How does the footnote / reference function work?

[Alfa1]

Is the reference function in vaultwiki still similar to how it was in Nuwiki, or is a more advanced system implemented?

[pegasus]

I don't recall much about NuWiki's system. It more closely resembles MediaWiki's system, I think, except that it is done using BB-Codes.

FOOTNOTE can contain any BB-Code marked text. The footnote code doesn't add links on its own, just inserts text to the reference engine. This text is not visible in the page output until REFLIST is used.

REFLIST can contain a # of columns to show footnotes. If omitted "2" columns are used.

Example[1]:

[footnote]Phillips, Ted. VaultWiki. Cracked Egg Studios, LLC, 2008-2010. [url]http://www.vaultwiki.org/[/url][/footnote]
[reflist][/reflist]

1. ^Phillips, Ted. VaultWiki. Cracked Egg Studios, LLC, 2008-2010. http://www.vaultwiki.org/

[Alfa1]

I see. Letting users type somewhat complex bb code is similar to how NuWiki works. The use of advanced bb code ads a learning curve to Vaultwiki. I think that the benefit of a vb based wiki has over a mediawiki engine is that the vb editor is much easier to use than advanced bb code. It allows people who are less tech savvy to write wikis.

You did put that example in proper referencing format. Something that many websites would prefer their members to do. The way to get your members to use APA format(Last name, initial, date, title, journal, pages, organisation, url), is either to have them learn the format (highly unlikely) or to change way they enter the reference into the wiki/post. For example by letting the user fill in custom fields after they click on the references button. This could be facilitated by in a 'reference manager', which could be similar to vb 3.8's attachment manager.

Another thing to consider is outbound links and their validity in time. A large wiki site will have a huge amount of outbound links in wiki references. Throughout the years many of them go dead and the site takes a large SEO penalty. And there also is the issue of pagerank leaking and referencing competing forums. This can be solved by adding viewing permissions for guests, so that guests and bots can be restricted from seeing references.

What do you think about this?

[pegasus]

I agree that having a 'Reference Manager' of sorts is something good to have. This could simply be an extension to the WYSIWYG Template inserter when we get to that. You would create Reference-templates, and add them to a list of Reference types that would be available whenever users click the [footnote] button. To make sure this suggestion doesn't get buried and forgotten, please repost it in the Support area.

[Alfa1]

Will do. Thanks!