ACCOUNT REQUEST AND WIKI AUTHORSHIP PRIMER
Account Request
The first step is to sign up for a Wiki account by going to the Account Request page. You are required to give your real name, which will become your Username for Log In. Take your time in deciding what this name will be, because you cannot change it. The biography requires at least 50 words. If you are uncomfortable publishing this information on the Internet, avoid giving identifying details. The biography can be changed from the User Page after your request has been confirmed. You are even permitted to substitute your favorite poem in lieu of the biography. A confirmatory email will be sent to you with the password for Log In. After logging in, you can commence editing other Wiki pages and writing your own articles.
Software Foundation
The software used for Wikipedia is the basis of that for the OpenEMR Wiki. The Help:Contents sections should be understood before any editing or writing is attempted. The links in the Editing section and for Images under Advanced Editing are particularly helpful.
Writing A New Page
Starting a new page is fairly straightforward. Be certain that the title of the article is really the one you want because you cannot edit it. Formatting is more limited at the OpenEMR Wiki compared to Wikipedia.
Playing in the Sandbox
The Sandbox will give you a good sense of how to compose your article using the toolbar. The OpenEMR toolbar offers just the basic functions. Advanced functions such as Tables, Superscripts/Subscripts and Gallery Images are not available. To get around not having the Next Line function, simply skip a line between the text. Images can be inserted with the Embedded File function. The Advanced function of No Wiki Formatting is available, however, and gives greater flexibility in article composition. There are only the Level 2 Headline and the Bold function for the font size of the subtitles of the article. Using the Level 2 Headline to divide the article into subsections will add an Edit button to that subsection, making piecemeal editing possible. You won't have to contend with the entire article just to change a word. Another advantage of employing the Level 2 Headline is the automatic appearance of a Table of Contents under the title, providing a quick reference for the reader. If you are adventurous, try formatting without using the toolbar.
Previewing And Saving
Before publishing the article, use the Show Preview button to get a sense of how the article will look. Remember to save the article, otherwise all that hard work will be lost. Save also the URL of your article for adding your article to the section to which it belongs. If you forgot this step, use the Search bar on the left.
Article Addition
Locate which section your article belongs and use the Edit button to add your article. Read the page about linking. Follow the layout of prior articles if you are uncertain how to do so. Use the asterick symbol to format a bullet point. Copy the URL of your article to provide a link to it in the section. An explanatory phrase or sentence next to this link will help the reader. After hitting the Save button, you have just become the newest Wiki author. Mazel Tov!
