Changes

This page explains the basic '''annotation''' features for [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Semantic_MediaWiki Semantic MediaWiki]. Annotations are special markup-elements which allow users to make some parts of the directory's content explicit so that software tools can use them to assist other users. In particular, semantic annotations provide the basis for more powerful [[Centiare:Searching|search functions]] within the directory. They also allow changes in data on one page to automatically propagate to other pages containing the same data (somewhat comparable with what can be done with [[Centiare:Template namespace|template]]s). Users who are not familiar with the basics of editing MediaWiki should read [[Centiare:Cheatsheet|Cheatsheet]] first.

This page explains the basic '''annotation''' features for [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Semantic_MediaWiki Semantic MediaWiki]. Annotations are special markup-elements which allow users to make some parts of the directory's content explicit so that software tools can use them to assist other users. In particular, semantic annotations provide the basis for more powerful [[Centiare:Searching|search functions]] within the directory. They also allow changes in data on one page to automatically propagate to other pages containing the same data (somewhat comparable with what can be done with [[Centiare:Template namespace|template]]s). Users who are not familiar with the basics of editing MediaWiki should read [[Centiare:Cheatsheet|Cheatsheet]] first.

Annotations in Semantic MediaWiki can be viewed as an extension of the existing system of [[meta:Help:Category|categories]] in MediaWiki. Categories are a means to ''classify'' articles according to certain criteria. For example, by adding <nowiki>[[Category:Cities]]</nowiki> to an article, the page is ''tagged'' as describing a city. Software tools can use this information to generate an ordered list of all cities in a wiki, and thus help users to browse the information.  

Annotations in Semantic MediaWiki can be viewed as an extension of the existing system of [[Centiare:Categorization|categories]] in MediaWiki. Categories are a means to ''classify'' articles according to certain criteria. For example, by adding <nowiki>[[Category:Cities]]</nowiki> to an article, the page is ''tagged'' as describing a city. Software tools can use this information to generate an ordered list of all cities in a wiki, and thus help users to browse the information.  

Semantic MediaWiki uses the category information, but provides further means of structuring the wiki:

Semantic MediaWiki uses the category information, but provides further means of structuring the wiki: