DOW Rules and Guidelines
CONTENT COMING SOON
Getting Started
Exploring
One of the best things and editor 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 is seen 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. Take advantage of the various Talk pages on the wiki. To post on an article or user's talk page, click on the "Discussion" tab and you will be allowed to editing it. Editors can also post on the forums or send a PM to any of the Mods on the forum.Sandbox
The DOW Wiki Sandboxes are where editors can go to “play” with new ideas for the wiki. When an editor is unsure of how something will look or work, they should 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 user names, 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 Etiquette
Editing Already Existing Pages
If you have information to add to an already exising page or corrects to make, simply click the "Edit" tab on the page to begin editing. Remember, nobody "owns" a particular page and therefore all editors are encouraged to help out where they can. For pages that are already well established, it is often best to bring up questions or potential changes on the Talk page before editing.Creating a New Page
To start a new page, make a link to the page to create be created. Use a title that accurately reflects the contents of the page. Next, either by previewing the page using the "Show Preview" option or by saving the page, click on the red linked page title. This will allow editors to begin editing the page. When information has been added, save the page as normal. Newly created pages are marked on the Recent Changes page with an N.Previewing Pages
When editing, it is helpful to use the "preview" button to make sure things look correct before they are saved. This step saves a lot of time as mistakes can be caught. Necessary changes can be made without having to edit, save, re-edit, re-save, and so on.Uploading Images/Other Files
For consistency in loading and to keep everything "in house" please upload pictures here on the wiki rather than hosting them elsewhere and linking to them. It is expected that editors are using pictures that they have captured themself. 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 an image be uploaded 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 left hand 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 maintain consistency within the names of uploaded images.
Using the Summary Box
Editors are asked to make an entry in the "Summary" box, which is right above the save button. Providing a summary of the changes made lets other editors know what has been changed without having to compare the two different versions.For uploading images provided by a non-editor, the "Summary" box is where editors should provide credit to the person who submitted the image.
Minor Edits
Minor edits should be noted as such. To do this check the box next to "This is a minor edit". By checking this box, the edit is marked with an m on the Recent Changes page and you let other editors know that no major changes were made to the page. Minor edits include things such as spelling or formatting changes.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
Only syops have the ability to delete images. If you have an something that needs to be deleted (images, pages, redirects), please post it in the Deletion Request thread of the appropriate forum:- TTC Deletion Request Page
- VMKF Deletion Request Page
- CPF Deletion Request Page
- POF Deletion Request Page
Communication
Try to keep in mind that editors work as a team and therefore communication is essential. Editors don't need permission to make changes but sometimes it is good to talk to the people who have edited that page or topic before to find out why they are doing things the way they are. Please keep in mind that it is important to respect your fellow editors. Comments and questions should be posed in a polite and genuine fashion. Editors are not to act like a mod and tell users what they may and may not do, post rude comments, or make accusations.There are many different ways to communicate to your fellow editors.
Talk Pages
User Talk Page
IRC Channel
Private Messaging
Policies
G-Rated
Factual Information
The wiki should contain established facts or well agreed upon guidelines, not rumors or personal opinion.External Links
DOW Wiki Moderators
Should you have any further questions you can always contact the DOW Moderators directly via a PM (private message) on any of the fansites.| | | ToonTownCentral | VMKforums | PiratesOnlineForums | ClubPenguinFansite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| prisoner | TTC | VMKf | POF | CPf |
| SpinMarty | TTC | VMKf | POF | CPf |
| UpInTheAir | TTC | VMKf | POF | CPf |
Problems with Fellow Editors
If you see an editor violating DOW Editor Guidelines or acting in a questionable fashion, let a DOW Wiki Moderator or one of our sysops know right away. Use the above table to contact a moderator on one of the forums. Provide as much information in your message as you can so that the problem can be taken care of. Do not take matters into your own hands by reprimanding users. Regular editors are not allowed to act like a moderatators, rather they should leave such actions to the mods.There is a difference between reprimanding a user and helping them or making suggestions. We welcome open communication and strive for editors to work together as a team. Communication between editors should be in the form of lively discussion and never scolding or accusations. If you are unsure why an editor did something, ask them and work with them instead of telling them what you think they did "wrong".
Consequences
Violations of DOW Wiki Policy will be dealt with by the DOW Wiki Moderators. The consequence for breaking the DOW Wiki rules will be determined on a case by case basis and will depend on the severity of the infraction and the editor's history. DOW Wiki Moderators may find it necessary to block the account of an editor. This means they will not be able to edit for a certain amount of time. The duration of the block can vary from only a few hours to indefinitely.Discussion community comments archived from Talk:DOW Rules and Guidelines
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