Discussion & Question Instruction

If you have details to add to an article, just add them. We are all checking, so don't be worried whether the details are beautifully written - rather than not have them, it's better to have them less than perfect, it gives everyone else a place to start from.

Adding a discussion to an article

We have tried to make the process of asking questions on the wiki more efficient/simpler for collectors. Tina has created a new search function to facilitate this. Please follow these steps to ask a question on the wiki:

1. Try finding what you need by typing in the key word(s) in the usual search box on the left hand side. You can use * before and after the key word, to widen the search and show all articles with that key word in them. Ex. type in *Sepsis* in the search box.
   • The "*" just works as a wildcard, and really only at the end of a word, ie if you are searching for things about sepsis you would want to say "Sep*" to also include septic, but get the false positive of septum
2. Take a look if the answer you need is in any of these articles.
3. If you cannot find the answer you need, use the new search function located in the blue box at the top of the Search Results page.
4. Type in your key word in the white line beside the "ask on existing or new page" button.
   • If articles with your key word exist, they will immediately appear in blue, underneath your search word.
     • Select the most appropriate article and click the "ask on existing or new page" button.
     • You will be directed to an "Edit Discuss" page where you can type in your question in the box provided.
   • If there are no articles with your key word, just click the "ask on existing or new page" button.
     • You will be directed to a "Create Discuss" page where you can type in your question in the box provided.
5. You can explain your edit further if you wish, in the box below.
6. Click save.

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The alternative method is to edit within an article using the old method. For example, if you disagree with an idea, have concerns, or a question then find the most appropriate wiki page for the issue and add the following to the page:

{{Discuss|
* put your question here}}

This will put the page with the question, and the question itself on the automatically generated list on page Questions.

If there is no article for the topic you want to discuss

Follow the instructions about Editing_Tips#Making_a_new_Entry

How to communicate inside a discussion

Responding to a point

After the point you are responding to

• put one more "*" than the previous comment
• write your text
• end it with ~~~~, which will translate into your signature and the time when you save
• optionally, press the "Show Preview" button to see what your comment will look like
• press the Save Page button

Making a new point

• Go to the end of the existing comments
• Add two blank lines after the end of the existing point to put a blank line to separate your point from the previous
• put a "*" at the beginning of the line
• add your question/comment
• end the line with a ~~~~, which will translate into your signature and the time when you save
• optionally, press the "Show Preview" button to see what your comment will look like
• press the Save Page button

Resolving a question

If you come across a question for which you are pretty sure you know the answer (e.g. a simple "what is the code for..." question, or one where you have confirmed the answer with Allan or Trish), then just fix the article so the question would never have been asked. For example, if the question had been "but how do I code xyz" and you knew that you use code ABC, you could take out the question and just write "Use code ABC to code XYZ."

If anyone disagrees with the answer they can always put it back. Taking it out leaves the instructions cleaner.