Help:Editing

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Revision as of 09:11, 21 January 2011 by 41.212.42.103 (talk)
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So you want to edit PortlandWiki? Well, don't screw anything up.

Just kidding! It's impossible to screw PortlandWiki up, since everything can be undone. So go wild. But if you want some guidance on what are best practices (and most of us do), keep reading.

Not the editing and writing type? Check out our to do list, it's full of random miscellaneous things to do that will help us build a great Portland resource we can all enjoy and be proud of!

Create a new page!

Creating a new PortlandWiki page is reasonably quick and mostly pain-free. As this wiki matures, there may come a time when most contributions will consist of editing and/or updating existing pages. But Portland Wiki is still growing like half-wild toddler, so what's stopping you? Go ahead, start a new page. You can do it!

Let's look at a few elements[1] you may want to include in even a minimalist new PortlandWiki page[2].

Page title

The first element you'll want to decide on as you create your new wiki page is a page title. The easiest way to entitle your new page is to perform a search to see if another Portland Wiki page already exists with that title. It's not likely you'll run into that problem while Portland Wiki is still a "tot," but if you do, perhaps you can think up another page title.

To search for a page, type your search query into the search box located in the top right corner of any PortlandWiki page.[3]

Consider visiting PortlandWiki's Sandbox page, where PortlandWiki contributors can freshen up their wiki markup skills.

Page structure

To create a new page, please include a minimal page structure, something like:

Clever paragraph header here

Grab your reader's attention with an eye-catching paragraph headline.

Next: two or three sentences about your subject

Now write a witty, light-of-heart (yet heavy of mind) opening paragraph.

OPAL's Rally for the BUS, held in front of Portland City Hall on September 1st, 2010.

Want an image with that?

The appropriate image[4] (one that won't permanently freak out a well-disciplined nun or psychologically harm a small child) can brighten up any wiki page. Here's how you can include an image:

  • First, upload your pic by clicking the "Upload file" menu located under the "Toolbox" heading shown in the list of menu items on the left side of the page.
  • Next, click on the Edit menu (instructions below) and insert the wiki text to display your image.
The wiki text to display the image shown to the right is:


[[File:Stop-TriMet-Service-Cuts-Rally.JPG|thumb|400px|[[OPAL]]'s [http://www.opalpdx.org/2010/08/rally-for-the-bus/ Rally for the BUS], held in front of [[Portland City Hall]] on September 1st, 2010.]]

How about a handy list?

Take a peek under our skirts

Want to see what actual wiki text (wiki formatting mark-up code)[5] looks like so you can "try this at home"? Yes? Click here. (You can also click the "Edit" menu, sandwiched between the "Read" and "View history" menus, which are all located just to the left of the Search box situated at the top, right of each page.)

Useful external links are a nice distraction

Refer Readers to References!