Forum:Implement a visual editor

Forums: Index → Proposals → Implement a visual editor

This discussion is in regards to a proposed change on SmashWiki. The discussion must first meet with a consensus before it is implemented.

Many people in the Smash community have knowledge to contribute to the Wiki, however not all of these people are experienced Wiki editors. While most people have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word and other similar word document applications, only those who regularly edit Wikis will be familiar with the formatting language of Wikis. Furthermore, some may even be familiar with Wiki editors, but are not too fond of the skeletal layout of the text box and the constant need to refresh the preview in order to see what their contributions would look like. Some may have trouble visualising the Wiki article, for various reasons, and some may simply want an editing format more similar to the word document interfaces they know, love, and are familiar and comfortable with.

As a Wiki, it is in our best interest to accommodate our users, so long as we do not inconvenience other users or harm the Wiki in the process. Some Wikis, including the largest public Wiki on the internet, Wikipedia, have a feature which enables their editors to switch to what is known as a visual editor. Visual editors display the article being edited, as it is being edited, and allow editors to see what their edits to the article look like in real time. Different Wikis have different ways of implementing visual editors, but Wikipedia’s take is an excellent example of a completely non-intrusive and rather user-friendly visual editor option in action:

For new users and existing users who have not changed their editor setting, it will open up the traditional editor by default; however, in the top right of the editing window is a small box with a pencil in it, which can be clicked on to switch to the visual editor. The pencil remains at the top of the page, which can be clicked on to switch back. By default, the Wiki will remember what editor you used last, and load the same editor (and thus, for those who have never switched editors, it will always load the classic editor). By going into preferences, users can also manually set the Wiki to always load either the classic or visual editor by default, regardless of which was used last, and even provides an option for having 2 edit tabs appear at the top of the page (where the page, talk, history etc tabs are), so that editors can spontaneously decide which editor they want to be opened, depending on which editor they decide would be best for them to use for the edit in question, and switch between the two without clicking on the pencil.

In essence, the visual editor is an accessibility tool (an area in which SmashWiki is somewhat lacking) which some users may prefer over the default, and we believe that a Wikipedia-style visual editor should be implemented on SmashWiki as well. Before voting on this proposal, please consider the following points:

• The addition of a visual editor will provide editors with more control over their editing experience.
• It will help to accomodate for existing and potential users who for whatever reason may not be fond of the source editor.
  • This is not meant to discourage inexperienced editors from learning how to do complex edits through source editing, but is simply providing a way for them to get the same results they otherwise would without even needing to learn all that to begin with; if they wish to learn how to do complex edits through source editing, the option is still there for them. Otherwise, this is just an accessibility tool to make it easier for them.
• Its implementation will not in any way inconvenience or disturb editors who wish to continue using the source editor, as that will remain the default, and unlike a certain other group of Wikis, users will not be prompted or encouraged in any way to use the visual editor instead.

Users who are not familiar with what the visual editor looks like are also advised to please test and play around with Wikipedia’s visual editor BEFORE voting on this proposal. Furthermore, please do not let certain other Wiki groups’ poor implementation of visual editors influence your decision on this proposal, as Wikipedia’s implementation of the visual editor will be the basis for its implementation on the Wiki, should this proposal pass.

VoqéoT 12:39, May 1, 2020 (EDT) & Alex the Weeb 12:42, May 1, 2020 (EDT)

Update

Regarding the timing, and feasibility of the addition of a visual editor, Porplemontage (the Wiki's owner) has said the following:

"I'm going to take a look at implementing visual editor as a non-invasive option after we upgrade to MediaWiki 1.35 around September"

Please do not base your vote on the technical details of when and how the editor would be added onto the Wiki, as that will be handled by Porplemontage. Alex the Weeb 14:04, May 1, 2020 (EDT)

Support

1. As per above. VoqéoT 12:39, May 1, 2020 (EDT)
2. As per above. Alex the Weeb 12:42, May 1, 2020 (EDT)
3. At first I was neutral about this addition, but after playing around with it for a while on Wikipedia, I realized it could potentially be really beneficial to the wiki even for experienced editors. I find that editing and adding on to templates is a lot less time consuming with the visual editor. It would make power ranking, tournament, and smasher pages a lot less time consuming. Definite support from me. Pokebub (talk) 13:26, May 1, 2020 (EDT)

Oppose

1. The visual editor used on Wikipedia is currently in beta. When a full release occurs, I'll change this to Neutral, but for now oppose. DekZek 13:44, May 1, 2020 (EDT)

   This isn't a proposal to introduce the visual editor right this instant. Porplemontage has said he will look into the implementation of a visual editor when the Wiki is updated to the latest version of MediaWiki. The purpose of this forum is to establish whether or not there would be support for actually implementing it here. Do not base your vote on the timing of the forum. Alex the Weeb 13:52, May 1, 2020 (EDT)

Neutral

1. Quite frankly, I don't care. I don't think it hurts too much to have it on the wiki, nor would it hurt too much if we don't have it on the wiki. CookiesCreme 13:01, May 1, 2020 (EDT)
2. Echoing C&C. I've already laid out my opinions through Discord, and they mostly remain the same. But if things are easy to edit, even with the visual editor, then I'm not against it. Aidan, the Rurouni 14:44, May 1, 2020 (EDT)