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 | + | Users of this wiki are encouraged to contribute to discussions about the material presented here and suggest updates and corrections for the content pages. |
| − | To | + | To be able to add comments you will need to '''create a log-in''' (see "Log in" link to do this on the top right). |
| − | 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 | + | 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. Here you can start a new discussion topic or add comments to an existing thread. These can be specific suggestions to improve the associated content page or discussions linked to 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 are likely to overlap and 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 the more exchange . | ||
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". | 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". | ||
| − | Wiki sites offer the benefit of allowing many users to edit the site, however this comes with a little bit of learning required from | + | 'Wiki' sites offer the benefit of allowing many users to edit the site, however this comes with a little bit of learning required from users on how inputs need to be entered (see 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 |
== Signing your contributions == | == Signing your contributions == | ||
| − | '''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, | + | '''Please sign off on your contributions to discussions'''<nowiki>. To do so type four "tilde" characters at the end of your entry: ~~~~ </nowiki> |
| + | |||
| + | Once your entry is saved, these symbols will automatically convert into your log-in name and the date and time you have posted. | ||
| − | + | All page changes can be tracked in the page 'history' and this will include your log-in name, even without signing your entry. However, it is much easier to follow threads, and it is more conversational as well, if posts are signed directly. | |
| − | Your posts are linked to your user log-in so that you can easily find all the discussions you are participating in | + | 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. |
| − | == Starting a new topic == | + | == Starting a new topic thread == |
When you are on the desired Discussion page where you want to start your new topic thread: | When you are on the desired Discussion page where you want to start your new topic thread: | ||
| − | * 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. | + | * 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. |
| − | * <nowiki> | + | * '''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> |
* 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. | * 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. | ||
| − | * Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site. | + | * Once you are happy, '''click "Save"''' and it will be posted on the site. |
| − | == Adding comments | + | == Adding comments to an existing topic thread == |
To add input to an existing conversation thread on a discussion page: | To add input to an existing conversation thread on a discussion page: | ||
| − | * 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. | + | * 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. |
* Navigate to the place in the discussion where you want to insert your input. | * Navigate to the place in the discussion where you want to insert your input. | ||
* 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. | * 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. | ||
Revision as of 19:35, 15 June 2021
Users of this wiki are encouraged to contribute to discussions about the material presented here and suggest updates and corrections for the content pages.
To be able to add comments you will need to create a log-in (see "Log in" link to do this on the top right).
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. Here you can start a new discussion topic or add comments to an existing thread. These can be specific suggestions to improve the associated content page or discussions linked to 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 are likely to overlap and 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 the more exchange .
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".
'Wiki' sites offer the benefit of allowing many users to edit the site, however this comes with a little bit of learning required from users on how inputs need to be entered (see 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
Signing your contributions
Please sign off on your contributions to discussions. To do so 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.
All page changes can be tracked in the page 'history' and this will include your log-in name, even without signing your entry. However, it is much easier to follow threads, and it is more conversational as well, if posts are signed directly.
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.
Starting a new topic thread
When you are on the desired Discussion page where you want to start your new topic thread:
- 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.
- 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, you will need to click "Show Preview" again to refresh.
- Once you are happy, click "Save" and it will be posted on the site.
Adding comments to an existing topic thread
To add input to an existing conversation thread on a discussion page:
- 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.
- Navigate to the place in the discussion where you want to insert your input.
- 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.
- After the indent colons, simply type in your comment or question in normal text.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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