WikiIndex:User preferences help: Difference between revisions

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'''WikiIndex:User preferences help''' — this {{tag|WikiIndex}} 'meta' page is one of a series of {{tag|Help|help pages}}, and specifically details how to manage your own {{tag|user}} [[:Category:WikiIndex account|account]] here on WikiIndex.  It is particularly useful in describing the various 'user customisation' options as found within your [[Special:Preferences|Preferences]] area of the [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software that powers this [[WikiIndex]] wiki website.
'''WikiIndex:User preferences help''' — this {{tag|WikiIndex}} 'meta' page is one of a series of {{tag|Help|help pages}}, and specifically details how to manage your own {{tag|user}} [[:Category:WikiIndex account|account]] here on this [[WikiIndex]] wiki site.  It is particularly useful in describing the various 'user customisation' options as found within your own [[Special:Preferences|preferences]] area of the [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software that powers this WikiIndex [[wiki]] website.


==User profile data==
==User profile data==
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*we prefer you follow the [[WikiIndex:Real names|use real names]] policy;
*we prefer you follow the [[WikiIndex:Real names|use real names]] policy;
*if you show your [[username]] as an image, or with letters replaced by special characters, even if the name is still readable, searching a [[talk page]] for your username will fail;
*if you show your [[username]] as an image, or with letters replaced by special characters, even if the name is still readable, searching a [[talk page]] for your username will fail;
*excessive signatures may clutter talk pages;
*excessive signatures (specifically, length, style, or color) may clutter talk pages;
*drawing excessive attention to yourself may create the impression that you find yourself [[God king|more important]] than other people.
*drawing excessive attention to yourself may create the impression that you find yourself [[God king|more important]] than other people.


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To change your password, enter your old password, the new password, and the new password a second time.  (If you're merely changing the other preferences, you do not need to enter your password.)
To change your password, enter your old password, the new password, and the new password a second time.  (If you're merely changing the other preferences, you do not need to enter your password.)


*'''Remember password across sessions''':  enabling this feature will place a cookie in your [[:Category:Browser|browsers]] cache, which will allow [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] to recognize you each time you visit the page.  You will not have to manually log-in each time you visit.
*'''Remember password across sessions''':  enabling this feature will place a cookie in your [[:Category:Browser|browsers']] cache, which will allow [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] to recognize you each time you visit the page.  You will not have to manually log-in each time you visit.


If you want to use ''remember my password'', you have to change your password if it was auto-generated by MediaWiki and emailed to you.  This is a security feature, but very often causes trouble for new users.
If you want to use ''remember my password'', you have to change your password if it was auto-generated by MediaWiki and emailed to you.  This is a security feature, but very often causes trouble for new users.
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Previously, the default was the [[:Category:Monobook|Monobook skin]]; what was called Standard is here in the preferences called Classic (not to be confused with the even older [[:Category:Nostalgia|Nostalgia]], no longer available here on [[WikiIndex]]), but the system uses 'wikistandard' in the naming of CSS files.  As of 2017, the current default skin here on WikiIndex is [[:Category:Vector|Vector]].
Previously, the default was the [[:Category:Monobook|Monobook skin]]; what was called Standard is here in the preferences called Classic (not to be confused with the even older [[:Category:Nostalgia|Nostalgia]], no longer available here on [[WikiIndex]]), but the system uses 'wikistandard' in the naming of CSS files.  As of 2017, the current default skin here on WikiIndex is [[:Category:Vector|Vector]].


Standard [[wikilink]]s at the edges of the page are in different positions.  Some links are not present in every skin.  In Nostalgia, some links are in a drop-down menu instead of permanently visible.
Standard [[wikilink]]s at the edges ([[sidebar]]) of the page are in different positions.  Some wikilinks are not present in every skin.  In Nostalgia, some links are in a drop-down menu instead of permanently visible.


[[:Category:Cologne Blue|Cologne Blue]] has a fixed font pitch size, unless one specifies in your own browser setting 'ignore font sizes specified in the webpage'; even then, the line height is fixed; therefore this skin is hardly suitable for a large font.
[[:Category:Cologne Blue|Cologne Blue]] has a fixed font pitch size, unless one specifies in your own browser setting 'ignore font sizes specified in the webpage'; even then, the line height is fixed; therefore this skin is hardly suitable for a large font.
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===Math===
===Math===
Rendering math<!-- needs updating to match latest software version -->
Rendering mathematical equations<!-- needs updating to match latest software version -->
<pre>
<pre>
o Always render PNG
o Always render PNG
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*'''Recommended for modern browsers''': if you use a web browser that was released in the past year or so, use this option;-->
*'''Recommended for modern browsers''': if you use a web browser that was released in the past year or so, use this option;-->
*'''MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (experimental)'''.
*'''MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (experimental)'''.
Here on WikiIndex, it is highly likely there is very little need to worry about this section.


==Editing==
==Editing==
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*'''Enable enhanced editing toolbar''' – gives an enhanced editing toolbar which includes special characters (similar to Windows Character Map), wiki markup, etc;
*'''Enable enhanced editing toolbar''' – gives an enhanced editing toolbar which includes special characters (similar to Windows Character Map), wiki markup, etc;
*'''Enable wizards for inserting links, tables as well as the search and replace function''' – try it and see!
*'''Enable wizards for inserting links, tables as well as the search and replace function''' – try it and see!
*'''Edit box has full width''' – if this box is checked, the edit box (when you click 'Edit this page') will be the width of the browser window, minus the quickbar width.
*'''Edit box has full width''' – if this box is checked, the edit box (when you click 'Edit this page') will be the width of the browser window, minus any quickbar width.


===Preview===
===Preview===
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==Browser preferences==
==Browser preferences==
[[:Category:Browser|Browsers]] usually also allow you to specify preferences, e.g. font size and font type.  The standard skin is compatible with your browser setting of font size and font type.  The Cologne Blue skin has most text in a fixed font size, ignoring your browser setting.  Some browsers, e.g. IE, allow you to specify that font size specified in the web page is ignored.  In that case, the font size in Cologne Blue is as specified in the browser, but with the line height not adjusted accordingly.  Therefore a large font gives a messy result.
[[:Category:Browser|Browsers]] usually also allow you to specify preferences, e.g. font size and font type.  The standard skin is compatible with your browser setting of font size and font type.  The Cologne Blue skin has most text in a fixed font size, ignoring your browser setting.  Some browsers, e.g. Internet Explorer, allow you to specify that font size specified in the web page is ignored.  In that case, the font size in Cologne Blue is as specified in the browser, but with the line height not adjusted accordingly.  Therefore a large font gives a messy result.


==Providing your own CSS==
==Providing your own CSS==
[[:Category:Cascading Style Sheets|Cascading Style Sheets]] (CSS) are used to configure MediaWiki's visual appearance.  You can specify your own CSS definitions and overwrite the default settings.  See [[Meta-Wiki:Help:User style|Wikimedia Meta-Wiki – Help: User style]].
[[:Category:Cascading Style Sheets|Cascading Style Sheets]] (CSS) are used to configure MediaWiki's visual appearance.  You can specify your own CSS definitions and overwrite the default settings.  See {{WMF-Meta|Help:User style|Wikimedia Meta-Wiki – Help: User style}}.


==External links==
==External links==

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