Collaboration Tips

Following you will find a short list of hints and recommendations that are considered basic knowledge when starting to edit existing topics.

• PolySyn has a very simple text formatting shorthand. In any case, you won't go wrong if you simply:
  • start each line without spaces
  • separate paragraphs with a blank line

• Run together capitalized words to form WikiWords:
  • WikiWords automatically appear as hyperlinks
  • make up meaningful, reasonably brief Wiki names - it can be a challenge (it'll sharpen you up!)
  • WikiWords has name-creation tips that may help

• If a discussion is going on:
  • separate each follow-up with a space
  • add your WikiName and the date at the end. Example:
    -- Nutzer.AdminUser - 28 May 2009
  • OR, by all means, insert your comment where it seems to fit best:
    • you may want to insert it with a bullet and/or set it in italics so it's clear (always sign and date)
  • if you'd like to use an initial, use a link with label. Example:
    -- [[Nutzer.AdminUser][ZXQ]] - 28 May 2009

• A good format for a new topic is "dissertation followed by discussion":
  • start with a brief, factual introduction, followed by double horizontal rules
  • let the discussion begin

• When a discussion dies down and the page becomes static, if you're clear on your course, feel free to refactor mercilessly:
  • fearlessly edit down to capture the key points
  • reduce the noise without losing the facts or the flavor
  • if you merge or delete comments, group credit Contributors: at the end of the page
  • This is how Wiki content matures and grows in value over time.

• For external site links, you can type URLs directly into the text - http://etcete.ra/... - it'll be clear to anyone where they're headed on click.

• Foswiki is intended for world-wide use, and an internationally understood date format like 01 Sep 2009 or 2009-09-01 is preferred. It's clearer than the xx/xx/xx format, where a date like 9/1/01 can mean either Jan or Sep, depending on the local conventions of the readers. For months, use the first three letters: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr,...

• Check the source when you want to find out how something is formatted: click [Raw view] on the toolbar.
• To see earlier versions, click either on [History] (to see all previous versions of a topic) or click on the revision number you would like to see; the formatted revision version will be shown.
• To see the source of a previous revision, click [More topic actions], then at View previous topic revision, enter the revision number, mark the in raw text format checkbox and click [View]. A bit of HTML experience can't hurt, but you'll soon see with ShortHand how far that is from necessary.

Related Topics: UserDocumentationCategory