%META:TOPICINFO{author="TWikiContributor" date="1307241948" format="1.1" version="10"}%
---+!! What is a !WikiWord?
A !WikiWord consists of two or more words with initial capitals, run together. *WikiWords are topic names.* A TWiki topic name always has a fixed format: two or more words with initial capitals, run together. Like the name of the current topic: *WikiWord*. When you type the name of a topic, you create a link to that topic. You type =%HOMETOPIC%= and on saving the page this becomes %HOMETOPIC%. It's as easy as that.
When you type a !WikiWord, you establish a hyperlink. It's as easy as that.
!WikiWord linking is easy to use:
* You don't have to know the full path to where the topic is stored - you just type the name
* You don't need to write HTML
* Without HTML, the topic text is easier to read when editing
* Easy linking leads to interesting texts with links placed in context
!WikiWords are styled like this because:
* It makes Wiki hyperlinks instantly recognizable
* It leads to interesting Wiki topics
* It avoids the need to fiddle with HTML tags
* It avoids over-general topics because at least two words are required
#WikiWordSyntax
#TheSyntax
---++ Syntax of a !WikiWord
* Uppercase letter(s)
* Lowercase letter(s) or numbers(s)
* Uppercase letter(s)
* Optional lowercase or uppercase letter(s) or number(s)
!WikiWord syntax in [[Wikipedia:Extended_Backus–Naur_Form][Extended Backus-Naur form]] (EBNF):
wikiWord = upperLetters , lowerNumLetters , upperLetters , { alphaNum } ;
upperLetters = upperCase , { upperCase } ;
lowerNumLetters = lowerNum , { lowerNum } ;
alphaNum = upperCase | lowerCase | digit ;
lowerNum = lowerCase | digit ;
lowerCase = "a" | "b" | "c" | "d" | "e" | "f" | "g" | "h" | "i"
| "j" | "k" | "l" | "m" | "n" | "o" | "p" | "q" | "r"
| "s" | "t" | "u" | "v" | "w" | "x" | "y" | "z" ;
upperCase = "A" | "B" | "C" | "D" | "E" | "F" | "G" | "H" | "I"
| "J" | "K" | "L" | "M" | "N" | "O" | "P" | "Q" | "R"
| "S" | "T" | "U" | "V" | "W" | "X" | "Y" | "Z" ;
digit = "0" | "1" | "2" | "3" | "4" | "5" | "6" | "7" | "8" | "9" ;
#GoodExamples
---++ Good examples of !WikiWords
* WikiWord
* GoodStyle
* VersionFiveDotThree
* ReleaseVersion5dot3
* AVeryLongWikiTopicNameIsAlsoPossible: wherever an uppercase or lowercase letter is allowed, a group of letters of the same case is allowed
* YearTwoThousand
* Nine2Five: Note that numbers are considered to be lowercase letters in !WikiWords
#BadExamples
---++ Bad examples of !WikiWords:
* Web: Name without the uppercase letter(s), lowercase letter(s), uppercase letter(s) sequence
* 5TWiki: Name beginning with a number
* Know-How: Name with dashes in between
#VariationsInLinking
---++ Variations in linking
When you write the name of a topic, it becomes a link. There are more ways:
* To write a custom *link label*, use bracket notation: =[[TWikiAccessControl][access control]]= - this becomes: [[TWikiAccessControl][access control]]
* To link to a topic in *another web*, write: =Sandbox.WebSearch= - this becomes: Sandbox.WebSearch
* To link to a topic in *another subweb* write: =Sandbox.Subweb.WebSearch=.
* To show the web name in the link use bracket notation: =[[Sandbox.%HOMETOPIC%]]= - this becomes: [[Sandbox.%HOMETOPIC%]]
* To link to a topic on *another Wiki site*, use: =TWiki:Main/WebHome= - this becomes: TWiki:Main/WebHome (sites are defined in the InterwikiPlugin)
* To link to a part on the *same page*, write a "#" followed by the name of an anchor. The anchor is a "#" followed by a name which must be a !WikiName. Example =#MyAnchor=. You can also link to an anchor on another page: =%SYSTEMWEB%.%HOMETOPIC%#MyAnchor=.
* To link to a header on the *same page*, write a "#" followed by the header text, with spaces replaced by underscores (and =!= removed): =[[#Good_examples_of_WikiWords]]= becomes: [[#Good_examples_of_WikiWords]]. You can also link to a header on another page: =%SYSTEMWEB%.%HOMETOPIC%#Disclaimer= becomes: %SYSTEMWEB%.%HOMETOPIC%#Disclaimer.
#WikiWordHints
---++ Hints
* Insert !WikiWords wherever you can. Rich linking helps to make a Wiki successful.
* Be specific. All topics in a web share one name space. For example, instead of =FunctionalSpec= write =BreadSlicerFunctionalSpec= because other projects might also have a functional spec topic.
* To stop a !WikiWord from being turned into a hyperlink, insert an exclamation point immediately before the !WikiWord. For example, write =!SunOS= to get !SunOS.
* Create topics with singular names. Plural WikiWords are automatically linked to the singular topic, i.e. the link WikiWords links to the topic WikiWord (works only in English).
* Sometimes you have to be creative to find a good WikiName. Examples:
* To create a topic about the the *Bread Slicer 1.2* product, use =BreadSlicer1dot2= or =BreadSlicer1pt2=, but not =BreadSlicer1.2=.
* Numbers are considered lowercase which makes =Year2K= and =Y2K= !WikiWords but not =Y2000= and =Y2k=.
* Turn acronyms into !WikiWords, i.e. take =FaqIndex= for a "FAQ index" topic.
* It is possible to turn off the auto-linking of !WikiWords and to rely only on the bracket notation. See NOAUTOLINK setting in TWikiPreferences#Default_Web_Preferences.
* %X% When linking to a %HOMETOPIC% topic _in another web_, the link will be rendered as the name of the web, e.g. =Sandbox.%HOMETOPIC%= becomes Sandbox.%HOMETOPIC%.
* %X% Dots (.) are used as seperators between webs, subwebs, and topics. It is not possible to use dots in topic names. TWiki does not attempt to guess if a dot could be part of a topic name.
__Related topics:__ WikiSyntax, WikiNotation, TextFormattingRules, TWikiEditingShorthand, TWikiRenderingShortcut, TWikiShorthand
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-- __Contributors:__ TWiki:Main.PeterThoeny, TWiki:Main.ArthurClemens, TWiki:Main.CrawfordCurrie