Help:Wiki University--User and Talk Page





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What is a User Page?

 * Whenever you sign in to the FamilySearch Wiki, your user name appears at the top right side of the page under Sign in/Sign out.
 * By clicking on your user name you are taken to a page with the title: User:yourusername.
 * If your user page is blank, then you need to create the page by clicking on the "Create source" tab located left of the Wiki Search box.
 * In the edit area, post a few things about yourself. (See the next section for some suggested topics about yourself.)
 * Press the [Show preview] button to display the results of your code.
 * When satisfied with your code, scroll down and enter the following description into the "Summary box": Adding data to my profile.
 * Press the [Save changes] button to save your page.

Suggested topics for your user page:

 * Your full name
 * Occupation
 * Education
 * How people can contact you other than your talk page
 * Special talents and abilities
 * Hobbies or special interests
 * Church callings
 * Contributions to the wiki
 * A thumbnail head shot (this will be uploaded in the uploading images lesson)

You can also add user boxes to your page to reflect your home country, languages, genealogy focus, etc. The basic idea is for the Wiki missionary team to get to know you better.

What is a Talk Page?
A Talk page exists for all Wiki articles and can be accessed by clicking on the Talk tab. They allow contributors to add comments or make suggestions. There are two kinds of Talk pages: articles and contributors.

Talk pages for articles
On these talk pages, contributors can suggest something that might or should be added to the article or point out a mistake. This allows contributors to help with parts of the content that might need to be updated or there is a mistake in the subject material or even help with grammar. To post a message, click on the Talk tab and an Add topic tab appears:
 * 1) Click "Add topic."
 * 2) On the next screen enter a subject line in the "Subject" box. This creates a header so others can see what your message is about.  This also separates your message from the others.
 * 3) Enter your comment in the edit box below the subject box.
 * 4) Save page and your comment will be displayed on the talk page for all to read.
 * 5) If you see something in your message you want to change, click "Edit source" and you can edit your posting or erase it.

NOTE: The Page tab for a user page or help page, will display the words "User page" or "Help page" respectively where the word "Page" appears in this example.

Talk pages for contributors
Each contributor has a "User talk" page that contains a "Welcome" message when they are first given access to edit the Wiki. This page is also used to request and receive help from others. To get to a contributor's "User talk" page, enter User talk:username into the Wiki Search box, then press enter. The same steps used to post a message for an article "Talk" page can be used to create a contributor's "User talk" page.

NOTE: When patrolling, we may need to contact the contributor directly. We do so through their e-mail. To send an e-mail to a contributor, you need to go to their "User talk" page. On the far left of the page is the Research Wiki quick-link sidebar. Click on the “Email this user” link found under the Tools section.

Try these out


 Exercises
 * Create your own USER PAGE by following the instructions provided in the paragraph "What is a User Page?"
 * If you already have a USER PAGE, expand your profile information by clicking on "Edit Source", then include one or more of the "Suggested topics for your user page".

 Quick Quiz
 * A User page is a great place to get to know each other.
 * True
 * False


 * The way to get to your Talk page is through the left sidebar.
 * True
 * False


 * Talk pages are for learning what you like to talk about.
 * True
 * False

Check your answers

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