Help:Wiki markup
- Help:Wiki markup
Wiki markup is the syntax used on MediaWiki-based wikis, like this one, to format text and create content. Unlike "What You See Is What You Get" (WYSIWYG) editors, wiki markup requires you to learn a simple set of codes to achieve the desired formatting. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of wiki markup, covering everything from basic text formatting to creating tables, templates, and more. This is designed for beginners, so we'll start with the very basics and gradually introduce more advanced concepts.
Basic Text Formatting
- Bold text:* Surround text with three apostrophes () on each side. For example, `This is bold text` renders as This is bold text. This is useful for emphasizing key terms, like Fibonacci retracement or moving averages.
- Italic text:* Surround text with two apostrophes () on each side. For example, `This is italic text` renders as This is italic text. Italics can be used for definitions, like defining a bull flag pattern.
- ~~Strikethrough text:~~* Surround text with two tildes (~~) on each side. For example, `~~This text is struck through~~` renders as ~~This text is struck through~~.
- `Monospace text:`* Surround text with backticks (`) on each side. For example, ``This is monospace text`` renders as `This is monospace text`. Useful for code snippets or representing technical terms like RSI.
- Underlined text:* Surround text with HTML `` and `` tags. For example, `This is underlined text` renders as This is underlined text. (Note: underlining is generally discouraged as it can be confused with hyperlinks).
- Superscript text:* Use the HTML `` and `` tags. For example, `x2` renders as x2. Useful for indicating exponents in formulas related to Bollinger Bands.
- Subscript text:* Use the HTML `` and `` tags. For example, `H2O` renders as H2O.
Headings
Headings are used to structure your content. MediaWiki supports six levels of headings:
- `= Heading 1 =` - Largest heading. Used for page titles or major sections.
- `== Heading 2 ==` - A major section within a page. Ideal for topics like candlestick patterns.
- `=== Heading 3 ===` - A subsection. Useful for detailing specific indicators like MACD.
- `==== Heading 4 ====` - A sub-subsection.
- `===== Heading 5 =====` - A further sub-subsection.
- `====== Heading 6 ======` - The smallest heading.
Paragraphs and Line Breaks
A new paragraph is created by leaving a blank line between lines of text. Simply pressing Enter twice will start a new paragraph.
To force a line break within a paragraph, use the `
` HTML tag. For example:
This is the first line.
This is the second line.
Links
Linking is crucial for creating a navigable wiki. There are two main types of links:
- Internal Links:* These link to other pages within the wiki. Surround the page title with double square brackets: `Page Title`. For example, `Help:Contents` links to the Help:Contents page. You can also use a custom link text: `Custom Link Text`. For example, `Return to the Help Index`. This is helpful when linking to pages covering Elliott Wave Theory.
- External Links:* These link to pages outside the wiki. Surround the URL with square brackets: `Example Website`. The text within the brackets is the link text. This is useful for linking to external resources explaining technical analysis.
Lists
- Unordered Lists:* Use an asterisk (*) at the beginning of each line. Each asterisk creates a bullet point.
```wiki
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
```
Renders as:
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
- Ordered Lists:* Use a number (#) at the beginning of each line.
```wiki
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
```
Renders as:
1. Item 1 2. Item 2 3. Item 3
You can create nested lists by indenting the lines with colons (:).
Images
To include an image, use the following syntax:
`
`
- `File:ImageName.jpg` - Specifies the image file. Ensure the image is uploaded to the wiki first.
- `thumb` - Creates a thumbnail.
- `200px` - Sets the width of the thumbnail to 200 pixels. Adjust as needed.
- `Caption` - Provides a caption for the image.
Images are often useful when illustrating chart patterns or trading strategies.
Tables
Tables are used to organize data in rows and columns. The basic syntax is as follows:
```wiki
Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
---|---|---|
Row 1, Cell 1 | Row 1, Cell 2 | Row 1, Cell 3 |
Row 2, Cell 1 | Row 2, Cell 2 | Row 2, Cell 3 |
```
- `{| class="wikitable"` - Starts the table and applies a standard wiki table style.
- `|+ Caption` - Adds a caption to the table.
- `|-` - Indicates a new row.
- `!` - Indicates a header cell.
- `|` - Indicates a regular cell.
- `|}` - Ends the table.
Tables can be used to compare different trading indicators or to present market data.
Templates
Templates allow you to create reusable content blocks. They are used to avoid repeating the same code multiple times. Creating templates is a more advanced topic, but the basic idea is to create a page with a specific name (e.g., Template:TradingStrategy) and then use the `Template:TradingStrategy` syntax to include it on other pages. Templates are helpful for standardizing the format of pages discussing risk management.
Horizontal Rules
To create a horizontal rule (a line across the page), use three or more hyphens (---) on a line by themselves.
```wiki --- ```
Renders as:
---
Characters and Symbols
- Mathematical Symbols:* You can use HTML entities for mathematical symbols. For example: `π` renders as π, `±` renders as ±. Useful when discussing statistical analysis in trading.
- Currency Symbols:* Similarly, use HTML entities for currency symbols. For example: `€` renders as €, `£` renders as £.
- Special Characters:* For other special characters, consult an HTML entity reference chart.
Code Blocks
To display code blocks, use the `
` tag. This preserves formatting, including spaces and line breaks. ```wiki <pre> def calculate_rsi(prices, period=14): # Implementation of Relative Strength Index # ... return rsi
```
This is useful for showing examples of algorithmic trading code.
Variables
MediaWiki supports variables using the `Template:Var:variable name` syntax. Variables are defined elsewhere (typically through extensions or configuration). This is less common for basic editing.
Categories
Categories are used to organize pages. To add a page to a category, add the following to the bottom of the page:
``
For example:
``
Advanced Formatting
- Nowiki:* The `<nowiki>` tag prevents any wiki markup from being interpreted. This is useful for displaying code or text that contains wiki markup that you don't want rendered.
- HTML:* You can use HTML tags directly in wiki markup, but it's generally best to use wiki markup whenever possible for consistency.
- Comments:* Use `` to add comments to your wiki markup. Comments are not displayed on the page.
- Transclusion:* This allows you to include the content of one page into another. Similar to templates, but more flexible. Use `
- Page Names in MediaWiki: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
This article provides a detailed guide to understanding and effectively utilizing Page Names in MediaWiki, version 1.40 and beyond. Whether you're a new wiki editor or simply looking to solidify your understanding, this guide will cover everything from the fundamental concepts to advanced techniques. We will delve into the structure of page names, how they relate to titles, namespaces, and URLs, and how to create, rename, and manage them effectively. We will also cover common pitfalls and best practices.
What is a Page Name?
In the context of MediaWiki, a *Page Name* is the unique identifier used to locate and access a specific page within the wiki. It’s not simply the title you see displayed at the top of the page, but a more technical designation used internally by the system. Think of it as the page's address. It dictates where the content is stored on the server and how it’s referenced in links, redirects, and other wiki operations. Understanding the distinction between a page name and a page title is crucial.
The *Page Title* is what users see and interact with. It's the human-readable name of the page. The *Page Name* is the underlying identifier that the wiki uses. While often they are the same, they *can* be different, especially when dealing with namespaces or redirects.
Components of a Page Name
A page name is typically composed of three main parts:
1. **Namespace:** This categorizes the page. Common namespaces include "Main" (for regular articles), "User", "Talk", "File", "MediaWiki", and special namespaces like "Help" and "Category". If no namespace is explicitly specified, the page defaults to the "Main" namespace. 2. **Page Title (or Base Name):** This is the core name of the page, representing the subject matter. It can contain letters, numbers, and certain special characters. See the section on "Valid Characters" below for details. 3. **Page Suffix (Optional):** This is an extension to the base name, often used to indicate specific actions or versions of the page. Examples include "/edit" for the editing page, "/history" for the revision history, and "/sandbox" for a test page.
The general format is: `Namespace:Page Title/Suffix`
For example:
- `Main:Trading Strategies` – A page in the Main namespace titled "Trading Strategies".
- `User:ExampleUser/Sandbox` – A page in the User namespace belonging to "ExampleUser", used as a sandbox.
- `File:ExampleImage.png` – A file page in the File namespace for an image named "ExampleImage.png".
- `Help:Contents` – A page in the Help namespace titled "Contents".
Namespaces in Detail
Namespaces are a fundamental organizing principle in MediaWiki. They prevent naming conflicts and allow you to group related pages together. Here’s a more detailed look at some common namespaces:
- **Main:** The primary namespace for the encyclopedia's articles. Most content resides here.
- **User:** Dedicated to individual user pages, where users can create their profiles, personal notes, and test areas. Each user has a dedicated User page.
- **User talk:** Used for communication with users. When you want to leave a message for a user, you post it on their "Talk" page.
- **Project:** Used for project-related discussions and policies. Often specific to the wiki itself.
- **Project talk:** For discussions about the "Project" namespace pages.
- **File:** Holds descriptions of uploaded files (images, videos, etc.).
- **File talk:** Discussion pages for files.
- **MediaWiki:** Contains pages about the MediaWiki software itself.
- **MediaWiki talk:** Discussion pages for the MediaWiki software.
- **Template:** Stores reusable templates for formatting and content. Templates are a powerful feature of MediaWiki.
- **Template talk:** Discussion pages for templates.
- **Help:** Contains help pages and documentation for users.
- **Help talk:** Discussion pages for help pages.
- **Category:** Used for categorizing pages. Categories are essential for organizing content.
You can prefix a page name with a namespace using a colon (`:`). For example, `User:JohnDoe` refers to the user page for JohnDoe. Without a prefix, the page is assumed to be in the Main namespace.
Valid Characters in Page Names
Page names aren't entirely freeform. MediaWiki imposes restrictions on the characters allowed to ensure proper functionality and prevent confusion.
- **Allowed:** Letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphen (`-`), underscore (`_`), and some special characters like period (`.`) and forward slash (`/`).
- **Disallowed:** Spaces, ampersands (`&`), percent signs (`%`), angle brackets (`<`, `>`), double quotes (`"`), single quotes (`'`), backslashes (`\`), question marks (`?`), asterisks (`*`), pipes (`|`), colons (`:`), and other characters that have special meaning to the wiki software.
If you attempt to create a page name with invalid characters, MediaWiki will typically sanitize it by replacing the invalid characters with a valid substitute, usually an underscore or removing them altogether. This can lead to unexpected page names, so it's best to avoid invalid characters from the start.
Creating a New Page
To create a new page, you simply use a link to a page name that doesn't yet exist. When you click on the red link, you'll be prompted to create the page. You can do this using the following MediaWiki syntax:
```wiki Page Name ```
For example:
```wiki Technical Analysis ```
If a page named "Technical Analysis" doesn't exist, this link will appear in red. Clicking it will take you to the page creation interface.
You can also create a page directly by typing the page name into the search box and then clicking the "Create the page" link that appears.
Remember to consider the appropriate namespace when creating a new page. If you want to create a user page for "JaneSmith", you would use `User:JaneSmith`.
Renaming a Page
Renaming a page is a common task, especially as content evolves. MediaWiki provides a "Move" feature for this purpose.
1. Go to the page you want to rename. 2. Click on the "More" dropdown menu (usually located at the top of the page). 3. Select "Move". 4. Enter the new page name in the "New title" field. 5. Provide a reason for the move in the "Reason" field. 6. Click the "Move page" button.
The "Move" feature automatically updates all incoming links to point to the new page name. It also preserves the page history, ensuring that all revisions are retained.
Redirects
Redirects are pages that automatically forward users to another page. They're useful for handling variations in page names or for consolidating content.
To create a redirect, create a page with the following content:
```wiki
- REDIRECT Target Page Name
```
For example, if you want to redirect "Beginner Trading" to "Trading for Beginners", create a page named "Beginner Trading" with the following content:
```wiki
- REDIRECT Trading for Beginners
```
Whenever a user tries to access "Beginner Trading", they will be automatically redirected to "Trading for Beginners".
Page Names and URLs
Page names are directly reflected in the URLs of wiki pages. The URL structure typically follows this pattern:
`https://yourwiki.com/wiki/Page_Name`
For example:
`https://yourwiki.com/wiki/Trading_Strategies`
The underscores in the URL represent spaces in the page title. MediaWiki automatically converts spaces to underscores in URLs.
Common Pitfalls and Best Practices
- **Avoid Ambiguous Names:** Choose page names that clearly and accurately reflect the content. Avoid overly general or vague names.
- **Consistency is Key:** Maintain a consistent naming convention throughout the wiki. This makes it easier for users to find information.
- **Check for Existing Pages:** Before creating a new page, search the wiki to ensure that a similar page doesn't already exist.
- **Use Redirects Wisely:** Redirects are helpful, but don't overuse them. Too many redirects can make it difficult to track where content is located.
- **Consider SEO:** When choosing page names, consider search engine optimization (SEO). Use keywords that people are likely to search for.
- **Be Mindful of Case Sensitivity:** While MediaWiki is generally case-insensitive for page names, it's best to use consistent capitalization for readability.
- **Avoid Special Characters:** Stick to the allowed characters to prevent unexpected behavior.
- **Understand Namespace Usage:** Use namespaces strategically to organize content effectively.
- **Use Descriptive Titles:** While the page name is the identifier, the page title should be descriptive and user-friendly.
- **Review Page History:** When renaming or moving pages, review the page history to ensure that no important information is lost. See Page History for more details.
Advanced Techniques
- **Transclusion:** You can include content from one page into another using transclusion. This allows you to reuse content and maintain consistency.
- **Subpages:** You can create subpages within a page by using a forward slash (`/`) in the page name. For example, `Trading Strategies/Scalping`.
- **Magic Words:** MediaWiki provides "magic words" that can be used to dynamically insert information into pages, such as the current date or the page title. See Magic Words for more information.
- **Using Variables in Templates:** Templates can use variables to create dynamic content. This allows you to customize templates based on the context in which they are used.
- **Customizing URL Structure:** While the default URL structure is sufficient for most wikis, it's possible to customize it using extensions.
Related Concepts and Further Learning
- Help:Links – Learn how to create internal and external links.
- Help:Templates – Discover the power of templates.
- Help:Categories – Master the art of categorization.
- Help:Page History - Understanding the revision history of a page.
- Manual:Configuration settings – Explore advanced configuration options.
- **Fibonacci Retracement:** [1](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fibonacciretracement.asp)
- **Moving Averages:** [2](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/movingaverage.asp)
- **Relative Strength Index (RSI):** [3](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rsi.asp)
- **MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence):** [4](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/macd.asp)
- **Bollinger Bands:** [5](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bollingerbands.asp)
- **Ichimoku Cloud:** [6](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ichimoku-cloud.asp)
- **Support and Resistance Levels:** [7](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/supportandresistance.asp)
- **Trend Lines:** [8](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trendline.asp)
- **Chart Patterns (Head and Shoulders):** [9](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/headandshoulders.asp)
- **Candlestick Patterns (Doji):** [10](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/doji.asp)
- **Elliott Wave Theory:** [11](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/elliottwavetheory.asp)
- **Gann Analysis:** [12](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gannanalysis.asp)
- **Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP):** [13](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/vwap.asp)
- **Average True Range (ATR):** [14](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/atr.asp)
- **Parabolic SAR:** [15](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/parabolicsar.asp)
- **Stochastic Oscillator:** [16](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stochasticoscillator.asp)
- **Donchian Channels:** [17](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/donchian-channel.asp)
- **Keltner Channels:** [18](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/k/keltnerchannels.asp)
- **Heikin Ashi:** [19](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/heikin-ashi.asp)
- **Market Sentiment Analysis:** [20](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketsentiment.asp)
- **Trading Psychology:** [21](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trading-psychology.asp)
- **Risk Management in Trading:** [22](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/riskmanagement.asp)
- **Backtesting Trading Strategies:** [23](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/backtesting.asp)
- **Algorithmic Trading:** [24](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/algorithmictrading.asp)
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- Lists of Definitions:* Use a colon (:) at the beginning of each line.
```wiki
- Definition 1
- Definition 2
```
Renders as:
- Definition 1
- Definition 2
Resources for Further Learning
- Help:Editing - A general guide to editing on MediaWiki.
- Help:Contents - The main help index.
- MediaWiki User's Guide - Comprehensive documentation for MediaWiki.
- Wikipedia's Help:Editing - While for Wikipedia, much of the markup is the same.
- Numerous online tutorials on wiki markup. Search for "MediaWiki tutorial" on your favorite search engine.
Understanding wiki markup is essential for contributing to and editing content on this wiki. While it may seem daunting at first, with practice, you'll become comfortable using it to create well-formatted and informative pages. Remember to preview your changes before saving to ensure they look as intended. Experiment with different tags and syntax to learn how they work. Don't be afraid to ask for help from other users if you get stuck. Proper formatting improves readability and makes the wiki a valuable resource for everyone. Consider learning about position sizing and drawdown to enhance your trading knowledge. Many successful traders utilize price action strategies. Don't overlook the importance of market psychology. Understanding support and resistance levels is fundamental. Trend lines can provide valuable insights. Chart patterns like the head and shoulders pattern are frequently observed. Consider exploring Ichimoku Cloud for a comprehensive analysis. The Parabolic SAR indicator can signal potential trend reversals. Average True Range (ATR) measures market volatility. Stochastic Oscillator helps identify overbought and oversold conditions. Donchian Channels are useful for identifying breakouts. Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) indicates the average price traded throughout the day. Relative Vigor Index (RVI) assesses the strength of a trend. Keltner Channels provide dynamic support and resistance levels. Commodity Channel Index (CCI) identifies cyclical trends. Fibonacci Extensions project potential price targets. Pivot Points identify key support and resistance levels. Heikin Ashi smooths price data for clearer trend identification. Fractals highlight potential turning points. Renko Charts filter out noise and focus on price movements. Point and Figure Charts identify price reversals and targets. Triple Top/Bottom patterns signal significant reversals.
Start Trading Now
Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)
Join Our Community
Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners