Help:VisualEditor/User guide

This is a user guide for the VisualEditor. See also the FAQ.

What about editing LaTeX for mathematical formulas, image files, and other special items?
Some, like images and categories, will be supported directly in VisualEditor. There are plans to support mathematical formulas as well. For more exotic features, it will still be possible to edit the source wikitext directly.

How do I edit links?
Links can be added through the "link" button (looks like a couple of links in a chain) at the top of the page, or by using the shortcut Ctrl. If you do not first highlight a word, pressing the "link" button will insert a link where your cursor is on the page at the time you enter the link. If you have first selected a word (or multiple words), your selection will become the display text for the link.

When you press "link" or use the shortcut, you will bring up a small window that includes a box into which you may type the link (internal or external). The VisualEditor will try to assist with internal links by looking for likely matches as you begin to type. Once you have entered or selected the link, you can press return, click outside of the box, or press the close key (<). Your link will appear on the VisualEditor page, but it will not be saved until you press "save page".

To remove or changing an existing link, click in the link's display text or select it, then press the "link" button, keyboard shortcut, or clicking on the link button in the annotation menu that comes up to bring up the link tool. The link target will display, and you have the option to change the link to something else, or remove it by pressing the 'remove' icon in the top-right corner of the tool. In either case, you may close the window and save your edits as above.

How do I edit templates?
(pending)

How do I add or remove existing templates?
(pending)

How do I edit images and other media files?
(pending)

How do I edit categories?
Categories can be edited through the "Page settings" menu in the VisualEditor toolbar. The "Page settings" menu will give you a pop-up window in which to modify, remove or add categories.

Each category already in use on a page will be listed with a pull-down menu. Pulling down the menu for an individual category allows you to remove it (by pressing the trash can icon) or changing its display by entering a name in the box labeled "Sort this page as".

You may add new categories in the box labeled "Add a category." As you enter the category name, it will search for matching categories which you can – if appropriate – select.

When you are finished adding, editing or removing categories, press "apply changes" to leave the menu and return to the VisualEditor editing screen. At that time, you can either continue editing with the VisualEditor or press "save page" to complete your change to the category. Please note that if you do not press "save page", your changes will not be saved.

How do I edit references?
(pending)

What keyboard shortcuts are supported?
See VisualEditor/Features/Keyboard shortcuts. Many of the shortcuts commonly in use (Ctrl for bold, for instance) will still function.

Will the VisualEditor make automatic fixes to pages?
In general, VisualEditor should never make changes to formatting on lines that are not being directly edited.