From WhyNotWiki

MediaWiki  edit   (Category  edit)

Also list complaints / wish-list MediaWiki features here (for now).

Contents 1 How do I move a sections from one page to another page in one operation? 2 Organization 2.1 Sections that belong to categories? 2.2 How do I decide between using categories, subpages, and namespaces? 3 Wiki markup 3.1 How do I put a <pre> block in a list?? 3.2 What's the 'best' way to have signed multi-paragraph blocks of text? 3.2.1 Option 1: Signature at end of last paragraph in post 3.2.2 Option 2: Signature on its own line at end of post 3.2.3 Option 3: Indenting all but first paragraph 3.2.4 Option 4: Signature line first, with body of post indented under it 3.2.5 Option 5: Signature line first, with colon (:), and body of post indented under it 3.3 How do I add formatting to a <pre> block?

[edit] How do I move a sections from one page to another page in one operation?

I believe the answer, in MediaWiki, is: you can't! You can move pages in one atomic operation, but not sections. They shoudl be treated more like objects, less like simple wikitext.

[edit] Organization

[edit] Sections that belong to categories?

Is there any way I can put a section of a page in a category and have that category indicator show up in that section (or in multiple sections) rather than on the bottom of the page?

I don't want to be forced to create a tiny stub of a page for something just to put it in a category.

There seem to be some nice database-like features that are only available for page objects.

Obviously, MediaWiki is more of a wiki than a database, so I shouldn't expect the power I would have if, say, I could have each section on the page be a row in a table.

[edit] How do I decide between using categories, subpages, and namespaces?

I can see how subpages might get annoying when you get to have a certain number of them. Then I might want to "upgrade" to using categories. But is there an easy "upgrade path"? Or do I have to manually go to each page, rename it (to get rid of the parent page name), and add the category include to it?

I can also see how if a category got big enough, I might even want it in its namespace. But I'm a little bit hesitant to just create new namespaces without having a really good reason/need.

[edit] Wiki markup

[edit] How do I put a <pre> block in a list??

This doesn't work:

• item 1
• item 2:

  a code block that I
  

want to list in item 2

• item 3

Nor this:

• item 1
• item 2:

  a code block that I
  

:want to list :in item 2

• item 3

[edit] What's the 'best' way to have signed multi-paragraph blocks of text?

And, an intimately related question: Where would/should you put the signature?

[edit] Option 1: Signature at end of last paragraph in post

Here's a bunch of stuff about something. (If the signature is after the second paragraph, how is it clear that this paragraph is part of that post (by the same author, posted on the same date)??)

More stuff about something (same post). Put the signature here? — Tyler (2006-06-12 22:23)

Now something from a different poster.

On a different date even. — AnotherPoster (2006-04-24)

[edit] Option 2: Signature on its own line at end of post

Here's a bunch of stuff about something. (If the signature is after the second paragraph, how is it clear that this paragraph is part of that post (by the same author, posted on the same date)??)

More stuff about something (same post). Put the signature on its own line? That seems to have the exact same problem.

— Tyler (2006-06-12 22:23)

Now something from a different poster.

On a different date even.

— AnotherPoster (2006-04-24)

[edit] Option 3: Indenting all but first paragraph

Here I'm going to indent all paragraphs in a post except the first.

The problem with this is that then we can't use indents for other things, like long quotations within a single post, or to indicate replies in a thread!

— Tyler (2006-06-12 22:23)

Now something from a different poster.

On a different date even.

— AnotherPoster (2006-04-24)

[edit] Option 4: Signature line first, with body of post indented under it

— Tyler (2006-06-12 22:23)

This is one of my favorite options so far. It would still let you do threads using indenting as well us using additional indenting within the body of the post.

One thing that seems weird about it is that the attribution (signature) is first; many people are probably used to it being last. But I don't mind too much...

— AnotherPoster (2006-04-24)

Now something from a different poster.

On a different date even.

— YetAnotherPoster (2006-04-26)

I just wanted to comment on that last post... Really good post!!

Hey, maybe we shouldn't start the signature line with a — if it's at the beginning of the post!

[edit] Option 5: Signature line first, with colon (:), and body of post indented under it

Tyler (2006-06-12 22:23):

This is my favorite options so far. It would still let you do threads using indenting as well us using additional indenting within the body of the post.

It's sort of like slashdot's postings, coincidentally.

AnotherPoster (2006-04-24):

Now something from a different poster.

On a different date even.

YetAnotherPoster (2006-04-26):

I just wanted to comment on that last post... Really good post!!

[edit] How do I add formatting to a <pre> block?

I might want to make lines bold, strikedthrough, or colored!

This doesn't work! It treats my HTML tags as literal text (even though I don't use &lt; character entities)!

...

<b>$wgScriptPath       = "/w";</b>
<b>$wgPrettyScriptPath = "/wiki";</b>
<b>$wgScript           = "$wgPrettyScriptPath/index.php";</b>
<b>$wgRedirectScript   = "$wgPrettyScriptPath/redirect.php";</b>

<b>$wgArticlePath      = "$wgPrettyScriptPath/$1";

$wgStylePath        = "$wgScriptPath/skins";
$wgStyleDirectory   = "$IP/skins";

...

How do I make it work?