DOW Rules and Guidelines
CONTENT COMING SOON
Getting Started
Exploring
One of the best things you can do to become familiar with how the DOW Wiki runs is to explore. Look at the layout of the different pages and get a feel for how the information is organized. To get a more in depth look at the format of a page, click the “Edit” button and study the wiki code there. Try to note how the code used on the edit page translates into what you see in the actual article. By doing this, editors will already be familiar with how the wiki is organized and so they will be able to easily create their own pages that are consistent with already existing pages.Know What Is Going On
At any given point, there can be many editors working on different projects at the same time. Editors should take a look at the Recent Changes page often so that they are familiar with what has been done. It is a good idea to review changes made to double check for errors, offer input where necessary, and stay up to date with new pages and projects.Asking Questions
If an editor is unsure of how to do something or is wondering why something is done a certain way, all they need to do is ask. The DOW Wiki is a team effort and so open communication is key. There are a variety of ways to get help and feedback from fellow editors. One of the easiest ways is to take advantage of the Talk pages associated with each article.Sandbox
The DOW Wiki Sandboxes are where you can go to “play” with new ideas for the wiki. If you are unsure of how something will look or work, test it out here first.Templates
The DOW Wiki uses a variety of templates to make editing easier and more consistent. Read up on the templates that are currently being used and learn how they work.User Pages
The User Page is where a wiki editor can tell a little bit about themselves. This is also a great place to first start editing and learning. Some useful information editors may want to include on their user page are forum usernames, wiki contributions, and current projects. User Page content must be appropriate and follow all policies and guidelines. Abuse of the User Page can result in the blocking of an editor’s account.Basic Help and Editing Etiquiette
Creating a New Page
Uploading Images/Other Files
For consistency in loading and to keep everything "in house" please upload your pictures here on the wiki rather than hosting them elsewhere and linking to them. It is expected that you are using pictures that you have captured yourself. If not - in the description of the item when uploading, please give credit to the person who provided the picture in the Summary Box or if adding at a later time, provide credit by editing an already existing file.Make sure the image does not already exist by searching for a similar image in the File list. Also check the Recent changes and Gallery of new files. Should you upload an image that is already on the DOW Wiki, submit a deletion request to get it removed.
To upload a file, click on "Upload file" in the toolbox found on the lefthand side of the screen. Make sure the file is in an acceptable format. Currently png, gif, jpg and jpeg files are allowed.
Make sure the to provide an appropriate name for the file. The name should be as accurate as possible. Also try to mantain consistency within the names of uploaded imges.
Using the Summary Box
Minor Edits
Giving Credit to Non-Editors
If the information was provided by a non-editor, provide credit and thanks to that person on the "discussion" page rather than on the main article page itself. If it was a picture, see the Photos/Pictures section for guidance.
Editors should not provide credit and thanks to themselves. All our articles are stamped with our names, so this automatically gives us credit for the work.
Deletion Requests
Communication
Talk Pages
User Talk Page
Private Messaging
Policies
G-Rated
Factual Information
External Links
DOW Wiki Moderators
Problems with Fellow Editors
Discussion community comments archived from Talk:DOW Rules and Guidelines
testing link