Learn your way around...

Here's a quick overview of TB Wiki's structure...

To access an article directly, type the topic or subject into Wiki's search box, and click "Go". If an article by that name exists, it will be displayed on your screen. If an article with that exact name doesn't exist, the program will automatically look for near matches (in the titles and content of pages) and display the matches it finds in a list for you to choose from. If you pressed "Go", and got an article you weren't looking for, press "Search" - that will bypass the viewing and will execute the match search just described.

For instructions on how to access other page types besides encyclopedia articles, see the section immediately below...

By namespace

TB Wiki can be considered to be two-levels deep. The top level is the guide itself (the collection of articles about every subject under the sun, and beyond), and it is therefore the easiest to access - simply enter the name of the article you wish to view in TB Wiki's searchbox. The section of TB Wiki that the articles are on is called the "main namespace". It is TB Wiki's default namespace - pages from all other namespaces must have their namespace specified in searches or links (followed by a colon). But not articles in the main namespace. Because they're the whole point of TB Wiki.

All of TB Wiki's namespaces other than the main namespace can be considered the 2nd-level.

By link structure

Almost every page on TB Wiki is connected within a massive web of links. Some pages are more centrally connected than others and serve as tables of contents or directories to the information on TB Wiki. These pages are presented in TB Wiki's 3 main navigation bars, found at the top of the very same pages, the navbars allowing for easy movement between and browsing of these pages. Each of these navbars is just one-click away...

The following navbar presents the tables of contents to the guide itself, and is accessible from the A-Z Index from the top of the Main Page.

Wikipedia's main help pages are available on the navbar below, which is accessible from the Contribute link on the Main Page.

The next navbar shows the TB Wiki main directories and resource pages, and it is accessible from the Categories link in TB Wiki's main page.

Other major link structures

When looking for subjects relevant to any particular page you are viewing, be sure to check the page's "See also" section (if it has one), and also the "What links here" command in the toolbar menu on the sidebar on the left-side of your screen (the location of this command on the page varies if you have selected a skin in "my preferences").

Learn by reading and doing

The most direct way to learn is to just jump in and try to do things. Instructions on just about every aspect of TB Wiki are available to assist you in your endeavors.

Wiki Tutorial on Editing

This is a basic tutorial, not an extensive manual. If you want more details, there are links to other pages for more information. To read them as you go along, you can open them in a separate browser window or tab. There are links to "sandbox" pages where you can practise what you're learning. Try things out and play around! Nobody will mind if you mess up and experiment in these practice areas.

• Toturial on Editing
• Sandbox page
• Wiki Cheatsheet

Pre-answered questions

Just about every question you can think of has probably already been asked and answered on Wikipedia, somewhere. Save time by looking them up directly. Here's where to find them and their answers:

• VFAQ - the questions asked the most often about Wiki, and their answers.
• FAQ - If you have a general or fairly basic question about how to do something on Wiki, the chances are that your question is asked and answered here.
• Wikipedia Help Desk - all the questions ever asked at the help desk are kept here. If you read through a few hundred questions and answers, you will have a pretty good feel for Wiki's operations.
• Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)/Archive - like the help desk, but the questions and advice are far more complex, tricky, or expert-level. If you read a few thousand of these questions and their answers, you'll be a Wiki expert (or well on your way).