Difference between revisions of "Powerbase:How to Start a Page"

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{{SpinProfiles:Help}}
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This is a help article on how to '''start a new page''' in Powerbase. It covers both the technical procedure and guidelines for dealing with new articles.
  
This is a help article on how to '''start a new page''' in SpinProfiles. It covers both the technical procedure and guidelines for dealing with new articles.
+
==Before you create a new page==
  
==Before you create a new page==
+
===Familiarise yourself with these Powerbase policies and guidelines===
===Familiarise yourself with SpinProfiles policies and guidelines===
+
 
Before you '''create a new page''', make sure you are familiar with SpinProfiles policies and guidelines in relation to:
+
* [[Powerbase:How To Edit A Page|How to edit a page]]
* [[SpinProfiles:How To Edit A Page|How to edit a page]]
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* Tips on [[Powerbase:Contributing|contributing to Powerbase]]
* Tips on [[SpinProfiles:Contributing|contributing to SpinProfiles]]
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* Layout conventions at the [[Powerbase:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]]
* Layout conventions at the [[SpinProfiles:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]]
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* [[Powerbase:Naming Conventions|Naming Conventions]] for articles
* [[SpinProfiles:Naming Conventions|Naming Conventions]] for articles themselves
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* [[Powerbase:A Guide to Referencing|A Guide to Referencing]]
* [[SpinProfiles:A Guide to Referencing|A Guide to Referencing]]
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* [[Powerbase:A Guide to Sourcing|A Guide to Sourcing]]
* [[SpinProfiles:A Guide to Sourcing|A Guide to Sourcing]]
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* [[Powerbase:A Guide to the use of Tone|A Guide to the use of Tone]]
* [[SpinProfiles:A Guide to the use of Tone|A Guide to the use of Tone]]
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* [[Powerbase:Copyrights|Copyrights]]
* [[SpinProfiles:Copyrights|Copyrights]]
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* Some important things to consider in relation to [[Powerbase:Libel|Libel]]
* Some important things to consider in relation to [[SpinProfiles:Libel|Libel]]
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* Some pointers on [[Powerbase:Etiquette|Etiquette]]  
* Some pointers on [[SpinProfiles:Etiquette|Etiquette]]  
 
 
   
 
   
<center>'''Everyone who edits a SpinProfiles page is required to read and understand [[SpinProfiles:Libel|SpinProfiles Libel policy]]'''</center>
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<center>'''Everyone who edits a Powerbase page is required to read and understand [[Powerbase:Libel|Powerbase Libel policy]]'''</center>
 
<center>'''If you have not already done so. <i>PLEASE READ THIS NOW!</i>'''</center>
 
<center>'''If you have not already done so. <i>PLEASE READ THIS NOW!</i>'''</center>
  
Line 23: Line 22:
 
If you want to create a new page on a topic, the first thing to do is to use the "search" form (on the left hand side of the window or at [[Special:Search|this link]]) and plug in the tentative title of your new page to see whether someone has already created a page on that topic or something very similar.
 
If you want to create a new page on a topic, the first thing to do is to use the "search" form (on the left hand side of the window or at [[Special:Search|this link]]) and plug in the tentative title of your new page to see whether someone has already created a page on that topic or something very similar.
  
A similar page may show up under "'''Article title matches'''" or "'''Page text matches'''" on the search results screen. It's obviously better that we combine pages (and efforts) on very similar or identical topics. For example, you may be trying to create a page on 'Thomas Dine,' but a search for 'Thomas Dine' shows that there is already an page on '[[Thomas A. Dine]]', the same guy (BUT just because someone has a similar name, don't automatically assume they're the same. Sometimes investigation is needed). Similarly, you may want to create a page on "Doctors Influenced by Pharmaceutical Reps," which would be about how Pharma reps market a company's drugs and influence decisions made by doctors through working to make sure it is their drugs that are prescribed. However, typing the key words 'Pharmaceuticals Doctors' into the search box brings up an article [[How the Pharmaceutical Industry Influences Doctors]], an article that already contains information on the subject. To keep SpinProfiles tidy and make things easier to locate, if appropriate add the information you have found into this page. If you feel that the page would have been easier to find if it was under a different title, then create a new page with that title as a [[Spinprofiles:How to Redirect a Page|redirect]] so that anyone else searching in that way will be easily rerouted to the already existing page. When searching for an article such as the Pharma example just given, it may not always be the case that the key words we choose relate to the title of a similar article on your topic. If this seems the case it's a good idea to have a look under the [[Special:Categories|Category]] for your subject to see if there is anything there (this may also be easier than trawling through lots of search results).
+
A similar page may show up under "'''Article title matches'''" or "'''Page text matches'''" on the search results screen. It's obviously better that we combine pages (and efforts) on very similar or identical topics. For example, you may be trying to create a page on 'Thomas Dine,' but a search for 'Thomas Dine' shows that there is already an page on '[[Thomas A. Dine]]', the same guy (BUT just because someone has a similar name, don't automatically assume they're the same. Sometimes investigation is needed). Similarly, you may want to create a page on "Doctors Influenced by Pharmaceutical Reps," which would be about how Pharma reps market a company's drugs and influence decisions made by doctors through working to make sure it is their drugs that are prescribed. However, typing the key words 'Pharmaceuticals Doctors' into the search box brings up an article [[How the Pharmaceutical Industry Influences Doctors]], an article that already contains information on the subject. To keep Powerbase tidy and make things easier to locate, if appropriate add the information you have found into this page. If you feel that the page would have been easier to find if it was under a different title, then create a new page with that title as a [[Powerbase:How to Redirect a Page|redirect]] so that anyone else searching in that way will be easily rerouted to the already existing page. When searching for an article such as the Pharma example just given, it may not always be the case that the key words we choose relate to the title of a similar article on your topic. If this seems the case it's a good idea to have a look under the [[Special:Categories|Category]] for your subject to see if there is anything there (this may also be easier than trawling through lots of search results).
  
See the help page "[[Spinprofiles:How to Redirect a Page|how to redirect a page]]" for instructions on how to create a redirect.
+
See the help page "[[Powerbase:How to Redirect a Page|how to redirect a page]]" for instructions on how to create a redirect.
  
 
===Naming conventions for page titles===
 
===Naming conventions for page titles===
Make sure to abide by SpinProfiles [[SpinProfiles:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]] when titling your new article. This helps keep the encyclopedia tidy and makes adding links to articles easier.
+
Make sure to abide by Powerbase [[Powerbase:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]] when titling your new article. This helps keep the encyclopedia tidy and makes adding links to articles easier.
  
 
==Procedure: How to create a new page==
 
==Procedure: How to create a new page==
  
 
There are three ways to create a new page:
 
There are three ways to create a new page:
 +
 
1. Using an internal link on a page/article to a non-existent page (using the <font color="#cc2200">Red</font> links).
 
1. Using an internal link on a page/article to a non-existent page (using the <font color="#cc2200">Red</font> links).
2. From the [[SpinProfiles:Searching|search]] results page.
+
 
 +
2. From the [[Powerbase:Searching|search]] results page.
 +
 
 
3. Using the standard layout from the [[Article Submission]] page.  
 
3. Using the standard layout from the [[Article Submission]] page.  
  
'''Tip:''' Internal links in SpinProfiles ''generally'' point to an article of the same name. For example, this link - [[Transnational power networks|Transnational power networks]] - points to an article named "Transnational power networks". You can create a link anywhere on SpinProfiles by simply putting two brackets around a word or phrase <nowiki>[[like this]]</nowiki>. If the link has the same name as an existing article it will show up in blue (with [[Transnational power networks|Transnational power networks]], for example), where links that do not correspond to an existing article show up in red [[like this]].
+
'''Tip:''' Internal links in Powerbase ''generally'' point to an article of the same name. For example, this link - [[Transnational power networks|Transnational power networks]] - points to an article named "Transnational power networks". You can create a link anywhere on Powerbase by simply putting two brackets around a word or phrase <nowiki>[[like this]]</nowiki>. If the link has the same name as an existing article it will show up in blue (with [[Transnational power networks|Transnational power networks]], for example), where links that do not correspond to an existing article show up in red [[like this]].
  
 
===1. Creating a new page using an internal link to a non-existent page===
 
===1. Creating a new page using an internal link to a non-existent page===
If you're creating a new page because you saw one of those [[red links]] somewhere, just click on the red link. If you've [[SpinProfiles:Register|registered]] with SpinProfiles (which is required in order to edit) and are logged-in, you'll usually get a page that says:
+
If you're creating a new page because you saw one of those [[red links]] somewhere, just click on the red link. If you've [[Powerbase:Register|registered]] with Powerbase (which is required in order to edit) and are logged-in, you'll usually get a page that says:
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
"You've followed a link to a page that doesn't exist yet. To create the page, start typing in the box below"
 
"You've followed a link to a page that doesn't exist yet. To create the page, start typing in the box below"
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
It really is that simple! Simply type some text into the box and click "save." (Remember to jot a note in the smaller "Summary" box below the big box - this helps other editors keep track of what's happening on SpinProfiles. In this case something like "starting a new page" will suffice.)
+
It really is that simple! Simply type some text into the box and click "save." (Remember to jot a note in the smaller "Summary" box below the big box - this helps other editors keep track of what's happening on Powerbase. In this case something like "starting a new page" will suffice.)
  
If you want to create a new page but haven't seen a [[red link]], you simply need to create one. Following SpinProfiles [[SpinProfiles:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]], the simplest way is to type the title you wish to use into the [[SpinProfiles:Searching|search box]] as described in the 'Creating a new page from the search results page' section below.   
+
If you want to create a new page but haven't seen a [[red link]], you simply need to create one. Following Powerbase [[Powerbase:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]], the simplest way is to type the title you wish to use into the [[Powerbase:Searching|search box]] as described in the 'Creating a new page from the search results page' section below.   
  
Before you save your new page, remember that all new pages/articles on SpinProfiles should be given a [[SpinProfiles:How To Edit A Page#Editing a page - Getting started|category]]. See "Give the new page a category", below.
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Before you save your new page, remember that all new pages/articles on Powerbase should be given a [[Powerbase:How To Edit A Page#Editing a page - Getting started|category]]. See "Give the new page a category", below.
  
 
===2. Creating a new page from the search results page===
 
===2. Creating a new page from the search results page===
  
A simple way to create a new page is to simply input the name of the page you want to create into the [[SpinProfiles:Searching|search box]] (following SpinProfiles [[Spinprofiles:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]]). If no such article exists, you'll get a page saying:
+
A simple way to create a new page is to simply input the name of the page you want to create into the [[Powerbase:Searching|search box]] (following Powerbase [[Powerbase:Naming Conventions|naming conventions]]). If no such article exists, you'll get a page saying:
  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
Line 61: Line 63:
  
 
===3. Using Article Submission standard layout===
 
===3. Using Article Submission standard layout===
The page relating to [[Article Submission]] enables you to quickly and easily start a new page. This is the preferred method for starting a new page on people or organizations, as it contains a standard layout which keeps SpinProfiles articles tidy, as well as aiding decisions on what the content of the page should be.  
+
The page relating to [[Article Submission]] enables you to quickly and easily start a new page. This is the preferred method for starting a new page on people or organizations, as it contains a standard layout which keeps Powerbase articles tidy, as well as aiding decisions on what the content of the page should be.  
  
 
You do not have to use all the headers provided – you can substitute your own if you prefer. Also, don't feel that you have to cover all the topics in the headers provided. Just put in the information that you have in an appropriate section, and leave the other headers in place to help other authors add material.  
 
You do not have to use all the headers provided – you can substitute your own if you prefer. Also, don't feel that you have to cover all the topics in the headers provided. Just put in the information that you have in an appropriate section, and leave the other headers in place to help other authors add material.  
Line 95: Line 97:
 
<nowiki>[[Category:?]]</nowiki>
 
<nowiki>[[Category:?]]</nowiki>
  
It is fine to write about "people", "funding" and "clients" in your narrative as needed but the best place for for long and comprehensive lists is near the bottom of the page in their own section. The question to ask here is: "Am I breaking up the narrative by listing too many people or organizations at this point?" If the answer is "Yes", then put them in their own section near the article's end and use the narrative only for those vital to the story you're telling.
+
It is fine to write about "people", "funding" and "clients" in your narrative as needed but the best place for for long and comprehensive lists is near the bottom of the page in their own section. The question to ask here is: "Am I breaking up the narrative by listing too many people or organizations at this point?" If the answer is "Yes", then put them in their own section near the article's end and use the narrative only for those people and organizations that are vital to the story you're telling.
 
 
==How to format lists==
 
 
 
Favour list formatting for the "People", "Funding", and "Clients" sections of your article. Enclose the names of people or organizations in <nowiki>[[  ]]</nowiki>, to form clickable links to SpinProfiles articles on those people or organizations. Put the names in the list either into alphabetical order or some other sensible ranking system, e.g. if you are listing the staff of a company, it makes sense to start with the director and go down the ranks.
 
 
 
There are two ways to format lists of people or organizations.
 
 
 
===1. Lists of short items===
 
 
 
- names of persons or organizations, or short phrases. Use a horizontal list, with items separated by <nowiki>]] | [[</nowiki>
 
 
 
e.g. APCO, Bayer, Dow, Shell
 
 
 
What you put in:
 
 
 
<nowiki>[[APCO]] | [[Bayer]] | [[Dow Chemical]] | [[Shell]]</nowiki>
 
 
 
What you get:
 
 
 
[[APCO]] | [[Bayer]] | [[Dow Chemical]] | [[Shell]]
 
 
 
e.g. Jane Smith, chief executive officer and president; John Pratt, vice-president; Joe Bloggs, communications manager
 
 
 
What you put in:
 
 
 
<nowiki>[[Jane Smith]] - chief executive officer and president | [[John Pratt]] – vice-president | [[Joe Bloggs]] – communications manager</nowiki>
 
 
 
What you get:
 
 
 
[[Jane Smith]] – chief executive officer and president | [[John Pratt]] – vice-president | [[Joe Bloggs]] – communications manager
 
 
 
===2. Lists of longer items===
 
 
 
– where you give a number of points of information. Use a vertical list, with each item preceded by <nowiki>*</nowiki>.
 
 
 
e.g. Jane Smith, chief executive officer and president, paid £2,600,000 in the year ended 2006; Joe Bloggs, communications manager, paid £1,900,000 in the year ended 2006
 
 
 
What you put in:
 
 
 
<nowiki>* [[Jane Smith]], chief executive officer and president, paid £2,600,000 in the year ended 2006</nowiki>
 
 
 
<nowiki>* [[Joe Bloggs]], communications manager, paid £1,900,000 in the year ended 2006</nowiki>
 
 
 
What you get:
 
 
 
* [[Jane Smith]], chief executive officer and president, paid £2,600,000 in the year ended 2006
 
* [[Joe Bloggs]], communications manager, paid £1,900,000 in the year ended 2006
 
 
 
==How to structure a new article==
 
===Introduce your subject===
 
When starting a new article, remember to establish context at the start of the page. Each article should begin with a brief (one- or two-sentence) general description of the individual, organization or topic. If possible, tell the reader why this person or group is in SpinProfiles. The reader should be able to tell from your introduction whether this article is relevant to their interests and whether they want to read on.
 
 
 
e.g.
 
 
 
:The '''Joe Bloggs Institute''' is a London-based think tank that has come under criticism for its lobbying activities on behalf of polluting industries.
 
 
 
:'''Jane Smith''' is a British Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who was at the centre of an expenses scandal in 2002.
 
 
 
The first mention of the person, organization or topic (which should match the article title) uses bold text. Only the first mention should be in bold – for subsequent mentions, use plain text. Make text bold by selecting it with your cursor and clicking on the "B" in the editing menu at the top of the Edit page.
 
 
 
===Give the new page a category===
 
Before you save your new page, remember that all new pages/articles on SpinProfiles should be included in a [[SpinProfiles:How To Edit A Page#Editing a page - Getting started|category]]. This makes using SpinProfiles easier, makes it possible to find all pages on a topic from one place, and helps to avoid problems with duplicate pages being created.
 
 
 
To put your page into a category, add the coding <nowiki>[[Category:name of relevant category]]</nowiki> at the bottom of the page you are creating. For example, <nowiki>[[Category:PR Industry]]</nowiki>. When saved, this will appear as a link at the bottom of the page. Choose from the list of categories here: http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Special:Categories
 
 
 
===Remember to add a summary when saving===
 
When you're ready to save your new page, remember to jot a note in the small "Summary" box below the larger editing box to help other editors keep track of what's happening on SpinProfiles. In this case something like "starting a new page" will suffice.
 
  
===Stub pages===
+
==How to structure an article==
Stub pages are articles with little content, but that through the ongoing work of their creator and the collaboration process grow over time into longer articles.  Stub pages are noticed and picked up by search engines, and thus attract new readers and thus new contributors. Please show tolerance for stub page creation and feel free to add to, edit and generally enrich the stub page. Today's stub page acorn is tomorrow's big oak.
 
  
==Remember that all content added to SpinProfiles may be used by others==
+
Now please go to [[Powerbase:How to Structure an Article]] for a few simple guidelines.
Bear in mind that SpinProfiles is an open content encyclopedia. You are contributing to a free, publicly-usable database of information. You automatically license everything you contribute under the
 
[[GNU Free Documentation License]]; you can only do that if you own the copyright to the material (which you do if you created it), or if the material is in the public domain.  See [[Spinprofiles:Copyrights]] for details.
 
<center>'''Never submit copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner.'''</center>
 
  
[[Category:SpinProfiles Help]]
+
[[Category:Powerbase Help]]
[[Category:SpinProfiles policy and guideline pages]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:11, 6 July 2010

This is a help article on how to start a new page in Powerbase. It covers both the technical procedure and guidelines for dealing with new articles.

Before you create a new page

Familiarise yourself with these Powerbase policies and guidelines

Everyone who edits a Powerbase page is required to read and understand Powerbase Libel policy
If you have not already done so. PLEASE READ THIS NOW!

Check to see if a similar page already exists

If you want to create a new page on a topic, the first thing to do is to use the "search" form (on the left hand side of the window or at this link) and plug in the tentative title of your new page to see whether someone has already created a page on that topic or something very similar.

A similar page may show up under "Article title matches" or "Page text matches" on the search results screen. It's obviously better that we combine pages (and efforts) on very similar or identical topics. For example, you may be trying to create a page on 'Thomas Dine,' but a search for 'Thomas Dine' shows that there is already an page on 'Thomas A. Dine', the same guy (BUT just because someone has a similar name, don't automatically assume they're the same. Sometimes investigation is needed). Similarly, you may want to create a page on "Doctors Influenced by Pharmaceutical Reps," which would be about how Pharma reps market a company's drugs and influence decisions made by doctors through working to make sure it is their drugs that are prescribed. However, typing the key words 'Pharmaceuticals Doctors' into the search box brings up an article How the Pharmaceutical Industry Influences Doctors, an article that already contains information on the subject. To keep Powerbase tidy and make things easier to locate, if appropriate add the information you have found into this page. If you feel that the page would have been easier to find if it was under a different title, then create a new page with that title as a redirect so that anyone else searching in that way will be easily rerouted to the already existing page. When searching for an article such as the Pharma example just given, it may not always be the case that the key words we choose relate to the title of a similar article on your topic. If this seems the case it's a good idea to have a look under the Category for your subject to see if there is anything there (this may also be easier than trawling through lots of search results).

See the help page "how to redirect a page" for instructions on how to create a redirect.

Naming conventions for page titles

Make sure to abide by Powerbase naming conventions when titling your new article. This helps keep the encyclopedia tidy and makes adding links to articles easier.

Procedure: How to create a new page

There are three ways to create a new page:

1. Using an internal link on a page/article to a non-existent page (using the Red links).

2. From the search results page.

3. Using the standard layout from the Article Submission page.

Tip: Internal links in Powerbase generally point to an article of the same name. For example, this link - Transnational power networks - points to an article named "Transnational power networks". You can create a link anywhere on Powerbase by simply putting two brackets around a word or phrase [[like this]]. If the link has the same name as an existing article it will show up in blue (with Transnational power networks, for example), where links that do not correspond to an existing article show up in red like this.

1. Creating a new page using an internal link to a non-existent page

If you're creating a new page because you saw one of those red links somewhere, just click on the red link. If you've registered with Powerbase (which is required in order to edit) and are logged-in, you'll usually get a page that says:

"You've followed a link to a page that doesn't exist yet. To create the page, start typing in the box below"

It really is that simple! Simply type some text into the box and click "save." (Remember to jot a note in the smaller "Summary" box below the big box - this helps other editors keep track of what's happening on Powerbase. In this case something like "starting a new page" will suffice.)

If you want to create a new page but haven't seen a red link, you simply need to create one. Following Powerbase naming conventions, the simplest way is to type the title you wish to use into the search box as described in the 'Creating a new page from the search results page' section below.

Before you save your new page, remember that all new pages/articles on Powerbase should be given a category. See "Give the new page a category", below.

2. Creating a new page from the search results page

A simple way to create a new page is to simply input the name of the page you want to create into the search box (following Powerbase naming conventions). If no such article exists, you'll get a page saying:

There is no page titled "[the name of your page]". You can create this page.

When you get there, click that red create this page link and it will open an editing window on the new blank page. Simply type in your text, click save and you're done.

3. Using Article Submission standard layout

The page relating to Article Submission enables you to quickly and easily start a new page. This is the preferred method for starting a new page on people or organizations, as it contains a standard layout which keeps Powerbase articles tidy, as well as aiding decisions on what the content of the page should be.

You do not have to use all the headers provided – you can substitute your own if you prefer. Also, don't feel that you have to cover all the topics in the headers provided. Just put in the information that you have in an appropriate section, and leave the other headers in place to help other authors add material.

However, some headers are necessary for the page structure to work and to create a useful information resource. These should be left untouched. In particular, please leave the following headers in place:

==People==

==Funding==

==Clients==

==Publications, Contact, Resources and Notes==

===Publications===

===Contact===

:Address:

:Phone:

:Email:

:Website:

===Resources===

===Notes===

<references/>

[[Category:?]]

It is fine to write about "people", "funding" and "clients" in your narrative as needed but the best place for for long and comprehensive lists is near the bottom of the page in their own section. The question to ask here is: "Am I breaking up the narrative by listing too many people or organizations at this point?" If the answer is "Yes", then put them in their own section near the article's end and use the narrative only for those people and organizations that are vital to the story you're telling.

How to structure an article

Now please go to Powerbase:How to Structure an Article for a few simple guidelines.