# 20-Minute TWiki
This step-by-step, hands-on tutorial gets you up to speed with all the [[TWikiSite]] basics, in _mere minutes_...
> ## 1. Get set...
>
> Open two browser windows, so that you can follow these steps in one window, while trying things out in the other.
>
> ## 2. Take a quick tour...
>
> 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 [[WebHome]] 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 [[WebHome]] 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]].
>
> ## 3. Open a private account...
>
> 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!
>
> ## 4. Check out TWiki users, groups, offices...
>
> - Go to the [[TWikiUsers]] topic in the TWiki.Main web; it has a list of all users of TWiki. Your [[WikiName]] will be in this list after you register.
> - Go to the [[TWikiGroups]] topic in the TWiki.Main web; it has a list of groups which can be used to define fine grained [[TWikiAccessControl]] in TWiki.
> - Go to the [[OfficeLocations]] topic in the TWiki.Main 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.
>
> ## 5. Test the page controls...
>
> Go to the
>
> [[bottom of the page|Main/WebHome#PageBottom]]
>
> to see what you can do. The color-coded control strip has a collection of action links:
>
> - **\[[Edit]**
- add to or edit the topic (discussed later)
> - **[Attach]**
- attach files to a topic (discussed later)
> - **[Ref-By]**
- find out what other topics link to this topic (reverse link)
> - **[Printable]**
- goes to a stripped down version of the page, good for printing
> - **[Diffs]**
- topics are under revision control - `[Diffs]` shows you the complete change history of the topic, ex: who changed what and when.
> - **[r1.3 | > | r1.2 | > | r1.1]**
- view a previous version of the topic or the difference between two versions.
> - **[More]**
- additional controls, like **[Rename/move]**
, version control and setting the topic's parent.
>
> ## 6. Change a page, and create a new one...
>
> Go to the
>
> [[Sandbox|Sandbox/WebHome]]
>
> . This is the sandbox web, where you can make changes and try it all out at will.
>
> - Click the **[Edit]**
link. You are now in edit mode and you can see the source of the page. (Go to a different topic like [[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:
`This is YourOwnSandBox topic.`
> 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 `Main.` in front of your name means that you have a link from the current web to your personal topic located in the Main 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.
>
> ## 7. Use your browser to upload files as page attachments...
>
> 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 **[Attach]**
link at the bottom.
> 2. Click **[Browse]**
to find a file on your PC that you'd like to attach; enter an optional comment; leave everything else unchecked.
> 3. Click **[Upload file]**
, 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 **[Link:]**
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 `%ATTACHURL%`) 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: Main.admin?
>
> ## 8. Get email alerts whenever pages are changed...
>
> [[WebNotify]]
>
> 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 [[WebNotify]].
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!
-- [[MikeMannix]] - 01 Dec 2001