Presentation on how to contribute to the WordPress Codex by Lorelle VanFossen http://lorelle.wordpress.com/ Tips, techniques, and information on how to edit and write on the WordPress Codex, the open source online manual for WordPress users. Ideal for WordPress Meetup and user groups for a WordPress Codex Night or to learn about how the main documentation for WordPress works. For more information on the WordPress Codex, see http://codex.wordpress.org/

7. Example of a Codex User Page

8. Codex Toolbox Menus
Views
Page Edit Menu
Toolbox
Organization
Management
Codex Resources
Recent Changes
Random Page

9. What Links Here: It's about the connections
Every page in the Codex:
1. Must have a link to it
2. Must link to another page

11. WordPress Codex Article Features
 Page: The article page
 Discussion: The "chat" about the
article and supporting documentation
 Edit: Edit the article
 History: History of edits and changes

12. Discussion

13. Signature with user page link and timestamp:
4 tildes ~~~~
Triggers a notice to the
user that a comment is
waiting, part of the
communication system.

16.  Summary: Add Twitter-style information on edit.
 This is a minor edit: Corrected spelling, link fixes, mark as minor edits.
 Watch Page: This adds to your "watch list" to monitor.
 Show Preview: Shows preview before publishing.
 Show Changes: Shows comparison of edits.
 Save Page: Publishes changes to the public.
 Editing help: Opens help file with editing tips and techniques.

17. Keep this open in a tab as reference

18. == Section Title ==
An empty line after the end of a paragraph starts a new paragraph, just like
in the WordPress HTML Editor.
To make ''italic'' use two quote marks.
To make '''bold''' use three quote marks.
Example Writing in the
=== Sub-Section === WordPress Codex
To create bullets, you use the asterick.
* To create numbered lists
# You use a pound sign.
# Double the asterick (**) or pound (##) to create nested lists.
* To make a link:
# Internal Link [[WordPress Features]]
# Internal Link Different Text
[[WordPress Features|the features of WordPress]]
# External Link: [http://lorelle.wordpress.com/ Lorelle on WordPress]
# Categories: [[Category:WordPress Lessons]]
* Links in red do not exist.

19. Recent Changes
The heart beat of the
WordPress Codex.
Tracks all Codex activity.

21. Special Pages is
your Codex guide to
things to do

22. http://wpdocsteam.wordpress.com/
the current unofficial to do list for the
Codex team

23. How to add to the task lists:
1. Add recommendations/ideas in the comments.
2. Be as descriptive as necessary so others will
understand and take action.
3. Include a link to the article or related articles.

24. WordPress Meetup Group Task List
The following are example group tasks for a WordPress Meetup
group.
The group should have access to one or more computers.
Groups can consist of an individual or up to 6 people. The group
can divide up the work and consult with each other on the best
choices and decisions.
Recommend groups divide up projects alphabetically, or deal
with similar tasks in reverse alphaetical order so they aren't all
working on the same documents.
If a task cannot be accomplished, a member should put it on a to
list on the WP Docs Team Task List.

25. Common Notifications to Adminstrators
Please add the following to the top or bottom of an article where
appropriate.
Delete: {{rfd}}
Deprecated: {{Deprecated}}
Needs Editing: {{Copyedit}}
Incomplete or Short: {{Stub}}
Old Pages by WP version:
{{Oldpage|WPVersion}} = {{Oldpage|1.5}}
Old Pages/Archaic:
{{Datedpage|Date}} = {{Datedpage|March 24, 2006}}

26. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Wanted Pages
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:WantedPages
List of links created on other articles to an article that
doesn't exist.
1. Is the page link misspelled?
2. Has the page moved?
3. Was the article deleted?
4. Is more action needed? A new article? Add it to the
task list.

27. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Dead End and Lonely Pages
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:DeadendPages
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:LonelyPages
Dead End Pages do not link to any other pages in the Codex.
Lonely Pages are not linked to or from other pages in the
Codex. They are orphans.
They need to be linked back to:
1. Categories
2. Other pages
3. Core reference pages (Function References)

28. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Search and Replace
Search and replace the following terms where
appropriate:
1. Dashboard – It is the Administration Panels or
Administration Screens.
2. Admin Panels – same
3. Blog – WordPress now uses "site"
4. Look for other archiac User Interface terms

29. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Categories
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:WantedCategories
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:UncategorizedPages
Uncategorized Pages: Need categories.
Wanted Categories: Pages with a category that doesn't
exist or match existing categories.
1. Is the category link misspelled?
2. Is it a synonym?
3. Does it need adding?
[[Category:Category Name]]

30. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Random Pages Checkers
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:Random
Dig around the Codex and look for trouble.
1. Check spelling and grammar.
2. Check for links to core elements or topics.
3. If the page needs additional attention, mark it with
[[Category:Copyedit]] and list it on the WPDocs
Task List site.

31. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Glossary
http://codex.wordpress.org/Glossary
Update, edit, correct, add to the WordPress Codex
Glossary. Include links to related articles in the Codex.

32. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
WordPress in Your Language
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_in_Your_Language
All external links to international language support sites
need to be checked and verified, updated if necessary or
removed.

33. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
TOC Sherlock Holmes
Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to track
down EVERY page in the Codex and match it to a
Table of Contents.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Advanced_Topics
http://codex.wordpress.org/Blog_Design_and_Layout
http://codex.wordpress.org/Developer_Documentation
http://codex.wordpress.org/Getting_Started_with_WordPress
http://codex.wordpress.org/Troubleshooting
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Lessons
http://codex.wordpress.org/Working_with_WordPress
Add to TOC task on WPDocs Task List.

34. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
CopyEdit
http://codex.wordpress.org/Category:Copyedit
Codex uses a special tag "Copyedit" to designate pages
that need attention or haven't been reviewed.
1. If the page is complete, remove copyedit category.
2. If it needs more work, do it or list it on the WPDocs
Task List site.

35. The To Do List of the Codex

36. PDX Meetup Codex Groups
Miscellaneous
Unused Files: Look for unused files that should be used or should be
deleted.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:UnusedFiles
Short Pages – short for a reason or incomplete?
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:ShortPages
Long Pages – long for a reason or candidates for breakup?
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:LongPages
Oldest Pages – Are they still relevant or kept for history?
http://codex.wordpress.org/Special:AncientPages

37. WordPress Codex Docs Team Resources
http://wpdocsteam.wordpress.com/
http://codex.wordpress.org/
http://codex.wordpress.org/Help:Editing
Internal Link [[WordPress Features]]
Internal Link Different Text
[[WordPress Features|the features of WordPress]]
External Link: [http://lorelle.wordpress.com/ Lorelle on WordPress]
Categories: [[Category:WordPress Lessons]]