Help:Wiki University Main Page (Cont.)

{| style="width:100%; margin-bottom:-10px; " << Previous Chapter Next Chapter >>

Right sidebar

 * The right sidebar appears on all pages.
 * It contains many links to important topics in the Wiki.
 * It changes fairly often so it is important to keep an eye on it.
 * It can also differ depending on which page you are on.

Let's look at the items we find on the main page in turn.

Search Learning & How-to's

 * Has a search box in which you can type in whatever location or topic in which you are interested.
 * There are two links - "by country" and "by topic."

by country

 * Takes you to a page that has a list of all the countries of the world. Click on the link and check it out.

by topic

 * Takes you to a page that has a list of topics covered by the Wiki. Click on the link and check it out.

Community News

 * Newsletter of what is happening in the Wiki.

Getting Started
List of links on topics for beginners. Please check each one.

Volunteer and Helper

 * List of links for the more experienced patron.
 * Notice the short cut to "Guiding Principles."
 * Having these links on the right side saves some steps to get to pages that are helpful to the experienced user of the Wiki.

Views
These are items that give you abilities to make changes to the article.
 * The first four links are the same as the tabs at the top of each page.
 * Page - just takes to the page you are already on.
 * Edit - same as if you had clicked "Edit This Page," at the top of the page.
 * Talk - takes you to a page where you can send a message to the author.
 * History - gives a history of all the changes that have been make to the page you are on. Very helpful to be able to go back and see what the page looked like in the past if it is at present messed up for some reason.
 * The next three are procedures you do to a page.
 * Watch - by clicking this, you will be notified whenever anyone makes any changes to a page.
 * Move - allow you to change the title if it is necessary.
 * Protection - If you think the page needs to be off limits to editing, you can limit access.

Toolbox
Useful items to check on that are attached to the page you are on and items you can add.
 * What links here - a list of pages that link to the page you are on.
 * Related changes - a list of pages that have been edited and link to specific pages that you are watcning.
 * Special pages - list of reports and various controls some of which require special user rights to access.
 * Permanent link - link that will take you to the last edit to this page.
 * Upload file - another link to where you can upload images.

Personal tools

 * You will see your user name here - this will take you to your "user" page where you can state any personal information about yourself you wish. Fill out your user page, so that others can get to know you.
 * My talk - here is where others can send you a message.
 * My preferences - here is where you can chose how you want items in the Wiki to appear on a typical page. Please click on this and study the various pages.
 * Under the topic "Editing," you are encouraged to go down to "Rich Editor" and check the first two items on the list and leave the rest blank.
 * The Rich Editor has many problems and it is not used.
 * You will be taught "Wikitext" programming to carry out your assignments.
 * My watchlist - this is a list of pages you have on your watch list.
 * My contributions - this is a list of changes you have made to any page in the Wiki.

Try these out


 Exercises Do these exercises from the main page of the Wiki.
 * When were "Research Outlines were taken out of print?
 * Under "Manual of Style" what is the patron directed to read in relation to Etiquette and responding to others.
 * What does it say under "Guiding Principles," that should be our "point of view" when writing or editing the Wiki.

Check your answers

 Quick Quiz
 * The "Search Learning & How-To's" search box works the same as the search box on the main page.
 * True
 * False


 * The right sidebar appears on the main page with all the same items as on other pages.
 * True
 * False


 * History under Views gives the history of the Wiki from its inception.
 * True
 * False


 * Move under Views is for moving a page to one of the other non-English Wikis.
 * True
 * False


 * Edit under Views performs the same function as the Edit tab at the top of the page.
 * True
 * False


 * Special pages under Toolbox gives you a list of help pages in the Wiki.
 * True
 * False


 * My talk under Personal tools is where I can read messages sent to me.
 * True
 * False


 * My preferences under Toolbox gives you a list of items that help you to choose what and how you want material in the Wiki displayed on your monitor.
 * True
 * False


 * You can choose to go right to Wikitext rather than having to click the link in Rich Editor.
 * True
 * False

Check your answers