Help:Wiki Basics


 * Welcome to the Wiki community. Whether you are researching or contributing, the items below will help you understand various elements of the wiki, including how to navigate and contribute to it. The wiki is a community project, and you are now part of that community. If you have knowledge about how or where to search for genealogy that is not already here, please contribute. Don't know how? Keep reading.

Navigation Menu

 * On the left side of the page, you may see a purple navigation box entitled Contents. It is a list of the major sections of the page. You can click on any heading in that table and be taken to that heading on the page. Smaller articles do not have a contents box.


 * On the right side of every page, you will see a purple navigation menu. The Toolbox, Community and Personal Tools boxes expand by clicking on the small arrows on the right side of the name.

Registering on the Wiki

 * You do not need to be registered to look at any Wiki article. However, if you want to add information, or ask a question, you must register.  If you are signed in the Wiki, it will timeout after 2 hours idle.


 * Help:How to Register with the Wiki

Setting Your Preferences

 * You can customize your Wiki experience using your Personal Tools.


 * Help:Preferences

User Page

 * The User Page is where you have the opportunity to share information about yourself, or your research interests. This is a great way to get to know a little about a contributor to an article, or even find someone with the same interests.  It also gives other users a way to communicate with you.


 * Help:User page

Watching a Page

 * If you are researching in a specific area, or have a page that interests you, you may want to "Watch" that page. If you are watching a page, you will be notified any time that page is edited.  This is a great way to keep up with the latest information available.


 * Help:Watchlist

Notifications

 * This feature allows you to determine how you are notified when there are changes to pages you are watching.


 * Notifications

Discussion Pages

 * All Wiki articles will have an associated Discussion Page that you can access via a tab at the top left of your page. This page is where you leave a comment or question about the content of that page.


 * Help:Discussion Pages (Talk Pages)

Forums

 * If you have a research question, or a question about editing the Wiki, ask it at the FamilySearch Forums. There are genealogists to help you with a research item, and very experienced Wiki users to help with an editing question.
 * Research Forums
 * Wiki Forums

Detailed Help

 * If you are ready to begin, you can choose one of the links below if you would like detailed instructions on the Wiki.


 * Contributing to the Wiki
 * Tour The Wiki
 * Tour The Wiki


 * If you need a Help article that doesn't currently exist, you may request one here.

Mentoring

 * Once you get started editing in the Wiki, if you find you need additional help, or if you have a specific task you wish to accomplish, you may request a Mentor to work with you.