Difference between revisions of "Getting Started"

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The distinguishing characteristic of Wikis, is that (almost) all pages can be edited by all users. However, when you edit, always respect other people’s work. Only make changes where necessary; when you have something meaningful to add or when mistakes have been made. Be especially reluctant in editing chapter pages: only add links or images, or better still, first ask if that’s ok with the author.
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== Welcome to the Interactive Faramir Fic ==
  
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This page will give you a quick overview of all you need to know to find you way around, comment on chapters, and write chapters of your own. Each section links to pages where you can find more information. <br>
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If you're looking for the answer to a specific question, you can also try the [[FAQs]].__NOTOC__
  
=== Finding your way around ===
 
  
==== The tabs ====
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==Reading the Story==
  
All pages have a ‘talk’ page attached, which you can reach through the '''discussion tab'''. Here you can comment on the page’s content by clicking on the plus sign next to the '''edit tab'''.
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To start reading the story from the beginning, click '[[Chapter 1: A Stranger in the Woods|Start Reading]]' on the homepage to go to the first chapter. At the end of that chapter, and of each chapter after that, you'll find two options for what to do next. Click on either of those to continue reading.  
  
[[Special:Listusers|Registered users]] also have a page of their own where they can post a little about themselves. These pages also come with a ‘talk’ page attached; there you can leave messages to this user.  
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Notice that links have different colours:
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* [[green]] links go to existing pages
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* <span style="color:red">red</span> links go to pages that are still empty (if you click a red link, you'll automatically land on an editing screen where you're invited to enter content for that page)
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* [http://www.faramirfiction.com blue] links go to external pages
  
The '''history tab''' shows you a list of all previous stages of the page you're on. You can see when it has been edited, and by whom. You can even look at all the previous versions, compare them with each other, and restore the last proper version in case of [[vandalism]]. So there is no need to worry about the fact that everyone can edit everything: mishaps can always be restored.
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You can continue on this way until you meet a dead end where the existing chapters ([[green]] links) run out. Once you meet a dead end, you can simply use your browser's back button to go back a few chapters, and try a different route. Or, as we of course hope you might, click a <span style="color:red">red</span> link to a yet non-existent chapter, and enter it yourself!
  
If you are a registered user and signed in, there'll be one more tab: '''watch'''. Clicking here will add the page to your ''watchlist'', a list of pages you monitor for changes - your favourites.
 
  
==== The menu ====
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==Finding Chapters==
  
On the left of your screen you'll find a menu, grouped in system pages, story pages, a search box, and the toolbox.  
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Besides navigating your way through from the beginning, there are several other ways to find a chapter.
  
The system pages are the more technical pages, the 'meta' pages. To find out what's new, check out [[Special:Newpages|New Pages]] and [[Special:Recentchanges|Recent Changes]]. As the names suggest, [[Special:Newpages|New Pages]] gives a list of all new pages, while [[Special:Recentchanges|Recent Changes]] tracks all changes that have been made: all comments that have been added, etc.
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====New Chapters====
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The [[Interactive Home|home page]] always lists the four most recent chapters, in the Latest News block. A list of the ten most recent chapters is available [[:Category:Chapters|here]].
  
The story pages are the content pages: what we're all here for. The [[Interactive Story]] link will land you on the introduction page for the story, from where you can start reading. The [[Overview]] page lists all existing and (in red) non-existing chapters.
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[[Image:Overview.jpg|thumb|120 px|Detail of the Overview Page]]
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====The Overview Page====
  
From the search box you can search for pages containing your search term. Note that there are two buttons: 'Go' and 'Search'. If you enter a search term which is also the name of a page (for example [[Imrahil]]), the 'Go' button will land you straight on the corresponding page, whereas the 'Search' button will show a list of pages where the term is used.
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The [[Overview]] page (links in the navigation menu, and at the bottom of each chapter) gives an overview of all existing chapters ([[green]]), plus all open options (<span style="color:red">red</span>). <br>
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The chapters are arranged to show their relation to each other: by following the lines you can trace a path through the story.
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[[Image:Path.gif|thumb|120 px|Detail of a Path Page]]
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====Path Pages====
  
The toolbox changes per page. On every page there is a 'What links here' link, which leads to a list of all pages that link to that page that you were on. This is very handy for backtracking, for example going to the previous chapter.<br>
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Each chapter has its own path page (link at the end of the chapter). Path pages list the chapters that make up the particular story line leading to this chapter. They're very handy when you want to refresh your memory before reading a new chapter.
On User pages the toolbox also contains a link to list of contributions of the user. And, if the user has enabled this function and you are logged in yourself, a link to send this user an email.
 
  
The toolbox also links to the list of [[Special:Specialpages|Special Pages]]. These are all special system pages, that you might want to browse through once, just so you know what's there.
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====Other Options====
  
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You can browse chapters by [[:Category:Characters|character]], [[:Category:Locations|location]] or [[Special:Listusers|author]], and of course you can also search. For more information on any of these methods, see the [[FAQs]].
  
==== Links ====
 
  
The most important thing about editing in wikis, is the way they link. All you have to do to create a link, is to type a word in double square brackets like <nowiki>[[</nowiki>[[this]]<nowiki>]]</nowiki>. Here I've just created a link to the page "This". Since there was no such page, I have, at the same time that I have created the link, also create a new page. That page is still empty, and therefor the link is red. <br>
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==Commenting==
If you meant to link to an existing page, but the link turns up red, that means you got the name wrong.
 
  
==== Piped Links ====
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If you've enjoyed a particular chapter, please let the author know by leaving a comment. Comments keep authors motivated and will inspire them to write more! Anyone can do this: you do not have to be a member or logged in to comment. Simply use the form at the bottom of the page to enter your comment or first read what other readers have said about that chapter on the 'talk' page.
  
All you have to do to link to a page is put it's name in brackets, but sometimes you want something other than the page's name to show up in your text. You can find an example of this on the main page:
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[[Image:Talk.jpg|thumb|left|120 px|Talk Page]]All pages (not just the chapters, but ''all'' pages) have a ''Discussion'' or ''Talk'' page. Think of them as a blank piece of paper stapled to the back of a document. They are reserved for discussion about the page and is where comments entered in the forms end up. You get to a talk page by clicking on 'Discussion'  at the top of the screen or following the links at the end of chapters.  
<blockquote>We trust you are all mature adults who respect one another's work, but even if we should be visited by a [[vandalism|vandal]], pages can be restored to their original state.</blockquote>
 
Note that the link reads "vandal", while the page is actually called "vandalism".  
 
  
The way to create such a link is by adding the text you want to appear on the page like this: <nowiki>[[vandalism|vandal]]</nowiki> - first the link, then the text you want to see.
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==Writing Chapters==
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Click on any of the <span style="color:red">red</span> option links at the end of a chapter and you can add your own chapter. Again, anyone can do this, you do not need to be a member.
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*We have a few rules, such as a wordcount minimum and maximum limit. For more information on these guidelines, read [[Entering chapters]].
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*It is possible to reserve a chapter so someone else won't post it while you're working on it. Read more on [[claiming]].
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*For more information on the practical side of things, such as layout, read [[Help:Editing]].
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==Also Nice to Know==
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* There are lists of all [[Special:Recentchanges|recent changes]] and all [[Special:Newpages|new pages]]: see the links in the navigation menu. These are handy to check on a regular basis.
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* Everyone who visits these pages can also edit them. That sounds scary, but it's not that bad: all previous versions of pages are saved, and can be restored: see 'History' at the top of the page. Read more about [[wikiquette]] and [[vandalism]].
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* If you sign up for an account, you can receive email notification of updates. Read more [[FAQs#Membership|here]].
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''Anything else? Read the [[FAQs]] or put your comments on the [[Talk:Getting Started|Talk page]].''
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[[Category:Help]]

Latest revision as of 04:54, 17 July 2008

Welcome to the Interactive Faramir Fic[edit]

This page will give you a quick overview of all you need to know to find you way around, comment on chapters, and write chapters of your own. Each section links to pages where you can find more information.
If you're looking for the answer to a specific question, you can also try the FAQs.


Reading the Story[edit]

To start reading the story from the beginning, click 'Start Reading' on the homepage to go to the first chapter. At the end of that chapter, and of each chapter after that, you'll find two options for what to do next. Click on either of those to continue reading.

Notice that links have different colours:

  • green links go to existing pages
  • red links go to pages that are still empty (if you click a red link, you'll automatically land on an editing screen where you're invited to enter content for that page)
  • blue links go to external pages

You can continue on this way until you meet a dead end where the existing chapters (green links) run out. Once you meet a dead end, you can simply use your browser's back button to go back a few chapters, and try a different route. Or, as we of course hope you might, click a red link to a yet non-existent chapter, and enter it yourself!


Finding Chapters[edit]

Besides navigating your way through from the beginning, there are several other ways to find a chapter.

New Chapters[edit]

The home page always lists the four most recent chapters, in the Latest News block. A list of the ten most recent chapters is available here.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Detail of the Overview Page

The Overview Page[edit]

The Overview page (links in the navigation menu, and at the bottom of each chapter) gives an overview of all existing chapters (green), plus all open options (red).
The chapters are arranged to show their relation to each other: by following the lines you can trace a path through the story.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Detail of a Path Page

Path Pages[edit]

Each chapter has its own path page (link at the end of the chapter). Path pages list the chapters that make up the particular story line leading to this chapter. They're very handy when you want to refresh your memory before reading a new chapter.

Other Options[edit]

You can browse chapters by character, location or author, and of course you can also search. For more information on any of these methods, see the FAQs.


Commenting[edit]

If you've enjoyed a particular chapter, please let the author know by leaving a comment. Comments keep authors motivated and will inspire them to write more! Anyone can do this: you do not have to be a member or logged in to comment. Simply use the form at the bottom of the page to enter your comment or first read what other readers have said about that chapter on the 'talk' page.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Talk Page

All pages (not just the chapters, but all pages) have a Discussion or Talk page. Think of them as a blank piece of paper stapled to the back of a document. They are reserved for discussion about the page and is where comments entered in the forms end up. You get to a talk page by clicking on 'Discussion' at the top of the screen or following the links at the end of chapters.


Writing Chapters[edit]

Click on any of the red option links at the end of a chapter and you can add your own chapter. Again, anyone can do this, you do not need to be a member.

  • We have a few rules, such as a wordcount minimum and maximum limit. For more information on these guidelines, read Entering chapters.
  • It is possible to reserve a chapter so someone else won't post it while you're working on it. Read more on claiming.
  • For more information on the practical side of things, such as layout, read Help:Editing.


Also Nice to Know[edit]

  • There are lists of all recent changes and all new pages: see the links in the navigation menu. These are handy to check on a regular basis.
  • Everyone who visits these pages can also edit them. That sounds scary, but it's not that bad: all previous versions of pages are saved, and can be restored: see 'History' at the top of the page. Read more about wikiquette and vandalism.
  • If you sign up for an account, you can receive email notification of updates. Read more here.


Anything else? Read the FAQs or put your comments on the Talk page.