Talk:Main Page

Hi All,

Perhaps we should have a discussion about some standard layouts/data for the various topics? Then we'll end up with a house style consistent (hopefully) across the wiki.....[NB]

Help here for uploading images: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Managing_files [NB]

Comprehensive Table help here: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Tables [NB]

Links moved from Main Page

• Configuration settings list
• MediaWiki FAQ
• MediaWiki release mailing list

--DJJ 07:17, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

With regard to the Statistics table I think it would be best to fit as many columns across the page as we can. Otherwise it's going to push the rest of the content off the screen and force people to scroll down. It would probably also be good to do some Zebra striping on the table but we'll need the stylesheets in place to do this....[NB]

Added Windrush to table. Are there any more? [DJJ]

Need Yanmar and Volvo pages expanding - volunteers? [DJJ]

I've come to the conclusion that we need a better list of classes than just alphabetical. Probably organised by length with some annotation for Centre Cockpit, Ketch etc, etc.....[NB]

Yes would work but think less than 25 ft should be less than 26 feet because Centaur is really in this league. [DJJ]

David - what do you want CSS for? its probably better to use wiki markup and keep things simple unless you have something specific in mind but I see the CSS extension is installed and the instructions are here Julian 21:54, 17 November 2011 (UTC)

Nigel suggested we use CSS. Must say so far defaults seem ok DJJ 02:15, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

With regard to CSS I'm thinking about the stats tables and perhaps doing some zebra striping; cleaner with CSS. If want to change the look of the thing we can do it globally via the CSS rather than having to rework each page. Birchn 07:44, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

suggestions for pages

Bob said to me "I think that a short piece on Robinetta could be appropriate to the wiki in an historical context as it reflects the evolution of Rayner's thinking leading to the creation of Westerly." How about a page called "Before Westerly" that covers Robinetta, the Corvette and Westcoaster? We need to come up with a structure for the front page that allows this, and other historical pages to be linked. Julian 22:08, 17 November 2011 (UTC)

I have revised the contents list following the WOA Forum topics but providing separate pages for items such as Deck, Sails and Rigging because I think a Wiki will have more long term content in each area than a forum where the postings at any given time can share an area. Also added a Before, During and After Westerly Section under Miscellaneous Topics.

--DJJ 08:43, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

Does anyone know how to create a Contents Page. I think we should have one at the beginning of each model chapter - like the Centaur has. I've no idea how to create it! Vegable 18:12, 24 November 2011 (UTC)

Table of contents gets generated automatically when there are at least four Leve2 sections. See Proposal for Contents Lists below.

DJJ 05:26, 25 November 2011 (UTC)

Guidance for New Contributions

Contributors should endeavour to review the best avilable information on a topic and submit a digest of that information to the Wiki. Prime sources of information will include personal experience (preferred), magazines, the WOA Web site and discussion groups such as WOA and Yahoo. Material should not be lifted verbatim rather a digested version should be presented in the Wiki. There are generally several alternatives approaches or opinions about any task and Wiki contributors should endeavour to identify these alternatives and provide hooks (follow on pages)to the alternatives even if the information is not available to the original contributor. Someone else can later add that information. Reprints of chatty PBO type articles are not recommended because this is not Wiki style and the "How I did it" article which is suitable for a magazine is generally just one view and the Wiki needs to recognise alternates. --DJJ 08:43, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

I would caution us from thinking too "because this is not Wiki style". Just because we have a wiki, and just because its mediawiki doesn't mean we have to be like Wikipedia. David's guidance is good, but we don't really know our audience yet and all sorts of things might end up being of interest. I'd prefer we avoid trying to have too strong an editorial interest in what kind of contribution is appropriate. My personal feeling is we should avoid copying things available elsewhere, but introduce other resources and link to them. Its really great WOA is hosting this and not making it members only, so lets link to members only resources in a welcoming way and promote WOA, and lets link to other resources too. Julian 07:38, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

Perhaps I pushed that point too strongly. I was really trying to reinforce the don't copy message which I agree is not the same thing as use Wiki style. I would probably write Wikipedia style but I agree others may contribute effectively in a more chatty way. Hopefully not too chatty though  :)

--DJJ 17:15, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

Proposal for Contents Lists

Either:

1)Set Up Standard Level 2 Headline sections on the Class pages now as :

Xxxxx Statistics Table as now. Incidentally do people prefer vertical table (as most) or flatter tables as Konsort which save height on the Class page? Assuming we have sections on the class pages I think I am happy with the vertical tables especially if we add a picture alongside of an example of the class.

Xxxxx Story Standard WOA site link

Xxxxx Maintenance and Repair This in turn is eventually split down by the 8 boat areas from the Main Page Topics Viz Cabin Fittings and Installation; Deck and Cockpit; Engines; Hull, Keels and Rudder; Instruments and Electrics; Mast Rigging and Sails; Moorings and Anchors; Transmission and Propellers.

Xxxxx Upgrades and Enhancements Makes the subtle distinction between Maintenance and upgrades which are totally new fittings. So here could go adding a fridge, adding a cockpit tent or a fixed windscreen. Contents list will probably develop adhoc.

Xxxxx Other Topics This could allow for history or even logs of trips if people want that?

Or

2) We could just add articles as they come on the basis that you don't need a table of contents if there's not much there and then at some point do a sort. I am conscious of the fact that if we have too many empty pages people will get fed up clicking to an empty page.

At the article level sections could be:

1 to n article specific sections. For example very generally before, during and after sections.

Resources Section – containing web links to suppliers of materials or services

References Section – containing cross reference to WOA Journal issues and Magazine articles

This should generate a table of contents if the article structure demands it.

See examples of both above set up under Centaur

DJJ 05:20, 25 November 2011 (UTC)