Help:Getting started: Difference between revisions

From Project: Redcap
(Moved registration to the Help:Registration page)
(Rewrote to be a gateway page to other help pages. Replaced links to crummy tutorials with good ones. Created "Next Steps" section.)
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[[Category:Help]]
[[Category:Help]]
[[Category:Project Redcap]]
[[Category:Project Redcap]]
Thank you for your interest in contributing to Project: Redcap.
Thank you for your interest in contributing to Project: Redcap. Please read our [[Project Redcap:Copyrights|copyright]] policy before you begin. It's important.


== Learning to Use the Wiki ==
== Navigation ==
You do '''not''' need to [Help:Registration|register] in order to contribute to Project: Redcap. Every page has an "Edit" link at the top and any user can click on that link to edit the page's text. Be sure to submit your changes when you are done!
See [[Help:Finding information]] for instructions on navigating the site and tips on searching.


First, we have a few (currently, very few) [http://www.redcap.org/index.php?title=Special%3AAllPages&from=&to=&namespace=12 Help pages].
== Editing ==
See [[Help:Editing]] for instructions on how to edit pages.


Project: Redcap uses the popular [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki MediaWiki] engine -- the same software that powers [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia]. So, if you know how to edit Wikipedia, you should be right at home on Project: Redcap.
[[Help:Basic formatting]] has some basic tips, including on how to place and label internal links (links to other pages, like [[Order of Hermes]]) and external links (like this one to the [http://www.atlas-games.com Atlas Games website]).


Let's suppose you ''don't'' know how to edit Wikipedia. There is plenty of good tutorial information on the Web. In fact, most introductory material for MediaWiki is better than what the Project: Redcap maintainers could write themselves. So rather than do a poor job of re-writing documentation that other people have already written, we'll refer you to some starting sites:
'''Important:''' After editing a page, you '''must''' click the "Save page" button or your changes will be discarded!


* [http://mwhelp.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page The MediaWiki Beginners' Wiki]
=== Creating New Pages ===
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents Wikipedia Help Contents] including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Plain_and_simple Plain and Simple Guide]
If you want to create a new page from scratch instead of editing one that already exists, please refer to [[Help:Creating a new page]].
* [[Help:Basic formatting]] has some basic tips, including on how to place and label internal links (links to other pages, like [[Order of Hermes]]) and external links (like this one to the [http://www.atlas-games.com Atlas Games website]).


If you are looking for something beyond the basics -- how to include an image, for example, or how to use templates -- then the quickest thing to do may be to Google (or use any other search engine) for keywords like "mediawiki image" or "mediawiki template."
== Further Help and Tutorials ==
First, we have a few [[:Category:Help|Help pages]], which may cover what you're looking for.


Also, the Project: Redcap maintainers are very eager to get some help, any help, updating and maintaining this site. You can always [[Special:Contact|contact]] us if you have made a basic effort to find documentation, but are still lost. We'll be happy to help!
There is plenty of good tutorial information for MediaWiki on the Web. In fact, most introductory material for MediaWiki is better than what the Project: Redcap maintainers could write themselves. So rather than do a poor job of re-writing documentation that other people have already written, we'll refer you to some starting sites:
 
* [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents MediaWiki Handbook]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents Wikipedia Help Contents] is a great resource covering all aspects of the Mediawiki software, including aspects the Project: Redcap maintainers haven't even learned themselves. We especially recommend:
** The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Tutorial/Editing editing tutorial]
** The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cheatsheet formatting cheat sheet]
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki MediaWiki.org], including:
** [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Navigation Navigation Help]
** [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Editing_pages Editing Help]
** [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/User_hub MediaWiki User Hub]
 
If you are looking for something beyond the basics -- how to include an image, for example, or how to use templates -- and you don't find anything useful on our [[:Category:Help|help pages]], the next thing to try is to Google (or use any other search engine) for keywords like "mediawiki image" or "mediawiki template."
 
Also, the Project: Redcap maintainers are very eager to get some help, any help, updating and maintaining this site. You can always [[Special:Contact|contact]] us if you have made a basic effort to find documentation, but are still lost. We'll be happy to help you get started!
 
== Next Steps ==
Now that you know the basics of editing, go ahead and try it out on a few pages.
 
[[Help:Content guidelines]] explains how to create well-written pages.
 
[[Project Redcap:Sub-Projects]] describes some of the maintainers are doing, and how you can help.

Revision as of 12:50, 3 January 2014

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Project: Redcap. Please read our copyright policy before you begin. It's important.

Navigation

See Help:Finding information for instructions on navigating the site and tips on searching.

Editing

See Help:Editing for instructions on how to edit pages.

Help:Basic formatting has some basic tips, including on how to place and label internal links (links to other pages, like Order of Hermes) and external links (like this one to the Atlas Games website).

Important: After editing a page, you must click the "Save page" button or your changes will be discarded!

Creating New Pages

If you want to create a new page from scratch instead of editing one that already exists, please refer to Help:Creating a new page.

Further Help and Tutorials

First, we have a few Help pages, which may cover what you're looking for.

There is plenty of good tutorial information for MediaWiki on the Web. In fact, most introductory material for MediaWiki is better than what the Project: Redcap maintainers could write themselves. So rather than do a poor job of re-writing documentation that other people have already written, we'll refer you to some starting sites:

If you are looking for something beyond the basics -- how to include an image, for example, or how to use templates -- and you don't find anything useful on our help pages, the next thing to try is to Google (or use any other search engine) for keywords like "mediawiki image" or "mediawiki template."

Also, the Project: Redcap maintainers are very eager to get some help, any help, updating and maintaining this site. You can always contact us if you have made a basic effort to find documentation, but are still lost. We'll be happy to help you get started!

Next Steps

Now that you know the basics of editing, go ahead and try it out on a few pages.

Help:Content guidelines explains how to create well-written pages.

Project Redcap:Sub-Projects describes some of the maintainers are doing, and how you can help.