TWiki Text Formatting

Working in TWiki is as easy as typing in text. You don't need to know HTML, though you can use it if you prefer. Links to topics are created automatically when you enter Wiki Words. And TWiki shorthand gives you all the power of HTML with a simple coding system that takes no time to learn. It's all laid out below.

TWiki Editing Shorthand

Formatting Command:	You write:	You get:
Paragraphs: Blank lines will create new paragraphs.	1st paragraph 2nd paragraph	1st paragraph 2nd paragraph
Headings: Three or more dashes at the beginning of a line, followed by plus signs and the heading text. One plus creates a top level heading, two pluses a second level heading, etc. The maximum heading depth is 6. You can create a table of contents with the %TOC% variable. If you want to exclude a heading from the TOC, put !! after the ---+. Empty headings are allowed, but won't appear in the table of contents.	---++ Sushi ---+++ Maguro ---+++!! Not in TOC	Sushi Maguro Not in TOC
Bold Text: Words get shown in bold by enclosing them in * asterisks.	*Bold*	Bold
Italic Text: Words get shown in italic by enclosing them in _ underscores.	_Italic_	Italic
Bold Italic: Words get shown in bold italic by enclosing them in __ double-underscores.	__Bold italic__	Bold italic
Fixed Font: Words get shown in fixed font by enclosing them in = equal signs.	=Fixed font=	Fixed font
Bold Fixed Font: Words get shown in bold fixed font by enclosing them in double equal signs.	==Bold fixed==	Bold fixed
You can follow the closing bold, italic, or other (* _ __ = ==) indicator with normal punctuation, such as commas and full stops. Make sure there is no space between the text and the indicators.	_This works_, _this does not _	This works, _this does not _
Verbatim Text: Surround code excerpts and other formatted text with <verbatim> and </verbatim> tags. verbatim tags disable HTML code. Use <pre> and </pre> tags instead if you want the HTML code within the tags to be interpreted. NOTE: Preferences variables (* Set NAME = value) are set within verbatim tags.	<verbatim> class CatAnimal { void purr() { <code here> } } </verbatim>	class CatAnimal { void purr() { <code here> } }
Separator (Horizontal Rule): Three or more three dashes at the beginning of a line..	-------
Bulleted List: Multiple of three spaces, an asterisk, and another space. For all the list types, you can break a list item over several lines by indenting lines after the first one by at least 3 spaces.	* level 1 * level 2 * back on 1 * A bullet broken over three lines * last bullet	level 1 level 2 back on 1 A bullet broken over three lines last bullet
Numbered List: Multiple of three spaces, a type character, a dot, and another space. Several types are available besides a number: Type Generated Style Sample Sequence 1. Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, 4... A. Uppercase letters A, B, C, D... a. Lowercase letters a, b, c, d... I. Uppercase Roman Numerals I, II, III, IV... i. Lowercase Roman Numerals i, ii, iii, iv...	1. Sushi 1. Dim Sum 1. Fondue A. Sushi A. Dim Sum A. Fondue i. Sushi i. Dim Sum i. Fondue	Sushi Dim Sum Fondue Sushi Dim Sum Fondue Sushi Dim Sum Fondue
Definition List: Three spaces, a dollar sign, the term, a colon, a space, followed by the definition. Deprecated syntax: Three spaces, the term with no spaces, a colon, a space, followed by the definition.	$ Sushi: Japan $ Dim Sum: S.F.	Sushi Japan Dim Sum S.F.
Table: Each row of the table is a line containing of one or more cells. Each cell starts and ends with a vertical bar '|'. Any spaces at the beginning of a line are ignored. | *bold* | header cell with text in asterisks |   center-aligned   | cell with at least two, and equal number of spaces on either side |      right-aligned | cell with more spaces on the left | 2 colspan || and multi-span columns with multiple |'s right next to each other |^| cell with caret indicating follow-up row of multi-span rows You can split rows over multiple lines by putting a backslash '\' at the end of each line Contents of table cells wrap automatically as determined by the browser Use %VBAR% or &#124; to add | characters in tables. Use %CARET% or &#94; to add ^ characters in tables. The Table Plugin provides the |^| multiple-span row functionality and additional rendering features	| *L* | *C* | *R* | | A2 | B2 | C2 | | A3 | B3 | C3 | | multi span ||| | A5-7 | 5 | 5 | |^| six | six | |^| seven | seven | | split\ | over\ | 3 lines | | A9 | B9 | C9 |	L C R A2 B2 C2 A3 B3 C3 multi span A5-7 5 5 six six seven seven split over 3 lines A9 B9 C9
WikiWord Links: CapitalizedWordsStuckTogether (or Wiki Words) will produce a link automatically if preceded by whitespace or parenthesis. If you want to link to a topic in a different web write Otherweb.TopicName. To link to a topic in a subweb write Otherweb.Subweb.TopicName. The link label excludes the name of the web, e.g. only the topic name is shown. As an exception, the name of the web is shown for the WebHome topic. Dots '.' are used to separate webs and subwebs from topic names and therefore cannot be used in topic names. It's generally a good idea to use the TWiki Variables %SYSTEMWEB% and %USERSWEB% instead of TWiki and Main.	WebStatistics Sandbox.WebNotify Sandbox.WebHome Sandbox.Subweb.TopicName	Web Statistics Web Notify Sandbox TopicName
Anchors: You can define a reference inside a TWiki topic (called an anchor name) and link to that. To define an anchor write #AnchorName at the beginning of a line. The anchor name must be a Wiki Word of no more than 32 characters. To link to an anchor name use the [[MyTopic#MyAnchor]] syntax. You can omit the topic name if you want to link within the same topic.	[[WikiWord#NotThere]] [[#MyAnchor][Jump]] #MyAnchor To here	Wiki Word#Not There Jump To here
Forced Links: You can create a forced internal link by enclosing words in double square brackets. Text within the brackets may contain optional spaces; the topic name is formed by capitalizing the initial letter and by removing the spaces; for example, [[text formatting FAQ]] links to topic Text Formatting FAQ. You can also refer to a different web and use anchors. To "escape" double square brackets that would otherwise make a link, prefix the leading left square bracket with an exclamation point.	[[wiki syntax]] [[Main.TWiki groups]] escaped: ![[wiki syntax]]	wiki syntax Main.TWiki groups escaped: [[wiki syntax]]
Specific Links: You can create a link where you specify the link text and the URL separately using nested square brackets [[reference][text]]. Internal link references (e.g. Wiki Syntax) and URLs (e.g. http://TWiki.org/) are both supported. The rules described under Forced Links apply for internal link references. Anchor names can be added as well, to create a link to a specific place in a topic.	[[WikiSyntax][wiki syntax]] [[http://gnu.org][GNU]]	wiki syntax GNU
Prevent a Link: Prevent a Wiki Word from being linked by prepending it with an exclamation point.	!SunOS	SunOS
Disable Links: You can disable automatic linking of Wiki Words by surrounding text with <noautolink> and </noautolink> tags. It is possible to turn off all auto-linking with a NOAUTOLINK preferences setting.	<noautolink> RedHat & SuSE </noautolink>	RedHat & SuSE
Mailto Links: E-mail addresses are linked automatically. To create e-mail links that have more descriptive link text, specify subject lines or message bodies, or omit the e-mail address, you can write [[mailto:user@domain][descriptive text]].	a@b.com [[mailto:a@b.com]\ [Mail]] [[mailto:?subject=\ Hi][Hi]]	a@b.com Mail Hi
Literal content: TWiki generates HTML code from TWiki shorthand. Experts surround anything that must be output literally in the HTML code, without the application of TWiki shorthand rules, with <literal>..</literal> tags. any HTML within literal tags must be well formed i.e. all tags must be properly closed before the end of the literal block. TWiki Variables are expanded within literal blocks.	<literal> | Not | A | Table | <literal>	| Not | A | Table |
Protected content: Experts protect text from mangling by WYSIWYG editors using <sticky>..</sticky> tags. Sticky tags don't have any effect on normal topic display; they are only relevant when content has to be protected from a WYSIWYG editor (usually because it isn't well-formed HTML, or because it is HTML that WYSIWYG would normally filter out or modify). Protected content appears as plain text in the WYSIWYG editor.	<sticky> <div> This div is required </div> <sticky>	This div is required

Using HTML

You can use most HTML tags in TWiki topics without a problem. This is useful where you want to add some content that is formatted in a way that is not supported using TWiki shorthand, for example, you can write <strike>deleted text</strike> to get deleted text.

There are a few usability and technical considerations to keep in mind:

• On collaboration pages, it's better not to use HTML, but to use TWiki shorthand instead - this keeps the text uncluttered and easy to edit using the plaintext editor.
• If you must use HTML, use XHTML 1.0 Transitional syntax.
• Use <literal>..</literal> tags around blocks of HTML to avoid accidental interpretation of TWiki shorthand within the HTML.
• Script tags may be filtered out, at the discretion of your TWiki administrator.

Recommendations when pasting HTML from other sources (using the plain-text editor):

• Copy only text between <body> and </body> tags.
• Remove all empty lines. TWiki inserts <p /> paragraph tags on empty lines, which causes problems if done between HTML tags that do not allow paragraph tags, like for example between table tags.
• Remove leading spaces. TWiki might interpret some text as lists.
• Do not span a tag over more than one line. TWiki requires that the opening and closing angle brackets - <...> - of a HTML tag are on the same line, or the tag will be broken.
• In your HTML editing program, save without hard line breaks on text wrap.

When using a WYSIWYG editor, you can just copy-paste directly into the editor, and the content will be converted to TWiki shorthand automatically when you save.

Hyperlinks

Being able to create links without any special formatting is a core TWiki feature, made possible with Wiki Words and inline URLs.

Internal Links

• Good Style is a Wiki Word that links to the GoodStyle topic located in the current web.

• Not Existing Yet is a topic waiting to be written. Create the topic by clicking on the ?. (Try clicking, but then, Cancel - creating the topic would wreck this example!)

External Links

• http://..., https://..., ftp://..., gopher://..., news://..., file://..., telnet://... and mailto:...@... are linked automatically.

• E-mail addresses like name@domain.com are linked automatically.

• [[Square bracket rules]] let you easily create non-WikiWord links.
  • You can also write [[http://yahoo.com Yahoo home page]] as an easier way of doing external links with descriptive text for the link, such as Yahoo home page.

TWiki Variables

TWiki Variables are names enclosed in percent signs that are that are expanded to some other text when the topic is displayed. For example, %TOPIC% is expanded to TWiki Variables Quick Start. Some variables can take arguments in curly braces - for example, %INCLUDE{"OtherTopic" ARG="arg"}%.

Many TWiki variables are built-in, and others are predefined for your convenience. You can also define your own TWiki Variables at the entire site, individual web, or individual topic level. For more information, go to TWiki Variables

TWiki Variables are fully expanded before any of the TWiki text formatting rules are applied.

Documentation Graphics: There are many graphics available to use in your topics. Use %ICON{"help"}%, %ICON{"tip"}%, and %ICON{"warning"}% to get: , , and , respectively. TWiki Doc Graphics lists them all.

To "escape" a variable, prefix it with an exclamation mark. Write: !%SOMEVARIABLE% to get: %SOMEVARIABLE%.

TWikiPlugin Formatting Extensions

Plugins can extend the functionality of TWiki into many other areas. There are a huge number of TWiki plugins available from the Plugins web on TWiki.org.

Currently enabled plugins on this TWiki installation, as listed by %PLUGINDESCRIPTIONS%:

• Spread Sheet Plugin (any TWiki, $Rev: 17911 (29 Apr 2009) $): Add spreadsheet calculation like "$SUM( $ABOVE() )" to TWiki tables and other topic text
• Action Tracker Plugin (2011-01-09, $Rev: 20147 (2011-01-09) $): Adds support for action tags in topics, and automatic notification of action statuses
• Batch Upload Plugin (1.4, $Rev: 17006 (12 Dec 2008) $): Attach multiple files at once by uploading a zip archive
• Chart Plugin (Dakar, 13790):
• Comment Plugin (03 Aug 2008, $Rev: 17791 (29 Apr 2009) $): Allows users to quickly post comments to a page without an edit/preview/save cycle
• Controls Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 15561 (03 Jul 2008) $): This plugin renders a control (typically used in an HTML form) based on values defined in a topic.
• Documentation Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 16049 (29 Apr 2009) $):
• Easy Timeline Plugin (Dakar, 9845): Generate graphical timeline diagrams from markup text
• Edit Row Plugin ($Date$, $Rev$): Inline edit for tables
• Edit Table Plugin (4.9.1, $Rev: 18014 (29 Apr 2009) $): Edit TWiki tables using edit fields, date pickers and drop down boxes
• Excel Import Export Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 0$): Renders an attached Excel spreadsheet as TWiki table
• ExplicitNumberingPlugin: (disabled)
• FormQueryPlugin: (disabled)
• Git Plugin (10711, $Rev: 10530 (2011-07-11) $): use git to manage repository so that webs can be shared with many sites
• Headlines Plugin (2.21, $Rev: 17907 (29 Apr 2009) $): Show headline news in TWiki pages based on RSS and ATOM news feeds from external sites
• If Defined Plugin (v1.1, $Rev: 18548 (2010-04-29) $): Render content conditionally
• Interwiki Plugin (28 Feb 2009, $Rev: 14913 (17 Sep 2007) $): Link ExternalSite:Page text to external sites based on aliases defined in a rules topic
• Multi Edit Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 0000): This plugin allows arbitrary section of a topic to be edited individually
• Ploticus Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 1.0$): Allows users to plot data and functions using Ploticus
• Preferences Plugin (TWiki-4.3, $Rev: 18016 (29 Apr 2009) $): Allows editing of preferences using fields predefined in a form
• Publish Web Plugin (2014-12-04, $Rev: 28480 (2014-12-04) $): TWiki CMS - maintain a static website collaboratively in a TWiki web
• Redirect Plugin (Dakar, 17733): Create a redirect to another topic or website
• Saydo Plugin (TWiki 4.2, 0000): Supports program tracking: Render text as icons, like  :behind: for or  :upgreen: for . Weekly report extraction.
• Sectional Edit Plugin (Dakar, 17 Aug 2006): Allows the user to break a topic into sections for individual editing.
• Set Get Plugin (2015-07-09, $Rev: 29398 (2015-07-09) $): Set and get variables and JSON objects in topics, optionally persistently across topic views
• Signature Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 0$): Supports electronic signatures
• Slide Show Plugin (02 Aug 2008, $Rev: 17260 (29 Apr 2009) $): Create web based presentations based on topics with headings.
• Smilies Plugin (Dakar, $Rev: 16049 (29 Apr 2009) $): Render smilies as icons, like for  :-) or for  :eek:
• Spaced Wiki Word Plugin (Dakar, 13634): Display TWiki links spaced out
• Table Plugin (1.036, $Rev: 17769 (29 Apr 2009) $): Control attributes of tables and sorting of table columns
• Tag Me Plugin (TWiki 4, 1.049): Tag wiki content collectively to find content by keywords
• Tree Browser Plugin (2014-01-02, $Rev: 28100 (2014-09-29) $): Renders a list as a collapsable/expandable tree.
• Twisty Plugin (1.4.12, $Rev: 15653 (19 Nov 2007) $): Twisty section JavaScript library to open/close content dynamically
• WorkflowPlugin: (disabled)
• Wysiwyg Plugin (18 Apr 2009, $Rev: 18020 (29 Apr 2009) $): Translator framework for Wysiwyg editors

Check on current Plugin status and settings for this site in TWiki Preferences.

Common Editing Errors

TWiki formatting rules are fairly simple to use and quick to type. However, there are some things to watch out for, taken from the Text Formatting FAQ:

• Q: Text enclosed in angle brackets like <filename> is not displayed. How can I show it as it is?
  • A: The '<' and '>' characters have a special meaning in HTML, they define HTML tags. You need to escape them, so write '<' instead of '<', and '>' instead of '>'.
    Example: Type 'prog <filename>' to get 'prog <filename>'.

• Q: Why is the '&' character sometimes not displayed?
  • A: The '&' character has a special meaning in HTML, it starts a so called character entity, i.e. '©' is the © copyright character. You need to escape '&' to see it as it is, so write '&' instead of '&'.
    Example: Type 'This & that' to get 'This & that'.