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{{Meta page}}
This page will go over information on how to preform functions necessary for editing that aren't just messing with existing content. See [[Help:Handout]] for important information that all people with accounts need to understand.
 
This guide is aimed at people who are completely unfamiliar with editing on MediaWiki sites (if they even know what that means), but are familiar with traditional editing systems like WordPress, any sort of word document, and so on. This should hopefully knock out a lot of quick vital differences between the 2 systems to allow an easier learning curve.


For information on how the markdown of MediaWiki pages work, see [[mw:Help:Formatting|Help:Formatting]].
For information on how the markdown of MediaWiki pages work, see [[mw:Help:Formatting|Help:Formatting]].


== Terminology ==
== Creating pages ==
So that we share the same language, please commit the following terms to memory.
Use the search bar and pretend to search for the page you want to eventually exist (spelling and case matter). A new page will appear telling you the page does not yet exist and ask if you wish to create it. Click the red text that is the new page name and then edit normally. Once the first edit to the page is published the page goes live.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Term !! Definition
|-
| '''Wiki''' || A website that has a system in place to allow collaborative editing rather than a central authority dictating content, such as a blog. Think the [https://zeldawiki.wiki/wiki/Main_Page Zelda Wiki], or [https://www.fandom.com/ Fandom] itself.
|-
| [[wikipedia:Main Page|'''Wikipedia''']] || More properly known as the ''English'' Wikipedia, it is the online encyclopedia that everyone can edit that everyone knows of.<ref> Keep in mind that there are versions of Wikipedia in various languages, such as [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Portada Spanish] and [https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagina_principale Italian]. [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Complete_list_of_Wikimedia_projects Click me] for a full list.</ref>
|-
| [https://wikimediafoundation.org/ '''Wikimedia'''] || A non-profit foundation that performs the administration and systems upkeep of the various language editions of Wikipedia.
|-
| [[mw:MediaWiki|'''MediaWiki''']] || A [[wikipedia:Free and open-source software|'''free and open source''']] software that is designed to provide a wiki-style of editing to a website. This software is what runs this very website and the English Wikipedia.
|-
|}


== Renaming pages ==
== Renaming pages ==
Unlike traditional word processing software, MediaWiki is unique in that '''every edit''' is logged, along with '''the information on who did it and when''', and '''every version of a page''' after '''every version of an edit''' is ''also'' logged. This makes such websites incredibly resilient as, unless a user is making use of advanced permissions, it is nigh impossible to break anything. Almost every edit can be reversed with a button press.
Unlike traditional word processing systems, such as Google Docs, MediaWiki uses the title of a page as it's internal database identifier. Page names are not cosmetic. The changing of a page's name is called '''''moving''''' on wikis. This is because the edit history and meta data have to be '''''moved''''' to the new page name as well as just it's content. This is accomplished by hovering your mouse over the button that says "More" and selecting "Move".
 
The above, alongside the fact that the primary purpose of the MediaWiki software is to facilitate the editing of content released under a [https://creativecommons.org/ '''Creative Commons copyright license'''] — which requires proper attribution of edits to individuals — renaming pages on a whim is simply not feasible. To MediaWiki, page names are not cosmetic, they are crucial database identifiers. Thus, to rename a page, in MediaWiki's language, you '''''move''''' the page to '''a new page name'''. This specific process results in all of the metadata, edits, and page history being ''moved'' to it's new name.
 
Due to the setup of the wiki, it is ill advised to move pages unless you are a regular contributor with an intimate understanding of the wiki's construction. Otherwise, please consult Sirdog (<code>sirdog3355</code>) or a known seasoned contributor, that way the navigation of information is not disrupted. To provide perspective, were the page [[Bogatyr]] renamed to, say, [[BogaTyr]], all links that lead to [[Bogatyr]] would break. As of November 1, there are '''7''' different pages linking to it. That is a lot of tedious work. This risk is doubled for [[mw:Help:Templates|templates]]. Were [[Template:ActionTemplate]] to be moved, '''50''' pages would be impacted, and the information on company pages would be completely unreadable.


This risk is mitigated by [[mw:Help:Redirects|redirects]], but that's entering a "not-getting started guide" level of detail.
=== Redirects and page name importance ===
Any links on the wiki which point to a moved page will, by default, break. So if a page titled [[Gummybears]] is moved to [[Gummy bears]], any page with a link to [[Gummybears]] will lead to a now non-existent page. This issue is mitigated by, when using the move tool, ensuring the checkbox for <code>Leave a redirect behind</code> is ticked. This makes [[Gummybears]] automatically send a viewer that goes to it to [[Gummy bears|Gummy bears.]] This is the acceptable means of handling the issue in 99% of cases. If a situation comes up where this is ''not'' desirable, then every page that links to [[Gummybears]] will need to be manually edited to lead to [[Gummy bears]].


== Hiding unwanted / sensitive content ==
Non-regular editors of the wiki are encouraged to seek guidance from an administrator or seasoned contributor before moving pages.
{{Ambox
| type      = speedy
| image    =
| text      = The information in this section is crucial to understanding how to avoid undesirable or sensitive information remaining public if accidentally published. '''Do not skip this section'''!
}}
It is possible that, at some point, content is fully published to a page that should not be public. This may be a link to a Google form or spreadsheet ([[Template:AbuseFilterGoogle|and you somehow missed the warning designed specifically to mitigate this risk]]), you accidentally copy-and-paste your password in a change you made, or your little brother decides it's funny to add your phone number to an edit while you weren't looking.


Regardless, '''it is <u>not sufficient</u> to simply edit the undesirable information out'''. This is because, as detailed in the previous section, every version of a page after an edit is logged. These logs are visible to the entire internet since this website is publicly accessible. For example, [[Special:PermaLink/13|'''this edit''']] is how the main page looked on October 16, 2024.
== Protected pages and files ==
Very rarely, an '''[[Help:Permissions#Administrator|administrator]]''' will determine that a page or file should only be edited by administrators. This is indicated by editors seeing a <code>View source</code> button rather than <code>Edit</code> or <code>Edit source</code>. These are usually pages relating to policy, files which are official, files that are widely used where changing them is unlikely to make sense, or templates that if broken can result in a negative cascade effect that effects the wiki writ large.  


As a result, if the above happens, you '''should still remove it by editing it out''', but then you must alert a site administrator (Sirdog (<code>sirdog3355</code>) is a safe bet) '''''immediately''''' so they may delete the edit from public visibility. For more details on how this is done mechanically, check out [[mw:Manual:RevisionDelete|Manual:RevisionDelete]].
If there is a page that an editor wishes to edit, but cannot, they are to contact an administrator for assistance. Editors can also ask to ''become'' an administrator (see [[Help:Permissions]]).


== Categories ==
== Categories ==
'''All''' pages should receive a category; a special kind of page that easily groups pages together for ease of navigation and classification. A list of all categories the website holds is available at [[:Category:Categories]]. If making a new page, please place it in the ''most specific'' category. For example, if creating a template for a war game action, place it in [[:Category:Actions]] rather than [[:Category:Game mechanics]].
A category is a special kind of page that easily groups pages together for navigation and classification purposes. A list of all categories is available at [[:Category:Categories]]. Any new page added should be given at least one category, and it should be the most specific category available. Editors unsure of where to place a page should put the page in [[:Category:Categories]] and then post somewhere in Discord that they did so. This way, a more seasoned contributor can give the appropriate category later.
 
If completely unsure, at ''least'' place it in [[:Category:Categories]] and alert known wiki editors so they may better categorize it.
 
Adding a category is done by clicking the [[wikipedia:Help:VisualEditor#Editing categories|three horizontal bars button next to the pencil in Visual Editing mode]]. In markdown mode, add the text <code><nowiki>[[Category:<category-name>]]</nowiki></code> anywhere on the page. For stylistic reasons, it should be at the very bottom.
 
== Page protection ==
You may notice that certain pages on this website cannot be edited. Instead of seeing <code>Edit</code> or <code>Edit source</code>, you may see <code>View source</code>. An example would be [[:File:EDCLogo.png]]. This means a page has been protected by a site administrator from editing. Very few pages are given this treatment, since editing is already by it's nature selective, given user accounts must be requested manually.  
 
This is typically reserved for templates or other kinds of pages that could cause things on the website to break or appear broken. While these errors are not always hard to correct, it may cause panic or confusion among readers and newer editors.
 
Regardless, if you find such a page and need it to have some kind of edit done, notify a [[Special:ListUsers/sysop|site administrator]].
 
== Permissions ==
While few in number, there are a couple of permissions that are not given to all users:
* '''Administrator''' — Numerous additional functions for easy site administration. Most notably include blocking users, protecting pages, and deleting pages and logs from public visibility.
* '''Bureaucrat''' — Can assign and revoke permissions, edit user accounts, and create new accounts.
* '''Interface administrator''' — Can edit pages which dictate the look of the website (e.g [[MediaWiki:Editnotice-0-War game rules]], which dictates the message shown to all editors that edit that page) and import pages from other MediaWiki instances to this wiki.
 
For an exhaustive list of all user permissions, and what each permission can explicitly do, see [[Special:ListGroupRights]].
 
Any user with an account may request one of the above from Sirdog of whom may approve or deny such requests at his discretion. Those with prior history editing Wikimedia projects are considerably more likely to receive such permissions, though the biggest factor is level of editing activity, knowledge of wiki construction, and willingness to learn.
 
Fleff, due to his nature as the gamemaster and curator of the game this wiki is dedicated too, is entitled to all above permissions at his request. He is also capable of vetoing any request for advanced permissions and ordering the disabling of any user's account. He is also, at his request, able to receive the Endurance War Game specific permission labeled "gamemaster" which allows the protection of pages from editing to even site administrators.
 
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
 
 


Categories are added in the Visual Editor by clicking the [[wikipedia:Help:VisualEditor#Editing categories|3 horizontal bars]] to the left of the <code>Save changes...</code> button and selecting <code>Categories</code>. In markdown mode, add the text <code><nowiki>[[Category:<category-name>]]</nowiki></code> anywhere on the page. For stylistic reasons, it should be at the very bottom.


== Using images ==
Any image that an editor wishes to use must be manually uploaded to the wiki. This is done by going to [[Special:Upload]].


Notice how there is a '''big box''' of information at the top of [[Special:Upload]] that says "'''Important File Uploading Guidelines'''". This should be read in it's entirety.


Once an image is uploaded, it can be added to a page in the VisualEditor by clicking <code>Insert</code> on the toolbar followed by <code>Images and media</code> then locating the relevant file. For information on how to do this in markdown, see [[mw:Help:Images|Help:Images]].


=== InstantCommons ===
Editors will quickly see that, if adding images using the VisualEditor, that there are a ''lot'' of images they can add to a page that aren't actually hosted on this wiki (i.e not at [[Special:ListFiles]]). This is because this wiki has opted into [[mw:InstantCommons|InstantCommons]]. This is a feature that allows the native use of any image uploaded to [[commons:Main Page|Wikimedia Commons]], a project that hosts files that exclusively have free licenses, as if it were on the wiki locally. Any image available from this service may be used freely.


== Edit summaries ==
An edit summary is a box available near the <code>Save changes</code> button that gives editors the ability to describe what their edit has done. This makes it simpler to review page history and see how a page changes over time. This is '''''strongly desired''''', but not required.


[[Category:Meta]]
[[Category:Meta pages]]

Latest revision as of 02:25, 7 June 2025

This page will go over information on how to preform functions necessary for editing that aren't just messing with existing content. See Help:Handout for important information that all people with accounts need to understand.

For information on how the markdown of MediaWiki pages work, see Help:Formatting.

Creating pages

Use the search bar and pretend to search for the page you want to eventually exist (spelling and case matter). A new page will appear telling you the page does not yet exist and ask if you wish to create it. Click the red text that is the new page name and then edit normally. Once the first edit to the page is published the page goes live.

Renaming pages

Unlike traditional word processing systems, such as Google Docs, MediaWiki uses the title of a page as it's internal database identifier. Page names are not cosmetic. The changing of a page's name is called moving on wikis. This is because the edit history and meta data have to be moved to the new page name as well as just it's content. This is accomplished by hovering your mouse over the button that says "More" and selecting "Move".

Redirects and page name importance

Any links on the wiki which point to a moved page will, by default, break. So if a page titled Gummybears is moved to Gummy bears, any page with a link to Gummybears will lead to a now non-existent page. This issue is mitigated by, when using the move tool, ensuring the checkbox for Leave a redirect behind is ticked. This makes Gummybears automatically send a viewer that goes to it to Gummy bears. This is the acceptable means of handling the issue in 99% of cases. If a situation comes up where this is not desirable, then every page that links to Gummybears will need to be manually edited to lead to Gummy bears.

Non-regular editors of the wiki are encouraged to seek guidance from an administrator or seasoned contributor before moving pages.

Protected pages and files

Very rarely, an administrator will determine that a page or file should only be edited by administrators. This is indicated by editors seeing a View source button rather than Edit or Edit source. These are usually pages relating to policy, files which are official, files that are widely used where changing them is unlikely to make sense, or templates that if broken can result in a negative cascade effect that effects the wiki writ large.

If there is a page that an editor wishes to edit, but cannot, they are to contact an administrator for assistance. Editors can also ask to become an administrator (see Help:Permissions).

Categories

A category is a special kind of page that easily groups pages together for navigation and classification purposes. A list of all categories is available at Category:Categories. Any new page added should be given at least one category, and it should be the most specific category available. Editors unsure of where to place a page should put the page in Category:Categories and then post somewhere in Discord that they did so. This way, a more seasoned contributor can give the appropriate category later.

Categories are added in the Visual Editor by clicking the 3 horizontal bars to the left of the Save changes... button and selecting Categories. In markdown mode, add the text [[Category:<category-name>]] anywhere on the page. For stylistic reasons, it should be at the very bottom.

Using images

Any image that an editor wishes to use must be manually uploaded to the wiki. This is done by going to Special:Upload.

Notice how there is a big box of information at the top of Special:Upload that says "Important File Uploading Guidelines". This should be read in it's entirety.

Once an image is uploaded, it can be added to a page in the VisualEditor by clicking Insert on the toolbar followed by Images and media then locating the relevant file. For information on how to do this in markdown, see Help:Images.

InstantCommons

Editors will quickly see that, if adding images using the VisualEditor, that there are a lot of images they can add to a page that aren't actually hosted on this wiki (i.e not at Special:ListFiles). This is because this wiki has opted into InstantCommons. This is a feature that allows the native use of any image uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, a project that hosts files that exclusively have free licenses, as if it were on the wiki locally. Any image available from this service may be used freely.

Edit summaries

An edit summary is a box available near the Save changes button that gives editors the ability to describe what their edit has done. This makes it simpler to review page history and see how a page changes over time. This is strongly desired, but not required.

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