Share Your Knowledge by Adding to the Wiki



By sharing your knowledge, you can help build the Wiki. For help in that process, follow the information below:

Before you begin editing

 * Make sure that you Sign In to your FamilySearch account. If you don't have one already, you will be directed to the Create Account page. There is no cost for FamilySearch accounts.


 * Go to an article that you'd like to edit or add additional information. Chose articles that are of special interest or which you have some knowledge about.


 * If you want to edit the whole page, click on the Edit This Page button as shown below. Its found at the top right of the page.
 * [[Image:Edit this page icon.png|thumb|center]]


 * You can also edit just one section of an existing article. Click on the Edit Icon as shown below. Its found to the top right of the section header.
 * [[Image:Edit icon.png|center]]

Editing in the Edit Window
The Edit Window will now open in Wikitext. The Wikitext may seem a little scary at first because it looks unusual. If you are new to editing, just stick with the text functions given below and you will do OK. Remember to avoid the following characters [ { < and ] } >. As you gain more experience, you will learn how to use these additional functions.
 * You can add space by pushing the Enter key.
 * You can insert text by clicking before, in, or after a paragraph and typing.
 * You can delete text by using the Backspace key or Delete key.
 * You can move text by highlighting it, click on the highlight and hold for a second, then move to the place desired.

Mistakes

 * If you make a mistake, don't worry. Its not permanent. You can fix it or someone else will. The Family Search Research Wiki is very forgiving of mistakes.

Finishing Up

 * When you are finished, scroll down to the bottom and add a short Edit Summary. Example: Added links to digital newspapers.


 * Then click the Save page button. This page will now contain your changes. Everyone who looks at your page, from around the world, will see the changes that you made. Its a good feeling to help others.


 * Remember to Save the page you are working on about every 10 minuets or so. Much longer than this and the system will drop you out. You will loose all the changes that you have made. If that happens, just begin from the top and make those changes all over again. You will spend more time than you thought, but no harm done.

Create a New Article

 * To add a new article to the wiki, firstsearch for the subject to see if an article or articles already exists that covers the subject. If they already exist, don't create a new article. Add information to the existing article.


 * If there wasn't an article that covers the subject, search again for the title of the page you want to create. Example:  Scotland Clan Tartans    That article doesn't currently exist.  The search results shows this statement:  "Create the page "Scotland Clan Tartans" on this wiki!
 * Click on the name in  red  and start typing on the new article page you just created!
 * Use WYSIWYG editing tool bar to add links, bold, etc.
 * Remember to add a note to the Summary field at the bottom of the page stating that the new article about "xxxx" subject was created.
 * Click on the Summary button to save the article. NOTE:  Save the article fairly often while you are writing it.  There isn't an autosave in the wiki.  You could loose all of your work though an inadvertant click if you haven't saved it earlier.

Additional Information

 * For more in-depth information about creating and editing articles on the wiki, visit these articles:




 * Editing a Page
 * Video Tutorial
 * Wiki guiding principles
 * Understand Wiki publishing policies