Help:Wiki University How to Edit

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Obtain Wiki Editing Rights[edit | edit source]

Before you can edit the Wiki, you must be assigned the Wiki role of editor and page creator. You need only request this once. Once you are an editor and page creator, you will remain so as long as you follow Wiki Guidelines and Policies. To request to edit the Wiki, please fill out this form. You should receive an email within 2 business days regarding your editing status in the English Wiki. For more information.

How to edit[edit | edit source]

  • Once you have editing rights, make sure that you sign in to your FamilySearch account.
  • Go to an article that you would like to edit, to correct, or to add information.
  • If you want to edit the entire page or the beginning portion of the page, click on the Edit source tab at the top of the page.
  • You may edit a single section of an existing article by clicking the [edit source] which is next to each section header. It will open the edit window for that section only.

Editing with Wikitext[edit | edit source]

  • Although users can edit the Wiki using the VisualEditor, Wikitext gives you far more capabilities.
  • To edit in Wikitext, users can click on the [edit source] tab in the tabs .

Mistakes[edit | edit source]

  • If you make a mistake, don't worry. It's not permanent. Either you can fix it or someone else will fix it. The Family Search Research Wiki is very forgiving of mistakes.
  • It is even possible to revert back to a previous version.

Show preview[edit | edit source]

File:Show preview
  • If you find an article that has many corrections to fix, we would encourage you not to click the save button after you fix each one. Instead click the Show preview to see if your fix is ok then go to the next one.
  • Fix all you can before saving your edits.
  • Save your work frequently to avoid losing your work due to network or system issues.

Finishing Up[edit | edit source]

  • When you have finished editing, scroll down to the bottom and add a short Edit Summary. For example, you can type: "Added links to digital newspapers." You can also set your editing preferences under "Editing Tab" go-to "Editor" and click "Prompt me when entering a blank edit summary." This will remind you to enter the edit summary if you leave it blank.
  • While editing, you should use the Show preview button at the bottom to review your work before saving. In the preview text, you can check links (being cautious to open in a new tab or you will lose your unsaved edits). You can refresh the preview through the Show preview button as many times as you need to.
  • If you change your mind about editing, click the Cancel option underneath the edit window.
  • When you are satisfied with your edits, click the Save page button. Remember to click on Save page frequently.

Other Helpful Editing Preferences[edit | edit source]

There are several other preferences that are recommended. These are:

  • Enable section editing via [edit source] links
  • Mark all edits minor by default
  • Prompt me when entering a blank edit summary (This will remind you to enter the edit summary if you leave it blank.)
  • You also have the option to show the preview before the edit box rather than after. This is a matter of personal preference so you should decide which way works better for you.
Quick Quiz
  • You can open a page for editing in several ways.
True
False
  • If you make a mistake in the Wiki, it is permanent.
True
False
  • Your wikitext work saves automatically about every ten minutes.
True
False
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