Help:Table of Contents

Help:Table of Contents

Introduction

A Table of Contents (ToC) is a crucial navigational element in longer wiki pages. It provides readers with a quick overview of the page's structure and allows them to jump directly to the section of interest. This page will guide you through understanding, creating, customizing, and troubleshooting Tables of Contents within the MediaWiki environment (version 1.40 and compatible). Understanding how to effectively utilize ToCs is vital for creating well-organized and user-friendly wiki content. It significantly enhances the readability and accessibility of complex articles, making it easier for users to find the information they need. Without a ToC, readers might be forced to scroll through lengthy content to find specific sections, leading to frustration and abandonment.

How Tables of Contents are Generated

MediaWiki automatically generates a Table of Contents on pages that meet certain criteria. The core principle relies on section headings. Any page containing at least three section headings (using the `=` symbol) will automatically display a ToC. The ToC is placed at the beginning of the page, typically after the introductory text.

Here's a breakdown of how headings translate to ToC entries:

`== Heading Level 2 ==`: This creates a second-level heading, appearing as a subsection in the ToC.
`=== Heading Level 3 ===`: This creates a third-level heading, a sub-subsection, and so on.
`==== Heading Level 4 ====`: Further nested levels can be created, but excessive nesting is discouraged for readability.
`===== Heading Level 5 =====`: While possible, using headings beyond level 4 can make the ToC unwieldy.
`====== Heading Level 6 ======`: Generally, avoid using heading levels beyond 5.

The ToC is generated based on the order in which these headings appear in the article. Each heading's text becomes a clickable link in the ToC, directing the reader to that specific section on the page. The indentation in the ToC visually represents the hierarchical relationship between the sections.

Basic Usage & Example

Let's illustrate with a simple example. Consider the following wiki code:

```wiki

Introduction to Technical Analysis

This section provides a basic overview of Technical Analysis.

Moving Averages

Moving Averages are a fundamental Technical Indicator.

Simple Moving Average (SMA)

The SMA calculates the average price over a specified period. Learn more about SMA Strategy.

Exponential Moving Average (EMA)

The EMA gives more weight to recent prices. Explore EMA Crossover Strategy.

Chart Patterns

Recognizing Chart Patterns is key to effective trading.

Head and Shoulders Pattern

A bearish reversal pattern. Study Head and Shoulders Pattern Analysis.

Double Top Pattern

Another bearish reversal signal. Investigate Double Top Pattern Trading. ```

When this code is rendered, MediaWiki automatically generates a Table of Contents that looks something like this:

Introduction to Technical Analysis
Moving Averages

   *   Simple Moving Average (SMA)
   *   Exponential Moving Average (EMA)

Chart Patterns

   *   Head and Shoulders Pattern
   *   Double Top Pattern

Clicking on any of these links will smoothly scroll the page to the corresponding section.

Controlling the Table of Contents

While MediaWiki automatically generates the ToC, you have several options to control its behavior.

`
Contents
`: This tag explicitly inserts the Table of Contents at that location. If a page meets the criteria for automatic generation, using `` is often redundant. However, it's useful when you want to place the ToC in a location other than the default (at the beginning of the page). It's also useful if you want multiple ToCs on a single page (though this is generally discouraged).

``: This tag suppresses the automatic generation of the Table of Contents. Use this when a page doesn't require a ToC, even though it has three or more headings. This can be helpful for short articles or pages where a ToC would clutter the layout. Consider using it if the article is more of a list than a narrative.

``: This tag forces the generation of a Table of Contents, even if the page has fewer than three headings. This is rarely needed but can be useful in specific circumstances where you want to provide a structured outline for a page with limited content.

``: This tag prevents the "edit" link from appearing next to headings in the ToC. Useful for sections that are rarely edited and could benefit from a cleaner presentation. See Help:Editing for more details on editing.

Customizing the Table of Contents

MediaWiki offers limited direct customization options for the ToC's appearance. However, you can influence its look and feel through CSS styling. This requires knowledge of CSS and access to the wiki's stylesheet (usually `MediaWiki:Common.css`).

Some common CSS customizations include:

Changing the font size and color of ToC entries.
Adjusting the indentation and spacing.
Adding a border or background color.
Modifying the appearance of the ToC header.

Consult the MediaWiki documentation and your wiki's administrator for information on modifying the CSS. Be cautious when making CSS changes, as they can affect the appearance of the entire wiki. Back up your changes before implementing them. Refer to Help:CSS for more information about CSS.

Troubleshooting Table of Contents Issues

Here are some common problems and their solutions:

**ToC doesn't appear:**

   *   Ensure the page has at least three section headings (using `=` symbols).
   *   Check if `` is present on the page. Remove it if it's suppressing the ToC.
   *   Verify that the wiki software is functioning correctly.

**ToC appears in the wrong location:**

   *   Use the `` tag to explicitly specify the desired location.
   *   Remove redundant `` tags.

**ToC links don't work:**

   *   Ensure the headings are correctly formatted with `=` symbols.
   *   Check for typos in the heading text.
   *   If the page is very long, the links might be slow to respond.

**ToC is too long or unwieldy:**

   *   Consider restructuring the page with fewer or more concise headings.
   *   Break the page into smaller, more manageable subpages.

**Duplicate ToC entries:** This usually indicates a copy-paste error where the same heading exists multiple times. Review the page source and correct any duplicates.

Advanced Techniques & Considerations

**Anchors:** You can create custom anchors within a page to link to specific points beyond just headings. Use the `` tag. This allows you to create ToC entries that link to specific paragraphs or elements within a section. Understand Help:Links for further details.

**Transclusion:** Transcluded content (content included from another page using `#include`) does *not* contribute to the ToC of the including page. This is important to remember when structuring complex wiki articles.

**Templates:** Templates can also generate headings, which will be included in the ToC. However, be mindful of how templates are used to avoid creating unintended ToC entries.

**Accessibility:** Ensure your ToC is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and descriptive headings, and test the ToC with screen readers. Consider the use of ARIA attributes for enhanced accessibility.

**Page Size:** Very large pages (hundreds of kilobytes) can experience performance issues with the ToC. Breaking the content into smaller pages is generally recommended.

**Dynamic Content:** If your wiki uses extensions that dynamically generate content, the ToC might not always reflect the latest changes. You may need to manually refresh the ToC or use a specific extension feature to update it.

**Section Editing:** The edit links next to each ToC entry are linked to the section editing functionality. This allows users to directly edit the corresponding section of the page without loading the entire edit page.

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