Help:Wiki University VisualEditor-- Introduction

Introduction to VisualEditor
To use the VisualEditor, you click the "Edit" tab on the Wiki tool bar and the following VisualEditor tool bar appears: (For a complete explanation on the FamilySearch Wiki tool bar click here.


 * A VisualEditor tool bar appears underneath the tabs. We will go over the VisualEditor toolbar in the next lesson.
 * The rest of the page looks pretty much the same as you see on the original page.
 * You will notice that some of the text may have black borders around them.
 * Some areas will turn a light blue color when you put your cursor over it.
 * To get back to the page, click on the "Read" tab.

What kind of editing can you do in VisualEditor?

 * You can now edit any text or add text on any page except in those areas that turned lightblue when you put your mouse over it. They are templates, infoboxes, etc, which cannot be edited in VisualEditor.
 * If you go to a template page, for example, to try to edit it with the VisualEditor, you will find that the "Edit" tab is missing so VisualEditor is unavailable.
 * Those areas that are outlined with a black border are tables. You can edit the text in the table or change the structure of the table, such as increase the number of rows or columns.
 * You can add or fix links.
 * You can add references or footnotes.
 * You can create bullet and numbered lists.

Wikitext coding is required to do more

 * To do more than is allowed by VisualEditor requires a knowledge of Wikitext coding.
 * Lessons are available in Wiki University. Just click on the WIKITEXT on the black tabs above and you will be taken to lesson material on Wikitext.  Note:  Wikitext is not hard to learn.  By learning it, it will increase you ability to contribute to the Wiki in many more ways than you can with VisualEditor.

Try these out
 Quick Quiz
 * To use the VisualEditor you click on what tab in the toolbar?


 * A. Edit source.
 * B. The down arrow.
 * C. Page.
 * D. None of the above.


 * What is the star used for?


 * A. To give a star to someone for their good work.
 * B. Place a "watch" on a page.
 * C. Allows you to rename a page.
 * D. All of the above.


 * What is View history tab for?


 * A. See who has made changes to the page over time.
 * B. See who created the page.
 * C. See who may have messed up a page.
 * D. All of the above

Check your answers