Help:Using the wiki

Want to update the Wiki but don't know where to start? This is the page for you!

What is a Wiki?

A wiki is a site or set of pages that are editable by any anyone. On the the Nottinghack wiki, you must be registered and logged on to do it. Need to add instructions on how to get an account, once we have decided!

You can edit the pages simply by clicking the edit tab on a page and changing the text. Formatting is achieved using wikitext.

Some basic information on wikitext is included on this page, and more help is available through the "Editing help" link on every edit page.

This video explains how a wiki can be used to organise group activities.

What shall I update?

Anything!

Well almost. A very small number of pages (such as the front page) are protected and can only be edited by an administrator. If you think one of these pages should change, write on the Discussion section of that page.

Feel free to update any other page yourself, but remember that this wiki is publicly accessible so don't post anything we might not want to be seen (door codes, passwords, etc) or anything that you wouldn't want to be seen by a child!

Wikitext

Editing a page is simple - click the Edit tab at the top and simply write the text you want to appear on the page. You can start a new paragraph by pressing enter on your keyboard twice.

If you want to format the text you are entering, or insert more complicated items like tables or images, you must use wikitext. In the next few sections we'll cover some basic wikitext and show you example, but more help can be found at the help page on the Wikimedia meta-wiki.

Most frequent Wiki markup explained

Here are the most frequently used types of wiki markup. If you need more help or examples see the Quick reference page.

What it looks like	What you type
You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will embolden the text. 5 apostrophes will embolden and italicize the text. (4 apostrophes don't do anything special -- there's just 'one left over'.)	You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will embolden '''the text'''. 5 apostrophes will embolden and italicize '''''the text'''''. (4 apostrophes don't do anything special -- there's just ''''one left over''''.)
You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: Three tildes give your user name: Example (talk) Four tildes give your user name plus date/time: Example (talk) 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) Five tildes give the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)	You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: * Three tildes give your user name: ~~~ * Four tildes give your user name plus date/time: ~~~~ * Five tildes give the date/time alone: ~~~~~
Section headings
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.
Lists and indents
What it looks like	What you type
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 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 new line * in a list marks the end of the list. * Of course you can start again.
Numbered lists are: Very organized Easy to follow Previous item continues A new line marks the end of the list. New numbering starts with 1.	# ''Numbered lists'' are: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow # Previous item continues A new line marks the end of the list. # New numbering starts with 1.
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 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.
Links
What it looks like	What you type
Here's a link to the Main page. But be careful - capitalization counts!	Here's a link to the [[Main page]].
Intentionally permanent red link is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.	[[Intentionally permanent red link]] is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.
You can link to a page section by placing a "#" before its title: Help:Contents#Videos. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. #Example section 3 goes to the third section named "Example section".	You can link to a page section by its title: * [[Help:Contents#Videos]]. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the third section named "Example section".

Categories

See the guidelines in Project:Categories.

See also

• Help:Quick reference -- A full reference guide for Nottinghack Wiki.
• metawiki:Help:Editing -- The source of the examples on this page.