Page
- Page
A page is the fundamental building block of any wiki, and specifically, of a MediaWiki installation like this one. Understanding pages is crucial for both reading and contributing to a wiki. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of pages in MediaWiki, covering their creation, editing, viewing, organization, and advanced features. We will explore the underlying concepts, the interface elements, and best practices for working with pages effectively. This guide is aimed at beginners, so we will avoid overly technical jargon where possible, but will still provide sufficient detail for a thorough understanding.
What is a Page?
At its simplest, a page is a unit of content within a wiki. It’s essentially a document that can contain text, images, links, templates, and other media. Each page has a unique title, which serves as its identifier. This title is used in the URL (web address) of the page, allowing it to be directly accessed and linked to from other pages. Think of a page like an article in an encyclopedia, but with the crucial difference that it can be collaboratively edited by multiple users.
Pages are not stored as individual files in the traditional sense. Instead, the content of each page, along with its revision history, is stored in a database. This database allows for version control, meaning you can always revert to previous versions of a page if needed, and track who made what changes.
Creating a New Page
There are two primary ways to create a new page in MediaWiki:
1. **Following a Red Link:** When you type a link to a page that doesn't yet exist, MediaWiki will display it as a "red link." Clicking on this red link will take you to an edit page for the new article. This is the most common method for creating pages, as it’s often done as part of linking to related content. For example, if you want to create a page about Fibonacci retracement, and you link to it before it exists, it will appear as a red link.
2. **Using the Search Box:** You can type the desired page title in the search box (usually located at the top-right of the screen) and press Enter. If a page with that title doesn't exist, the search results will offer you the option to create it.
When creating a new page, it’s good practice to start with a clear idea of the page's purpose and scope. Consider what information you want to include and how it relates to other pages in the wiki.
Editing a Page
Editing a page in MediaWiki is done using a visual editor (VisualEditor) or the wikitext editor.
- **VisualEditor:** This editor provides a "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) interface, similar to a word processor. It allows you to format text, insert images, and create links without needing to learn the wikitext markup language. It is the default editor for many users. However, it can sometimes struggle with complex wikitext structures. It’s ideal for simple edits and formatting.
- **Wikitext Editor:** This editor requires you to learn the MediaWiki markup language, known as wikitext. Wikitext uses special characters and symbols to format text, create links, and insert other elements. While it has a steeper learning curve, it offers much greater control and flexibility. It’s essential for creating complex tables, templates, and using advanced features. Understanding wikitext is key to becoming a proficient MediaWiki editor. Resources for learning wikitext are available at Help:Contents.
To edit a page, simply click the "Edit" button (usually located at the top of the page). After making your changes, click the "Publish changes" button to save them. A "Show preview" button allows you to see how your changes will look before saving.
Page Content and Formatting
MediaWiki supports a wide range of formatting options, both in the VisualEditor and the wikitext editor. Some common formatting elements include:
- **Headings:** Use equal signs (=) to create headings. For example, `== Heading 2 ==` creates a Heading 2. `=== Heading 3 ===` creates a Heading 3, and so on.
- **Bold Text:** Surround text with double apostrophes (`text`) or use `text` in wikitext.
- **Italic Text:** Surround text with single apostrophes (`'text'`) or use `text` in wikitext.
- **Lists:** Use asterisks (*) for unordered lists and numbers (#) for ordered lists.
- **Links:** Create internal links using double square brackets (`Page Title`). Create external links using square brackets and a URL (`Example Website`). Understanding internal linking is paramount for wiki navigation.
- **Images:** Insert images using the `File:ImageName.jpg` syntax in wikitext.
- **Tables:** Create tables using wikitext markup.
- **Templates:** Use templates to reuse common content across multiple pages. See Help:Templates for more information.
Page Organization
Pages are organized within a wiki using categories and namespaces.
- **Categories:** Categories are used to group pages together based on their topic. To add a page to a category, add the following line to the bottom of the page: ``. This allows users to browse pages by category. For example, all pages related to technical analysis could be categorized under "Technical Analysis".
- **Namespaces:** Namespaces are used to create distinct sections within a wiki. For example, the "Help" namespace contains pages about how to use the wiki, and the "Project" namespace contains pages about the wiki itself. Each namespace has its own prefix. Common namespaces include:
* `Main`: The main article namespace. * `User`: User pages. * `Talk`: Discussion pages. * `Project`: Project-related pages. * `Help`: Help pages.
Using categories and namespaces effectively is crucial for maintaining a well-organized wiki.
Page History and Version Control
Every change made to a page is recorded in the page's history. You can access the page history by clicking the "View history" tab at the top of the page. The history shows a list of all previous versions of the page, along with the username of the editor who made the change and a timestamp.
You can compare different versions of a page to see what changes were made. You can also revert to a previous version of a page if necessary. This version control system is a powerful feature of MediaWiki that allows for collaborative editing and ensures that no changes are lost.
Advanced Page Features
- **Templates:** Templates are reusable blocks of wikitext that can be inserted into multiple pages. They are useful for creating standardized layouts, inserting common content, and automating tasks. Template:Example is a basic example.
- **Infoboxes:** Infoboxes are tables that summarize key information about a topic. They are often used on biography pages and pages about specific products or services.
- **Transclusion:** Transclusion allows you to include the content of one page on another page. This is similar to templates, but it allows you to include dynamic content that can be updated in one place and reflected on all pages where it is transcluded.
- **Watchlists:** You can add pages to your watchlist to receive notifications when they are changed. This is useful for keeping track of pages that you are interested in.
- **Redirects:** Redirects allow you to create alternative titles for a page. For example, you could create a redirect from "Trading Strategies" to "Trading strategy".
Best Practices for Page Creation and Editing
- **Be Neutral:** Maintain a neutral point of view when writing and editing pages. Avoid expressing personal opinions or biases.
- **Be Accurate:** Ensure that the information you provide is accurate and supported by reliable sources. Consider using candlestick patterns as an example where accuracy is paramount.
- **Be Clear and Concise:** Write in a clear and concise style. Avoid jargon and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to readers.
- **Be Respectful:** Be respectful of other editors and their contributions.
- **Follow Wiki Conventions:** Familiarize yourself with the wiki's conventions and guidelines.
- **Use Categories Effectively:** Categorize pages appropriately to make them easier to find.
- **Provide Sources:** Cite your sources whenever possible. This is especially important for factual information. Consider referencing resources on Elliott Wave Theory.
- **Preview Your Changes:** Always preview your changes before saving them.
- **Use Edit Summaries:** Provide a brief summary of your changes in the edit summary. This helps other editors understand what you did. For example, "Added section on moving averages".
Further Resources
- Help:Contents - The main help page for MediaWiki.
- Help:Editing - Detailed information about editing pages.
- Help:Formatting - Information about wikitext formatting.
- Help:Templates - Information about templates.
- Help:Categories - Information about categories.
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