Help:VisualEditor/User guide/sco

 If you would like to try VisualEditor without editing an article, [ here is a page] where you can freely test it. You don't need an account to use VisualEditor on that page.

Getting started: the VisualEditor toolbar
center|1200px|alt=Screenshot of the VisualEditor toolbar

border|1200px|center

Editing references
{| cellpadding="15"
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Eeditin aen exeestin referance

 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 1.png
 * To edit an existing reference, click on it where it appears in the text (usually as a bracketed number). You will see either a "" icon (bookmark) or an icon (and name) for the template that was used to create this reference. Clicking on this icon will open a dialog where you can edit the reference.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 6.png
 * If what appears is the "" icon, clicking on it opens the Reference dialog, where you can edit the reference's contents.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 6.png
 * If what appears is the "" icon, clicking on it opens the Reference dialog, where you can edit the reference's contents.
 * If what appears is the "" icon, clicking on it opens the Reference dialog, where you can edit the reference's contents.

Many wikis use templates to format references. If a template is used in your reference, then all the text in the template will be highlighted when you click on the reference information.

If a template was used and you've clicked on information in that template, then the icon (puzzle piece) will appear. Click on that icon to edit the content of the template in the template mini-editor dialog.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing References - Cite Web.png
 * If, instead of the "" icon (bookmark), what appears when you click on a reference is an icon for a standard template for citations, then clicking on that icon will take you directly to the template mini-editor dialog.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 5.png
 * Inside the template mini-editor, you can add or remove types of information or change current content. Only fields (template parameters) that have content are supposed to be shown initially. To add fields, click on "" at the bottom of the mini-editor.
 * colspan=2 |
 * border|center|150px
 * Click on "" when you're done.
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * border|center|150px
 * Click on "" when you're done.
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Re-using an existing reference

 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor references more.png
 * Gif the page awreadie contains referances, ye can chuise tae reuise aen exeestin citation, gif it applies til the tex that ye want tae soorce.
 * VisualEditor references more.png
 * Gif the page awreadie contains referances, ye can chuise tae reuise aen exeestin citation, gif it applies til the tex that ye want tae soorce.

Tae reuise aen exeestin referance, place yer curser whaur ye want tae add it in the tex, n clap on the "" icon (buikmaurk) fae the "" menu.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 18.png
 * In the dialog, look at the list for the reference you want to reuse, and select it. If there are many references, you can use the search box (labeled "") to list only those references that include certain text.
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Adding a new reference

 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor references more.png
 * To add a citation using the "" menu, place your cursor where you want to add it in the text. Then select the appropriate citation type in the menu.
 * colspan=2 |
 * To add a citation using the "" menu, place your cursor where you want to add it in the text. Then select the appropriate citation type in the menu.
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Using the "Basic" citation

 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 20.png
 * In the referance eediter, ye can eik, eedit n format yer citation.
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 20.png
 * In the referance eediter, ye can eik, eedit n format yer citation.

You can make the reference belong to a given group, although normally this is left blank. (This option is used to display groups of references with the "" tool.)
 * colspan=2 |
 * border|center|300px
 * Gif ye'r eikin ae new referance n ye want tae include ae template in it, clap the Template icon (puzzle piece) in the puldoon "" tuilbaur o the referance eediter.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 9.png
 * Then, look for the template you want to use, add it and edit it as you would any other template. (See the Editing templates section, below, if you need more information about templates.)
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references 9.png
 * Then, look for the template you want to use, add it and edit it as you would any other template. (See the Editing templates section, below, if you need more information about templates.)
 * Then, look for the template you want to use, add it and edit it as you would any other template. (See the Editing templates section, below, if you need more information about templates.)

After you're done editing your new template, click on "" to return to the Reference editor, and "" again to return to the page you're editing.
 * colspan=2 |
 * border|center|300px
 * Gif thaur's na awreadie ae leet o referances oan the page (fer example, gif ye'r addin the first referance o the page), ye need tae eik it in order fer the tex o yer referance tae be displeyed.
 * border|center|300px
 * Gif thaur's na awreadie ae leet o referances oan the page (fer example, gif ye'r addin the first referance o the page), ye need tae eik it in order fer the tex o yer referance tae be displeyed.

Place the cursor where you want to display the references list (usually at the bottom of the page), open the "" menu and click the "" icon (three books).
 * colspan=2 |
 * border|center|500px
 * If you are using several groups of references, which is relatively rare, you can specify the group in this dialog. Only the references that belong to that group will be displayed here.
 * border|center|500px
 * If you are using several groups of references, which is relatively rare, you can specify the group in this dialog. Only the references that belong to that group will be displayed here.

The final step in the References list dialog is to click "".
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Using standard cite templates

 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing References - Cite Pulldown.png
 * Your local wiki may have added extra citation templates to this menu. This offers quick access to the most-used citation templates. (Instructions for adding extra citation templates to your local wiki are available at VisualEditor/Citation tool.)
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references - Cite book required fields.png
 * Clicking on a template icon such as "Cite book" will take you into the template mini-editor for that template. Important information fields may be marked with an asterisk. While the most common fields will be shown, not all of them are required.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references - Add parameter.png
 * To add more parameters, scroll down in the template mini-editor and click on the "" option.
 * Clicking on a template icon such as "Cite book" will take you into the template mini-editor for that template. Important information fields may be marked with an asterisk. While the most common fields will be shown, not all of them are required.
 * colspan=2 |
 * VisualEditor - Editing references - Add parameter.png
 * To add more parameters, scroll down in the template mini-editor and click on the "" option.
 * VisualEditor - Editing references - Add parameter.png
 * To add more parameters, scroll down in the template mini-editor and click on the "" option.

Click on "" when you're done.
 * }

Editing templates
{| cellpadding="15"
 * To add a new template to a page, place your cursor where you want the template to be inserted, and click on the "" icon (puzzle piece) in the "" menu.
 * border|300px|center
 * colspan=2 |
 * Start typing the name of the template you want to insert. When you see it on the list, click on its name. Then click "".
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 4.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * You can also edit templates that are already on the page by clicking on them to select them (they turn blue), and then clicking on the "" icon (puzzle piece) that appears.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 1.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Some templates are invisible on the page. They are shown as puzzle icons inside VisualEditor.
 * VisualEditor template not visible.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * When you select the icon, the context menu is displayed, and you can edit the template.
 * VisualEditor template not visible context menu.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * When you add a new template, what you see depends upon whether there is TemplateData for that template. This template has no TemplateData.
 * VisualEditor template with no TemplateData.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * This template has TemplateData. Filling in the template form is easier when TemplateData is present.
 * VisualEditor template with TemplateData.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Adding a new template or opening an existing one opens the "" dialog. If the template has been updated to contain TemplateData information, then the dialog will show a list of individual (named) parameters. If the template doesn't contain TemplateData, then a link to documentation for the template will be shown in the dialog.
 * VisualEditor template not visible context menu.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * When you add a new template, what you see depends upon whether there is TemplateData for that template. This template has no TemplateData.
 * VisualEditor template with no TemplateData.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * This template has TemplateData. Filling in the template form is easier when TemplateData is present.
 * VisualEditor template with TemplateData.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Adding a new template or opening an existing one opens the "" dialog. If the template has been updated to contain TemplateData information, then the dialog will show a list of individual (named) parameters. If the template doesn't contain TemplateData, then a link to documentation for the template will be shown in the dialog.
 * This template has TemplateData. Filling in the template form is easier when TemplateData is present.
 * VisualEditor template with TemplateData.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Adding a new template or opening an existing one opens the "" dialog. If the template has been updated to contain TemplateData information, then the dialog will show a list of individual (named) parameters. If the template doesn't contain TemplateData, then a link to documentation for the template will be shown in the dialog.
 * Adding a new template or opening an existing one opens the "" dialog. If the template has been updated to contain TemplateData information, then the dialog will show a list of individual (named) parameters. If the template doesn't contain TemplateData, then a link to documentation for the template will be shown in the dialog.
 * Adding a new template or opening an existing one opens the "" dialog. If the template has been updated to contain TemplateData information, then the dialog will show a list of individual (named) parameters. If the template doesn't contain TemplateData, then a link to documentation for the template will be shown in the dialog.

If the template does not use named parameters, then use numbers as the name for each nameless parameter. The first un-named parameter is named, the second is named  , and so forth.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 2.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * For an existing template, you can edit the parameters already listed in the dialog, and you can add parameters by clicking "", at the very bottom of the dialog.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 3.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Whan ae template embeds ither templates, thir sub-templates will kith inside the boondins that displey thaim. Thay can be eedited or remuived inside the boondin field.
 * colspan=2 |
 * Whan ae template embeds ither templates, thir sub-templates will kith inside the boondins that displey thaim. Thay can be eedited or remuived inside the boondin field.
 * Whan ae template embeds ither templates, thir sub-templates will kith inside the boondins that displey thaim. Thay can be eedited or remuived inside the boondin field.
 * Whan ae template embeds ither templates, thir sub-templates will kith inside the boondins that displey thaim. Thay can be eedited or remuived inside the boondin field.

New sub-templates ar eikit bi follaein the steps o addin ae boondin. Ye micht need tae check the template documentation tae mak sair that the sub-template is supported.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 5.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Whan ye'r dun, clap "" tae claise the dialog n return til the page eediter.
 * border|center|150px
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |
 * colspan=2 |

Substituting templates

 * colspan=2 |
 * Whan ae template maun be substitutit, type  (colon incluidit) afore the template's name.
 * Whan ae template maun be substitutit, type  (colon incluidit) afore the template's name.
 * Whan ae template maun be substitutit, type  (colon incluidit) afore the template's name.

Autæcompleation disna wairk wi ; gif ye need the autæcompleation, eik   yinlie efter fyndin the template that ye'r seekin.

Then, click the green "" button.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 7.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Add any parameters as usual and "".
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 6.png
 * colspan=2 |
 * Y'll see the template expand oan the page efter ye clap "". Whan ye'r readie, hain the page.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 8.png
 * }
 * Y'll see the template expand oan the page efter ye clap "". Whan ye'r readie, hain the page.
 * VisualEditor - Template editing 8.png
 * }
 * }

Keyboard shortcuts
Many editors are used to entering wikitext directly, especially bold, italics and wikilinks. Keyboard shortcuts allow to quickly insert similar formatting without having to use toolbar items. Here are the common general shortcuts in VisualEditor: