Help:Editing

>The idea of a wiki is that everyone can easily create, format, and organize new content. All changes are tracked and can be "undone" (i.e., reverted to an earlier version) if necessary. Some wikis on MedShelf.org require you to log in before editing.

To start editing, just click on the Edit tab in the upper right-hand corner of the page you want to edit. On the edit page you will see the page content in wikitext, a special "markup language" that lets you format content on the page by adding extra characters. The best way to learn it is to try it out. Please do so on the Sandbox page and not this one.

[edit] Common Editing Markups

The table below includes examples of the most common markups (see Help:Wikitext examples for the complete list). You can use the editing toolbar to help with some of these.

What it looks like	What you type
italicize text bold text	<pre> italicize text bold text </pre>
<div style="font-size:150%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;">Section headings</div> Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents when at least 3 headings exist. If you don't want it to, type in <nowiki></nowiki> <div style="font-size:132%;font-weight:bold;">Subsection</div> Using more equals signs creates a subsection. <div style="font-size:116%;font-weight:bold;">A smaller subsection</div> Please don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.	<pre> == Section headings == Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents when at least 3 headings exist. If you don't want it to, type in === Subsection === Using more equals signs creates a subsection. ==== A smaller subsection ==== Please don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. </pre>
First bulleted list item Second bulleted list item Sub-bulleted list item	<pre> First bulleted list item Second bulleted list item Sub-bulleted list item </pre>
First numbered list item Second numbered list item Sub-numbered list item	<pre> First numbered list item Second numbered list item Sub-numbered list item </pre>
Main Page and main Page link to the same page. Main page does not (i.e., capital letters only matter after the first letter) Main Pages The main page Using the Wiki section	<pre> Main Page and main Page link to the same page. Main page does not (i.e., capital letters only matter after the first letter) Main Pages The main page Using the Wiki section </pre>
http://www.medshelf.org MedShelf [1]	<pre> http://www.medshelf.org MedShelf [2] </pre>
<nowiki>Ignore Wiki Formatting</nowiki>	<pre> <nowiki>Ignore Wiki Formatting</nowiki> </pre>

What it looks like

What you type

italicize text

bold text

<pre>

italicize text

bold text </pre>

<div style="font-size:150%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;">Section headings</div>

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents when at least 3 headings exist. If you don't want it to, type in <nowiki></nowiki>

<div style="font-size:132%;font-weight:bold;">Subsection</div> Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

<div style="font-size:116%;font-weight:bold;">A smaller subsection</div>

Please don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

<pre>

== Section headings ==

Headings organize your writing into sections.
The Wiki software can automatically generate
a table of contents when at least 3 headings exist. 
If you don't want it to, type in

=== Subsection ===

Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

==== A smaller subsection ====

Please don't skip levels, 
like from two to four equals signs.

</pre>

First bulleted list item
Second bulleted list item
- Sub-bulleted list item

<pre>

First bulleted list item
Second bulleted list item
- Sub-bulleted list item

</pre>

First numbered list item
Second numbered list item
1. Sub-numbered list item

<pre>

First numbered list item
Second numbered list item
1. Sub-numbered list item

</pre>

Main Page and main Page link to the same page. Main page does not (i.e., capital letters only matter after the first letter)

Main Pages

The main page

Using the Wiki section

<pre>

Main Page and main Page link to the same page. Main page does not (i.e., capital letters only matter after the first letter)

Main Pages

The main page

Using the Wiki section </pre>

http://www.medshelf.org

MedShelf

[1]

<pre>

http://www.medshelf.org

MedShelf

[2] </pre>

<nowiki>Ignore Wiki Formatting</nowiki>

<pre>

<nowiki>Ignore Wiki Formatting</nowiki> </pre>

[edit] Editing Best Practices

[edit] Summarize your changes

Write a short edit summary in the small field below the edit-box. This helps other community members who view the Recent Changes page keep up on what is new and determine if they should review your edit. Also, make sure and only use the minor edit checkbox for edits that don't change the meaning of the content (e.g., such as fixing spelling).

[edit] Consider Logging in first

Each time you make an edit, the system will keep track of your username (if you are logged in) or computer's IP address (when you are not logged in). Some wikis will require you to log in before editing, but even if you are not required to you may want to in order to let other community members know that you have made the edit.

[edit] Ask before making major structural changes

If you want to make major structural changes to the wiki (e.g., changing existing page names, reorganizing the Main Page) please discuss it with the Wiki Team first or add your suggested change to the content section of the Suggestion Box.

[edit] Further Reading

If you haven't read Help:Wiki 101 and the Wiki Guide, they are the best places for newcomers to start. Below are some other pages related to editing that provide more details.