User:Download/Adopt

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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Welcome! </span><br /><br />

Welcome to my [[Wikipedia:Adopt-A-User|adoptee's classroom]]!  Adoption usually involves a lengthy process (anywhere between 1-3 months) in which you will ask me any questions you have about Wikipedia (on your corresponding [[User talk:Download/Adopt|question page]]), whether it be about coding, policies, or just questions in general.  During this period, I'll be in regular touch with you, giving you comments about editing and suggestions.  Once you and I feel that you are satisfactorily learned about Wikipedia, you'll be an "experienced" editor!  Cheers!  <font face="Papyrus">'''<font color=#9966CC>-</font>[[User:Download|<font color=#7B68EE>down</font>]][[User talk:Download|<font color=#9966CC>load</font>]] <font color=#7B68EE>|</font> [[User:Download/Guestbook|<font color=#8A2BE2>sign!</font>]]'''</font>
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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Lesson 1: Basic formatting</span><br /><br />

'''Wikipedia uses unique Wiki markup, which allows you to format text.  For example:'''
*<nowiki>'''Bold text'''</nowiki> gives '''Bold text'''
*<nowiki>''Italics text''</nowiki> gives ''Italics text''
*<nowiki>'''''Bold and Italics text'''''</nowiki> gives '''''Bold and italics text'''''

'''More Wiki markup:'''
*<nowiki>[[Wikipedia]]</nowiki> gives [[Wikipedia]]
*<nowiki>[www.live.com Live Search]</nowiki> gives [www.live.com Live Search]
*<nowiki><s>Strike-through text</s></nowiki> gives <s>Strike-through text</s>
*<nowiki><sup>Superscript text</sup></nowiki> gives <sup>Superscript text</sup>
*<nowiki><sub>Subscript text</sub></nowiki> gives <sub>Subscript text</sub>
*<nowiki><small>Small text</small></nowiki> gives <small>Small text</small>

'''Now try using these tags at the [[WP:Sandbox|sandbox]].  For more information see [[Wikipedia:Formatting#Wiki markup]] or [[Help:Wiki markup]].'''

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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Lesson 2: Namespaces</span><br /><br />

In Wikipedia [[jargon]], a '''namespace''' is that part of the Wikipedia [[database]] where all the data of a particular kind are stored. This definition applies to all [[wikis]] that use the [[MediaWiki]] software.

Namespaces are like folders in a filing cabinet — or on your hard drive. The ''[[Wikipedia:Article namespace|main namespace]]'', for example, contains all of the encyclopedia articles and past versions of those articles. Likewise, the ''user namespace'' contains the personal pages of registered Wikipedia editors (for example, [[Special:MyPage|your userpage]]).

Wikipedia has 18 basic namespaces and 2 custom namespaces. With the exception of the main namespace, each namespace has its own prefix (such as "Wikipedia:" or "User:"). Some namespaces have abbreviations that you can use instead of a full prefix to identify the namespace in a search or edit (for example, "WP:" instead of "Wikipedia:" and "WT:" instead of "Wikipedia talk:").

'''For more information see [[Wikipedia:Namespace]].'''

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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Lesson 3: Talk Pages</span><br /><br />

* '''What's the meaning of a talk page? ''' To let multiple users collaborate on improving an article
* '''How do I get there? ''' Every page has its own "discussion" tab, just click on it.
* '''How do I ask a question, start a discussion or make a comment? ''' Click on the "new section" tab.
* '''How do I contribute to a discussion? ''' Scroll down to the right discussion, and click [edit].

Nearly every page on Wikipedia also has a '''talk page''' (also known as a '''discussion page'''). A talk page is a space for editors to discuss improvements to articles and other pages. Talk pages are named the same as their associated pages, the only difference being that they have "Talk:" before their name.

For example, there is one page called "[[Australia]]", which contains the article on the continent of Australia. There is also a page called [[Talk:Australia]], where discussion occurs about possible improvements to the article page.

User pages also have associated talk pages (for example, "[[User talk:Download]]"). Those pages are also intended for discussion; only in that case, the discussion might not relate to an article. When another editor needs to contact you, they will usually do this by leaving a message on [[Special:mytalk|your talk page]]. You will be notified when someone leaves you a message that way, with a notice the next time you access a page in Wikipedia.

'''For more information, see [[WIkipedia:Talk page]].'''

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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Lesson 4: Templates</span><br /><br />

Templates often look like text boxes with a different background color from that of normal text. They are in the [[Wikipedia:Template namespace|template namespace]], i.e. they are defined in pages with "Template:" in front of the name.

For example, consider the template [[Template:Disambig]] (follow the link to see the page where it can be edited). To insert the template's content into an article, type <nowiki>{{Disambig}}</nowiki> in the wiki page ( <nowiki>{{Disambig}}</nowiki> is called a ''template tag'' ). Every article with that tag in it will display the following text:

::{|style="background:none; border: 1px dotted black; padding: 5px;" width="80%"
|style="vertical-align:middle;"|[[Image:Disambig gray.svg|30px]]
|style="vertical-align:middle;"|''This [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation|disambiguation]] page lists articles associated with the same title. If <!-- you are viewing this online as opposed to as a [[hard copy]] and -->an [{{fullurl:Special:Whatlinkshere/{{FULLPAGENAME}}|namespace=0}} internal link] led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.''
|}

This technique is commonly known as '''[[transclusion]]'''. Templates can also include calculated and substituted elements, as well as [[parameter]]s, allowing for complex usage. For a table of some useful templates, see [[Wikipedia:Template messages]]. For detailed templating documentation see [[m:Help:Template]].

There are two major ways to include custom messages, <tt>'''<nowiki>{{Your message}}</nowiki>'''</tt> and <tt>'''{{<font color=red>subst:</font>Your message}}'''</tt>. <tt><nowiki>{{subst:Your message}}</nowiki></tt> makes a copy of the message text and places it where you put the tag after you save an article (substitution).

In other words, when the message is updated, you do not need to update a page that uses it if you use <tt><nowiki>{{Your message}}</nowiki></tt>. As a guideline, short temporary messages that will be removed soon should be copied using subst (which has the advantage of showing the message in the wiki source), and standard notices that might remain on a page for months or forever should be transcluded for easy updating. (You should not use <tt><nowiki>{{Your message}}</nowiki></tt> for a message which contains any links which may change in the future. This method doesn't refresh ''"What links here"'' unless ''every'' article containing the <tt><nowiki>{{Your message}}</nowiki></tt> gets changed after the modification of the link in the message.)

If you need to edit the template message individually after you put it on your page, use subst.  If you don't need to edit it, and would rather the message is automatically updated along with changes made to the template, don't use subst.

'''Now try transcluding and substituting {{tl|cleanup}} at the [[WP:Sandbox|sandbox]].  Afterwards, see the difference by editing the sandbox again.  For more information, see [[Wikipedia:Template namespace]].'''

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<span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Lesson 5: User Scripts</span><br /><br />

A '''user script''' is a piece of [[JavaScript]] code executed on Wikipedia pages.  Scripts can make navigation easier and simplify common maintenance tasks.  To import a user script, add the code to your [[Special:MyPage/monobook.js|monobook.js]].

'''For more information, see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts]].  Now try importing my [[User:Download/Scripts/Prose tool.js|prose tool]] to your [[Special:MyPage/monobook.js|monobook.js]].'''

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