment, please do so in the Davy Jones' Locker sandbox, not here.

in the film davy jones fancies Elizabeth

[edit] 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 Wikipedia's edit summary legend.

[edit] Preview before saving

When you have finished, click 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.

[edit] Dummy edit and null edit

If the wikitext is not changed, no edit will be recorded and the edit summary is discarded. A dummy edit is a change in wikitext that has no effect on the rendered page, such as changing the number of newlines at some position from 0 to 1 or from 2 to 3 or conversely (changing from 1 to 2 makes a difference, see below). This allows an edit summary, and is useful for correcting a previous edit summary, or an accidental marking of a previous edit as "minor" (see below).

To refresh the cache of some item in the database a lesser kind of dummy edit, called a null edit, may be sufficient: one that does not cause any change in the wikitext, and no entry in the history, in Recent Changes, etc.: this can be done by opening the edit window and saving; a section edit is sufficient.

[edit] Minor edits

When editing a page, a logged-in user has the option of flagging the edit as a "minor edit". This feature is important, because users can choose to hide minor edits in their view of the Recent Changes page, to keep the volume of edits down to a manageable level.

Deciding when to use this feature is a matter of personal preference. The rule of thumb is that an edit of a page that consists of spelling corrections, formatting, and minor rearranging of text should be flagged as a "minor edit". A major edit is basically something that makes the entry worth revisiting for somebody who wants to watch the article rather closely. So any "real" change, even if it is a single word, should be flagged as a "major edit".

The reason for not allowing a user who is not logged in to mark an edit as minor is that vandalism could then be marked as a minor edit, in which case it would stay unnoticed longer. This limitation is another reason to log in.

[edit] Wiki markup

In the left column of the table below, you can find a series of Wiki markup examples. In the right column, you can see the resulting output. In other words, to make text look like it looks in the right column, type it in the format you see in the left column. You may want to keep this page open in a separate browser window for reference. If you want to try out things without danger of doing any harm, you can do so in the Sandbox.

[edit] Basic formatting

Wiki markup	Output
You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will bold '''the text'''. 5 apostrophes will bold and italicize '''''the text'''''.	You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will bold the text. 5 apostrophes will bold and italicize the text.
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<br /> without starting a new paragraph.	You can break lines without starting a new paragraph.
When adding a comment to a Talk page, you should sign it. You can do this by adding three tildes for your user name:<br /> ~~~ Four for user name plus date/time:<br /> ~~~~ Five for date/time:<br /> ~~~~~	When adding a comment to a Talk page, you should sign it. You can do this by adding three tildes for your user name: [[Special:Mypage\|Template:USERNAME]] Four for user name plus date/time: [[Special:Mypage\|Template:USERNAME]] 03:47, November 11 2009 (UTC) Five for date/time: 03:47, November 11 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Sections, lists, lines, and footnotes

Wiki markup	Output
==New section== ===Subsection=== ====Sub-subsection====	New section Subsection Sub-subsection
: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. A newline starts a new paragraph.<br /> Often used for discussion on talk pages. : We use 1 colon to indent once. :: We use 2 colons to indent twice. ::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on. A manual newline starts a new paragraph.	A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. A newline starts a new paragraph. Often used for discussion on talk pages. We use 1 colon to indent once. We use 2 colons to indent twice. 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on. A manual newline starts a new paragraph.
* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do: Start every line with a star. * More stars indicate a deeper level. Previous item continues. 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. Previous item continues. A newline in a list marks the end of the list. Of course you can start again.
# ''Numbered lists'' are: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. # New numbering starts with 1.	Numbered lists are: 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 #like this<br />or include newlines	You can even do mixed lists and nest them like this or include newlines
Here's a definition list: ; Word : Definition of the word ; A longer phrase needing definition : Phrase defined ; A word : Which has a definition : Also a second one : And even a third Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.	Here's a definition list: Word Definition of the word A longer phrase needing definition Phrase defined A word Which has a definition Also a second one And even a third Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.
A horizontal dividing line: above ---- and below.	A horizontal dividing line: above and below.
You can add footnotes to sentences using the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. Jack Sparrow was captain of the Black Pearl <ref>Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl </ref> References: <references/>	You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. Jack Sparrow was captain of the Black Pearl ^[1] References: ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

[edit] Links and URLs

[edit] Images, media, and tables

Wiki markup

Output

Display an image:<br />
[[Image:Wiki.png]]

Display an image:

Resize an image:<br />
[[Image:Wiki.png|50px]]

Resize an image:

Align an image:<br />
[[Image:Jack Sparrow.jpg|50px|left]]
[[Image:Wiki.png|50px|right]]

Align an image:

File:SWW-logo-old.png

A framed image:<br />
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame]]

A framed image:

Add an image caption:<br />
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|An image.]]

Add an image caption:

An image.

A thumbnail image:<br />
[[Image:Wiki.png|thumb|100px|Logo.]]

A thumbnail image:

Logo.

An image gallery:<br />
<gallery>
Image:Wiki.png|Logo.
Image:Jack Sparrow.jpg|Jack Sparrow.
</gallery>

An image gallery:

Logo.

Jack Sparrow.

Link to an image description page:<br /> 
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Link to an image description page:
Image:Wiki.png

Link directly to an image:<br />
[[media:Wiki.png]]

Link directly to an image:
media:Wiki.png

To link to non-image uploads, 
you also use a "media" link:<br/>
[[media:Media.ogg]]

To link to non-image uploads, you also use a "media" link:
media:Media.ogg

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" 
cellpadding="5" align="center"
! This
! is
|- 
| a
| table
|}

This	is
a	table

[edit] HTML tags

You can use some HTML tags as well. However, you should avoid HTML in favor of Wiki markup whenever possible.

Wiki markup	Output
<i>italics</i><br /> <b>bold</b>	italics bold
Put text in a <tt>typewriter font</tt>. The same font is generally used for <code> computer code</code>.	Put text in a `typewriter font`. The same font is generally used for `computer code`.
<strike>Strike out</strike> or <u>underline</u> text, or write it <span style= "font-variant:small-caps"> in small caps</span>.	~~Strike out~~ or underline text, or write it in small caps.
Superscripts and subscripts: X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O	Superscripts and subscripts: X², H₂O
You can use <small>small text</small> for captions.	You can use small text for captions.
<center>Centered text</center>	Centered text
<blockquote> The '''blockquote''' command will indent both margins when needed instead of the left margin only as the colon does. </blockquote>	The blockquote command will indent both margins when needed instead of the left margin only as the colon does.
Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) only appear while editing the page. <!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->	Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) only appear while editing the page.

[edit] Character formatting

Wiki markup	Output
'''Umlauts and accents:'''<br /> è é ê ë ì í À Á Â<br /> Ã Ä Å<br /> Æ Ç È<br /> É Ê Ë<br /> Ì Í Î<br /> Ï Ñ Ò<br /> Ó Ô Õ<br /> Ö Ø Ù<br /> Ú Û Ü<br /> ß à á<br /> â ã ä<br /> å æ ç<br /> è é ê<br /> ë ì í<br /> î ï ñ<br /> ò ó ô<br /> &oelig; õ ö<br /> ø ù ú<br /> û ü ÿ	Umlauts and accents: è é ê ë ì í À Á Â Ã Ä Å Æ Ç È É Ê Ë Ì Í Î Ï Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ö Ø Ù Ú Û Ü ß à á â ã ä å æ ç è é ê ë ì í î ï ñ ò ó ô œ õ ö ø ù ú û ü ÿ
'''Punctuation:'''<br /> ¿ ¡ «<br /> » § ¶<br /> &dagger; &Dagger; •<br /> - – —	Punctuation: ¿ ¡ « » § ¶ † ‡ • - – —
'''Commercial symbols:'''<br /> ™ © ®<br /> ¢ € ¥<br /> £ ¤<br />	Commercial symbols: ™ © ® ¢ € ¥ £ ¤
'''Greek characters:'''<br /> α β γ<br /> δ ε ζ<br /> η θ ι<br /> κ λ μ<br /> ν ξ ο<br /> π ρ σ<br /> &sigmaf; τ υ<br /> φ χ ψ<br /> ω Γ Δ<br /> Θ Λ Ξ<br /> Π Σ Φ<br /> Ψ Ω	Greek characters: α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ ς τ υ φ χ ψ ω Γ Δ Θ Λ Ξ Π Σ Φ Ψ Ω
'''Math characters:'''<br /> ∫ ∑ ∏<br /> √ − ±<br /> ∞ ≈ &prop;<br /> &equiv; ≠ ≤<br /> ≥ × ·<br /> ÷ ∂ ′<br /> ″ ∇ &permil;<br /> ° &there4; &alefsym;<br /> ø ∈ ∉<br /> ∩ ∪ ⊂<br /> ⊃ &sube; &supe;<br /> ¬ &and; &or;<br /> ∃ ∀ ⇒<br /> ⇔ → ↔<br /> ↑	Math characters: ∫ ∑ ∏ √ − ± ∞ ≈ ∝ ≡ ≠ ≤ ≥ × · ÷ ∂ ′ ″ ∇ ‰ ° ∴ ℵ ø ∈ ∉ ∩ ∪ ⊂ ⊃ ⊆ ⊇ ¬ ∧ ∨ ∃ ∀ ⇒ ⇔ → ↔ ↑
'''Complicated formulae:'''<br/> <math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>	Complicated formulae:

[edit] Preformatted text

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki software to display your text just as you typed it.

Wiki markup

Output

<nowiki>
The nowiki tag ignores 
[[Wiki]] ''markup''.
It reformats text by 
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</nowiki>

The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →

<pre>
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</pre>

The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets 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 [[Wiki]]
 ''markup'' and special
 characters: &rarr;

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 Wiki
markup and special
characters: →

[edit] Templates

Main article: Help:Templates

Templates are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be 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.

For a list of available templates, see: Category:Templates

[edit] Tips and tricks

[edit] Page protection

In a few cases, where an Administrator has protected a page, the link labeled "Edit this page" is replaced by the text "View source". In that case, the page can only be edited by an administrator. Protection of an image page includes protection of the image itself. To ask that a page be either protected or unprotected, please place a request on PotC Wiki:Requests for protection or the Administrators' noticeboard.

[edit] Edit conflicts

If someone else makes an edit while you are making yours, the result is an edit conflict. Many conflicts can be automatically resolved by the Wiki. If it can't be resolved, however, you will need to resolve it yourself. The Wiki gives you two text boxes, where the top one is the other person's edit and the bottom one is your edit. Merge your edits into the top edit box, which is the only one that will be saved.

[edit] Reverting

The edit link of a page showing an old version leads to an edit page with the old wikitext. This is a useful way to restore the old version of a page. However, the edit link of a diff page gives the current wikitext, even if the diff page shows an old version below the table of differences.

[edit] Error messages

If you get an error message upon saving a page, you can't tell whether the actual save has failed or just the confirmation. You can go back and save again, and the second save will have no effect, or you can check "My contributions" to see whether the edit went through.

[edit] Checking spelling and editing in your favorite editor

You may find it more convenient to copy and paste the text first into your favorite text editor, edit and spell check it there, and then paste it back into your web browser to preview. This way, you can also keep a local backup copy of the pages you have edited. It also allows you to make changes offline.

If you edit this way, it's best to leave the editing page open after you copy from it, using the same edit box to submit your changes, so that the usual edit conflict mechanism can deal with it. If you return to the editing page later, please make sure that nobody else has edited the page in the meantime. If someone has, you'll need to merge their edits into yours by using the diff feature in the page history.

[edit] See also

PotC Wiki:FAQ

[edit] External links

[edit] Wikimedia Meta-Wiki

[edit] Wikia

[edit] Wikipedia

This text is stored on Wikia Help. Suggest changes here.

In pictures

Click edit at the top of the page you want to edit.

An "edit box" will open, type your new sentences or corrections.
Please note: on newer wikis you may see the new editor.

Click Preview to check what you have written.

Click Save page to save your writing.

Video walkthrough

Video at Blip.tv

Editing

Ready to put your flavor on things? Learn how here!

Also check out our editing Tips and Tricks

For more videos please see our online demos page.

Some other editing tips

Explain your edit in the 'Summary' box between the edit window and the bottom row of grey buttons. By filling it the summary box, it allows you to tell members of your wiki community why you made a certain change to an article, making communication easier. You only need to type a short message here, for example 'added introduction'.
Use the 'Show preview' button to check your edit before saving. Remember to save your preview before moving on. The preview button gives you a chance to check your edit for formatting and typos before it's up on the wiki for all to see. It also spares you the grief of having to go back and make another change after saving an article.
If you are logged in, you can mark an edit as minor by checking the 'This is a minor edit' box. This lets other editors know your edit is very small.
Pages that start with 'User:' are personal pages. While it's considered impolite to make major edits to other people's user pages without permission, feel free to leave messages for people on their User_talk pages.
Always remember to sign your talk page comments with four tildes ( ~~~~). That way, the person you're writing to will know who sent him/her the message.

Formatting

Most text formatting is usually done with wiki markup, so you don't have to learn HTML.

See Help:Formatting and Help:HTML.

Links

Links are important on wikis to help readers navigate your site. The more your pages are linked to each other, the easier it is for readers to find what they're looking for.

See Help:Links, Help:External link and also Category:Link help on Wikia Help.

Wiki variables and templates

Use {{SITENAME}} to see the current Wikia. For instance, {{SITENAME}} on this site prints out as Wikia Help.

That and a few other templates are common to MediaWiki sites. For a complete list of these "magic words", see magic words on Meta.

You can create templates. After you create the page Template:XXX, using the command {{XXX}} will include that content in your current page. So, if you have something that needs to be included on many other pages, you might want to use a template.

Most templates available on the Central Wikia can be used on individual Wikia wikis with just "wikia:" prefixed to the name. See Help:Shared templates.