Help:Contents
From New Orleans Wiki
Contents |
[edit] Hold Your Horses!
[edit] Do Not Create Blank Pages
Sometimes you might want to create a blank page, maybe to attach a category. Please do not create pages that are otherwise blank. There is a better place to put that.
[edit] Do Not Create Almost Empty Pages
Please do not create pages that have a line or two of text. If you have a link you want to share, do not create a page solely for that link. There is probably a better place to put it.
For example, rather than creating a page for each firehouse in New Orleans, create a page with all the firehouses in New Orleans. If one firehouse is particularly historic, and has an article all to itself, then, yes, create a page for it.
[edit] Simple Steps
[edit] Create a Login
Create a login so that you have your own home page in the Wiki.
[edit] Edit your Home Page
After you've created a login, add something to your home page. You can always find your home page by clicking on your name in the top right corner once you've logged in. Click the "edit" tab at the top of the page and start typing. Click Save page. The changes to your page will show up in the recent changes page, so everyone will see that you've arrived. We can roll out the welcome wagon, and help you get started.
[edit] Learn to Wiki (All the Funny Characters)
Check out A Gentle Introduction to Media Wiki and Help Editing. It is simple. You can create headings, links and lists, and for must Wiki contributers that is all you need. An advanced Wiki contributer will help you with fancy formatting, just ask them.
[edit] Gather Information
What good is Wiki if you've got nothing to publish? Pick a topic and start gathering data. If you are doing research on a civic issue, use the Wiki as your word processor. (Seriously, I don't use word processors, I use a private or public Wiki.) If you have information from a New Orleans based non-profit organization, school, hospital, church or corporation, write it up on the appropriate page.
[edit] Make Mistakes
It doesn't matter. The Wiki keeps a track of the history of a page. If you make a mistake, we can simply go back to the previous reivision.
[edit] Learn by Example
Check out the Wiki pages that appeal to you on this Wiki and at the other Civic Wikis. Click on edit to view the Wiki markup and see how they did that. Click cancel when you are done, or simply navigate away from the page.
Help: How to Get Started, To Do List
[edit] Getting Things Done
Expand this.
[edit] Volunteer Five Minutes
Once you know Wiki. You can pick a small task off of the To Do List. Look at the pages in the Category:To Do category and see what needs to be done.
[edit] Civic Research
You can join in a civic research project. Look for articles in the Category:Follow Up and see if you have answers to the questions.
[edit] Share Your Information
Let us know if your information can be used in the New Orleans Wiki.
[edit] Inbox
[edit] Stubs
An article with a just short blurb or a handful of links is a stub. It is a placeholder with a little bit of information to get the ball rolling.
You can indicate that the article is a stub by adding {{stub}} at the base of the first section of the article. This will import a call out box that explains what a stub is and how to extend it. It will also add the article to the Stubs Category.
[edit] Review
Sometimes an author might want to get feedback on whether or not their writing is factual or understandable. This is espeially true of documentation, instructions, or directions to civic events. It will also add the article to the Review Requested Category.
