Help:Wiki Basics
Welcome to the Wiki community. Whether you are here for the first time, a regular researcher or wanting to learn how to contribute, the items below will help you understand various elements of the wiki, including how to navigate and contribute to it. The wiki is a community project, and you are now part of that community. If you have knowledge about how or where to search for genealogy records that are not already in the Wiki, please contribute. Don't know how? Keep reading.
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Just above is a Contents box or the Table of Contents (TOC). If the Table of Contents is closed, click on [show] to open. It is a list of the major sections of this page. You can click any heading in the Table of Contents and be taken to that heading on the page. Smaller articles with fewer than four page sections will not have a TOC.
- Also see Navigation Basics for more information about fully utilizing this wiki.
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Also see Wiki University: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Help:Wiki_University_Main_Page_(Cont.)
Left sidebar
- The left sidebar appears on all article pages.
- It contains links to many important topics in the Wiki.
- It changes from time to time, so keep an eye on it.
Research Wiki
- Wiki Home - Links to home page.
- About the Wiki - Detailed description of the research materials available in the Wiki.
- Online Genealogy Records - A page listing links to online records pages for various countries.
- Guided Research - For Online Records
- Research Resources - List of various research resources for patrons.
Centers/Libraries
- Family History Library - Links to information on the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Family History Centers - How to get help from a Family History Center and how to find one near you.
- FS Affiliate Libraries - List of genealogical libraries in the United States and the United Kingdom that have privileges to limited-access FamilySearch databases.
Give Feedback
- Submit Wiki Content - How to make suggestions for edits or for new material if you do not want to edit yourself.
- Report a Problem - Allows patrons to report problems with the Wiki to FamilySearch.
- Contact Us - Allows patrons to offer suggestions or ask questions concerning the Wiki.
Edit the Wiki
- Become an Editor - How to Edit the Wiki.
- Upload File/Image - Allows users without the proper rights to upload files and image for approval.
- Personal Sandbox - Links to your personal main sandbox page.
- Wiki Projects - How to help FamilySearch Wiki:do projects.
- Wiki University - Link to lessons on Wikitext, HTML, and Visual Editor.
Tools
- What links here - List of pages that link to the page you are on.
- Related changes - List of pages that have been edited and are linked to specific pages that you are watching.
- Upload file - Link for Wiki users to upload images.
- Special pages- List of reports and various controls, some of which require special user rights to access.
- Printable version - Creates a version of the page that is printer friendly.
- Permanent link - Link that will take you to the last edit to this page.
- Page information - Detailed statistical information about the page.
Research Wiki[edit | edit source]
- Wiki Home - Links to home page.
- About the Wiki - Detailed description of the research materials available in the Wiki.
- Online Genealogy Records - A page listing links to online records pages for various countries.
- Guided Research - For Online Records
- Research Resources - List of various research resources for patrons.
Centers/Libraries[edit | edit source]
- Family History Library - Links to information on the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Family History Centers - How to get help from a Family History Center and how to find one near you.
- FS Affiliate Libraries - List of genealogical libraries in the United States and the United Kingdom that have privileges to limited-access FamilySearch databases.
Give Feedback[edit | edit source]
- Submit Wiki Content - How to make suggestions for edits or for new material if you do not want to edit yourself.
- Report a Problem - Allows patrons to report problems with the Wiki to FamilySearch.
- Contact Us - Allows patrons to offer suggestions or ask questions concerning the Wiki.
Edit the Wiki[edit | edit source]
- Become an Editor - How to Edit the Wiki.
- Upload File/Image - Allows users without the proper rights to upload files and image for approval.
- Personal Sandbox - Links to your personal main sandbox page.
- Wiki Projects - How to help FamilySearch Wiki:do projects.
- Wiki University - Link to lessons on Wikitext, HTML, and Visual Editor.
Tools[edit | edit source]
- What links here - List of pages that link to the page you are on.
- Related changes - List of pages that have been edited and are linked to specific pages that you are watching.
- Upload file - Link for Wiki users to upload images.
- Special pages - List of reports and various controls, some of which require special user rights to access.
- Printable version - Creates a version of the page that is printer friendly.
- Permanent link - Link that will take you to the last edit to this page.
- Page information - Detailed statistical information about the page.
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If you are NOT signed in these are the tabs you see at the top of the page.
- Read is the link to the page.
- View Source shows you the Wikitext coding of the page. You cannot edit if not signed in.
- View History links to the edit history for the page.
When you are signed in, you will see these additional tabs:
- Edit links to the Visual Editor.
- Edit Source links to the Wiki Text Editor.
- Star allows Watchlist changes.
- Down Arrow a drop down box links to other actions that can be taken.
Also there is more information above the tabs:
Your User Name | Your FamilySearch user name will appear here after you have logged in. |
 | Clicking on this icon will show a list of alerts that relate to this page. |
 | Clicking on this icon will show a list of notices that relate to this page. |
Talk | Clicking on "Talk" will show you all past messages sent to you by others. |
Sandbox | Clicking on "Sandbox" will take you to your sandbox. |
Preferences | Clicking on "Preferences" will bring up a page where you can chose how you want pages to display on your monitor and others preferences you may want in place. Study this page carefully as their is a lot of material to consider. Get help from Wiki leaders if you have questions. |
Watchlist | Clicking on "Watchlist" will show a list of all pages you are watching to keep track of any changes others may make to them. |
Contributions | Clicking on "Contributions" will show a list of all contributions you have made to the wiki over time. |
Also see Wiki University: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Help:Wiki_University_Research_Wiki_Tabs
Registering on the Wiki[edit | edit source]
You do not need to be registered to look at the Wiki pages. If you want to add, edit, or ask a question, you must be registered. This allows other Wiki community members to communicate with you. Help:Registering with the Wiki
Detailed Help[edit | edit source]
If you are ready to begin, and would like detailed instructions on adding or editing wiki content, choose one of the following links:
- If you need a Help article that doesn't currently exist, you may request one here.
Mentoring[edit | edit source]
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Questions? Visit the Get Help to receive help with contributing to the Wiki. |
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- If you find that you need additional assistance once you have begun adding or editing Wiki content, you may request a Mentor. Mentors are also helpful in getting you started on a specific project.
 | It has been requested that this article be translated and added to all the Non-English versions of Research Wiki. |
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