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Difference between revisions of "RR Wiki User's Guide"

From The RadioReference Wiki

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* '''''''How can I register so I can edit or add an article?'''''''
 
* '''''''How can I register so I can edit or add an article?'''''''
Under 'Personal Tools' in the left frame, there is a link for your RadioReference UserID and password.  
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Under '''Personal Tools''' in the left frame, there is a link for your RadioReference UserID and password.  
  
 
* '''''''My UserID/Password doesn't work. Whom should I contact?''''''''
 
* '''''''My UserID/Password doesn't work. Whom should I contact?''''''''

Revision as of 17:43, 13 July 2008

Welcome to the RR Wiki User's Guide.

First however a basic definition; the RR Wiki uses the MediaWiki(c) software to maintain a series of user-maintained articles that discuss numerous radio and TV related topics.

The Administrative Stuff

  • ''Can Anyone View the articles on the Wiki without registering?''

Yes, viewing the articles on the wiki may be done by anyone, regardless of their status on RadioReference.

  • ''Can other websites link to the RR Wiki?''

This is to be encouraged. It will reduce the amount of maintenance the website must do to host such pages themselves. A courtesy link to RadioReference, with an acknowedgment, is requested.

  • ''How can I register so I can edit or add an article?''

Under Personal Tools in the left frame, there is a link for your RadioReference UserID and password.

  • ''My UserID/Password doesn't work. Whom should I contact?'''

Please contact Lindsay Blanton directly. The admins have no access to the password files

  • ''What will be changing for the next release of the website?''

Please see our RR 3.0 Release Specifications article for more information

How to Use the Wiki

  • ''I would like to add an article. Where do I begin?''

Please see our New Article Guidelines article for some guidelines and hints

  • ''Im not a web designer. I would like to learn about the language the wiki uses to write a article. Where do I begin?''
  • ''When I look at the coding, it's not HTML based. What language is used to write an article?''

MediaWiki(c) used its own markup language to write articles. It has elements of HTML, C and VB all mixed together. The wiki is HTML aware, however you should note that this support may be dropped in future releases. Please see our Quick guide to editing pages article for a summary of the most frequently-used commands and directives

  • ''I really messed up an article. Can it be reverted back?''

MediaWiki(c) maintains a history of all revisions of articles, and rolling back to a previous version is a simple matter. Hit the HISTORY tab at the top of each article and use the ROLLBACK link.

  • ''I see data on articles that looks like it came from the database. How is this accomplished?''

There are a series of Extensions that have been specially coded that allows a user to copy data from the database. Please see the indicated link for more information.

  • ''I see an extension that is no longer working. What might be wrong?''

There are 2 possibilities; either the server is down, or the extension code is no longer valid. The extensions went through an overhaul with the implmentation of RR 3.0; if you wish to attempt to fix the coding, please see our Wiki Extensions Conversion Guide

  • ''Is there a search tool for the wiki?''

Yes, please see our The RadioReference Wiki:Searching article for information on how to use this tool

Adding Images and Tables

  • ''How do I upload an image to the wiki?''

Under Toolbox in the left frame, there is a link for Upload File. Note that images over 150kb in size will cause a warning, and may not display properly. Use of smaller image formats such as GIFs is to be encouraged

  • ''How do I bring the uploaded image into my article?''

There are several ways to do this. Rather than point to a definition of all the commands, here are a few examples of how images are loaded to an article on RR. Note that these are suggestions; feel free to experiment with other formats in your user area before you publish. Edit these articles to view the underlying coding;

1. MyRR Uses the Image verb to insert a pic right into the article
2. BCD396T Uses the Image verb, along with parameters that float the pic to the right, and present it in a smaller pitch with underlying text
3. Excel Copy/Paste Special to Software Uses the Gallery directive to present each image in a gallery display; the user need only click on the image to expand it.
4. Trunked Radio Decoders In the LTR Decoders section, at the end of the Description there's a link using the Media directive to link to a pic that would otherwise make the article too long and cumbersome.

You should note that the name of the file is important; caps, spelling and punctuation all count. Most times the wiki will tend to make the first letter of the name of the file a capital.