Wikis are designed for collaboration. It says so here!

 

Editing this Wiki is extremely easy. Start by logging in. If you are asked for a password or an invite key, enter sunshine. You will also be asked to enter a name and an e-mail address.

 

You are strongly encouraged to add your content and to fix any mistakes you see. You can email us with any questions. If wiki's are completely new to you, and you are running into difficulties, feel free to email us to request a one-on-one phone consultation.

If you're on a page and want to add some material or make a change, just click on "edit page". Once you're on the edit page, it's extremely easy to figure out how to make changes. Just start typing and hit "preview" to see how what you've typed translates onto a page. You're given the opportunity to cancel the changes you've made if you don't like them. This is also how you can fix any mistakes you see.

 

One thing that has been helpful for me in learning the ropes of editing WikiFOIA is to click "edit page" on a page that has a feature I like (a table, boxed text, etc.) and look at how the last person did it. Then, I'll go to the SandBox and try out the same techniques there. --Sara

 

You can make relatively small changes on pages that already exist--such as adding your blog or website to the Sunshine Blogger page or under your state. Check out this thread in the WikiFOIA Forum for ways to make your links look just right.

 

If you want to make some big additions, and want to experiment some first, use the SandBox.

You can also create entirely new pages or sections of this Wiki. If you'd like to write an article about electronic discovery (mostly finding emails)--an emerging new area of concern with many ramifications and complexities, for example, that'd be a huge help to others who are reading this Wiki.

 

If you want to add a whole new page or even a whole new section, just click "add page" and add away. Experimet with the templates available, or start from a blank page. Once you've created a new page, figure out where else on this Wiki you want people to be able to find links to that new page, and go back to those pages to add a link to your new content.

Words showing underlined and in red are links to other webpages. Sometimes, you will see words that are showing red and underlined with a broken line. This means that a page with that name does not exist yet, but that someone thought it would be a good page. By clicking on the broken link, you will be taken to the "New Page" screen, and from there you can create the page. Try it and see. Use the back arrow to come back here without creating a new page.

 

WikiFOIA accepts standard HTML, so you are free to create links that way.

Example: <a href="http://wikifoia.pbwiki.com/">WikiFOIA</a> will appear as WikiFOIA.

 

However, WikiFOIA also has a few shortcuts that make linking a little easier. To link to a page of the wiki itself, just put brackets around the name of the page.

Example: [Jump Into Your State] will show as Jump Into Your State.

 

If you are linking to a page outside of the wiki (or if you don't want the page name to be the words linked), use brackets and a pipe (the vertical line, found on most keyboards above the ENTER key - use SHIFT to access it).

Example: [Jump Into Your State|click here to find your state]will show up as click here to find your state.

Whether you are adding whole new pages, or just editing pre-exsisting pages, be sure to scroll to the page footer and add some tags. That will make it easier for other people to find your content later. For instance, this page is tagged "Help" so if you used the search box looking for Help, this page would have popped up! Just click on the little + sign, and type in the box that will open. Hit "enter" when you are done.

 

Note that tags are case sensitive, so be careful if you are tagging multiple pages that they are all the same.

If you are having trouble, a good place to ask questions or get more information about editing pages is at the Wiki How-To Forum (if it's your first time on the forum, you will be prompted to create a username & password).

 

You can also ask questions or add material by clicking on the "comments" tab that appears at the top of every page.

 

Also, you can go to the WikiFOIA Forum, read an FAQ about this particular type of Wiki or consult a forum about this type of Wiki.