I could use a little assistance in cleaning up my wiki pages. The most obvious problems I've encountered have been with regard to embedded images and consistent html formatting of "cataloged" sections (specifically the formatting of the specific deity entries). With the former, the embedded world map on the main page (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Panisadore:Main_Page) was automatically shrunk by the wiki editor to embed as a thumbnail, fitting very smoothly into the page layout. However, the maps on the Malenorian Empire page (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Panisadore:Geopolitics_and_Societies%3BMalenorian_Empire) embedded at full size, which is seriously messing up the readability of the page layout. I don't know why the editor shrunk the image in the first case but not the latter, nor how to get it to do so.
For the Deities page (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Panisadore:Deities) I wrote the original document using OpenOffice Writer and saved the file in html format, then opened the html file showing the html source. WHen I tried to copy the whole thing into the editore I wound up with a large block of html code at the beginning which was ignored by the wiki editor and displayed on the page as well as some smaller bits of code throughout the document. So I then cut-and-pasted each entry, but find a number of inconsistencies in the formatting - primarily variations in text size and style, both within each entry and different variations appearing between each entry, even though as best as I can tell, the html code is the same and the document displays in OpenOffice properly in any format. . . This wiki page is at least legible and tabulatures remain in place as intended, but the smaller point sizes may be difficult for some to read and the overall appearance leaves something to be desired.
I have no experience working with html coding or with wiki formatting, so any technical assistance in the project would be very appreciated.
Hey buddy,
First off, absolutely gorgeous polar map. That's really nice!
As to your problem. On the main page, the world map uses the following code: [[Image:World_rotated.jpg|thumb|350px|Polar Projection Map of Panisadore]] - Notice the "thumb" in there? Basically wikipedia has sections that it reads. The "Image:World_rotated.jpg" is the image. You've then marked it as a thumbnail with a width of 350 pixels. Finally, if the image doesn't appear, the words "Polar Projection Map of Panisadore" will take its place.
For the other two images, you have just the image in the code. You could add the "|thumb" into the other tags to make it a code. That said, if you want it to just be a link, you'll have to enter in the code just like a link. Embedded pictures like what you want doesn't seem to work well with wikipedia (or any site, for that matter).
Give me another 10 miutes and I'll get back to you about the Deities page.
Holy Cow Edit: This copying and editing with the code is crazy! That's a ton of excess HTML on a site that doesn't read most of it. It might take more than 10 minutes for me to figure this out.
I've gone through and edited Dashin and Wu Jai. You can look at them and let me know if that's what you want. You can look at the code, and you'll notice it's really not very difficult. Basically just put three apostrophes (ie ''') around everything you want bolded. Hence, '''Bold'''. Yeah.
I also put sub-sub-sub-headings around the description section, which can be done by putting quadruple equals signs around it. ==== Description: ==== is what you'd want.
It's not too complicated. The problem is that you have a ton of excess html code that doesn't get read properly by wikipedia. Honestly, the easiest thing to do is copy the unformatted version of the text into the editor and then add the boldings ( ''' ) around everything you wanted bolded. Much easier.
But you have a ton of stuff here! Very impressive.
Thanks. I've always been fascinated by maps. (As a kid I used to collect and display on my walls the topo maps of the national parks and forests from the park service visitor centers - they were free back in the 70s!) I enjoy drawing maps, but will definitely need to learn some computer graphic skills to either modify scanned images or draw them digitally. I haven't gotten around to picking brains over in the Cartographers Guild yet. . .
I noticed the additional code on the main page image link - I just don't understand how it got there! I didn't include it myself, so I don't know how to get the editor to duplicate the formatting, or how to construct it myself (necessary parameters\switches, etc. and appropriate values for them).
If you like I could send you the Deities file as .odt (if you use OpenOffice), .doc or html and you can see what it originally looks like and how OpenOffice is generating the html code when converting the format.
Thanks for helping with that Jharviss. I think I need to commission someone to make a good wikiediting help page...
I'm not surprised that there's excess code - as I said - when I first copied the whole document there was a HUGE block of code between the title and the first paragraph that the wiki displayed as text. . . I am a little surprised that OpenOffice doesn't do a cleaner job of it, although the code may be needed by other applications - if I simply double click on the html file in a desktop window it defaults to opening in my (Firefox) browser as a web page - I have to open it from within OpenOffice to bring it into Writer and view\edit the code.
The entries look much cleaner and I can see how you're getting the bold heading. One thing that has consistently stumped me in all the documents is getting paragraph breaks (hard returns) to show on the page. Text in the editor window will break as intended (though no hard returns are coded) but this disappears on the actual page - frequently turning pages into huge single paragraphs. This was a particular problem with the database type formatting I had done on the deity entries - in my first attempt all the headers and input ran together as one confusing paragraph-long line of text, only breaking for word wrap, with out any of the tabs or returns in the source document. Somewhere in all that html code the line return part of that layout was reestablished which your edits retain, but I can't see how - I'm not seeing any code for the hard returns. The lines originally included tabs to spread out the headers and entries across the page in set positions and I would like to get those back in. While not necessary, it does make the information even easier to find for any given deity (e.g., quickly looking up a deity's totem or holy symbol which will be in exactly the same place in all entries).
Thanks again for the help.
Quote from: IshmaylThanks for helping with that Jharviss. I think I need to commission someone to make a good wikiediting help page...
I've noticed that clicking on "Editing help (opens in new window)" while editing my pages goes to a blank page - though I believe this will direct to a functional page when editing CBGwiki:Main - I tend to keep that open in another browser tab for reference while working. Beyond the technical aspects I think it would be extremely helpful to include a page outlining general considerations in creating a good wiki entry - as to where and how often to include hyperlinks (e.g., should I include a link to the Khurorkh description with every reference to the race, or only the first reference in a given page?), use of categories (I've yet to include any as I don't really grasp their function), etc. - the things that work in presenting information effectively in this format.
I'm certainly glad that it's available - putting my setting out here has definitely motivated me to get back to work on further developing it, particularly since I'm at my creative best when working with some collaboration - a lot of the more detailed portions of the setting have arisen from initial concepts players presented in character backstories by taking those ideas and fitting them into the geography and surrounding societies/cultures then expanding upon them. (I still have the backstory for the first PC presented which provided seeds for a number of facets to the the setting, region and initial story arcs - the player had to drop out just before game start due to school conflicts unfortunately.)
Quote from: IshmaylThanks for helping with that Jharviss. I think I need to commission someone to make a good wikiediting help page...
Have we made any progress with this for those of us that are still learning?
This page, which can be found by clicking help on the main wiki page, is pretty good for those getting started. How to edit a page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page). I've been using it as well as looking at the code used on some of the others' pages.
There is also a Wiki:Cheatsheet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cheatsheet)
As a matter of etiquette more than coding, I'd like to take a moment to encourage everybody to make liberal use of the "Show Preview" button on the edit page.
Multiple updates are often unavoidable (and I've certainly had a few of my own), but using more previews will help keep the Recent Changes page much less cluttered (and so, more useful.)
[note]One of the things I was wondering, was whether we could create a template like this note one. I don't quite see how since applying a template seems to always include everything in it. Maybe just a formating template (like a CSS reference) inside a DIV would do it?[/note]
Good idea LC. I never noticed it before. You're a genius.
Thanks Poseidon; I'd seen the first one, but the cheat sheet is cool.
I basically live on the Recent Changes page. No new edit escapes my waxy, pigmented gaze!
I can make that note, but I want permission from either Brainface or Ishmayl before I do it, since I would have to access the css that is used on the forums to get it to match exactly.
Phoenix, one thing you can do is what I've done, and jimmy-rig up your own notes. If you look at the Shadowfell magic page (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Shadowfell:Arcana), you'll see near the bottom, "Ishy's Notes." I did that by "cheating" with the image tags. All images allow captions, so I made my image small (a header), and the caption large, and it works as a sidenote:
[[Image:IshysNotes.png|thumb|right|150px|All statistics, crunch numbers, and references to specific class and spell levels is probably obsolete - most likely any sorts of level-based crunch will change if I go with 4E.--[[User:Ishmayl|Ishmayl]] 23:03, 22 March 2008 (EDT)]]
edited out
Yeah, I saw that before Ishy. I thought it was neat, which is one of the reasons I was hoping we could use a template to a create wiki-standard version of it.
Poseidon, that looks a lot like how I'd do it with CSS/HTML, only I guess this means you not only have to invoke it, but redefine it every time you want to call it up. I suppose my experience with CSS taught me to always try to save on coding; but it's not really that much trouble to copy/paste it each time.
I actually had been trying to consider a way to use a graphic of a post-it-note and get the text on there, but I wouldn't know how to create overlap without absolute positioning.
Edit: And now your sample note has vanished too!
Quote from: PhoenixEdit: And now your sample note has vanished too!
Yeah I wanted to ask Ishmayl something, so I deleted it for the time being. After doing some research to fix one of the Cebegia pages, I know how to do what you want. I want to make sure I can.
OK I made a note template.
To use it type {{WikiNote |note=YourNote}}
For example:
{{WikiNote |note=This is a note, this is only a note. If this had been actual factual information it would not be found here. Remember this is only a note.}}
That will make a note similar to the ones we have here. Not exactly.
You can but line breaks in it as well.
{{WikiNote |note=This is a note, this is only a note. If this had been actual factual information it would not be found here.
<br>
<br>
Remember this is only a note.}}
Or even Images
{{WikiNote |note=[[Image:Cebegia_Icon.png]] This is a note, this is only a note. If this had been actual factual information it would not be found here. Remember this is only a note.}}
Very cool. Thanks Poseidon.
Something else I found which I think makes the wiki articles look better is __NOEDITSECTION__. Putting that anywhere in your article will force all edits to be done through the top edit tab. There will be no more edit section links at the beginning of all your sections.
As for the code with the polar map, that was my doing, actually. I had noticed it was rotated 90 degrees clockwise (so that it was sideways), and taking up a huge amount of space on the page.
EDIT: You can actually go check that in the History tab. Here's a code comparison (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Panisadore%3AMain_Page&diff=3593&oldid=3590).
whew - this thread exploded today - I'll have to check at work (assuming the router next door is functioning properly this evening. . .)
Quote from: PoseidonSomething else I found which I think makes the wiki articles look better is __NOEDITSECTION__. Putting that anywhere in your article will force all edits to be done through the top edit tab. There will be no more edit section links at the beginning of all your sections.
More helpful tips.
I was thinking of adding a border to the note like we have here but didn't want to go messing with your template without asking. It seems like it should be possible, also, to add the bold
note header, too, if we wanted, right? That one I'm less sure on how to do, though.
Quote from: PhoenixI was thinking of adding a border to the note like we have here but didn't want to go messing with your template without asking. It seems like it should be possible, also, to add the bold note header, too, if we wanted, right? That one I'm less sure on how to do, though.
You don't need my permission. Go ahead, if it looks ugly someone will fix it. I only put up the basic note. If you want to improve it go ahead.
It has a 1 pixel border already, but I left it black.
To make something bold surround it with '''. Like so '''BOLD'''. To add that to the template just make the change:
{{{note}}}
to:
'''Note:'''<br>
{{{note}}}
Edit: Or did you mean the header one on the forums? For that one you have to ask brainface css what code he used. Though I think because he used a header tag (I think its been a while since I did the tag tutorial) it will not look right.
I see you already did. I tried making the border 2px. I think it looks better, but someone can change it if they disagree.
Please note (hah!) that anyone wishing to make more drastic alterations to this template (or any other template) without upsetting other wiki users who might be using it as well can simply make a copy of the template, name it something different, and alter the copy to their heart's content.
Quote from: Luminous CrayonPlease note (hah!) that anyone wishing to make more drastic alterations to this template (or any other template) without upsetting other wiki users who might be using it as well can simply make a copy of the template, name it something different, and alter the copy to their heart's content.
AAwwww, but I wanted to make this one load with random colors each time it was used....
J/K. Yeah I forgot to mention that before when I said anyone can edit it.
Yeah, the template should be a base template for any other "note" templates, and not altered... I suppose I could lock it, so that only the source could be viewed?
Quote from: IshmaylYeah, the template should be a base template for any other "note" templates, and not altered... I suppose I could lock it, so that only the source could be viewed?
Sure
How do I slate something for deletion (or delete it myself)? For example, I have the old moonshadows.jpg loaded but replaced it with the skyfalls.jpg.
I was wondering if there is a way to create a piece of text which can be folded, much like the Table of Contents?
I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean how the TOC is in outline style?
He probably means the fact that it can be collapsed with the "Show/Hide" link, much like the Navbox template (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Navbox) can.
And I found out how; see Meta Help:Collapsing (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Collapsing). And crazier ones, like the ToC, need CSS and JavaScript implementation (see: Wikipedia Help: NavFrame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NavFrame)).
Ahh... yeah, that may be more complicated than really necessary - on the other hand, a template could probably be made to work like the spoiler boxes here...
If someone did a template for a spoiler style thing I would forever be in your debt. In working on my campaign world I am slowly realizing that large images could be an issue and it would be much nicer to not have to put them in a caption image on the side.
Yes, it is indeed what limetom translated my question into - and thanks for the link! I was hoping for spoiler boxes and not a table, but this can work out just as well.
Edit: Hmm, seems like I can't make it work. Is that just my fault or could something be disabled on the Wiki?
Quote from: NeubertYes, it is indeed what limetom translated my question into - and thanks for the link! I was hoping for spoiler boxes and not a table, but this can work out just as well.
Edit: Hmm, seems like I can't make it work. Is that just my fault or could something be disabled on the Wiki?
As I mentioned above, the appropriate CSS and JavaScript code needs to be implemented before it will work.
Ah, my mistake then :)
Quote from: IshmaylAhh... yeah, that may be more complicated than really necessary - on the other hand, a template could probably be made to work like the spoiler boxes here...
Unfortunately that would fall to you or brainface to do, since there will probably have to be some edits to the Monobook.js to allow for the functions to hide and expand the box.
Quote from: NomadicIf someone did a template for a spoiler style thing I would forever be in your debt. In working on my campaign world I am slowly realizing that large images could be an issue and it would be much nicer to not have to put them in a caption image on the side.
Instead of putting them in a caption you could resize them a little bit to make them a little smaller. Using [[Image:yourimage.*** | ##px]] That way you can keep them where they are, but they'll be a little smaller. Someone can also click on them to see them in their full size (unless you make the redirect to something else)
Quote from: limetomAs I mentioned above, the appropriate CSS and JavaScript code needs to be implemented before it will work.
I'll take a look at it, unless Ishmayl beats me to it.
Also, evil claymore is evil. :(
<Aside...>
Quote from: brainfaceAlso, evil claymore is evil. :(
and[/i] evil. :-p