User Pages

1. User Pages

Introduction

User pages are a fundamental aspect of any wiki built on the MediaWiki software, including this one. They are personal spaces dedicated to each registered user, allowing them to introduce themselves, share information, track their contributions, and generally customize a corner of the wiki to their liking. This article provides a comprehensive guide to user pages, covering their purpose, creation, editing, common uses, and best practices, specifically tailored for beginners using MediaWiki 1.40. Understanding user pages is crucial for becoming an active and engaged member of this community.

What is a User Page?

A user page is a dedicated page associated with a registered user account. It's essentially a personal profile within the wiki. Think of it as your home base here. Unlike article pages, which are collaborative and aim for neutral point of view, user pages are primarily for individual expression. While guidelines exist regarding appropriate content (detailed later), user pages generally offer more freedom than article editing.

Each user page is accessible via a specific URL format: `User:Username`, where "Username" is the name you chose when you registered your account. For example, if your username is "ExampleUser", your user page will be located at `User:ExampleUser`.

User pages are automatically created when a user registers, but they initially contain only a basic stub. This stub is a blank canvas awaiting your personalization.

Creating Your User Page

The process of creating, or rather, *populating* your user page is incredibly straightforward. Because the page *exists* upon account creation, you don't need to "create" it in the traditional sense. You simply need to *edit* it.

1. **Navigate to your User Page:** The easiest way is to click on your username at the top right corner of the screen when you are logged in. This will usually lead you directly to your user page. Alternatively, type `User:YourUsername` into the search bar.

2. **Click "Edit":** At the top of the page, you will find a tab labeled "Edit". Click this tab.

3. **The Editing Window:** This will open the MediaWiki editing window. This is where you will write and format the content of your user page. The window utilizes a system of wikitext, a simple markup language.

4. **Add Your Content:** Start typing! Use the formatting tools available above the editing window (bold, italics, headings, lists, etc.) or learn the wikitext syntax directly.

5. **Preview Your Changes:** Before saving, click the "Show preview" button to see how your edits will appear. This is highly recommended to avoid unwanted formatting issues.

6. **Save Your Changes:** When you are satisfied with your preview, click the "Publish page" button at the bottom of the editing window.

Your changes are now live! You can edit your user page at any time to update your information or change its design.

What to Include on Your User Page

There's no strict rule about what *must* be included on your user page, but here are some common elements:

• **A Brief Introduction:** Tell other users a little about yourself. This could include your interests, your experience with wikis, or why you're contributing to this specific wiki.
• **Your Interests:** Share your hobbies, passions, or areas of expertise. This can help other users find common ground and connect with you. Perhaps you're interested in technical analysis or algorithmic trading?
• **Your Contributions:** You can list the articles you've created or significantly edited. This helps demonstrate your involvement in the wiki. Consider linking to articles related to Fibonacci retracements or moving averages.
• **User Boxes:** These are small, visually appealing boxes that display information about your interests or affiliations. MediaWiki provides a library of pre-made user boxes, or you can create your own (see section below). You might find boxes related to candlestick patterns or Elliott Wave Theory.
• **Personal Links:** You can include links to your personal website, blog, or other online profiles (exercise caution and adhere to the wiki's policies on external links).
• **Goals and Plans:** If you have specific goals for your contributions to the wiki, you can outline them on your user page. Perhaps you plan to write articles on Ichimoku Cloud or Bollinger Bands.
• **A Picture (Optional):** You can upload a profile picture to personalize your page, but this is entirely optional. Be mindful of the wiki's image usage policies.

User Boxes: Adding Visual Appeal

User boxes are a popular way to visually represent your interests and affiliations. They are created using templates, and MediaWiki provides a variety of pre-made user boxes.

• **Finding User Boxes:** A list of available user boxes can often be found on a dedicated "User boxes" page (check the wiki's help pages or search for "User boxes").
• **Using User Boxes:** To add a user box to your user page, simply copy the code for the user box template and paste it into your user page's editing window.
• **Creating Your Own User Boxes:** If you can't find a user box that suits your needs, you can create your own. This requires some knowledge of MediaWiki templates, but there are plenty of tutorials available online. Consider creating a box for your favorite chart pattern or market indicator.

Subpages: Organizing Your User Space

User pages aren’t limited to a single page. You can create *subpages* to organize your work and store information. Subpages are created by adding a slash ("/") to the end of your username. For example:

• `User:YourUsername/Sandbox`: A common subpage for experimenting with edits without affecting the main user page.
• `User:YourUsername/Notes`: A place to store personal notes related to your wiki contributions.
• `User:YourUsername/Projects`: A list of projects you're working on.
• `User:YourUsername/Templates`: A place to store custom templates you've created.

To create a subpage, simply click on the red link that appears when you type `User:YourUsername/SubpageName` into the search bar. This will create a new, empty subpage.

Editing Other Users' User Pages

Generally, you should **not** edit another user's user page without their explicit permission. User pages are considered personal space, and editing them without consent is a violation of wiki etiquette. There are exceptions, such as reverting vandalism or correcting obvious errors, but these should be rare. If you need to suggest a change to another user’s page, it’s best to discuss it with them on their talk page.

User Rights and Permissions

Your ability to perform certain actions on the wiki, such as creating pages, editing protected pages, or uploading files, is determined by your user rights. These rights are assigned by administrators or other users with appropriate permissions. The default user group typically has sufficient rights to edit user pages and contribute to the wiki. More advanced rights are usually reserved for experienced and trusted users.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• **Don't Treat Your User Page as an Article:** Remember that user pages are not subject to the same strict neutrality requirements as article pages. However, avoid excessive self-promotion, irrelevant content, or offensive material.
• **Respect Wiki Policies:** All content on your user page must adhere to the wiki's general policies, including the policies on copyright, defamation, and harassment.
• **Be Mindful of Privacy:** Don't share personal information that you wouldn't want to be publicly accessible.
• **Keep it Concise:** While you can add a lot of information to your user page, try to keep it relatively concise and easy to read.
• **Avoid Excessive Formatting:** Too much bolding, color, or other formatting can make your user page look cluttered and unprofessional.
• **Don’t Use Your User Page for Testing:** Use the sandbox or a dedicated subpage for testing edits.
• **Check for Broken Links:** Regularly check your user page for broken links and fix them.
• **Consider Accessibility:** Ensure your user page is accessible to users with disabilities by using appropriate headings, alt text for images, and clear language.

Relevant Concepts and Techniques

Here's a more detailed look at some techniques and concepts you can utilize when building your user page:

• **Wikitext Formatting:** Mastering wikitext is key to creating a well-formatted user page. Learn about headings (`== Heading ==`), bold text (`Bold Text`), italic text (`Italic Text`), lists (`* Item 1`, `* Item 2`), and tables.
• **Templates:** Templates are reusable blocks of code that can simplify common tasks. MediaWiki provides a variety of pre-made templates, and you can create your own. Templates are particularly useful for creating user boxes.
• **Categories:** While user pages themselves are not typically categorized, you can use categories to organize your subpages.
• **Links:** Use internal links (`Article Name`) to connect your user page to other pages on the wiki. Use external links (`Example Website`) to link to external resources (use sparingly and only when appropriate).
• **Images:** You can upload images to your user page, but be mindful of copyright and image usage policies.
• **Modules:** MediaWiki modules can be used to extend the functionality of your user page, but this requires more advanced technical knowledge.
• **CSS Styling:** Advanced users can customize the appearance of their user pages using CSS styling, but this requires a good understanding of web development.
• **JavaScript:** JavaScript can be used to add interactive elements to your user page, but this also requires advanced technical knowledge.
• **Diffs:** Understanding diffs (differences between revisions) can help you track your changes and identify potential errors.
• **Watchlists:** Use your watchlist to monitor changes to pages you're interested in, including your own user page.
• **History:** The history tab allows you to view previous versions of your user page and revert to earlier versions if necessary.
• **Talk Pages:** Use talk pages (`User talk:YourUsername`) to communicate with other users.
• **Revision Control:** MediaWiki uses a robust revision control system, allowing you to track all changes made to your user page.
• **Version Control Systems:** Familiarizing yourself with general version control concepts can be beneficial.
• **HTML Editing (Limited):** While primarily wikitext-based, limited HTML can sometimes be used, but it's generally discouraged.
• **Responsive Design:** Consider how your user page will look on different devices (desktops, tablets, smartphones).
• **SEO (Search Engine Optimization):** While not a primary concern, using relevant keywords can improve the visibility of your user page in search results.
• **Accessibility Standards (WCAG):** Adhering to accessibility standards ensures your page is usable by everyone.
• **Cross-Browser Compatibility:** Test your user page in different web browsers to ensure it displays correctly.
• **Performance Optimization:** Avoid using large images or complex scripts that can slow down your page's loading time.
• **Data Visualization:** If you're sharing data on your user page, consider using charts or graphs to make it more visually appealing.
• **Market Sentiment Analysis:** Understanding market sentiment can inform your user page content if you're discussing trading strategies.
• **Risk Management Strategies:** If you're sharing trading strategies, always emphasize the importance of risk management.
• **Correlation Analysis:** Understanding correlations between assets can be helpful for identifying trading opportunities.
• **Time Series Analysis:** Analyzing historical data can reveal trends and patterns.
• **Volatility Indicators:** Indicators like ATR (Average True Range) can help you assess market volatility.
• **Trend Following Systems:** Explore different trend-following systems and their effectiveness.
• **Mean Reversion Strategies:** Investigate mean reversion strategies and their potential drawbacks.

Conclusion

User pages are a valuable tool for personalizing your experience on this wiki and connecting with other users. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this article, you can create a user page that is informative, engaging, and representative of your contributions to the community. Don’t hesitate to experiment and explore the possibilities that user pages offer! Remember to consult the wiki's help pages for more specific information and guidance.

Help:Contents MediaWiki User:ExampleUser (Example User Page) Special:MyPage (Direct Link to Your User Page) Special:MyTalk (Direct Link to Your Talk Page) Help:Editing Help:Formatting Help:Templates Help:Categories Help:Images Project:Policies

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