Help:Tracking changes: Difference between revisions
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As the ''revision history'' of pages is kept, changes can be tracked in various ways. | As the ''revision history'' of pages is kept, changes can be tracked in various ways. | ||
{{tip| | |||
Giving a comprehensive and concise edit summary will help understanding the history. | |||
Also, "why" is more interesting than "how" or "what" — a diff will rarely show why an edit was made.}} | |||
== Recent changes == | == Recent changes == | ||
The page [[Special:RecentChanges]] is a list of all the recent changes on the wiki. | The page [[Special:RecentChanges]] is a list of all the recent changes on the wiki. | ||
[[File:FlightGear wiki recent changes.png|none|frame|Recent changes on the wiki. Only some users have rights to block users.]] | |||
If you want to have a feel about what is going on on the wiki you could start your wiki session by having a peek at that page. | If you want to have a feel about what is going on on the wiki you could start your wiki session by having a peek at that page. | ||
Some of the things visible there | Some of the things visible there are: | ||
* Edits to pages | * Edits to pages | ||
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== Watchlist == | == Watchlist == | ||
The ''wathlist'' will help you keep track of interesting pages if the recent changes page is too busy. | The ''wathlist'' will help you keep track of interesting pages if the recent changes page is too busy. | ||
The watchlist presents changes the same way as the recent changes page. | |||
The watchlist is accessible from a link in the top right corner of every wiki pages when you have logged in. | The watchlist is accessible from a link in the top right corner of every wiki pages when you have logged in. | ||
At first the watchlist will be empty, but pages can be added to it by clicking the ''watch tab'' (the star icon tab) or by clicking the "Watch this page" box below the edit summary text box when editing or creating a new page. | At first the watchlist will at first be empty, but pages can be added to it either by clicking the ''watch tab'' (the star icon tab) or by clicking the "Watch this page" box below the edit summary text box when editing or creating a new page. | ||
== Page revision history == | == Page revision history == | ||
The ''revision history'' of a page, accessible from the history tab, holds all the changes to a page. Some data regarding deleted revisions is only available to users with sufficient rights. | The ''revision history'' of a page, accessible from the history tab, holds all the changes to a page. Some data regarding deleted revisions is only available to users with sufficient rights. | ||
The revision history | [[File:FlightGear wiki revision history.png|none|frame|The top of the revision history of a page]] | ||
The revision history allow you to look at and compare selected revisions using ''page diffs'' (or often just ''diffs''), as well as link to a certain revision or comparison of revisions. | |||
[[Category:Help]] | [[Category:Help]] | ||
Revision as of 20:42, 21 February 2016
One of the main characteristics of a wiki that like the FlightGear are using the MediaWiki software is that the edit history of all pages is preserved and is available to everyone. This allows for very transparent collaboration.
As the revision history of pages is kept, changes can be tracked in various ways.
| Tip
Giving a comprehensive and concise edit summary will help understanding the history. Also, "why" is more interesting than "how" or "what" — a diff will rarely show why an edit was made. |
Recent changes
The page Special:RecentChanges is a list of all the recent changes on the wiki.
If you want to have a feel about what is going on on the wiki you could start your wiki session by having a peek at that page.
Some of the things visible there are:
- Edits to pages
- Creation of new pages
- File uploads, usually images
- Creation of new users
- Pages being protected
- Deletion of pages or files
As it shows all the latest changes it is often the place where one will find any spam, vandalism or other unwanted edits.
Watchlist
The wathlist will help you keep track of interesting pages if the recent changes page is too busy.
The watchlist presents changes the same way as the recent changes page.
The watchlist is accessible from a link in the top right corner of every wiki pages when you have logged in.
At first the watchlist will at first be empty, but pages can be added to it either by clicking the watch tab (the star icon tab) or by clicking the "Watch this page" box below the edit summary text box when editing or creating a new page.
Page revision history
The revision history of a page, accessible from the history tab, holds all the changes to a page. Some data regarding deleted revisions is only available to users with sufficient rights.
The revision history allow you to look at and compare selected revisions using page diffs (or often just diffs), as well as link to a certain revision or comparison of revisions.