Wiki syntax: commands and formatting

You write wiki pages in wiki syntax – no formatting toolbar, but commands you place directly in the text. With two square brackets you create a link, with equals signs you set headings, with {| … |} you build tables. This page is the reference you keep open while writing. Wiki syntax is the default; you choose Markdown syntax, HTML syntax or Formatted input instead in the master data. How to open the editor is described in Create and edit wiki pages.

Linking wiki pages

You link to another wiki page by putting its name in two square brackets:

[[New page]]

If the displayed link text should differ from the page name, you give the display text after a vertical bar:

[[New page|Displayed name]]

If the target page exists, the link shows it. If it does not yet exist, a “New page” symbol appears instead – a click on it creates the page and opens it for editing. This way you create new pages directly as you write.

Embedding files

You embed a file from the current wiki page’s file directory with File::

[[File:Filename]]

The file is looked up under the given name in the file directory (the Files tab of the detail manager). If teamspace finds no file with that name, you can upload it directly from the editor.

Once embedded, the file shows its filename, the change and creation date, the size and the version number. You can open, edit or download it from the display.

Embedding images

You embed an image with Image: – the German tag Bild: works as an alternative:

[[Image:Image name]]
[[Bild:Image name]]

As with files, the image is looked up in the page’s file directory; if it is missing, you can upload it directly.

You append additional properties with the pipe character |:

[[Image:Image name|right|thumb|noname]]

The image then appears on the right, without a name caption, as a small thumbnail. You override the image title by giving it as the last parameter:

[[Image:Image name|right|thumb|My great image]]

The available parameters:

Text formatting

Normal text appears exactly as you type it. A blank line between two blocks of text creates a paragraph.

For italic you need two apostrophes, for bold three, for bold-italic five. You set superscript and subscript text with HTML tags. Use a forced line break within a paragraph sparingly – several breaks tear apart the flow of reading.

Unformatted text and date commands

If an area should not be formatted – for example because you want to show example syntax – you enclose it in <nowiki>…</nowiki>. Whatever sits between the tags appears verbatim.

Two commands format dates and numbers according to the individual setting of each user:

{{dts|dd|MM|yyyy}}
{{nts|<number>}}

Examples:

• {{dts|12|06|2012}} yields 2012-06-12 (with the date format yyyy-mm-dd).
• {{nts|23647673.3}} yields 23,647,673.30 (with the currency format 123,456.78).

dts stands for the date format, nts for the number format. Both use each user’s personal display setting – the same command shows different readers their familiar format.

Internet addresses that begin with http are automatically interpreted as a link – you do not need to put them in brackets.

Headings

You set headings with equals signs – the more you use, the deeper the level:

Level 1 is reserved for the page title – in the text you start at level 2. From three headings onwards, the display automatically builds a Table of contents in the top right of the wiki page.

Lists

You build lists with asterisks (unordered) or hashes (ordered). Nesting is created by doubling the characters.

Important: A blank line between two list items tears the list apart – the renderer turns the second part into a new list. If your list breaks up visually, first check whether you have put a blank line somewhere.

Wiki tables

You build tables with {| as the table start and |} as the table end. In between, |- separates new rows, || and !! separate cells side by side, and ! marks header cells.

Simple table

{|
|-
| Heading || Heading || Heading
|-
| Example1 || Example2 || Example3
|-
| Example4 || Example5 || Example6
|}

yields a plain table without borders or a formatted header row.

Table with a header row

Instead of ||, you write !! in the first row – the content is centred and bold:

{|
|-
! Heading !! Heading !! Heading
|-
| Example1 || Example2 || Example3
|}

Table with borders

If the table should have separator lines and a shaded header-row background, you pass the wikitable class:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Heading !! Heading !! Heading
|-
| Example1 || Example2 || Example3
|}

class="wikitable" adds borders between the cells, extra padding (cellpadding) and a darkened background for the rows marked with !.

Table with links

Within table cells, all other wiki commands keep working. This is how you embed links to other wiki pages:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Reign !! Lineage
|-
| [[Stephen II]] || 1347–1375 Duke of Bavaria || Son of Emperor Louis IV
|-
| [[Frederick]] || 1375–1393 Duke of Bavaria-Landshut || Son of Stephen II
|}

If a cell should carry several rows, you separate the columns not with || but with |- and a new line – the content then stays in the same cell.

Formatting cells and rows

For the whole table and for individual cells you can set HTML attributes – style is particularly useful, letting you apply any CSS formatting. Rows can be formatted too; individual columns as a whole cannot be styled directly – there you have to adjust the cells one by one.

You set a non-breaking space with   – this prevents a line break between two words that should stay together (such as “Müller GmbH”).

Note: The tags {| and |} must each sit at the start of a line of their own – otherwise the renderer does not recognise the table.

Quick reference

Related topics

• Create and edit wiki pages Wiki How-to
• Wiki – introduction Wiki Introduction
• Landing page and main topics Wiki How-to