You must log in to edit PetroWiki. Help with editing
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Message: PetroWiki content is moving to OnePetro! Please note that all projects need to be complete by November 1, 2024, to ensure a smooth transition. Online editing will be turned off on this date.
Help:Editing a page
It's very easy to edit the contents of a wiki. It only takes a few clicks. See also the slideshow covering the editing overview.
- Log in
- Click the Edit link.
- Make changes to the text.
- Complete the acknowledgements
- Click the Save button.
Simple as that! Of course, the guidelines below may help you to feel more confident. Remember you should always aim to improve the overall contents of the wiki with your edits. If you're wondering what type of content to add, see PetroWiki:Appropriate_content and/or Contribute what you know is right page.
Editing overview tutorials
The following audio/visual tutorials represent the same tutorial in different formats. This is to better serve our contributors with formats that meet their individualized needs and requirements.
YouTube
View this tutorial as a video at YouTube. Visit our YouTube Channel.
View this tutorial as slideshow at Slideshare. Visit our Slideshare Channel.
Editing rules, editing conventions, and formatting
The number one rule of wiki editing is don't be afraid to try. An edit can contribute whole new paragraphs or pages of information, or it can be as simple as fixing a typo or a spelling mistake. In general, try to add or edit text so that it is clear and concise. Most importantly, make sure you are always aiming to do something which improves the contents of the wiki. When you need to use some type of formatting, such as for a new headings or bolding of text, you do this using the edit toolbar above the content entry area. See Help:Formatting for some of the common types of formatting used.
Edit summary
Before you save a change, you can enter a short note in the Summary: box describing your changes. Don't worry too much about this, or spend too much time thinking about it, but try to give a little description of what you just changed e.g. "fixed typo" or "added more information about sunflowers". The summary gets stored alongside your edit, and allows moderators and other users to track changes in the wiki more effectively.
Multiple browser windows (tabs)
When you are editing a page, it is sometimes helpful to have a help page such as this one, or formatting references, or DOI, or others open at the same time. Wikis like to do everything in the same window. So multiple browser windows (tabs) are your friend. You can have the page you are editing and several help windows open at the same time and easily switch between them to check on how to do something without having to save your content changes first.