Another automatic "convert to wiki code" tool

[morgandawn]

I have a hard time typing and wiki coding makes typing even harder. However, I have been using a wiki plugin that will automatically convert rich text into wiki code. It is a plugin that can be installed on wikis (although Fanlore currently does not use it).

I access the plugin on the main Wiki site, do my editing in their sandbox and then copy and paste the converted text into Fanlore.

Process
1. Make an account on the main Wiki site. http://en.wikipedia.org/ and log in
2. Go to My Preferences and scroll down to Editing and select "wikEd, a full-featured integrated text editor for Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome."
3. Then go to the Wiki Sandbox (it can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Sandbox&action=edit )

You should see 2 rows of editing tools at the top of the sandbox - far more than the ones you see when you edit a Fanlore Page. If you do not see the 2 rows, you are not logged in.

4. Paste your text into the sandbox, Select All and click on the [W] button. It will turn your text into wiki code with (most) of the formatting. You may need to do some tweaking.
5. Copy and paste the converted wiki code into the Fanlore page and preview and then save.
6. Clear the Wiki Sandbox for the next person.

The expanded toolbox also offers handy shortcuts like creating lists with asterisks or numbers etc, doing a global search and replace, sort alphabetically.

I'll see if I can upload a screencap.
Screencap (click for larger version)


August 19, 2012 edit: as a reminder, there is a Greasemonkey script that can be installed and be made to work in Fanlore (see comments below).  I am not familiar with  how the Greasemonkey script works - if you're having problems  getting it to work on Fanlore contact one of the people discussing the script in the thread below.  I am still using the editor on the the Main Wiki which has installed WikiEd as an Preference option (see the instructions above which say to create a Main Wiki account in order to access the editor). The Preference feature has to be made available by each wiki and it not  tied to you adding the Greasemonkey script to your browser. As of today, the Preference option has not been installed on Fanlore. Also, the Main Wiki now allows you to have your own Sandbox (another option under 'Preferences") which makes it easier for you to have a tab open and work on converting test to wiki code and paste it into Fanlore.

Comments

[julia_beck]

What would you say the drawbacks of the wysiwyg editor are? Or would you recommend installing it to Fanlore? If so, we might make a feature request.

(the editor we have at the work wiki produces unclean code that makes me want to cry, which is one major drawback, as an example.)

[morgandawn]

no drawbacks as far as I can see. It is useful (for me) for longer text or text that has a lot of formatting.

I would recommend installing it on Fanlore. Here is a very long essay that I transfered from LJ to Fanlore.
http://fanlore.org/wiki/Beyond_T'hy'la:_Slash_Analysis_of_the_Star_Trek:_The_Motion_Picture_Novel

I had to manually upload the images and of course add internal wikilinks that matched what we have on Fanlore.

Note: this is not a wysiwyg editor - you can convert existing text and keep the formatting.

[julia_beck]

Ah, I see! That's a beautifully formatted page, though.

I didn't get the Greasemonky script version of WikEd to work yet, but I sent and email to the committee about the extension.

[morgandawn]

I've never been able to get the Greasmonkey WikEd script to work either. Let me know if you figure it out.

[lian]

Ah, I found out why -- it's the default skin. When I switched to monobook via preferences (boo, ugly:/) it appeared instantly.

[morgandawn]

monobook = yech indeed.

I got it to word in Cologne Blue, Modern and Simple. Basically anything but the Wordpress skin.

[onceamy]

And I _may_ have just made it work -- I'm fiddling with the alignment now, but it displays!

ETA: IT WORKS! I'm unsure whether to upload the script, or write out how to change it on your installation (I haven't got Google Chrome working, yet).

[morgandawn]

Whatever would be easiest for noobs. My skill level is at "click here to install".

[onceamy]

Uploading it to Userscripts if I can get Chromium/Chrome working would be the solution, though it'll mean I'll have to keep up to date with new versions and do some amount of manual record keeping.

[lian]

You're awesome, thank you for looking into this, (and an extra thank you for salways being so responsive. <3)

[onceamy]

Don't thank me yet! My computer charger has gone, so it will be a while before I can get around to fixing the Chrome/Chromium issue, as all my data is on my laptop. :)

[onceamy]

Skins are my big agenda next term -- I spent this term working on the Wordpress skin, so I aim to sort something else out for other skins.