Does anyone have a system that helped them with learning how to use Wiki's correct formatting?

+11 votes
258 views
I find myself entering information improperly. Not realizing or knowing how to enter it properly.  Often months later receiving an email stating that I had entered the information incorrectly from a kind Wiki monitor volunteer.  Yet, it just adds one more thing I have to learn and change, without actually knowing how to.

I feel like I could have entered the majority of the 1,000s of ancestors I have entered in other various programs at this time, but I guess I am just weighed down in the details of how to use Wiki in the easiest manner to begin with. I have become disheartened with the learning curve, as I have, like other individuals, already spent gallons of time learning other programs that no longer operate.  I am just hoping that Wiki will be the last program I need to learn.
in Policy and Style by Denise Schafte G2G1 (1.1k points)
retagged by Ellen Smith
Some of us created this page a while ago, which has links to many of the commonly used Help Pages in Wikitree, as well as showing the correct order of things and sourcing help.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Biography_Creation_Helper

Maybe it can help.

5 Answers

+5 votes
 
Best answer

You might want to take the Profile improvement project’s Voyage. More info here:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Profile_Improvements_Voyage

by Peggy Watkins G2G6 Pilot (845k points)
selected by Maggie N.
+13 votes

Probably most of us can relate to your dilemma, Denise.  I don't really have a system, but there are a bunch of Help File pages that can most likely answer any question you come up with.  The problem is knowing where to find the info you need when you need it.  After ten years at this, here are a few of the pages or indices I still consult from time to time:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Styles_and_Standards

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Profile_Editing_Help

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Biographies

Or if it's a question about wiki markup:

https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/6/6f/WikiTree_Media-2.pdf

One other thing I notice is that it's often quicker and more efficient to search for something on Google rather than in the site's own Help files.  Just begin your Google search with "site: www.wikitree.com" (without quotes) followed by the subject you're searching for, or the question you want answered.  With just a little practice at phrasing a query you can get pretty good results that way.

by Dennis Barton G2G6 Pilot (560k points)

The style guide has helped me a lot.   I agree that it is hard to find what you are looking for via the WikiTree help search, try looking for the scotland sticker!

However, the style guide is easy to find from any page via the top menu and the "Help" menu on top of the page.

Exactly Dennis, trying to find the answer to a question leaves a lot of dust churned up on all the various trails traveled down. The dust becomes so heavy that I lose sight of my original question. Pray tell, if I do find an answer, 99 out of 100 times I lose sight of the trail it was on. Finding my To Do list on my bio today is one such example.

When I go to my G2G feed, none of the questions I have asked are listed. Would you by chance know what trail I need to take?

Thank you for the interesting idea of utilizing Google.
For G2G, if you click on your own name at the bottom of your question or comment, you'll open your G2G Profile.  (You can also get to it via a link about half way down the items in your 'My WikiTree' menu at top right of this page.)  Your G2G Profile has a row of tabs across the top, including tabs for 'Recent activity', 'All questions' (you have asked), and 'All answers' (you have posted).  You should be able to find all your past questions there.

Bonus info:  There's also a tab for 'My favorites'.  If you liked this thread, for example, and wanted to be able to find it easily after you have accumulated a long string of questions and answers, you can designate it as a favorite by clicking on that blue plus sign to the immediate right of your original question.  That'll keep this thread in your list of 'My favorites'.
+11 votes

I find Help pages unsatisfying until I have gotten some hands-on experience with the subject matter that the Help pages are trying to explain.

Accordingly, my preferred method for learning how to code on a new-to-me site is to find a page or profile (or part of a page, such as a paragraph) that is well done, and open the edit page for the profile to see how the content was formatted. Then I might copy the code found there (for example, for a list or a source citation), and edit it to contain the content I want to use. After doing this a few times, it is easier for me to interpret the Help pages (such as the pages that have been recommended here).

Your mileage may vary. wink

Note that many of the "Example" pages that get highlighted on WikiTree are pages for famous people that actually aren't particularly helpful as examples for the profiles of our non-famous ancestors and family members.

by Ellen Smith G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
Ellen, are we related? :-)

This is how I like to learn, too.
+11 votes
Try not to be discouraged about things going slowly, at first. We all had to learn and we were all slow and made mistakes at first. I think I was creating no more than two profiles a day in my early days. Even now, I still take my time and enjoy the process rather than try to hurry. I think it is commendable that you want to learn and to format your profiles well. Good attitude and willingness to learn are very important! Remember this is a hobby and should be fun and not stress you out. Try to keep things basic and simple at first. Bells & whistles can always be added later.

Start by adding your data, as accurately as possible, to the data fields. Try to add sources for the data--birth, marriage, death, mainly--in the sources box. When you click submit, you will get a little basic bio. Not much, but a start. You can use simple declarative sentences to add more information to the bio.

Once you feel comfortable, you might want to install the WikiTree Browser Extension. One of its features is the "auto bio." You would be able to just click a button at the top of the bio edit box and you will be provided a bit better bio based on the data and sources you added. You can then edit that.

It would help us to help you if you would be more specific about what you need to or want to learn how to do. You have been directed to many help pages, but if we knew exactly what you needed help with, one of us could send you to the exact one you needed, or explain to you how to do it, or provide you with an example. The people here on G2G were extremely helpful to me in my early days here and I'm sure they would be to you also.

All the best to you!
by Nelda Spires G2G6 Pilot (569k points)
+4 votes
My strategy was to become a Data Doctor.  I worked on one suggestion topic at a time until I felt I mastered it.  Then did another one.  This focus and repetition really helped.  Plus I was improving WikiTree at the same time.  I always chose the geographic area where I had some knowledge anyway (the suggestions can be accessed by geography or project).

The Data Doctors have videos and help pages about each suggestion and when I was still unsure, Ales answered my questions and showed me examples.  He was so patient and helpful.  Oddly enough, when I finally understood how to do something (like make or fix inline refs) I couldn't believe it was hard to learn.  Now I can do them in my sleep.

There are plenty of suggestions to practice on, and starting with orphan profiles can be easiest.
by Cindy Cooper G2G6 Pilot (333k points)

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