Help:Editing a page

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It's very easy to edit the contents of a wiki. It only takes a few clicks.

  1. Click the "Edit" page tab at the top of the page.
  2. Make changes to the text.
  3. Complete the acknowledgements
  4. Click the "Save page" button.

Simple as that! Of course, the guidelines below may help you to feel more confident. Remember you should always aim to improve the overall contents of the wiki with your edits. If you're wondering what type of content to add, see PetroWiki:Appropriate content

Editing rules, editing conventions, and formatting

The number one rule of wiki editing is don't be afraid to try. It isn't really hard, even though wiki markup language can look intimidating. An edit can contribute whole new paragraphs or pages of information, or it can be as simple as fixing a typo or a spelling mistake. In general, try to add or edit text so that it is clear and concise. Most importantly, make sure you are always aiming to do something which improves the contents of the wiki. When you need to use some type of formatting, such as for a new headings or bolding of text, you do this using wiki syntax or the buttons in the edit toolbar above the content entry area. See Help:Formatting for some of the common types of formatting used.

Edit summary

Before you save a change, you can enter a short note in the Summary: box describing your changes. Don't worry too much about this, or spend too much time thinking about it, but try to give a little description of what you just changed e.g. "fixed typo" or "added more information about sunflowers". The summary gets stored alongside your edit, and allows moderators and other users to track changes in the wiki more effectively.

Minor edits

Below the edit box, just before the acknowledgements there is a check box that says "This is a minor edit." If you have just corrected a typo or grammar, or changed a few words that don't change the meaning of the content, please check this box, which will allow for expedited handling of your edit. If your edit adds to or changes the meaning of the content, please do not check this box.

Use preview

It's a good idea to use the Preview tab (next to Wikitext at top of center section) to see what your change will look like before you save it. This is also related to tracking changes because every time you save, this is displayed to others as a separate change. This isn't something to worry about too much, but it's good to get into the habit of eliminating mistakes in your own work by using a preview before saving, rather than saving several minor corrections afterwards.

Show changes

Another option is the Changes tab (next to Preview at top of center section) which allows you to see the differences between the current version and your edited version.

Multiple browser windows (tabs)

When you are editing a page, it is sometimes helpful to have a help page such as this one, or formatting references, or DOI, or others open at the same time. Wikis like to do everything in the same window. So multiple browser windows (tabs) are your friend. You can have the page you are editing and several help windows open at the same time and easily switch between them to check on how to do something without having to save your content changes first.