View source for VideoLAN Wiki:Syntax

'''<big>This guide is still in the process of being written</big>'''<br>
<br>
Please follow these guidelines when editing this wiki.
There will be more guidelines later.

== The basics ==
This wiki uses the same general syntax as Wikipedia, because both use MediaWiki markup ([https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Editing A full manual can be found here on MediaWiki]).<br>
Unlike Wikipedia, the "[//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:VisualEditor VisualEditor feature]" was never enabled and so can't be used.

Familiarising yourself with [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wiki_markup_guide wikimarkup] is probably a good idea. The basics of it can be learned within minutes, and a quick reference guide can be found under the "Help" section of the Editing Toolbar, a visual way to insert wikimarkup quickly.

=== General markup ===
''Note: You can practice editing at the [[Sandbox|Sandbox page]] whenever you like.''

;Lists
* To make a bulleted list, begin lines with asterisks <code>*</code>
* To make a numbered list, begin lines with pound signs <code>#</code> (which will be automatically re-numbered if you add or remove items—this is generally smart for long or frequently-changing lists).

;Markup
* Add two apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it italic: <nowiki>''example''</nowiki> → ''example''
* Add three apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it bold: <nowiki>'''example'''</nowiki> → '''example'''
* Occasionally, both are needed. Add five apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it both: <nowiki>'''''example'''''</nowiki> → '''''example'''''

;Linking
* The formula for creating an internal link is <nowiki>[[target page]]</nowiki> or <nowiki>[[target page|text to display]]</nowiki>
** <nowiki>[[VLC]]</nowiki> gives [[VLC]]
** <nowiki>[[VLC|this totally awesome media player]]</nowiki> gives [[VLC|this totally awesome media player]]
* There are several ways to create external links: a simple outgoing link, a shortened link, or a shortened link with alternate text:
** <nowiki>http://example.com/</nowiki> gives http://example.com/ (this makes for the clearest links)
** <nowiki>[http://example.com/]</nowiki> gives [http://example.com/] (this should only be used if the site name is long or unimportant)
** <nowiki>[http://example.com/ text to display]</nowiki> gives [http://example.com/ text to display] (useful, but can become confusing if over-used)

=== Useful things ===
* to link to a Wikipedia article on "example", use <nowiki>[[Wikipedia:example]]</nowiki>

=== Editing tips ===
* Use the editing toolbar to help you; it provides buttons to help you out.
* Keep things simple, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
* Wikipedia has already prepared a [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cheatsheet cheat-sheet] for you that you might find useful editing here.
* Adding a line after a sentence <u>will not</u> make the next bit appear on a new line: for the convenience of coders, it will appear on the ''same line''. To get it on a different line, either use <code><nowiki><br></nowiki></code> or two lines.

== Resources ==
* [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wiki_markup_guide wikimarkup]

== Templates ==

* See the [[List of templates|Documented List of Templates]].
* See [[Special:PrefixIndex/Template:|all templates on {{SERVERNAME}}]]