Getting Started With Wiki's on Tulip

This post is primary aimed at NUR258 Tunton based students however I shall aim to make this as generic as possible...

I've heard the term 'wiki' before but what is one? 
Well you've most probably already used one Wikipedia being the most prominent use of wiki technology...

The definition of a wiki taken directly from Wikipedia:

"A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and edition of a ny number interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative wiki websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems."
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

The bit were using from this definition is "collaborative wiki websites", a real world example would be you all sat around a white board firing ideas about, except with wiki technology you all can do this rather than designating a scribe. This results in contribution from all members of the group as opposed to standard group dynamics of only the loud confident views being projected.

Or this can be explained better here (however the creation of new pages isn't necessary needed for this module):



Well hope that clears up what a wiki is... possibly further information can be viewed on Wikipedia's site however for this example we'll be using Tulip's wiki function as opposed to Wikipedia's.

How do I get to my Wiki?
Simply go to your Module site and on the left hand menu you should see a Wiki named after your group number. You should hopefully know what group your in by now, however if in doubt the group lists should be listed somewhere on your module site (group names/lists are unknown to me).

How do I get this magical edit panel up?! 
Well using Group 1's wiki as an example simply click on the little edit icon at the top of the page (just to the left of where it say's "Browse"):

Or for the long winded approach click on the option the right of that titled "Page" then from the resulting ribbon menu select "Edit"... doing so should bring up an edit page similar to as follows:

I won't go into explaining what each individual bit does here as it should be pritty much self explanatory, I advice you to stay awy from clicking the "check out" option and encourage you to save and close when your done... otherwise your work will be lost obviously!

How do I link?
Linking can be done via two methods, simply paste the address from the address bar directly into the wiki and Tulip will recognise its a link and create it accordingly. Or if you want to be clever and give contextual links you can make individual words links (like this one). Simply highlight the text in question, and select the "insert" option along the top of the ribbon (next to "Format Text"):

Within the Insert options menu, select "Link" button globe with a chain link underneath...

From this pop up menu its quite self explanatory what to do simply paste in the address url into the address:

Well hope that makes sense... just have a play about with this you can't really break anything and is the best way to learn!

Stuff Links I want some Pictures!
Pictures for wiki's are easy as pie... again go to the "insert" option:

And select "picture" from the resulting ribbon menu. This will bring up a pop up menu where you browse for the image on your computer click ok and it'll upload and give you a option to change the name of it although its not needed but if you've uploaded an image which is just a number might be worth changing its name to something relivant. Click "Save" and the image is uploaded and will automatically be embedded in your wiki.

AAH The image I've just uploaded is HUGE!
This can be solved via two methods, the best being to re-size the image using a separate program on your computer such as Adobe Fireworks, Photoshop, Windows Live Photo Gallery or iPhoto and re-uploading said image although completely understand that this might be above your technical skills... (trying not to sound to patronizing).

The Second method is to use the wiki tools to re-size the said image. If you select the image in your edit panel, so it gets highlighted much like when you highlight text. This'll bring up a new contextual option "Picture Tool" select "Design":

(click above image to make it bigger)

Hopefully that all makes sense.. I've kinda forgotten where I was heading with this picture section but think I've covered everything, please email me or leave a comment if you feel I've missed anything out!

I made an epic post but someone accidentally deleted all my hard work and replaced it with pictures of cats... entertaining cat's none the less but not very helpful... how do I get back to my original work?!
Well the beauty with Wiki's is that every update is documented and prior versions are kept (this is the same for all wiki's). To get to the history posts on your wiki go to your wiki page, and instead of selecting the edit icon, select the page option along the top of the ribbon...

You'll then be shown a list of all the prior edits, on the new left hand menu you can cycle through them and restore to a prior copy should you desire:

Best practice?
Please be aware your editing/contributing to fellow students work, so much like in the real world you wouldn't rip up someone's notebook, don't just delete someone's work on the wiki. Sure edit it if inaccurate or if you do make any major changes leave a note as to why. Please bear in mind your working a team with this. Please remember such things as copyright if your using someone elses photo get permisson first and make sure you never claim its your own. Link any quotes or extracts back to the original sites you obtained them from etc.


CHICKA CHICKA CHECK OUT!
Don't you just hate it when you go to the toilet and find the seat up? This is the same with your Wiki's if you check your item out, check it back in again. You don't need to check the wiki out to edit it, although I don't discourage the use of checking the item in and out I wouldn't say its something vital to do.

If you do come to your Wiki and find that it's giving you an error similar to this:

Then don't panic or curse the person who left it checked out simply sort it our yourself! Click on page icon, then over-right checkout:

Then you can continue with it checkout to yourself ooor check it back in to get rid of that annoying bar:

It'll ask you to comment on the check-in but you can leave the field blank and it'll proceed to be checked in.


And that's a wrap!
Hope this was of some use, please email/comment if you'd like me to make any alterations or if something just doesn't make sense!


EDIT: I've eventually got around to creating the video I promised ages ago!