Help:Contents

MediaWiki application and wikitext syntax for authors and editors.

MediaWiki Application
Consult the MediaWiki User's Guide for information on using the wiki software. Other information that may be useful includes:


 * Configuration settings list
 * MediaWiki FAQ
 * MediaWiki release mailing list

Starting a New Page
Add a link to a new (not yet existing) page and save the document. All pages that do not yet exist will have a red hyperlink. To create that page, click on the red hyperlink. See below for link syntax.

Basic Formatting
{| class="wikitable" ! style="width: 50%" | What it looks like ! style="width: 50%" | What you type You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side.

3 apostrophes will embolden the text.

5 apostrophes will embolden and italicize the text.

(4 apostrophes don't do anything special -- there's just 'one left over'.) You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side.

3 apostrophes will embolden the text.

5 apostrophes will embolden and italicize the text.

(4 apostrophes don't do anything special -- there's just 'one left over'.) You should "sign" your comments on talk pages:
 * Three tildes give your user name: Example (talk)

You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: name: name plus date/time: ~ date/time alone:
 * Four tildes give your user name plus date/time: Example (talk) 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Five tildes give the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Three tildes give your user
 * Four tildes give your user
 * Five tildes give the
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Section headings
! style="width: 50%" | What it looks like ! style="width: 50%" | What you type Section headings

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them.

Subsection Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

A smaller subsection

Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.

Section headings
Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them.

Subsection
Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

A smaller subsection
Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Lists and indents
! style="width: 50%" | What it looks like ! style="width: 50%" | What you type marks the end of the list. marks the end of the list. A new line marks the end of the list.
 * Unordered lists are easy to do:
 * Start every line with a star.
 * More stars indicate a deeper level.
 * Previous item continues.
 * A new line
 * in a list
 * A new line
 * in a list
 * Of course you can start again.
 * Unordered lists are easy to do:
 * Start every line with a star.
 * More stars indicate a deeper level.
 * Previous item continues.
 * A new line
 * in a list
 * in a list
 * Of course you can start again.
 * 1) Numbered lists are:
 * 2) Very organized
 * 3) Easy to follow
 * 4) Previous item continues
 * 1) Easy to follow
 * 2) Previous item continues
 * 1) New numbering starts with 1.

A new line marks the end of the list.
 * 1) Numbered lists are:
 * 2) Very organized
 * 3) Easy to follow
 * 4) Previous item continues
 * 1) Previous item continues
 * 1) New numbering starts with 1.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.

A newline starts a new paragraph. Often used for discussion on talk pages.
 * We use 1 colon to indent once.
 * We use 2 colons to indent twice.
 * 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.


 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.
 * A colon indents a line or paragraph.

A newline starts a new paragraph. Often used for discussion on talk pages.
 * We use 1 colon to indent once.
 * We use 2 colons to indent twice.
 * 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.


 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Links
! style="width: 50%" | What it looks like ! style="width: 50%" | What you type Here's a link to the Main Page.

But be careful - capitalization counts! (see: Main page) Here's a link to the Main page. Intentionally permanent red link is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link. Intentionally permanent red link is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link. You can link to a page section by placing a "#" before its title:


 * Help:Contents.

If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. goes to the third section named "Example section".

You can link to a page section by its title:


 * Help:Contents.

If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. goes to the third section named "Example section". You can give a link to an external URL in several ways:


 * See more info on dalescott.net
 * See more info on dalescott.net
 * See http://www.dalescott.net


 * See more info on dalescott.net
 * See more info on dalescott.net
 * See http://www.dalescott.net
 * See http://www.dalescott.net


 * }

Definition List

 * DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid ( Syntax: "; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid" )


 * rDNA: Ribosomal DNA ( Syntax: ";; rDNA: Ribosomal DNA" )

Tables and Borders
Draw a horizontal line Horizontal line