Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- wiki:how-to-edit [2026/08/25 20:31] – created admin
+++ wiki:how-to-edit [2026/08/26 08:25] (current) – [Manual Shorthand (Alternative)] admin
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==== Using the Toolbar ====
-  * To make text **bold** or *italic*, highlight the words with your mouse and click the **B** or *I* buttons on the toolbar.
+  * To make text **bold** or //italic//, highlight the words with your mouse and click the **B** or //I// buttons on the toolbar.
   * To create bullet points, click the list icon on the toolbar.
   * To add a heading, highlight your section title and select a heading level from the toolbar dropdown menu.
-==== Manual Shorthand (Alternative) ====
+==== Manual Formatting (Alternative) ====
-If you prefer typing over clicking toolbar buttons, you can wrap your text in these simple codes:
+If you prefer typing over clicking toolbar buttons, see [[syntax|Formatting Syntax]] page for a comprehensive guide.
-  * **Bold text:** Put two asterisks on each side: ''**your text**''
-  * *Italic text:* Put two forward slashes on each side: ''//your text//''
+You can wrap your text in these simple codes:
-  * **Headings:** Put five or six equal signs on each side: ''===== Your Title =====''
+  * **Bold text:** Put two asterisks on each side: <nowiki>**your text**</nowiki>
+  * //Italic text:// Put two forward slashes on each side: <nowiki>//your text//</nowiki>
+  * **Creating Bullet Points:** Press the spacebar two times, type an asterisk, press spacebar again, and type your text: <nowiki>  * Your bullet point text here</nowiki>
+  * **Headings:** Put five or six equal signs on each side: <nowiki>===== Your Title =====</nowiki>
 ===== Step 3: Creating Links =====
 Linking pages together is what makes this a wiki. You can create a link using the toolbar or by typing:
   * **Toolbar Method:** Highlight the words you want to turn into a link, click the **Internal Link** icon on the toolbar (it looks like two chain links), and select the page you want to connect to.
-  * **Typing Method:** Wrap the exact name of the destination page in double square brackets, like this: ''[[Clare City Bakery]]''.
+  * **Typing Method:** Wrap the exact name of the destination page in double square brackets, like this: <nowiki>[[Clare City Bakery]]</nowiki>.
   * **Red Links:** If you link to a historical topic that does not have a page yet, the link will appear red. Clicking a red link allows you or another volunteer to start that new page from scratch!
 ===== Step 4: Submitting Your Changes =====
 Scroll down below the text box when you are finished typing.
-. **Summary Box:** Find the small text box labeled "Summary." Type a very brief note about what you changed (e.g., //"Fixed a spelling mistake"// or //"Added paragraph about the 1930 oil boom"//). This works just like the subject line of an email.
-. **Preview Button:** Click the **Preview** button to see exactly what your text will look like before submitting it.
+. **Summary Box:** Find the small text box labeled "Summary." Type a very brief note about what you changed (e.g., //"Fixed a spelling mistake"// or //"Added paragraph about the 1930 oil boom"//). This works just like the subject line of an email.
-. **Save Button:** If everything looks correct, click the **Save** button.
+. **Preview Button:** Click the **Preview** button to see exactly what your text will look like before submitting it.
+. **Save Button:** If everything looks correct, click the **Save** button.
 ===== Important Rules and Tips for Beginners =====
   * **Administrative Approval:** To protect our historical data from spam, all edits enter a moderation queue. **Your changes will not show up on the public website immediately.** An administrator will review and approve your submission before it goes live.
   * **Do not worry about mistakes:** The wiki automatically archives every single old version of a page. If you make an error or accidentally delete text, an administrator can roll the page back to exactly how it looked before you touched it.
-  * **Capitalization Matters:** When creating links, remember that ''[[clare city bakery]]'' and ''[[Clare City Bakery]]'' are treated as two entirely different pages. Always capitalize proper historical names correctly!
+  * **Capitalization Matters:** When creating links, remember that <nowiki>[[clare city bakery]]</nowiki> and <nowiki>[[Clare City Bakery]]</nowiki> are treated as two entirely different pages. We prefer to format pages as <nowiki>[[clare-city-bakery]]</nowiki>, all lowercase with dashes instead of spaces.