View source for Tutorial:Basic Editing

Below are some basic editing techniques.  Why don't you practice them by clicking on your username above, then editing your personal page to your liking!

==HTML==
If you know HTML, most of the basics (tables, spans, divs) should work perfectly.  '''It is preferable practice to use the built-in wiki formatting than it is to use HTML''', as this is considered more readable by other wiki editors.  The only problematic HTML is for links - <nowiki><a href="URL">TEXT</a></nowiki> - see the linkage section below for more details.

==Titled Sections==
Notice how each section of this article is separated into little sections, each with its own edit link on the right?  That is because I'm creating titled sections.  To do this, you can either use the standard HTML titling elements of '''H1, H2, H3, H4, etc.''', or you can denote a title with equals signs, '''<nowiki>==Like This==</nowiki>'''.  

Using the equals signs is more readable when editing and is the prefered method for titling.  The number of '''=''' you use defines the strength of the title and places it appropriately in the table of contents for a page.  A title with one (1) '''=''' on each end is a primary title.  A title with four (4) '''=''' on each end is a deep subtitle.  

By sectioning each piece of your article, you create different editable sections.  Each Title has it's own edit link, and this allows an editor to edit a section without potentially harming the rest of the document.  The table of contents (at the top of the page) is created directly based on the sections that are added to any article.

 ==Section==
 
 ===Subsection===
 
 ====Sub-subsection====

Please ''do not'' use only one equals sign on a side (<nowiki>=text here=</nowiki>) or '''H1''', as this causes a title the size of the page name; which is taken care of automatically.

==Text Formatting==
Wikis have a number of built-in non-HTML shortcuts for formatting.  Here are a few popular ones:

* ''Italicized Text:'' Surround your text with '''two single quotes''' like <nowiki>''this''</nowiki>.
* '''Emboldened Text:''' Surround your text with '''three single quotes''' like <nowiki>'''this'''</nowiki>.
* <nowiki>''Ignore Wiki Formatting:''</nowiki> Surround your text with special '''no wiki''' tags like <nowiki><nowiki>this</nowiki></nowiki>.

==Lists==
You might want to create some numbered or bulleted lists.

===Bulleted===
* Preface each point with a bullet by starting the line with an asterisk: &quot;<nowiki>*</nowiki>&quot;.
**For a sub-point, use multiple asterisks.
***Even more, depending on how many levels deep you want to go.
* Go back to the first depth by reducing the number of bullets
* Keep a list together; do not add a blank line between each list item.
* Bulleted lists are excellent for starting or adding to a discussion.
** Type a response by indenting the next line with a double-asterisk.
** Keep the responses on the appropriate level.
***This would be a respone to the item immediately above.
** This would be a respone to the item 4 lines above.

===Numbered===
# Numbered lists have each line prefaced with a pound: &quot;<nowiki>#</nowiki>&quot;.
# Sub-numbered lists are available as well.
## Uno
## Dos
## Tres
## Cuatro!

==Sampling / Examples==
Examples are interesting.  If you want to set apart some text as follows, preface each new line with a single space character, &quot;&nbsp;&quot;.

 This is an example box.
 For each subsequent line in the box, do not separate with a blank line.
 
 If you NEED a blank line between lines in an example box, 
 just place a line with a single space character between 
 the related texts.

 The blank line above this line does not have a space in it.
 That resulted in '''two''' example boxes.  If you want to 
 see how this is done, click edit and look at the source.

 '''Do not rely on example boxes.'''
 Their implementation is viewed differently based on the browser that you are using. 
 Very long lines without a line-break, such as this one, may look different in certain browsers such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.  
 My recommendation is to use Example Boxes carefully.

==Shortcuts==
Wikis have built-in shortcuts for some menial tasks, and this wiki is no exception.

===Timestamps and Signing===
If you leave a comment in a discussion, make sure to sign it with a proper timestamp.  In order to do this, type the following: '''<nowiki> --~~~~</nowiki>''' - this will create a timestampped signature with a link to your profile, like this:  --[[User:Squashua|Squashua]] 16:37, 20 January 2006 (EST)
Note that the preceding '--' is just for cleanliness sake in comments and does not generate any additional code.

 '''Tilde '<nowiki>~</nowiki>' is a special character.'''
 <nowiki>~~~</nowiki> generates a link to your profile:
 '''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[User:Squashua|Squashua]]'''
 <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> generates a timestammped link to your profile
 '''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[User:Squashua|Squashua]] 16:37, 20 January 2006 (EST)'''
 <nowiki>~~~~~</nowiki> generates a timestamp:
 '''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16:37, 20 January 2006 (EST)'''

===Horizontal Rule===
To create a bar that goes the length of the screen, use '<nowiki>----</nowiki>' at the extreme left of the edit.  This will create this:
----

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