User:Nolaneclark/Sandbox training

This article provides a roadmap for new contributors to the Wiki. Links are provided to existing articles and training materials. Follow the roadmap and you will be prepared to contribute to the Wiki.

Overview of the Procedure Used for Writing for the Wiki
For an overview, review: Help: Getting Started on the Wiki.

Prepare the Tools Necessary for Practice Editing
To practice editing, you will need to:


 * 1) Register with the Wiki;
 * 2) Create a User Page; and
 * 3) Create a User Sandbox.

Register

 * Instructions on registering on the Wiki are contained in: Help: How to Register with the Wiki. If you have not yet registered, review the article; then follow the instructions and register with the Wiki.

Create a User Page

 * Instructions on creating a User Page are contained in: Help:User page. If you have not created a User Page, review the article; then follow the instructions and create your own User page.

Create a User Sandbox for Practice Editing

 * Instructions on creating your own User Sandbox are contained in: FamilySearch Wiki:User Sandbox. If you have not created a sandbox, review the article; then follow the instructions and create your own User Sandbox.

Learn and Practice Basic Editing Skills
Two languages can be used for writing or editing the Wiki: rich editor (similar to word processing) and Wikitext (an html language). Rich Editor is simplest to use and is the tool most used by contributors. We suggest beginning with Rich Editor and later learning to use Wikitext. To use Rich Editor, you will need to learn the basic editing tools. Then you will need to practice using those tools.

Become Familiar with Basic Editing Tools.

 * Watch the video: Editing A Wiki Article.
 * Review the article: The Editing Tool.

Practice Basic Editing Skills in Your Sandbox

 * Review the article: Help:Practice editing in your Sandbox.
 * Follow the instructions and copy and paste the Sample Text into your User Sandbox. Review the linked article if you need instruction on copying and pasting.
 * Use The Editing Tool as your guide and practice the following skills In your sandbox:


 * Create headings;
 * Create a bulleted list;
 * Create a numbered list;
 * Using bold and italics;
 * Cut some text from one part of the article and paste in another part;
 * "Undo" an edit and then "redo" that edit;
 * Insert a horizontal line.


 * Compare your editing with the Wiki article: Erie Canal.

Learn to Create Links
Another basic skill that you need in order to edit or contribute to the Wiki is the ability to create links:


 * Watch the video: Adding Links.
 * Review the article: Help:Adding Links.
 * Practice creating links in your sandbox. You can begin by finding the links in the Wiki article: Erie Canal and adding those links to the text in your User Sandbox.

Learn to Prepare an Edit Summary
Whenever you edit a Wiki article, you should prepare an Edit Summary documenting the nature of your edit.


 * To learn how to prepare an Edit Summary, review the Wiki article: Edit Summary.
 * Practice adding an Edit Summary to your Sandbox practice article.

Edit an Existing Article
With the basic skills that you have learned, you are prepared to edit articles on the Wiki. Below are some suggestions on where you can begin:

Simple Edits You Can Make

 * Click for suggestions regarding simple edits you can make.
 * Prior to editing an existing article, review Help:Editing a Page.

Work on a Wiki Project

 * You can practice editing by working on a Wiki project.
 * Various Wiki projects have been set up which need content added to existing Wiki articles.
 * You can select from WikiProjects Seeking Contributors and gain valuable editing experience by working on one of these projects.

Adding Content to a Stub

 * Many Wiki articles have been marked as Stubs. These are articles that need additional content.
 * To find Stub articles, click here; find stubs by selecting among the various subcategories.
 * If you find a Stub article to which you can add content, jump in and begin editing the Stub. All you need to do is click on the Edit tab and begin editing.

Learn the Basics of Wikitext
Although you will start by using Rich Text Editor, you will undoubtedly want to use Wikitext sooner or later. Wikitext has certain advantages over Rich Editor that you will want to use. E.g.:


 * 1) In Wikitext, you can copy and paste text without losing the formating;
 * 2) In Wikitext, you can save your text (with formating) in your clipboard, prior to saving your editing;
 * 3) In Wikitext, it is easy to indent a line or a paragraph.
 * 4) In Wikitext, you may be able to identify formatting problems that cannot be found using Rich Text Editor.

To switch from Rich Editor, the default editing language, to Wikitext either click on [Disable rich editor] above the toolbar or click on the icon and name "Wikitext" within the toolbar.

To begin using Wikitext you will to need to use only a small number of code instructions. Guidance on the code that you will likely need for editing can be found at: HelpWikitext Cheatsheet.

Now practice using Wikitext:


 * Go to your Sandbox article;
 * Refer to HelpWikitext Cheatsheetand practice basic editing in Wikitext.


 * Copy and paste some text. Save your change and observe that the formatting has been preserved.
 * Ident a line or paragraph.
 * Create a heading.
 * Create a numbered list.

Get Online Help as Needed
If you encounter problems while editing, help is only a phone call away. You can Chat with Support.

Hours (MST):


 * M       8-5
 * Tu      11-5
 * W-Th  8-5
 * F       8-2

Learn Advanced Editing Skills
As you edit, you may need advanced editing skills. As the need arises, refer to the following sections.

Learn to Add Images

 * Take the on-line training lesson: Inserting Images and Templates, paying attention to the first portion.
 * Review the following key articles relating to adding images:


 * Help:Selecting images for the Wiki.
 * Help:Submitting images for approval.
 * Help:Adding images to articles.


 * Practice adding an image:


 * Go to the Wiki article: Erie Canal.
 * Make a copy of the image. (Right click on the image.)
 * Insert the image into your Sandbox.

Learn to Use Templates

 * Review the video: Using Templates.
 * Practice adding templates to articles:


 * Go to: FamilySearch Wiki:Userboxes. Select a Userbox to add to your User Page. Copy the name of the template and add the template to your User Page.
 * Goto the Wiki article: Erie Canal. Note the templates used in this article. Write down the name of the template that provides links to other New York related articles. In your Sandbox, at the bottom of the article, add that template.


 * As needed, review the article: Help:A quick guide to templates.

Learn to Add Citations

 * View the video demonstation on how to add citations.
 * Review the article: Help:How to add citations.
 * Practice adding citations to an article:


 * Go to the Wiki article: Erie Canal.
 * Locate the citations in that article.
 * Add the same citations to the article in your Sandbox.

Create a New Article
You can use the skills that you have learned to create a new article. To learn the procedures for creating a new article, you should:


 * Review the video: Creating a Wiki Article; and
 * Take the online class: Searching for and Creating Articles.
 * Review the article Help:How to create an article and the linked articles on Wiki publishing policies.
 * Go through the practice exercise for creating a new page not linked to an existing page.

Now you are ready to create a new article.