Help:Wiki University Wikitext--Introduction





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How to access Wikitext coding on a page
There are two ways to gain access to the Wikitext coding.
 * Click "Edit source" in tool bar at the top of the page. This will show the coding on the entire page.
 * Click "edit source" in square brackets next to the headers of a individual section. However, you can only edit the coding in that particular section, not the whole page.

Symbols in Wikitext

 * Listed below are the symbols you will see in the Wikitext code. Know where they are on your keypad.
 * [ ] - square brackets. Used to create links. Missouri
 * { } - curly bracket. Used to create templates.
 * | - pipe. Used as attribute separators in internal links and in tables. Missouri
 * &lt; &gt; - angle brackets. Used in div tags, paragraph tags and line breaks:  ,   and
 * / - forward slash. Used in closing tags:


 * These other signs are used as well: colon :, semi-colon ;, quotation mark ", apostrophe  ' , equal sign =, exclamation mark !, pound sign #, and the @ at sign.


 * You may be wondering just what all the above stuff means, but all will be explained in these lessons.
 * There are other symbols but these will do for now.

Second monitor is handy

 * If possible we recommend that you have a second monitor for your computer. This will allow you to have two pages up at the same time.  This is very handy when editing.
 * If you have a laptop computer, they usually can handle a second monitor.
 * Used monitors can be purchased for very reasonable prices at computer repair shops if you don't want to purchase a new one.

Splitting your screen

 * If a second monitor is not possible, we recommend you learn how to split your screen so you can display two pages at the same time.
 * To do so on a PC, open your first browser window with the application of your choice.
 * Open a second browser window with a different application of your choice. NOTE: The second window will "overlay" the first window.
 * With the second browser window displayed, hold down the "windows key" and press the "right arrow" key on your keyboard. This will minimize the screen and place it on the right of your monitor.
 * Click on the first browser window, hold down the "windows key" and press the "left arrow" key on your keyboard. This will minimize the screen and place it to the left of your monitor.
 * Now you have two pages side by side on your screen.

Spliting your screen for homework

 * By splitting your screen with your sandbox page on one side and the lesson on the other, you can follow the steps outlined on the page without having to click back and forth between tabs.

Try these out
 Quick Quiz
 * Where are square brackets used?


 * A. In templates
 * B. In placing sidebars
 * C. Used in links
 * D. All of the above


 * Where are pipes used?


 * A. Used in div tags
 * B. Internal links
 * C. Opening tags
 * D. None of the above


 * What is &lt;&gt; used for?


 * A. Links
 * B. Templates
 * C. Div tags
 * D. All of the above

Check your answers

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