Help:Editing all-in-one guide

This page is a conglomeration of many other editing pages, so you can print, or view it easily.

Main Editing content

MediaWiki Handbook: Contents, Readers, Editors, Moderators, System admins +/-

Editing refers to the changing of a page by a Wikimedia user. Unless certain restrictions are in effect, such as protection, all pages are editable, by everyone. This is a brief overview of that process. For more information see the links below.

Most frequent Wiki markup explained

This page can be found at mw:Help:Formatting.
This is an interwiki redirect.

Restrictions

Some pages cannot be edited by everyone. A special function known as protection can be applied to a page by administrators, making the said page uneditable to certain classes of users. There are several degrees of protection:

If a page is semiprotected, it can be edited by everyone except IPs and accounts that have not yet been confirmed.
If a page is fully protected, only other admins can make edits to the page.
A page can also be protected so that it cannot be moved.
In some cases, an admin might see fit to protect a page from being created.
For very rare pages, such as the Main Page, "cascading" protection is applied, wherein every page that is transcluded onto a page is protected too.

There are various reasons why a page might be protected. Vandalism and spam can lead to semiprotection, while content wars and other severe cases can lead to full protection. There are other times where Office actions come into play. For the most part, protection is temporary and editing privileges are then restored. In any case, everyone can view the source of any page, irrespective of its level of protection.

Links to other help pages

Help contents: Meta · Wikinews · Wikipedia · Wikiquote · Wiktionary · Commons: · mw: · b: · s: · mw:Manual · Google

Versions of this help page (for other languages see further): Meta · Wikinews · Wikipedia · Wikiquote · Wiktionary; What links here on Meta or from Meta · Wikipedia · MediaWiki

Reading: Go · Search · Stop words · Namespace · Page name · Section · Backlinks · Redirect · Category · Image page · Special pages · Printable version

Tracking changes: Recent changes (enhanced) | Related changes · Watching pages · Diff · Page history · Edit summary · User contributions · Minor edit · Patrolled edit

Logging in and preferences: Logging in · Preferences · User style

Editing: Starting a new page · Advanced editing · Editing FAQ · Edit toolbar · Export · Import · Shortcuts · Edit conflict · Page size

Referencing: Links · URLs · Piped links · Interwiki linking · Footnotes

Style and formatting: Wikitext examples · CSS · Reference card · HTML in wikitext · Formula · List · Table · Sorting · Colors · Images and file uploads

Fixing mistakes: Show preview · Testing · Reverting edits

Advanced functioning: Expansion · Template · Advanced templates · Parser function · Parameter default · Variable · System message · Substitution · Array · Calculation · Embed page

Others: Special characters · Renaming (moving) a page · Talk page · Signatures · Sandbox · Legal issues for editors

Languages:

English

Wikitext Examples

MediaWiki Handbook: Contents, Readers, Editors, Moderators, System admins +/-

For basic information see Help:Editing.

Basic text formatting

You can format the page using Wikitext special characters.

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. (Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special -- the last pair are just 'left over ones' that are included as part of the text.)	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'''''. (Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special -- <br /> the last pair are just ''''left over ones'''' that are included as part of the text.)
A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the diff function (used internally to compare different versions of a page). But an empty line starts a new paragraph. When used in a list, a newline does affect the layout (see below).	A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the ''diff'' function (used internally to compare different versions of a page). But an empty line starts a new paragraph. When used in a list, a newline ''does'' affect the layout ([[#lists\|see below]]).
You can break lines without a new paragraph. Please use this sparingly. Please do not start a link or italics or bold text on one line and end on the next.	You can break lines<br/> without a new paragraph.<br/> Please use this sparingly. Please do not start a link or ''italics'' or '''bold''' text on one line and end on the next.
You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: Three tildes gives your signature: Example Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: Example 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) Five tildes gives the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)	You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: * Three tildes gives your signature: ~~~ * Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: ~~~~ * Five tildes gives the date/time alone: ~~~~~

HTML tags

Main article: Help:HTML in wikitext

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

What it looks like	What you type
Put text in a `typewriter font`. The same font is generally used for `computer code`.	Put text in a <tt>typewriter font</tt>. The same font is generally used for <code> computer code</code>.
~~Strike out~~ or underline text, or write it in small caps.	<strike>Strike out</strike> or <u>underline</u> text, or write it <span style= "font-variant:small-caps"> in small caps</span>.
Superscripts and subscripts: X², H₂O	Superscripts and subscripts: X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O
Centered text Please note the American spelling of "center".	<center>Centered text</center> * Please note the American spelling of "center".
The blockquote command formats block quotations, typically by surrounding them with whitespace and a slightly different font.	<blockquote> The '''blockquote''' command ''formats'' block quotations, typically by surrounding them with whitespace and a slightly different font. </blockquote>
Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) appear only while editing the page. If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the talk page.	Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) appear only while editing the page. <!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

Organizing your writing

See also: w:Picture tutorial

What it looks like	What you type
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 [[help:Section\|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.
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.
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 definition 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 definition : 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.
You can even do mixed lists and nest them inside each other or break lines in lists. definition lists can be nested too	* You can even do mixed lists # and nest them # inside each other # or break lines<br>in lists. #; definition lists #: can be *#:; nested : too
A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. A newline starts a new paragraph. Should only be used on talk pages. For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag. 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. Should only be used on talk pages. For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag. : We use 1 colon to indent once. :: We use 2 colons to indent twice. ::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.
You can make horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text. But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.	You can make ''horizontal dividing lines'' (----) to separate text. ---- But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.
You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. There are over six billion people in the world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref> References: <references/> For details, see Wikipedia:Footnotes and Help:Footnotes.	You can add footnotes to sentences using the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. :There are over six billion people in the world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref> References: <references/> For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] and [[Help:Footnotes]].

Links

Main article: Help:Link

You will often want to make clickable links to other pages.

What it looks like	What you type
Here's a link to a page named Official position. You can even say official positions and the link will show up correctly.	Here's a link to a page named [[Official positions\|Official position]]. You can even say [[official positions]] and the link will show up correctly.
You can put formatting around a link. Example: Wikipedia.	You can put formatting around a link. Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.
The first letter of articles is automatically capitalized, so wikipedia goes to the same place as Wikipedia. Capitalization matters after the first letter.	The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the first letter.
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 its title: Doxygen#Doxygen Examples.. 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: * [[Doxygen#Doxygen Examples]]. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the third section named "Example section".
You can make a link point to a different place with a piped link. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "\|", then the link text. About Links Cities in Morocco Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that a title that contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise link text. Spinning Boston	You can make a link point to a different place with a [[Help:Piped link\|piped link]]. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "\|", then the link text. * [[Help:Link\|About Links]] * [[List of cities by country#Morocco\|Cities in Morocco]] Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that a title that contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise link text. * [[Spinning (textiles)\|]] * [[Boston, Massachusetts\|]]
You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: Nupedia Or leave the title blank: [1] External link can be used to link to a wiki page that cannot be linked to with [[page]]: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes&oldid=482030#Installation	You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: [http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia] Or leave the title blank: [http://www.nupedia.com] External link can be used to link to a wiki page that cannot be linked to with <nowiki>[[page]]</nowiki>: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes &oldid=482030#Installation
Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@example.com or someone	Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@example.com or [mailto:someone@example.com someone]
You can redirect the user to another page.	#REDIRECT [[Official positions\|Official position]]
Category links do not show up in line but instead at page bottom and cause the page to be listed in the category. Add an extra colon to link to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: Category:English documentation	[[Help:Category\|Category links]] do not show up in line but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be listed in the category.'' [[Category:English documentation]] Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: [[:Category:English documentation]]
The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your Preferences: 1969-07-20 July 20, 1969 20 July 1969	The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your [[Special:Preferences\|]]: * [[1969-07-20]] * [[July 20]], [[1969]] * [[20 July]] [[1969]]

Just show what I typed

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki to display things as you typed them.

What it looks like

What you type

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

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

The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
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>

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: →

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;

Source code

Main article: mw:Extension:SyntaxHighlight GeSHi

If the syntax highlighting extension is installed, you can display programming language source code in a manner very similar to the HTML <pre> tag, except with the type of syntax highlighting commonly found in advanced text editing software.

Here's an example of how to display some C# source code:

<source lang="csharp">
// Hello World in Microsoft C# ("C-Sharp").

using System;

class HelloWorld
{
    public static int Main(String[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
        return 0;
    }
}
</source>

Results in:

<source lang="csharp"> // Hello World in Microsoft C# ("C-Sharp").

using System;

class HelloWorld {

   public static int Main(String[] args)
   {
       Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
       return 0;
   }

} </source>

Images, tables, video, and sounds

This is a very quick introduction. For more information, see:

Help:Images and other uploaded files, for how to upload files;

w:en:Wikipedia:Extended image syntax, for how to arrange images on the page;

Help:Table, for how to create a table.

After uploading, just enter the filename, highlight it and press the "embedded image"-button of the edit_toolbar.

This will produce the syntax for uploading a file [[Image:filename.png]]

What it looks like

What you type

A picture, including alternate text:

You can put the image in a frame with a caption:

This is Wiki's logo

A picture, including alternate text:

[[Image:Wiki.png|This is Wiki's logo]]

You can put the image in a frame with a caption:
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This is Wiki's logo]]

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: Image:Wiki.png

Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wiki.png

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image:
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Or a link directly to the image itself:
[[Media:Wiki.png]]

Use media: links to link

directly to sounds or videos: A sound file

Use '''media:''' links to link
directly to sounds or videos:
[[media:Classical guitar scale.ogg|A sound file]]

Provide a spoken rendition of some text in a template:

Template:Listen

Provide a spoken rendition of some text in a template:
{{listen
 |title    = Flow my tears
 |filename = Flow my tears.ogg
 |filesize = 583KB
}}

This	is
a	table

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

Galleries

Main article: w:Gallery tag

Images can also be grouped into galleries using the <gallery> tag, such as the following:

Captioned
Links can be put in captions.

Mathematical formulae

Main article: Help:Displaying a formula

You can format mathematical formulae with TeX markup.

What it looks like	What you type
<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>	<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>

Templates

Main article: Help:Template

Templates are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be copied automatically ("transcluded") into a page. You add them by putting the template's name in {{double braces}}. It is also possible to transclude other pages by using {{:colon and double braces}}.

Some templates take parameters, as well, which you separate with the pipe character.

What it looks like

What you type

Template:Transclusion demo

{{Transclusion demo}}

This transclusion demo is a little bit of text from the page Help:Transclusion Demo to be included into any file.

{{Help:Transclusion Demo}}

This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

Hover your mouse over this text

Go to this page to see the H:title template itself: {{H:title}}

This template takes two parameters, and
creates underlined text with a hover box
for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

{{H:title|This is the hover text|
Hover your mouse over this text}}

Go to this page to see the H:title template
itself: {{tl|H:title}}