GettingStarted

First time visitors: here's what you need to know.

Reading

• You can browse this website just like any other. Page titles are WikiWords?, which are mixed-case words. Every WikiWord in text is a link to a page with that title. The title at the top of each page is a backlink. Click it to see a list of all pages which link to the page.
• See RecentChanges? to view recently modified pages and catch up on changes made since your last visit.
• Use the Search box at the bottom of each page to find stuff.
• Click on the Index link in the navigation bar to see a list of all pages on the wiki.

Editing Existing Pages

• To edit pages, you need to enter a password. Go to the Preferences by clicking the link at the top of this page. In the UserName? field, enter your name. Skip the Set Password field. In the Administrator Password field, remove the bullet and enter the editing password you've been given. Scroll to the bottom of the page and save the changes. You can now edit.
  • If you're working on a public computer, revisit the Preference page and remove the password when you're finished. Otherwise, others using the computer can edit the page
• To edit a page, click on the Edit Text link at the bottom of the page. Do that right now so you can see the code of this page. It will make more sense. But please don't change the text on this page.
• Create italics by surrounding words with two single quotes on either side.
• Create bold text by using three single quotes on either side.
• Create bulleted lists by using an asterisk * at the start of the line.
• For plain monospaced font, start the line with a space:

 Let us go then you and I
 While evening is spread out against the sky
 Like a patient etherized upon a table
 Oh do not ask what is it
 Let us go and make our visit

• Separate paragraphs with an extra blank line. Example:

This is a paragraph.

This is another paragraph. They're separated by an extra blank line.

• Create horizontal rules with four or more dashes like this:

• Indent whole paragraphs by starting the line with a colon :

Here's an examples of an indented paragraph. This would be appropriate for block quoting a source, or otherwise setting it off.

• To create hyperlinks on a page, capitalize the words you want for link title and string them together. This creates a WikiWord. Let's say you want to create a page--. If the page does not exist yet a question mark appears after the link, inviting you to create the page: ThisPageDoesNotExistUsually?. (And please don't ruin the example by creating one.)
• To link to pages outside the Wiki, type or copy and paste in the URL and wiki will link it: http://www.nytimes.com/
• Click the Save button at the bottom of the editing page to save your edit. Use the Preview button to preview your work.

Adding New Pages

You can add new pages wherever you are in the wiki.

• Create a new WikiWord on an existing page. Save the page.
• Click the question mark that follows the unlinked WikiWord.
• This will bring up a new page with the text "Describe the new page here". Remove that text and start writing.
• Use the Save button when you're done editing.
• It is possible to create page titles using spaces in the title. See the TextFormattingRules to see how.

What's Next

• Please don't edit this page. Instead, use the SandBox to practice editing. Or practice editing on your own wiki page. Refer to the TextEditingRules? for more elaborate formatting.

Make Yourself Known

Please use your real name on this wiki.

• You have a wiki page on this wiki, listed on the Entry Point page. That's your home base.
• Add personal or professional information to your page.
• You can hang pages off your home page by starting the page titles with a /
• Use your WikiName? as a signature when appropriate.
• It is easy for someone to use somebody else's name. Please don't.

Security

There isn't much. Anyone with the editing password can jump in and change and delete content. Some of it might get restored. Don't worry about it too much; it's part of WhyWikiWorks?.

Advice

• Follow WikiSocialNorms? if you want to be respected by other Wiki participants.
• Now have a look at the StyleGuide
• TextFormattingRules has advanced editing instrutions.

• Suggestion: Open pages in new windows. And please do not edit this page to experiment - use the SandBox.