Overview[]
This Article is provides Links to various Templates and Help Pages help you add content to the wiki. This is arranged per articles. This is a guide for those whom may not have used a wiki before. This is not forums, but more complicated arrangement. Wiki can have links within the wiki self linking to other parts of story or related article pages.
As rule of thumb, it's best to look at existing articles related to what you wish to post here see what style they used. A editor (you) can make a copy of existing article open the editor, highlight entire thing. Copy it. Create your own article, clear out the old copied content and fill in your own within old articles structure. Just don't Save over a existing article layout.
Index[]
How add a Fan Story[]
- Summary
- Fan Fiction is arranged depending on their intended length. Stories are categorized on wiki as:
Short Stories - This is a story that self-contain and can fit on one page.
Regular Story - Index Page & Chapter Pages - This is primary style of story/fiction layout. Index page is where you describe what your story is about, who author is and other associated information. With this type story layout essentially story is spread out by pages that act as chapters with a Index page, the Main page which has wiki links to each chapter/page. Each chapter page has it's own link to following chapter/page.
Process adding the story you intend to post. The wiki provides help / templates that may be copied and be modified by the author. Seen below. Following is the how to create a page for a fan story here. It's recommended to open second tab containing the template if you wish make page then copy it. Or move other parts over when your ready. This is a basic guide.
How add a Short Story[]
- Steps to Making a Short Story
- 1) Go to link make a copy a Short Story Template
2) Go to the Search icon (Spy Glass) on upper right of the screen
3) Type name of the story you intended to make. <<Note: Beware of other stories that reside on the wiki, it's recommended to have unique name or Has own characteristics - Example: The Challenge (MechWarrior MisAdventure)>>
4) Once name is entered (Click return) the wiki will show the Search Results. The wiki will give option to create the story / article. Example: Create the page "The Challenge" on this wiki! See also the search results found.
5) Copy and Paste the Template if you choose to use one into the new;y made page.
6) Remember add category for Short story to this page so it's findable by the server. [[Category:Short Story]]
7) Save Story by pressing save button on the bottom right. If you wish see how looks like before saving, press the Preview button (Eyeball) on left side.
Regular Story Chapter Instructions[]
- Steps to Making a Regular Story (Index page and chapter pages)
- 1) Make a index page first. Go to link make a copy a Template for Fiction Index Page (Main Story Page). Make copy of this page, you do not need to edit this page to make a copy. Just high light and copy.
- 2) Go to the Search icon (Spy Glass) on upper right of the screen
- 3) Type name of the story you intended to make. <<Note: Beware of other stories that reside on the wiki, it's recommended to have unique name or Has own characteristics - Example: Never Ending Battle (War Saga)>>
- 4) Once name is entered (Click return) the wiki will show the Search Results. The wiki will give option to create the story / article. Example: Create the page "Never Ending Battle (War Saga)" on this wiki! See also the search results found.
- 5) Copy and Paste the Fiction Index Page Template if you choose to use one into the newly made page.
- 6) Customization!, This is where you make your article unique. Add the author's name, summary what story is about. Perhaps mention when how close to canon it is, if it's it's own Alternate Universe vs being story in canon universe and it doesn't change anything. You can add Pictures, while are not mandatory, but having one (please get permission or change picture with story's name on it for copyright sake. Please see Wiki Posting Pictures Guide)
- 6a) Chapter Links (aka page per chapter) : Each Index page should have in order list links for a reader to go to each chapter/pages. Links show in the template are meant to be changed. Full name of the story is not necessary but it's important to keep them in order. Typically a trunkaded (initials) version of the name of story is used following by number of the chapter/page it represents. For Example: For "Never Ending Battle (War Sage)", individual chapter pages should be named NEBWS-1, NEBWS-2. These pages will be created same way as index pages are made. When ready, begin posting chapters. Click the first chapter of the story's main page and it will open up first. Additionally if is a multi volume (more than one book) a number should be part chapter name to show which book chapter is part of. Example NEBWS2-1, NEBWS2-2.
Remember: you must try keep chapter arrangements in order keep the story as big as regular story together and make sense. - 6b) Add Categories! Remember to add Categories: Works by (Author Name), Index to Fan Fiction Story, and Fan Fiction. These categories are important for stories to be found on wiki.
- 6a) Chapter Links (aka page per chapter) : Each Index page should have in order list links for a reader to go to each chapter/pages. Links show in the template are meant to be changed. Full name of the story is not necessary but it's important to keep them in order. Typically a trunkaded (initials) version of the name of story is used following by number of the chapter/page it represents. For Example: For "Never Ending Battle (War Sage)", individual chapter pages should be named NEBWS-1, NEBWS-2. These pages will be created same way as index pages are made. When ready, begin posting chapters. Click the first chapter of the story's main page and it will open up first. Additionally if is a multi volume (more than one book) a number should be part chapter name to show which book chapter is part of. Example NEBWS2-1, NEBWS2-2.
- 7) Preview it, Using the eye ball at bottom of the editing page. Check out there no problems or typos you wish not to publish. The page can be edited once created, but its better catch these before going.
- 7a) Fandom Spacing Issues, This is when there section that are indented. This a Space before beginning of a paragraph, the code the wiki will encapsulate the effect section in a box. Which is not very attractive to read, may look like there problem with page. Simple solution is remove space in front beginning of each word, letter, section that has space at beginning of it. This only happens at the BEGINNING of a paragraph. HOWEVER this effect can be useful should you have a section that needs to stand out. Wiki code has VERY LIMITED means of making text stand out. Mobile view that phone users or casual users may be using may not see this effect of leaving space in front of words. It's strongly discourage removing any spacing in front of beginning text.
- 8) Save it, Once done or want save it for now. Click Save button bottom right.
- 9) Check those Links!, Remember you want make page connect to the next page. Remember check spelling of the next page chapters or any important links. FANDOM code will preview possible links if you do [[(title of page) without having extra double brackets at end. These will be added if you choose a chapter.
- Options :
- Chapter Art
- Story is not limited to text alone. The template does not show means adding picture. Please try to use existing wiki art before you upload normal art from a canon or Fan sources. The Wiki tries very hard respect the original artist. Art / Pictures already found on wiki have been loaded up with permission of the original art or created by the editor themselves.
Chapter art for the story, can have links hidden in them to save on adding name story - Links to Supportive Resource / Related Pages
- You may have made stats for a unique variant or all together new sort Mech/vehicle/etc related to your story! So you can add link to that profile of what your story has featured in it. Record Sheets in PDF form can be uploaded to the wiki. However, you have becareful how you set it up. It can be tricky, in some cases the PDF may automatically pop open or download. Some people may find this undesirable.
Fan Stories / Chapters Page Temples[]
Templates[]
Template for Fiction Index Page (Main Story Page)
Template for Story Chapter Pages (Chapter Pages)
Trouble Shooting[]
Brief Summary : FANDOM pages, typically desktop/source editor can have issues when entering pages. Help Pages, while useful do not necessary clarify how work around them. The following are typical workarounds to handling these specific issues. Note: Visual Editor used by FANDOM has it's own host issues, it's heavily recommended avoid these unless it is bare minimum of edit/fixes.
- Doubling of Text/weird behavior of text (Source Editor Mode)
- This is when text appears on pages you are revising/updating. Fresh pages do not suffer from this issue. In layman terms, there are hidden coding on FANDOM pages of this which this wiki editor would call "artifacts" causing weird reactions to text entries. These hidden codes can make text appear above/below when entering a line of text. You type something, something above/below moves instead. Its not recommended try keep entering info / adding pictures until this bad patch of the page you are working on is cleared. These issues will return periodically, since it's unknown why they do accrue. Note: This is basically seen only on desktop browsers. Switching to from Google browser to FireFox for instance, will not solve the problem. This issue patch of text is effected, not necessary entire page at times.
The following are "work arounds", not official FANDOM solutions.
- Refresh Page - When entering text, it appears the page / section you are working on has suddenly behaving as Doubling of Text, basic solution is to refresh while editing. This does bring risk of loss of date, but FANDOM will reload/save what was newly entered temporary. This clears out the artifacts and the problematic hidden codes messing up the text.
- Copy Text to MS NotePad - Anything entered but the page is hopelessly messed up. Take the entier page if necessary and copy it to MS NotePad. This clears out any hidden artifacts that maybe copied over. Then save page as blank. IF you are working on subheader section which can be edited separately from the entry of the page, this will work as well. Save the blanked section, paste what you placed in NotePad. Note: MS NotePad has no functionality to carry over this these artifacts, however more sophisticated word processors such as MS Word, Libre Writer, OpenOffice, or Google Docs may carry over these problematic hidden issues should you copy the text. You want a application that is bare-bones to hold text, the Fandom coding structure (stuff you manually added) will stay intact if you are using source editor, using visual editor (this does it automatically) which it will not work and may make things worse.
- Lost page / updated page when Previewing (Visual Editor Mode)
- Visual Editor is a userfriendly editing program for casual editing. However, more geared for mobile devices than desktop/laptop type browsers. When previewing a picture or changes made, while the page preview will be shown it will sometimes NOT allow you to save changes and edits can be lost. This goes with same when adding existing picture has already been uploaded to the wiki. The following is best work arounds or handling of this issue for visual editing (not Sourcebrower)
Note: Source Editing with a mobile device is problematic, is far more limiting in its flexibility. It's highly advice to avoid it or keep it to basic corrects like typos, do not preview, just save.
- Adding Text to Page (Visual) : Copy the couple words you wish to fix which are unique to the section you wish to edit. Do not use the FANDOM/wiki Find ability, use your built-in browser's Find/Search. Using FANDOM's search (source or visual) cause problems, while browser's will not cause issue locating section you need to fix/add. This is since FANDOM code often can behave not as you intended. Use browser find to find effective text, should take you to the section wish edit. Then save. Again, don't preview, it doesn't go back to text if your not happy what was entered.
- Don't Do It - This sounds unhelpful, but take this as words of advice from someone who done hundred of hours of editing on wiki, especially on FANDOM style wikis. The preview function for the Visual Editor simply does not work and does not function, especially when using mobile device (Smart Phone). It does not work as intended for heavy duty editing or adding content beyond basic adding text content at this time of this writing.