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# <a name="20_Minute_TWiki"> 20-Minute TWiki </a>

This step-by-step, hands-on tutorial gets you up to speed with all the [[TWikiSite]] basics, in _mere minutes_...

> ## <a name="1_Get_set_"> 1. Get set... </a>
>
>  Open two browser windows, so that you can follow these steps in one window, while trying things out in the other.
>
> ## <a name="2_Take_a_quick_tour_"> 2. Take a quick tour... </a>
>
>  A [[TWikiSite]] is divided into webs; each one usually represents one area of collaboration. You can navigate the webs from the upper right corner of each web page.
>
> * Each web has hyperlinked topics, displayed as pages in your browser.
> * The home page in each web is the %HOMETOPIC% topic.
> * To browse a TWiki web, just click on any highlighted link. These links are called [[WikiWords]] and comprise two or more words with initial capitals, run together.
> * Follow the [[WikiWord]] link and learn what it is.
> * If you know the name of a topic, you can jump directly to it by typing its name into the **Go** field on the top of the page. Type `WebSearch` to jump to the search page. **_Hint:_** Do not confuse the **Go** field with search.
> * You can search each TWiki web. Enter a search string in the %HOMETOPIC% topic or the [[WebSearch]] topic accessible from the `Search` link on each topic. TWiki searches for an exact match; optionally, you can also use [[RegularExpressions]].
>
> ## <a name="3_Open_a_private_account_"> 3. Open a private account... </a>
>
>  To edit topics, you need to have a TWiki account.
>
> * Go to the [[TWikiRegistration]] page to create your TWiki account. Fill in a couple of lines and you're set!
>
> ## <a name="4_Check_out_TWiki_users_groups_o"> 4. Check out TWiki users, groups, offices... </a>
>
> * Go to the %MAINWEB%.%WIKIUSERSTOPIC% topic in the TWiki.%MAINWEB% web; it has a list of all users of TWiki. Your [[WikiName]] will be in this list after you register.
> * Go to the %MAINWEB%.TWikiGroups topic in the TWiki.%MAINWEB% web; it has a list of groups which can be used to define fine grained [[TWikiAccessControl]] in TWiki.
> * Go to the %MAINWEB%.OfficeLocations topic in the TWiki.%MAINWEB% web; it has a sample list of corporate offices. This type of set-up can be used for departments, client companies, or any other type of organizational divisions.
>
> ## <a name="5_Test_the_page_controls_"> 5. Test the page controls... </a>
>
>  Go to the bottom of the page to see what you can do. The color-coded control strip has a collection of action links:
>
> * <code>**[Edit]**</code> - add to or edit the topic (discussed later)
> * <code>**[Attach]**</code> - attach files to a topic (discussed later)
> * <code>**[Ref-By]**</code> - find out what other topics link to this topic (reverse link)
> * <code>**[Printable]**</code> - goes to a stripped down version of the page, good for printing
> * <code>**[Diffs]**</code> - topics are under revision control - `[Diffs]` shows you the complete change history of the topic, ex: who changed what and when.
> * <code>**[r1.3 | &gt; | r1.2 | &gt; | r1.1]**</code> - view a previous version of the topic or the difference between two versions.
> * <code>**[More]**</code> - additional controls, like <code>**[Rename/move]**</code>, version control and setting the topic's parent.
>
> ## <a name="6_Change_a_page_and_create_a_new"> 6. Change a page, and create a new one... </a>
>
>  Go to the [[Test/HOMETOPIC]]. This is the sandbox web, where you can make changes and try it all out at will.
>
> * Click the <code>**[Edit]**</code> link. You are now in edit mode and you can see the source of the page. (Go to a different topic like [[Test/TestTopic3]] in case you see a "Topic is locked by an other user" warning.)
> * Look at the text in edit mode and compare it with the rendered page (move back and forth in your browser.)
> * Notice how [[WikiWords]] are linked automatically; there is no link if you look at the text in edit mode.
> * Now, create a new topic - your own test page:
>   1. In edit mode, enter a new text with a [[WikiWord]], ex: <br /><code>This is YourOwnSandBox topic.</code>
>   2. Preview and save the topic. The name appears, highlighted, with a linked question mark at the end. This means that the topic doesn't exist yet.
>   3. Click on the question mark. Now you're in edit mode of the new topic.
>   4. Type some text, basically, like you write an email.
>   5. A signature with your name is already entered by default. **_NOTE:_** The `%MAINWEB%.` in front of your name means that you have a link from the current web to your personal topic located in the %MAINWEB% web.
>   6. Preview and save the topic...
> * Learn about text formatting. You can enter text in [[TWikiShorthand]], a very simple markup language. Follow the [[TWikiShorthand]] link to see how, then:
>   1. Go back to your sandbox topic end edit it.
>   2. Enter some text in [[TWikiShorthand]]: **bold** text, _italic_ text, **_bold italic_** text, a bullet list, tables, paragraphs, etc. **_Hint:_** If you need help, click on the [[TextFormattingRules]] link located below the text box in edit mode.
>   3. Preview and save the topic.
>
> ## <a name="7_Use_your_browser_to_upload_fil"> 7. Use your browser to upload files as page attachments... </a>
>
>  You can attach _any_ type of file to a topic - documents, images, programs, whatever - where they can be opened, viewed, or downloaded.
>
> * Attaching files is just like including a file with an email.
>   1. Go back to your sandbox topic and click on the <code>**[Attach]**</code> link at the bottom.
>   2. Click <code>**[Browse]**</code> to find a file on your PC that you'd like to attach; enter an optional comment; leave everything else unchecked.
>   3. Click <code>**[Upload file]**</code>, then scroll to the end of the page to see the new attachment listing.
> * Do this again - this time, upload a GIF, JPG or PNG image file.
>   * Check the <code>**[Link:]**</code> box to _Create a link to the attached file at the end of the topic_. The image will show up at the bottom of the topic.
>   * To move the image, edit the topic and place the last line (containing <code>%ATTACHURL%</code>) anywhere on the page.
> * If you have a GIF, JPG or PNG image of yourself, your cat, your sprawling family estate...why not upload it now to personalize your account page: %MAINWEB%.%USERNAME%?
>
> ## <a name="8_Get_email_alerts_whenever_page"> 8. Get email alerts whenever pages are changed... </a>
>
>  %NOTIFYTOPIC% is a subscription service that automatically notifies you by email when topics change in a TWiki web. This is a convenience service - for many people, checking email is easier than checking the Web.
>
> * If you're using TWiki to collaborate on a project, it's important to know when anyone on your team posts an update. If you're following a specific discussion, it's convenient to know when there's new input.
> * Alerts are emailed as links to individual topics that've been changed in a set period: each day, every hour, whatever is configured for your system.
> * It's strongly recommended that you try out the service by subscribing to each TWiki web that's relevant to you. You can subscribe and unsubscribe instantly, on a per web basis using %NOTIFYTOPIC%.

That's it! You're now equipped with all the TWiki essentials. You are ready to roll.

**_NOTE:_** When first using TWiki, it will probably seem strange to be able to change other people's postings - we're used to _separating_ individual messages, with email, message boards, non-Wiki collaboration platforms. **_Don't worry about it._** You can't accidentally delete important stuff - you can always check previous versions, and copy-and-paste from them if you want to undo any changes. After a short while, TWiki-style free-form communication becomes second-nature. You'll expect it everywhere!

-- [[Main/MikeMannix]] - 01 Dec 2001