Difference between revisions of "How to use "Discussion" pages"

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Users of this wiki are encouraged to contribute to discussions about the material presented here, and related issues, as well as to suggest updates and corrections for the content pages.
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Every "content page" in this wiki has an associated "discussion page" that any user can add to.
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Discussion pages are accessed by clicking on the Discussion tab at the top left of the page.  
  
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To do so you will need to create a log-in (see "Log in" link to do this on the top right). You may view pages in this wiki anonymously, but you will need to create a log-in to add comments.
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'''Users of this wiki are encouraged to contribute to discussions about the material presented and to suggest updates, improvements, or corrections for the content pages.'''
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Basic instructions for how add your input on the Discussion pages is given below. You can keep this page open in a separate window for reference.
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Further information can be found in the MediaWiki help pages: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages
  
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Each page in this wiki site has a tab at the top of the page which says "Discussion".  Clicking on the tab will take you to the discussion page that is specifically linked to a content page (will be clear from the page heading). Here you can start a new discussion topic or add comments to a thread. These can be specific suggestions to improve the associated content page, or discussions of broader issues arising from the material on the page. When starting broader discussions, please do your best to add your contribution to the discussion page linked to the content page that is the most relevant to your issue. This will help it be more easily found by others interested. Topics overlap and moderators may add links to connect discussions and/or move threads to consolidate them with the aim of fostering the discussion (leaving links behind so it can be found from the original location as well).
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= Contributing to Discussion pages =
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* To add material, you first need to '''create a log-in.''' Click on the "Log in" link on the top right of the page and follow the prompts to create a user name and password.   
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* Once logged-in, click on the "Discussion" tab for the content page you are interested in. Here you can:
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** start a new discussion topic thread, or  
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** add comments to an existing thread.
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* NB: If no one has started any threads on a Discussion page yet, then you may see a message that says "You have followed a link to a page that does not exist yet".  This is not a problem! Please go ahead and start posting using the instructions below and the Discussion page will be "created".  
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* Your posts are linked to your user log-in so that you can easily find all the discussions you are participating in. To do this, use the "Contributions" link that appears at the top right after you have logged in.  
  
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If no one has started a discussion thread on a page yet, you may see a message that says "You have followed a link to a page that does not exist yet".  This is not a problem - go ahead and start posting using the instructions below and the Discussion page will be "created".  
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== Signing your contributions ==
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'''Please sign off on your contributions to discussions'''<nowiki>.  
  
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Wiki sites offer the benefit of allowing many users to edit the site, however this comes with a little bit of learning required from its users regarding how inputs need to be entered. You can keep this page open in a separate window to help as you go if needed. Further information can be found in the MediaWiki help pages: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages
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To sign off, simply type four "tilde" characters at the end of your entry: ~~~~  </nowiki>
  
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== Signing your contributions ==
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Once your entry is saved, these symbols will automatically convert into your log-in name and the date and time you have posted (magic!)
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'''Please sign off on your contributions to discussions'''<nowiki>. To do so type four tilde characters at the end of your entry: ~~~~  Once your entry is saved, this will automatically convert into your log-in name and the date and time you have posted. </nowiki>
 
  
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Changes to the discussion pages and who made them can be tracked in the page 'history', even without signing. However, it is much easier to follow threads, and more conversational as well, if posts are signed directly.    
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It is much easier to follow threads, and it's more conversational, if posts are signed. All additions and changes are tracked in the page's 'history'. This will include your log-in name, even if you do not sign your post. This means no posts are anonymous.
  
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Your posts are linked to your user log-in so that you can easily find all the discussions you are participating in (use the "Contributions" link at the top right, after you have logged in).   
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== Starting a new topic thread ==
  
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== Starting a new topic ==
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* Log into the wiki if you haven't already (see Log in link top right), navigate to the content page of interest, click on the Discussion tab at the top left.
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When you are on the desired Discussion page where you want to start your new topic thread:
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* Click on '''"Add Topic"''' tab, top right.  You will be given a subject box where you can enter a '''heading name''' for the thread and a '''content box''' below where you can write the full comment or question.
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** NB: If no one has started any threads on a Discussion page yet, then you may see a message that says "You have followed a link to a page that does not exist yet".  This is not a problem! Please go ahead and start posting using the instructions below and the Discussion page will be "created".
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* '''Sign off'''<nowiki> at the end of the entry by simply typing: ~~~~  (automatically converts to your log-in name and time of your entry when you hit Save)  </nowiki>
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* You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things again, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh. 
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* Once you are happy, '''click "Save"''' and it will be posted on the site.
  
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* Click on "Add Topic" tab, top right.  You will be given a subject box where you can enter a heading name for the thread and a content box below where you can write the full comment or question.  
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When starting broader discussions, please do your best to add your contribution to the Discussion page linked to the content page that is the most relevant to your issue. This will help others find it and engage. Topics may overlap and so wiki moderators may add links to connect discussions and/or move discussion threads to consolidate them (leaving links to the original location), with the aim of fostering more exchange.
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* <nowiki>Please sign off at the end of the entry by simply typing: ~~~~  (this will automatically enter your log-in and the time of your entry when you hit Save)  </nowiki>
 
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* You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh. 
 
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* Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site.  
 
  
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== Adding comments on an existing topic thread ==
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== Adding posts onto an existing topic thread ==
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To add input to an existing conversation thread on a discussion page:
 
  
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* Click on the "Edit source" tab on the top right of the page.  Here you will see the 'wiki' language source code of the page. Don't be alarmed, it's not very abstract coding and once you look at it briefly, you'll see its quite simple and mostly just basic text.  
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* Log into the wiki if you haven't already (see Log in link top right), navigate to the content page of interest, click on the Discussion tab at the top left.
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* Navigate to the place in the discussion where you want to insert your input.  
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* Click on the '''"Edit source"''' tab on the top right of the page.  Here you will see the 'wiki language' source code of the page. Fortunately it's not very abstract coding and is mostly just basic text.
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* Add a new line for your entry and add a colon,  :  , before you type, which will indent your addition below the previous entry. If the entry that you are responding to is already indented (has a " : " in front), add two colons before your entry,  ::  ,  and so on.
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* Navigate to the place in the discussion thread where you want to insert your input.  
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* After the indent colons, simply type in your comment or question in normal text.  
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* '''Add a new line''' (hit Enter) to make space for your entry and then '''add a colon,  :''' , before you type.
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* <nowiki>Please sign off at the end of the entry by typing four tilde characters, ~~~~  (this will automatically enter your log-in and the time of your entry when you hit Save) </nowiki>
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** The colon will indent your addition below the previous entry.  
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* You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh.   
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** If an entry that you are responding to is already indented (it has a " : " in front), then add two colons before your response entry,  ::  ,  and so on.
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* Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site.  
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* After the indent colons, type in your comment or question in normal text.  
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*'''Sign off'''<nowiki> at the end of your entry by simply typing: ~~~~  (automatically converts to your log-in name and time of your entry when you hit Save)   </nowiki>
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* You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things again, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh.   
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* Once you are happy, '''click "Save"''' and it will be posted on the site.
  
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To see an example or for more help:  https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages
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To see an example, or for more help:  https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages

Latest revision as of 20:51, 17 September 2023

Every "content page" in this wiki has an associated "discussion page" that any user can add to. Discussion pages are accessed by clicking on the Discussion tab at the top left of the page.

Users of this wiki are encouraged to contribute to discussions about the material presented and to suggest updates, improvements, or corrections for the content pages.

Basic instructions for how add your input on the Discussion pages is given below. You can keep this page open in a separate window for reference. Further information can be found in the MediaWiki help pages: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages

Contributing to Discussion pages

  • To add material, you first need to create a log-in. Click on the "Log in" link on the top right of the page and follow the prompts to create a user name and password.
  • Once logged-in, click on the "Discussion" tab for the content page you are interested in. Here you can:
    • start a new discussion topic thread, or
    • add comments to an existing thread.
  • NB: If no one has started any threads on a Discussion page yet, then you may see a message that says "You have followed a link to a page that does not exist yet". This is not a problem! Please go ahead and start posting using the instructions below and the Discussion page will be "created".
  • Your posts are linked to your user log-in so that you can easily find all the discussions you are participating in. To do this, use the "Contributions" link that appears at the top right after you have logged in.

Signing your contributions

Please sign off on your contributions to discussions. To sign off, simply type four "tilde" characters at the end of your entry: ~~~~

Once your entry is saved, these symbols will automatically convert into your log-in name and the date and time you have posted (magic!)

It is much easier to follow threads, and it's more conversational, if posts are signed. All additions and changes are tracked in the page's 'history'. This will include your log-in name, even if you do not sign your post. This means no posts are anonymous.

Starting a new topic thread

  • Log into the wiki if you haven't already (see Log in link top right), navigate to the content page of interest, click on the Discussion tab at the top left.
  • Click on "Add Topic" tab, top right. You will be given a subject box where you can enter a heading name for the thread and a content box below where you can write the full comment or question.
    • NB: If no one has started any threads on a Discussion page yet, then you may see a message that says "You have followed a link to a page that does not exist yet". This is not a problem! Please go ahead and start posting using the instructions below and the Discussion page will be "created".
  • Sign off at the end of the entry by simply typing: ~~~~ (automatically converts to your log-in name and time of your entry when you hit Save)
  • You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things again, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh.
  • Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site.

When starting broader discussions, please do your best to add your contribution to the Discussion page linked to the content page that is the most relevant to your issue. This will help others find it and engage. Topics may overlap and so wiki moderators may add links to connect discussions and/or move discussion threads to consolidate them (leaving links to the original location), with the aim of fostering more exchange.

Adding posts onto an existing topic thread

  • Log into the wiki if you haven't already (see Log in link top right), navigate to the content page of interest, click on the Discussion tab at the top left.
  • Click on the "Edit source" tab on the top right of the page. Here you will see the 'wiki language' source code of the page. Fortunately it's not very abstract coding and is mostly just basic text.
  • Navigate to the place in the discussion thread where you want to insert your input.
  • Add a new line (hit Enter) to make space for your entry and then add a colon, : , before you type.
    • The colon will indent your addition below the previous entry.
    • If an entry that you are responding to is already indented (it has a " : " in front), then add two colons before your response entry, :: , and so on.
  • After the indent colons, type in your comment or question in normal text.
  • Sign off at the end of your entry by simply typing: ~~~~ (automatically converts to your log-in name and time of your entry when you hit Save)
  • You can preview what your addition will look like by clicking on "Show Preview". If you change things again, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh.
  • Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site.

To see an example, or for more help: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Talk_pages

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