Forum:Some questions before I create a wiki
- Forums: Index > Community help
So, I’ve recently decided to create a wiki to explain elements from my fantasy world and stories, such as places, characters and whatnot, but I have a few questions to ask first. I’ve been stalking the help pages but I still need to ask a few things:
1) Since I’d be the only one who has actually any content to add to this wiki, I’d make it private. But would it still be found by search engines or only people with a link would find it?
2) I need my wiki to look really nice. I can code some CSS, but how much of it can I customize? I’d probably pick the Vector skin as the base.
3) I’m not pretty sure that my content should be released under a free content license. I know you can choose the license, but the “copyrights” page got me a bit confused. Do my wiki have to be paid to be copyrighted?
4) Let’s say in the future I decide to create a non-wiki site on another host. Would I be able to move this wiki to the new host (provided this host supports mediawiki and all)?
5) If I create my wiki and later decide I can’t keep it for whatever reason, can I delete it? And if so, would my deleted wiki’s name become available again for someone else to take?
I might have more questions later, but for now, I guess that’s all I need to know. Thank you! --Shenzai (talk) 03:33, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
- I started a wiki here, the Cannabis Wiki. I chose the Vector skin. I started it technically as a private wiki so I would have control, and so I could delete it if necessary. I chose to allow the wiki to be seen by anybody, and by all search engines.
- I chose to allow anybody to edit it, but I have final say on what goes in it since I am the "steward" of the wiki. I haven't seen the need to block any editors yet other than spammers.
- I have added a little bit of JS and CSS customization. See the links from the home page. I am using the default copyright, which is CC-BY-SA. I did not know there were other options for the text on Shoutwiki wikis, and I personally don't need them. Others can answer that question.
- You can move a wiki by asking for a database dump, and then importing it into your new MediaWiki host. --Timeshifter (talk) 06:56, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
- Hi Shenzai,
- If you set it up so that viewing is public, while editing is private, then yes you're site will be visible for search engines and what not. However, a page here on Hub won't be made automatically so you'll need to create one using Template:Wiki.
- You can customize anything you want, as long as you don't remove advertising from your site.
- You can license your content under whatever license you see fit - it doesn't cost to have your site as copyrighted.
- Yes, the customer support team would be able to help you do that.
- You can delete your wiki by contacting the customer support team, and yes, your wiki's domain would be usable again by anyone who wants to use it.
