Help:Editing
TARDIS Index File is a WikiWiki, which means that anyone can easily edit any unprotected article and have those changes posted immediately to that page.
Editing a Wiki page is very easy. Simply click on the "edit" tab at the top of a Wiki page. This will bring you to a page with a text box containing the editable text of that page. If you just want to experiment, please do so in the sandbox, not here or any other pages. You should write a short edit summary in the small field below the edit-box. You may use shorthand to describe your changes, this will be noted in the page's history. When you've finished, press '"Show preview" to see how your changes will look. If you're happy with what you see, then press "Save" and your changes will be immediately applied to the article.
You can also click on the "Discussion" tab to see the corresponding talk page, which contains comments about the page from other TARDIS users. Click on the "+" tab to add a new section, or edit the page in the same way as an article page.
Tips on editing articles
- Always use a neutral point of view, as the purpose of TARDIS Index File is to present information about Doctor Who, not to promote points of view about Doctor Who or any other subject or issue.
- In-universe articles are always written from a past tense point of view.
- Out-of-universe articles are also written from a past tense point of view, with the exception of people who are still alive.
Citing sources
Being regarded as a reliable source is crucial to the achievement of TARDIS Index File's purpose, and being able to provide verifiable outside source references will enhance the site's reputation in that regard.
- Cite your sources so others can check and extend your work.
- In-universe article sources ie TV/audio/novels/reference texts etc, should be placed after the work it is sourced from in brackets; ie (DW: An Unearthly Child).
- Out-of-universe article sources should be cited via Footnotes, by placed <ref>&</ref> around the source and placing a ==Bibliography== or ==Footnotes== and below this <references/> which will create a list of the notes made throughout the article.
- Articles which fall under the same category may require the same general information to be given repeatedly. An article on an individual may require what stories they appear in, while an article on a television story may require the names of the director and writer, or the original broadcast date. An image page will require information on its copyright status or source. Several templates have been developed for this purpose. Using them will save you a great deal of repetitive typing.
After major editing or creating a new page
- After making a new page, it's a good idea to:
- With your page displayed, use What links here to check the articles that already link to it, and make sure that they are all expecting the same meaning that you have supplied;
- Use the Search button to search TARDIS Index File for your topic title (and possible variants), to find articles that mention it, and make links from them if appropriate.
Minor edits
When editing a page, a logged-in user can mark that edit as being "minor". Minor edits generally mean spelling corrections, formatting, and minor rearrangement of text. It is possible to hide minor edits when viewing Recent Changes. Marking a significant change as a minor edit is considered bad behaviour, and even more so if it involves the deletion of some text. If one has accidentally marked an edit as minor, the person should edit the source once more, mark it major (or, rather, ensure that the check-box for "This is a minor edit" is not checked), and, in the summary, state that the previous change was a major one.
