It is easy to collaborate, just type your text. You don't need to know HTML at all, though you can use it if you prefer. Links to topics will be created automatically as long as you follow these simple Text Formatting Rules. [[TextFormattingFAQ]] has answers to frequently asked questions about text formatting.

**LINKS**

The Collaborative Work Area is a bunch of related links that are editable through your web browser.

The TWiki web has the following types of **_internal links:_**

- [[GoodStyle]] is a topic that is part of the current TWiki web.
- [[NotExistingYet]] is a topic waiting to be written. You could create that topic by clicking on the question mark. (Do not create that topic, you would wreck this example!)
- [[ReadmeFirst]] is a topic in a different TWiki web. (You write it as _Web.TopicName_ , but it will show up as _TopicName_ )
- You can create a forced internal link by enclosing words in double square brackets, i.e. write `[[text formatting FAQ]]` to get [[text formatting FAQ|Main/TextFormattingFAQ]] that links to topic [[TextFormattingFAQ]]. Text within the brackets may contain optional spaces. You can also refer to a different web, i.e. `[[Main.TWiki users]]` points to [[TWikiUsers]] in the Main web.

**_External links:_**

- `http://...`, `https://...`, `ftp://...` and `mailto:...@...` are linked automatically.
- Email addresses like <code> <name@domain.com> </code> are linked automatically.

**EDITING**

- CapitalizedWordsStuckTogether will produce a link automatically.
- Blank lines will create new paragraphs.
- Words get **bold** by enclosing them in **\*** asterisks
- Words get _italic_ by enclosing them in **\_** underscores
- Words get **_bold italic_** by enclosing them in **\_\_** double-underscores
- Words get shown in `fixed font` by enclosing them in = equal signs
- Note for **bold** , _italic_ , **_bold italic_** and `fixed font` text:
  - Make sure to "stick" the `* _ =` signs to the characters, e.g.
    - _This works_
    - \_This does not get italic because there is a space between the last word and the underline character \_
  - Example text to enter:
    - Writing \*bold text\* , \_italic text\_ and =fixed== monospaced text
  - Example text gets rendered as:
    - Writing **bold text** , _italic text_ and `fixed=` monospaced text
- Separator: at least four dashes at the beginning of a line: &lt;--------&gt;
- List Item: 3 spaces and an asterisk: &lt;   \*&gt;
- Nested Item: 6 spaces and an asterisk: &lt;      \*&gt;
- Ordered List: 3 spaces and a number: &lt;   1&gt;
- Definition: 3 spaces, the term, a colon, followed by the definition.
- Table: Optional spaces followed by the cells enclosed in vertical bars: &lt;   | cell 1 | cell 2 | cell 3 | ... |&gt;

**HTML**

Most HTML tags will work, but it's almost always preferable not to use HTML, so that the markup remains easy for everyone to edit.

- Overview of all HTML elements at <http://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/wilbur/overview.html>
- HTML 3.2 Reference Specification at <http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html32.html>

**WIKI VARIABLES**

Variables are names that are enclosed in percent signs; they get expanded on the fly.

- `%WEB%` : The current web, is **%WEB%** .
- `%TOPIC%` : The current topic name, is **%TOPIC%** .
- `%ATTACHURL%` : The attachment URL of the current topic. Example usage: If you attach a file to a topic you can refer to it as <code>**%ATTACHURL%/image.gif**</code> to show the URL of the file or the image in your text.
- `%INCLUDE{"SomeTopic"}%` : Server side include, includes another topic. The current %WIKITOOLNAME% web is the default web. Example: <code>**%INCLUDE\{"TWiki.TWikiWebsTable"\}%**</code>
- There are many more variables, see [[TWikiVariables]].