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==What is "wiki"?==
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{{Powerbase:Help}}Please see [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Powerbase_Help Powerbase Help pages] for help and guidelines on all aspects of contributing to Powerbase.
  
A [[Wiki]] is a collection of interlinked web pages.
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If you want to contribute new articles or edit existing ones, please read our [[Powerbase:Quick_Guide_to_Getting_Started|Quick Guide to Getting Started]]. This covers the basics and has links to the all-important pages on [[Powerbase:A_Guide_to_Referencing|referencing]] and [[Powerbase:Libel|avoiding libel]].
  
==What if someone tries to vandalize or insert disinformation into Nuclear Spin?==
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By contributing material to Powerbase or editing existing material, you agree to adhere to our editorial policies and guidelines, which are set out at: [[Powerbase:A_Guide_to_Sourcing|Guide to sourcing]] | [[Powerbase:A_Guide_to_Tone|Guide to tone]] | [[Powerbase:Copyrights|Copyrights]] | [[Powerbase:How_to_Start_a_Page|How to start a page]] | [[Powerbase:How_to_Structure_an_Article|How to structure an article]] | [[Powerbase:Etiquette|Etiquette]].
  
Currrently all people who want editorial access to Nuclear Spin must register with SpinWatch. This is our first level of security. The Nuclear Spin software also includes a number of features that make it possible to detect and manage vandalism.
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[[Category:Powerbase Help]]
 
 
* As editors to the site are registered, it is easy to track the editing activities of registered user.
 
* In the case of someone still managing to write malicious material, the software keeps an archive of all past versions of each article, making it easy to undo by reverting to a previous version.
 
 
 
==Do I have to register to edit pages?==
 
 
 
Yes.
 
 
 
==Do I have to use my real name?==
 
 
 
Yes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
== What is an orphan?==
 
 
 
An orphan is an article that no other article links to. These can still be found by searching Nuclear Spin, but it is preferable to find another article where a link can be added. You can find a list of orphan articles [[Special:Lonelypages|here]].
 
 
 
== What is a minor edit? When should I use it?==
 
 
 
When editing a page, one has the option of flagging the edit as a "minor edit". When to use this is somewhat a matter of personal preference. The rule of thumb is that an edit of a page that is spelling corrections, formatting, and simple rearranging of text should be flagged as a "minor edit".  A major edit is basically something that makes the entry worth relooking at--either through substantial additions or reorganisation--or fixes a major error.
 
 
 
This feature is important, because users can choose to ''hide'' minor edits in their view of the Recent Changes page, to keep the volume of edits down to a manageable level.
 
 
 
==What is "Recent Changes", and what do the abbreviations used there mean?==
 
 
 
The notations on "Recent Changes" are "N" for new page (new pages often attract a bunch of copyedits); the "M" stands for "Minor edit" or "minor change", which you can set by checking the check box labelled "This is a minor edit" when you edit a page. If you check your "Preferences", you can suppress minor changes in the Recent Changes List. Checking this box is a courtesy to people who suppress seeing minor changes -- check the box if the change is a simple spelling or grammar change.
 
 
 
==Are there any standard formats, for things like dates for example?==
 
: For  referencing please see [http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/A_Guide_to_Referencing here]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
== Copyrights ==
 
 
 
'''I have, or can get, special permission to copy an image or article to SourceWatch. Is it OK to do that?'''
 
:The text and images of SourceWatch are covered by the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]. Unless an item is covered by the same or a similar license, or is in the public domain, it cannot be used on SourceWatch. So you have to ask the copyright holder of the material to license it under GFDL.
 
 
 
'''I have an out-of-copyright image (or text) that is reproduced in an in-copyright book. Can I scan / type it into SourceWatch?'''
 
: Providing they haven't altered the image then they can't claim a copyright on it. If it was in the public domain before they used it, it's still in the public domain afterward.
 
 
 
'''Does using a [[GIF]] image in SourceWatch violate the GFDL because of its patent?'''
 
 
 
:The [[LZW]] compression algorithm used with the GIF format is patented. It is nevertheless legally permissable to produce gif's and release them under [[GFDL]], just like it is legal to produce a [[CD-ROM]] with GFDL material even though the CD-ROM format is patented. People who write or use gif creation programs are bound by the patent. That is why [[free software]] generally does not support the format anymore. That being said, we encourage SourceWatchns to use the technically superior and patent-free [[PNG]] format instead of GIF.
 
 
 
'''Under the copyright law in Japan, copyright holders ''cannot'' make their works public domain, therefore there is no public domain in materials covered by Japanese copyright law. What can I do?'''
 
 
 
:Technically, there is still expiration in Japan too. So if the works exceeded expiration term, they are considered public domain. Otherwise, they cannot be public domain.
 
 
 
== Miscellaneous ==
 
'''SourceWatch is great but I no longer have a life. I feel the urge to spread this affliction to my fellow human beings. How do I spread the word?'''
 
: See [[SourceWatch:Building SourceWatch membership]] for some ideas.
 
 
 
'''How do I edit a page?'''
 
 
 
:It's quite simple. Simply click "Edit this page" on the bottom or the side of the page, and type away. See [[SourceWatch:How to edit a page]] to learn about making links, using '''bold''' and ''italics'', linking to images, and many other things...
 
 
 
'''How do I make links?'''
 
: A link is just the name of the page surrounded by double square brackets. It's also possible to make the link display text that is different to the link:
 
:<nowiki>[[page name]]</nowiki>
 
:<nowiki>[[page name]]s</nowiki> -- suffix text will display as part of the link
 
:<nowiki>[[page name|display name]]</nowiki> -- hide the page name and display something else (but use this sparingly, and ''never'' "click here"!)
 
:<nowiki>[[page name (disambiguation)|]]</nowiki> -- the "pipe trick": the part in parentheses will not be displayed.
 
 
 
'''How do I delete a page?'''
 
 
 
:Consideration for others demands that you exercise extreme caution in doing so. Think about what you are trying to accomplish. [[SourceWatchns]] generally discourage deleting information from the encyclopedia unless there is a good reason for it. Please review [[SourceWatch:Policy on permanent deletion of pages]] before taking action.
 
 
 
:It is trivial to delete the text from a page. You can click the edit link, erase all of the text, and click save. However, this is rarely helpful, as the page's history is still available, and anyone can restore the text again.
 
 
 
:Usually (but not always), rather than deleting a page, the page should be redirected somewhere useful. If someone writes a nice article on 'JFK' it should be moved to 'John F Kennedy' (or similar) and a redirect put in place. See [[SourceWatch:How does one edit a page]] to learn about redirects.
 
 
 
:To request that a page be permanently deleted, put the page title on [[SourceWatch:Votes for deletion]], with the reason why you think it should be deleted. At some point an [[SourceWatch:Administrators|administrator]] will come by the page and decide to remove it for you. Unless someone else comes by and decides not to agree with you, of course.
 
 
 
'''How do I rename a page?'''
 
 
 
:Registered users can move a page; this moves the page content and edit history to a new title, and creates a redirecting page at the old title. This method is better than just copying the content by hand, as it preserves the article's history. Use the "Move this page" link. If you want to move a page, please click the "What links here" and fix the links to the page in question. See [[SourceWatch:How to rename (move) a page]].
 
 
 
'''How do I edit a redirect page?'''
 
 
 
:The easiest way to edit the redirected page is to click on the link you see at the top of the page after being redirected: "redirected from ...". For example, if you try to go to the [[Tobacco Industry Research Council]] page, you are redirected to the [[Council for Tobacco Research]] page. At the very top of that page, you will see a message: "(redirected from [[Tobacco Industry Research Council]])", Click on the [[Tobacco Industry Research Council]] link, and you will edit the redirect page page.
 
 
 
'''What is "Recent Changes", and what do the abbreviations used there mean?'''
 
 
 
: The notations on "Recent Changes" are "N" for new page (new pages often attract a bunch of copyedits); the "M" stands for "Minor edit" or "minor change", which you can set by checking the check box labelled "This is a minor edit" when you edit a page. If you check your "Preferences", you can suppress minor changes in the Recent Changes List. Checking this box is a courtesy to people who suppress seeing minor changes -- check the box if the change is a simple spelling or grammar change.
 
 
 
'''What is the ideal/maximum length of an article?  When should an article be split into smaller pieces?'''
 
 
 
:Separate stub sub-articles for each area of a topic can be very inconvenient for the reader to be chasing stubs that don't say very much.  Articles seem to have clearly diminished technical performance when they exceed 32K in length.  A rule of thumb: >30K must be divided; 20K-30K probably should be divided; 10K-20K consider dividing if the subject conveniently warrants; <10K don't bother.  Size is only one factor; a 30K article with no likelihood for increased size is probably fine the way it is.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
''See also: [[SourceWatch:Administrators]]''
 
 
 
'''What is an administrator? What is a sysop?'''
 
:Two words for the same thing. An administrator is simply a SourceWatch user who can access the few restricted SourceWatch software functions: deleting articles and uploaded files, protecting and unprotecting pages, blocking and unblocking IP addresses, and running certain direct [[SourceWatch:database queries|database queries]].
 
 
 
'''How can I become an administrator?'''
 
:It's easy. First, you need a user account. Then, make useful edits over a period of time. In this way, you prove to the community that you are here in good faith. Then, send a message to editor@prwatch.org and request sysop status. Voila! Be sure to read [[SourceWatch:Administrators]] and [[SourceWatch:Policy on permanent deletion of pages]], and use your new "powers" with caution.
 
 
 
== Administrative Tasks ==
 
'''How can I unban an IP?'''
 
:Select "Blocked IP addresses" from the drop-down box at the top of each page ([[Special:Ipblocklist]]), and click on "unblock" as required.  Developers can unblock multiple IPs at once.
 

Latest revision as of 13:01, 27 October 2010

Help Guide

How do I do that?

Getting in touch

Information and resources for contributors

Please see Powerbase Help pages for help and guidelines on all aspects of contributing to Powerbase.

If you want to contribute new articles or edit existing ones, please read our Quick Guide to Getting Started. This covers the basics and has links to the all-important pages on referencing and avoiding libel.

By contributing material to Powerbase or editing existing material, you agree to adhere to our editorial policies and guidelines, which are set out at: Guide to sourcing | Guide to tone | Copyrights | How to start a page | How to structure an article | Etiquette.