View source for SwarmWiki:FAQ

This is a list of '''frequently asked questions (FAQs)''' for the SwarmWiki, for a list of FAQs for the Swarm software see [[Swarm FAQ]].

==Q. How do I find stuff on this wiki?==

A. One way is of course by browsing around, as on any web site. But you can also use the "Special pages" link on the Toolbox, on the left panel. One of the special pages, for example, is a list of all the wiki's pages. {{posted|--[[User:SFRailsback|SFRailsback]] 18:27, 22 Jan 2006 (EST)}}

==Q. Who can edit these pages? How do I register?==

A. Anybody who registers as a user and then logs in. We now require registration and login for anyone who edits the wiki, to avoid spam. (And, this being a scientific forum, contributors should take credit and responsibility for their contributions.) 

Please note: '''You do not need to register or log in to download and use any of the materials on the wiki!! You only need a login to edit the wiki.''' If you want to download and use Swarm, for example, please go ahead instead of registering first.

To register, email the managers of this site with a request, following the instructions [[SDG_contact|on SDG's contact page]]. A login will then be created for you. 

Once you have registered, you can visit the wiki, log in, and edit. To log in, simply visit the [[Special:Userlogin|login page]]---there is a link to it at the very top right of each page.

==Q. What kind of changes are OK? What is the etiquette for contributing to a wiki?==

A. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page this general guidance].

==Q. How do I add a news item to the wiki's main page?==

A. Sorry, we only let authorized people modify the main page. The recommended way to submit a news item is to post it as an announcement to the agent-based modeling mail list &lt;modelling at swarm.org&gt;, including a request to add it to the wiki news. Or you can [[SDG_contact|contact us by email]] and someone will review and add it to the wiki.

==Q. How do I add an item to this FAQ?==

A. First, please do! as long as you have double-checked to make sure your contribution is correct and useful. 
* Register and log in.
* Navigate to the FAQ page.
* Click on the "Edit" button at its top. This will open a plain-text editing window labeled "Editing SwarmWiki:FAQ".
* To add your contribution, copy the format of an existing Q. and A. section.
* Add this text at the bottom, as a separate line: <tt><nowiki>{{posted|--~~~~}}</nowiki></tt>.  This line adds information on who posted the addition and when. This is important for helping us maintain the wiki.
* When ready, look below the editing window and click on the "Show preview" button. This lets you preview your addition, then go back to editing it if necessary.
* When done, click the "Save page" button. 
{{posted|--[[User:SFRailsback|SFRailsback]] 11:17, 18 Jan 2006 (EST)}}

==Q. Can I edit any page to test things out?==

A. No.  You should do all your testing in the [[Wiki sandbox]] provided for that purpose.  If you edit other pages just to test the wiki process, rather than providing useful content, you will be blocked.

==Q. Don't you worry users will wreck your pages?==

A. Sometimes, but these pages are backed up between changes and we can always put back what there was before.

==Q. How do I edit these pages?==

A. Comprehensive information is available at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page Wikipedia] and [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing Meta-wiki:How to edit a page]

==Q. Where can I leave comments?==

A. Each page has a companion "Talk" page where comments on the text, or discussions about the text should go (these sorts of meta content should ''not'' go in the article itself).  You can access (or create a Talk page) by clicking the "Discuss this page" link.  For example here is the Talk page for the page you are currently reading: [[SwarmWiki talk:FAQ]].

==Q. How do I upload pdf and tar.gz files to accompany a page?==

A. For security reasons, you can only upload images and other selected file types. MediaWiki isn't oriented particularly towards uploading files other than image files, see: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Images_and_other_uploaded_files. We have enabled uploading of .pdf and (perhaps?) tar.gz files. Try it, and if it does not work, send us a message.

To upload a file to the wiki, use the [[Special:Upload]] page.

==Q. How do I contact the wiki adminstrators to suggest changes or get help with problems?==

A. See [[SDG_contact|how to contact us]].