Page semi-protected

Wikipedia:VisualEditor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Enable VisualEditor. Read VisualEditor's User Guide.
Log in, go to preferences (top right) -> editing tab, uncheck Temporarily disable the visual editor while it is in beta, optionally change Editing mode to Show me both editor tabs, and save your preferences. Or use this sandbox link for testing. Find out how to make links, add or move images, create citations, insert templates, edit tables, and more. Please include your web browser, computer operating system, and Wikipedia skin (usually Vector, sometimes Monobook).
As of 2020, editors at the English Wikipedia have used VisualEditor to make more than 10 million edits.

Welcome to the portal for VisualEditor, a way of editing Wikipedia being developed by the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) that does not require editors to learn wiki markup. They previously had to use 'Source editor' to make edits, but VisualEditor allows people to edit many types of page without needing to understand simple wikitext. WMF staff hope this encourages more readers to become editors.

Even after the eventual anticipated full-feature release of VisualEditor, experienced editors may still prefer editing with wikitext because they find it faster and more precise. It will also be needed for editing all discussion pages. Editors who enable VisualEditor will always have the Source editor option available from the toolbar on every page, as the WMF has no plans to remove this.

VisualEditor still has many bugs and missing features. If you encounter an issue, you can report it on the Feedback page, but be aware that that page is not actively monitored by WMF staff. WMF staff prefer that you report bugs via the Phabricator bug tracking website.

About VisualEditor

VisualEditor is a "visual" way of editing Wikipedia that allows people to contribute without having to learn wiki markup. This rich-text editor was made available as an opt-in release on the English-language Wikipedia in December 2012, in 14 other languages in April 2013, and in most other languages at the beginning of June 2013. As of April 2015, it was available by default to users of about 76% of the language editions of Wikipedias and as an opt-in beta feature to the rest, along with most non-Wikipedia projects except Wiktionary and Wikisource. On English Wikipedia, it is enabled by default for new users.[1]

As of 2021, the visual editor is used about half as often as the 2010 wikitext editor, and about as often as the mobile web editor. It is used about twice as often as Twinkle.

To learn more about using VisualEditor, please read the guide to VisualEditor and the list of common keyboard shortcuts. Your help with the many tasks that need to be done is appreciated. You can also receive regular status updates on your talk page by signing up for the VisualEditor newsletter.

Limitations

Current known limitations include:

  • Not available in talk or discussion namespaces – In the English Wikipedia, VisualEditor is not enabled for any talk pages, in the Template or Wikipedia namespaces, and in several of the namespaces that are rarely edited. The "Edit" button for VisualEditor is not available on pages where VisualEditor cannot be used. The Reply tool has a visual mode based on VisualEditor, as well as a wikitext mode with live preview.
  • Template parameters are wikitext, not rich text – VisualEditor lets you edit the parameters of template transclusions, but only as "wikitext" (so "[[Foo]]" or nested templates like "{{Foo|{{Bar}}}}", not "Foo" or "{{Foo|{{Bar}}}}").
  • Incomplete editing functionality – The content of some complex formatting, including definition lists, will display and can be edited, but editors using VisualEditor cannot modify certain details. Multi-column lists are edited through the complex transclusion dialog, which is difficult. Table editing on Mobile doesn't work properly. Adding features in this area is one of the developers' priorities.
  • Some browsers not supported – VisualEditor works in almost all relatively modern (2012 or newer) versions of Chrome/Chromium, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, Midori, Falkon (formerly Qupzilla), SeaMonkey and WebPositive (approximately 95% of all users). VisualEditor will never work in some browsers that do not follow web standards, including Android 2.3 or Internet Explorer 10 or prior. If VisualEditor is not available in your browser, or if you have turned off Javascript, then you will see the buttons for the wikitext editor only.
  • Footnotes inside templates – Footnotes inside templates (most commonly, infoboxes and {{reflist}}) are not visible in the "reuse" dialog, causing discrepancies in the numbering of footnotes displayed at the bottom of the main VisualEditor editing window.
  • Numeric reference names – Currently, VE automatically adds numeric ref names with a colon prefix, i.e., ":0", ":1", ":2", and so on. There has long been interest in having VE support named references.
  • Unbalanced templates – VisualEditor struggles with templates that pass a bit of incomplete code, with markup, to another template or table. These may display oddly or may not be editable if selected in VisualEditor.
  • Slower – Loading longer pages into VisualEditor can take 60 seconds or more for some users.
  • Cannot edit a single section – VisualEditor loads and submits only entire pages. Clicking an edit link for a section will scroll to the appropriate section upon opening. In VisualEditor's model, editing sections would be paradoxically slower than editing the whole page. [Note: Opening an entire page for editing does not increase edit conflicts, which are (roughly) based on editing the same paragraph.]
  • Cannot upload non-free images – At this time, images that are uploaded inside either the wikitext editor or VisualEditor are sent directly to the Wikimedia Commons, which does not accept non-free images. All images that fall under Wikipedia's non-free content policy must instead be stored on Wikipedia using the File Upload Wizard. Commons also runs a filter to reject many images uploaded by editors who have not made many prior edits to Commons, especially for small or low-resolution images.
  • Unaware of table formatting done by templates – Popular table cell templates (e.g. yes, no, tba, n/a) can cause issues. The reason is that these templates contain a pipe character to separate formatting and text, but VisualEditor isn't aware of this. As a result, table operations which change the table structure, such as merging/splitting cells or inserting/deleting/moving rows or columns, may not work properly.
  • Data in merged cells is deleted if rows or columns are moved across them. Workaround: Unmerge the affected areas before moving, and merge them again afterwards.

You can click "Review your changes" to review the wikitext changes before saving a page. Please report any problems you see.

How to help out

Help is needed to make VisualEditor as good as it can be: You can find and report bugs and ideas for improvements or lend a hand in many other tasks, such as:

  • Updating help pages – All Wikimedia Foundation projects have help pages to make contributing easier for new editors. Unfortunately, the full launch of VisualEditor will make obsolete the screenshots and tutorials in these help pages, because they describe how to edit using the markup editor. Therefore, the VisualEditor development team needs help updating help pages. The user guide to VisualEditor is a starting place for text for the new help pages.
  • Adding TemplateData code to template documentation pages – VisualEditor features an interactive template editor—described in more detail in the user guide—and as you'll see if you use it on Wikipedia, some templates display named parameters and nice descriptions that make the interactive template editor easy to use. However, other templates lack them, because they need TemplateData code added to their documentation pages for this feature to work. If you're interested in adding TemplateData, read the guide for it and a list of some of the most transcluded templates that may still need TemplateData added to their documentation.
  • Help new users – Even though editing with VisualEditor may be easier, learning policies and guidelines and how to interact with the community is always challenging for new editors. You can help by spending time at the appropriate venues: the Help desk, the Teahouse, and the help chatroom. Additionally, please feel free to monitor the Category of Wikipedians looking for help.

Newsletter

  1. Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)
  2. Wikipedia:Village pump (WMF)
  3. Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback
  4. Wikipedia talk:Talk pages project
  5. User talk:2Awwsome
  6. User talk:3family6
  7. User talk:5225C
  8. User talk:6033CloudyRainbowTrail
  9. User talk:Acather96
  10. User talk:Adam Cuerden
  11. User talk:Afernand74
  12. User talk:Ahm_masum
  13. User talk:Alaney2k
  14. User talk:Aleksa Milićević
  15. User talk:Alessandro57
  16. User talk:Alsee
  17. User talk:Anasskoko
  18. User talk:Anchorvale
  19. User talk:Andrew Davidson
  20. User talk:Andrewa
  21. User talk:annibale covini gerolamo
  22. User talk:Anonymoustofu
  23. User talk:Another Believer
  24. User talk:Anthony Staunton
  25. User talk:AnUnnamedUser
  26. User talk:arodb
  27. User talk:Arthur Rubin
  28. User talk:Ashorocetus
  29. User talk:Atchison_clark
  30. User talk:AWwikipedia
  31. User talk:Babymissfortune
  32. User talk:Barkeep49
  33. User talk:Barte
  34. User talk:Barzamin
  35. User talk:Bcorr
  36. User talk:Beauty School Dropout
  37. User talk:Bevo
  38. User talk:Bilby
  39. User talk:bill52270
  40. User talk:bishwa_777
  41. User talk:Blackdiamand21
  42. User talk:Blahma
  43. User talk:BoldLuis
  44. User talk:bouktin
  45. User talk:C-Brennan-Poole
  46. User talk:Caius G.
  47. User talk:CAPTAIN RAJU
  48. User talk:CASSIOPEIA
  49. User talk:Catx108/my news subscriptions
  50. User talk:Celine1776
  51. User talk:ceyockey
  52. User talk:Charles Edwin Shipp
  53. User talk:Charles01
  54. User talk:Checkingfax
  55. User talk:Ched
  56. User talk:Chewings72
  57. User talk:Chitreshraj
  58. User talk:Christian75
  59. User talk:ckoerner
  60. User talk:ClemRutter
  61. User talk:CodingCyclone
  62. User talk:ConradKilroy
  63. User talk:Corn cheese
  64. User talk:Crh23
  65. User talk:CRS-20
  66. User talk:cscott
  67. User talk:Cup o' Java
  68. User talk:CWBoast
  69. User talk:Damenleeturks
  70. User talk:Danish AMC
  71. User talk:danlev
  72. User talk:Danre98
  73. User talk:DarkestElephant
  74. User talk:Darklanlan
  75. User talk:Darren-M
  76. User talk:Davey2010
  77. User talk:David Gerard
  78. User talk:David Saroyan
  79. User talk:Davidbuddy9
  80. User talk:Davisonio
  81. User talk:Daxx_wp
  82. User talk:De la Marck
  83. User talk:Defan24
  84. User talk:Dekema2
  85. User talk:Dfcfozz
  86. User talk:DGG
  87. User talk:Diaa abdelmoneim
  88. User talk:Diego Moya
  89. User talk:Discott
  90. User talk:Discount Horde
  91. User talk:Dlwilson88
  92. User talk:DLynch (WMF)
  93. User talk:Donald Trung
  94. User talk:Dtwedt
  95. User talk:DXLB Muzikant
  96. User talk:DylWyl
  97. User talk:Dyork
  98. User talk:Ed6767
  99. User talk:EdSaperia
  100. User talk:Eevee01
  101. User talk:Ekhaya2000
  102. User talk:Elitre
  103. User talk:Epicgenius
  104. User talk:EpicPupper2
  105. User talk:Ergo Sum
  106. User talk:Esb5415
  107. User talk:Evangeline
  108. User talk:Evolution and evolvability
  109. User talk:Ezlev
  110. User talk:fabregas0414
  111. User talk:Fench
  112. User talk:flekkie
  113. User talk:Flexdream
  114. User talk:Fluffernutter
  115. User talk:foxj
  116. User talk:Frederico1234
  117. User talk:Fresternoch
  118. User talk:Froztbyte
  119. User talk:FuriouslySerene
  120. User talk:Gaia Rinaldelli
  121. User talk:Gasforth-2021
  122. User talk:Ged UK
  123. User talk:Gerald Waldo Luis
  124. User talk:GermanJoe
  125. User talk:Gerryyabes
  126. User talk:Goldenshimmer
  127. User talk:GreatSculptorIthas
  128. User talk:Ham II
  129. User talk:Hamham31
  130. User talk:Happily888
  131. User talk:Harej
  132. User talk:Hazeldee0512
  133. User talk:HeartGlow30797/Subscriptions
  134. User talk:Henrikdv
  135. User talk:hibsch
  136. User talk:HJKeats
  137. User talk:Hmich176
  138. User talk:Howicus
  139. User talk:Hydriz
  140. User talk:hym411
  141. User talk:HyperEagle
  142. User talk:I Am Chaos
  143. User talk:Idell
  144. User talk:IkselOwk
  145. User talk:Im5yrsold
  146. User talk:Imagine Wizard
  147. User talk:Immu 01
  148. User talk:Innovative Username
  149. User talk:Interitus malorum
  150. User talk:Itcouldbepossible
  151. User talk:Ivan Humphrey
  152. User talk:James Allison
  153. User talk:Jamesjpk
  154. User talk:Jarble
  155. User talk:JB82
  156. User talk:JetBlast
  157. User talk:Jhertel
  158. User talk:Jimbo Wales
  159. User talk:JJBers
  160. User talk:JMHamo
  161. User talk:Joe Decker
  162. User talk:John Broughton
  163. User talk:Johnny Au
  164. User talk:Jonathan Lane Studeman
  165. User talk:JonsterMonster
  166. User talk:Jrf
  167. User talk:Jtamad
  168. User talk:Judgesurreal777
  169. User talk:Jyoo1011
  170. User talk:K4rolB
  171. User talk:K6ka
  172. User talk:Kasyap
  173. User talk:katcheez
  174. User talk:Kerry Raymond
  175. User talk:Keyacom
  176. User talk:khamar
  177. User talk:Killarnee
  178. User talk:LaDinky
  179. User talk:Lalit82in
  180. User talk:LeonardoIannelliCOMPUTE
  181. User talk:lfstevens
  182. User talk:Littleb2009
  183. User talk:Llew_Mawr
  184. User talk:LogX
  185. User talk:Lomrjyo
  186. User talk:LORENZ SARMIENTO
  187. User talk:Lotje
  188. User talk:Lucky102
  189. User talk:Luke1337
  190. User talk:MadGuy7023
  191. User talk:Magol
  192. User talk:Mainline421
  193. User talk:Manwuel380
  194. User talk:MarkZusab
  195. User talk:Masssly
  196. User talk:MatthewBurton
  197. User talk:Medo9
  198. User talk:Melymay123
  199. User talk:Meow
  200. User talk:mgiganteus1
  201. User talk:Mindi Crayon
  202. User talk:Miya
  203. User talk:Mostafa12890
  204. User talk:Moyogo
  205. User talk:MrTrains227
  206. User talk:Mruthunjaya9
  207. User talk:MrWonka
  208. User talk:Muffizainu
  209. User talk:MusikAnimal
  210. User talk:Mvolz
  211. User talk:Naechrr
  212. User talk:NemesisAT
  213. User talk:Neo12345292
  214. User talk:Neonorange
  215. User talk:Nicco18
  216. User talk:Nicereddy
  217. User talk:Nick Moyes
  218. User talk:Nick Wilson
  219. User talk:nigeleezdr
  220. User talk:NightWolf1223
  221. User talk:Nihiltres
  222. User talk:Nikolaih
  223. User talk:Nkansahrexford
  224. User talk:Ocaasi
  225. User talk:Ohiowa2
  226. User talk:OhKayeSierra
  227. User talk:Oiyarbepsy
  228. User talk:OodFloo
  229. User talk:Oronsay
  230. User talk:orsd
  231. User talk:Paine Ellsworth
  232. User talk:PamD
  233. User talk:patchallel
  234. User talk:Patriccck
  235. User talk:PearlSt82
  236. User talk:Pelagic, User talk:Pelagic/Newsletters
  237. User talk:Perumalism
  238. User talk:Peter Chastain
  239. User talk:Peterdownunder
  240. User talk:Philoserf
  241. User talk:PhotographerTom
  242. User talk:Pichemist
  243. User talk:PieThrowerChamp
  244. User talk:Piotrus
  245. User talk:Pizza1016
  246. User talk:Playlikeastar
  247. User talk:Plingsby
  248. User talk:Pointillist
  249. User talk:PradNelluru
  250. User talk:Pratyya Ghosh
  251. User talk:Presidentman
  252. User talk:ProcrastinatingReader
  253. User talk:ProtoDrake
  254. User talk:Prototime
  255. User talk:Pseudonymous Rex
  256. User talk:Psiĥedelisto
  257. User talk:Punetor i Rregullt5
  258. User talk:Pythoncoder/News
  259. User talk:Quadtripplea
  260. User talk:Quenhitran
  261. User talk:Quiddity
  262. User talk:QWER11296
  263. User talk:Qwerfjkl
  264. User talk:Qwerty284651
  265. User talk:Rachel.dicerbo
  266. User talk:reb1981
  267. User talk:Redalert2fan
  268. User talk:Retinarecorder
  269. User talk:Rhododendrites
  270. User talk:Richard Nevell (WMUK)
  271. User talk:Robert M. Hunt
  272. User talk:Robert McClenon
  273. User talk:RoySmith
  274. User talk:Saehrimnir
  275. User talk:Sam'kelo Mpungoseh
  276. User talk:Sanyamkamat
  277. User talk:Sasuke Sarutobi
  278. User talk:ScottyWZ
  279. User talk:Sculpordwarfprunesea
  280. User talk:Shaded0
  281. User talk:Shanata
  282. User talk:shanluan
  283. User talk:Shibbolethink
  284. User talk:Signalizing
  285. User talk:Simoncaulton
  286. User talk:SivaGovind
  287. User talk:Slazenger
  288. User talk:SmartK
  289. User talk:SMcCandlish
  290. User talk:Some1
  291. User talk:Spineas
  292. User talk:Spurb
  293. User talk:Sreejiththulaseedharan
  294. User talk:SshibumXZ
  295. User talk:SSSB
  296. User talk:StudiesWorld
  297. User talk:Sue Gardner
  298. User talk:Sylvester Penn
  299. User talk:Symphonic Spenguin
  300. User talk:TapticInfo
  301. User talk:TehPlaneFreak
  302. User talk:Tenryuu
  303. User talk:TenType
  304. User talk:TerraCodes
  305. User talk:The 19th One
  306. User talk:The Anome
  307. User talk:The ed17
  308. User talk:The Land
  309. User talk:the wub
  310. User talk:TheFrog001
  311. User talk:TheOtherGaelan
  312. User talk:There'sNoTime
  313. User talk:TheSandDoctor
  314. User talk:Three97
  315. User talk:Thryduulf
  316. User talk:Timeshifter
  317. User talk:Tom Morris
  318. User talk:Tom29739
  319. User talk:Tomorrow and tomorrow
  320. User talk:Toran107
  321. User talk:ToxiBoi
  322. User talk:TPFNoob
  323. User talk:TrudiJ
  324. User talk:UMAGPR
  325. User talk:UnstoppablePhoenix
  326. User talk:Valereee
  327. User talk:VeniVidiVicipedia
  328. User talk:Vishal.acet
  329. User talk:Vitaium
  330. User talk:Vpilato
  331. User talk:VQuakr
  332. User talk:Vukky/Newsletters
  333. User talk:Waddie96
  334. User talk:WDM10
  335. User talk:WhatamIdoing
  336. User talk:Whiteghost.ink
  337. User talk:Wikiuser13
  338. User talk:Wittylama
  339. User talk:Wolbo
  340. User talk:Wouterstomp
  341. User talk:writeswift
  342. User talk:wshaggy
  343. User talk:Xbony2
  344. User talk:Yobkj
  345. User talk:Yololobia2
  346. User talk:Yoshi1423
  347. User talk:ZLEA
  348. User talk:Zulujive
  349. User talk:Zziccardi
  350. User talk:ԱշոտՏՆՂ
  351. User talk:علاء

Userbox

You can signal to other editors your use of the VisualEditor on your userpage by using the userbox User:Psiĥedelisto/Userboxes/VisualEditor. See that page for all the options available.

External links

Subpage Index
  1. ^ "visualeditor-nondefault.dblist". gerrit.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 28 December 2021.(List of Wikiprojects that do not have VisualEditor enabled by default for new users)