Many people contribute to a wiki, but sometimes they don't know how the source code is structured and are always wrong. Here are some quick steps to learn wiki code like Wikipedia! We will use a text box from an anonymous wiki (for privacy).
Steps
Step 1. An entry must always begin with the subject of the page in bold
For bold type you have to type in the text box the word surrounded by three apostrophes, on the right and on the left (so six). Be careful not to type too many spaces, or excessive spaces will appear once the page is saved. You can also select the bold B at the top left of the function bar, although it can sometimes be a G (for bold). This way the apostrophes will appear automatically.
Step 2. Many entries use italics to highlight words, such as titles of movies, books, games, etc
For italics the rule is very similar to that for bold. You must write the desired word between four apostrophes, two on one side and two on the other, or click the I in italics in the boxes above.
Step 3. Any page worthy of being called such must have titles to separate sections
The entry must be divided into sections. For a section, you have to write the title between four equal symbols, or click in the boxes above what most of the time is a very large A.
Step 4. If the section is too long, it would be better to break it down into subsections
The subsections are included in the sections, but can deal with internal topics (for example the section of a book may be called "Plot", and the subsections "First Chapter", "Second Chapter" etc.). For a subsection you have to put the title inside six equal, three on the right and three on the left. Remember to go to the head, or the code will appear directly once the page is saved.
Step 5. A page needs images
The image is not difficult to insert. Enter the following code:
Step 6. Links to other pages are important
A reader will surely want to know what the meaning of a word they do not know is. It is easy to link the word to an existing wiki page: you just have to write the following code:
Step 7. And now that you know the basics of wikiediting, write a page
In the two images there is a voice with everything we have learned so far.
Advice
- Of course, the above steps are just the basic wikicode features. For a more detailed list, you should always read the code manual, which every good wiki should have (this is a help page, so you can easily find it with the Search function).
- Recently Wikipedia and the wikis hosted on Wikia have the Visual Editor, that is, the ability to edit without the source code. It would be better, however, to practice the code, since it is always thanks to it that the pages "stand up".
- Of course, a file may initially be non-existent, as well as a link (which is usually red). The best solution is to load it as soon as possible, as opposed to red links, which can stay on the page, even if not in exaggerated quantity.
Warnings
- You must ALWAYS remember to put the correct apostrophes. An incomplete italic (therefore without an apostrophe) could cause damage to the whole page, just as one with an extra apostrophe could make the word appear disordered, with unnecessary signs.
- In addition to the codes, you also need to look after the quality of the voice. Ungrammatical entries with typos are never accepted, even if they are set with the right codes and in a perfect way.
