Consumer Rights Wiki:Tools for writing articles: Difference between revisions

1. **Save as You Go**:

   - These editors allow you to save your work locally as you go, avoiding the buggy and slow '''MediaWiki VisualEditor''', which can crash if your browser unexpectedly closes or fails.

   - No need to rely on old, unreliable PHP-based editors that may lose your progress.

2. **See the Whole Article at Once**:

   - Ghostwriter and Typora display the entire document in an easy-to-read format, helping you maintain a clear overview of your structure and content.

   - You can focus on writing without being distracted by loading delays or limited screen real estate.

3. **Combining with Word Processors**:

   - If you prefer writing in a word processor like '''Word''', '''Google Docs''', or '''OpenOffice''', you can paste your completed draft into Typora.

   - Typora will display the entire article in Markdown format, allowing you to make final adjustments.

   - Once ready, copy the Markdown output and paste it into the '''MediaWiki Source Editor''' between <nowiki><markdown></nowiki> tags to avoid VisualEditor slowness and ensure perfectly consistent formatting.

# Article Title

## Section 1

- Bullet point 1

- Bullet point 2

## Section 2

1. **Visual Editor**:

   - A "What You See Is What You Get" (WYSIWYG) editor.

   - Best for users unfamiliar with code or markup.

   - **However**, the Visual Editor has some significant drawbacks:

     - It relies on old PHP code running in a web browser, making it **buggy** and prone to crashing.

     - If your browser crashes or the connection is lost, you can easily lose work since there’s no auto-save or recovery feature like in modern tools.

   - While it’s convenient for quick edits, it’s not ideal for creating long or detailed articles.

2. **Source Editor**:

   - The "raw" editor where you can see and edit the underlying wiki markup.

   - Allows for full control over structure and formatting, including the use of <nowiki><markdown></nowiki> tags for Markdown content.

   - Recommended for advanced users or those familiar with Markdown or HTML.

- **Markdown is Portable**:

   - Markdown is widely supported across many platforms, making it easy to reuse your content in other tools or projects.

   - Wiki source, in contrast, is specific to MediaWiki and less versatile for non-wiki use cases.

- **Easier to Write and Read**:

   - Markdown is simpler and more intuitive than MediaWiki source syntax.

   - Formatting in Markdown is less cluttered, and tools like Typora or Ghostwriter allow you to see exactly how your article will look as you write.

- **Better Tools for Markdown**:

   - Markdown editors like '''Typora''' and '''Ghostwriter''' let you work offline, with auto-save and crash recovery features.

   - You can see a live preview of your work as you write, helping you catch mistakes early.

- **Fast and Lightweight**:

   - Instead of using the slow and buggy Visual Editor, you can write in Markdown and paste it directly into the Source Editor.

- **Ease of Use**:

   - Use Markdown’s simple syntax for formatting, headings, and lists, without having to learn or deal with wiki source.

- **No Conversion Hassle**:

   - If you prefer writing in a word processor like '''LibreOffice''', '''OnlyOffice''', '''Word''', or '''Google Docs''', you can copy your content into Typora to quickly convert it to Markdown.

   - From there, paste the Markdown into the Source Editor within <nowiki><markdown></nowiki> tags. This avoids the slow and error-prone Visual Editor entirely.

1. Write your article in Typora, Ghostwriter, or a word processor.

2. Format your content using Markdown syntax.

3. Copy the Markdown content into the Source Editor between <nowiki><markdown></nowiki> tags:

# Article Title

## Section 1

- Bullet point 1

- Bullet point 2

## Section 2

4. Save your work and enjoy the benefits of Markdown’s simplicity and portability without the Visual Editor’s limitations.

1. **Headings**:

   - Use styles like **Heading 1**, **Heading 2**, etc., in your word processor. This creates a clear structure when pasted into the wiki.

2. **Copy-Paste**:

   - Once your article is finished, copy the content into the **Visual Editor**. Adjust the headings, lists, or formatting if needed.

3. **Why Headings Matter**:

   - Headings are not just for style; they help organize your content, making it easier for readers to navigate.

   - Use **Heading 1** for the main topic (this should be the page title).

   - Use **Heading 2** for major sections.

   - Use **Heading 3** for subsections.

| **Ease of Use**

| **Features**

| **Recommended For**

- **Headings**: Organize your article logically using headings (**H1**, **H2**, **H3**). This improves readability and helps readers jump to the sections they care about.

- **Formatting Tools**: Use bold, italics, bullet points, and links to enhance your content. Visual Editor makes this straightforward.

- **Saving Your Work**: Save your progress regularly. If using the Source Editor, consider drafting offline to avoid losing work.

- **Take Your Time**: It's okay to draft and edit over several sessions.

- **Ask for Help**: Reach out to the wiki community if you’re unsure about formatting or content.

- **Experiment Safely**: Create a personal sandbox page to practice editing without affecting live articles.