View source for Help:VisualEditor

{{Short description|Help page for Wikimedia editing software}}
{{WP:VisualEditor/tabs}}{{pb}}
{{VisualEditor navbox}}
{{shortcut|WP:VE/UG}}
<div style="display:table;margin:auto; padding: 2em; background: #EBF4FA; box-shadow: 7px 7px 5px #CCC; border-radius: 15px; ">
<big>If you would like to try '''VisualEditor''' without editing a live article, you can <span class="plainlinks">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:Sandbox?veaction=edit  freely test it here]</span>.</big> You don't need an account to use VisualEditor on that page.<br>
<big>An [[Help:Intro_to|introductory tutorial series]] is also available.</big></div>
<br/>
'''[[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]]''' gives you the ability to edit without needing to learn simple wikitext markup, as is required by the default [[WP:WIKITEXT|wikitext]] editor (also known as [[WP:Source Editor|Source Editor]]). Unlike that editing tool, VisualEditor displays the text being edited [[rich-text editor|almost as if it were already published]]. This guide gives illustrated, step-by-step instructions on the editor's features.

Be aware that VisualEditor is still in [[Software_release_life_cycle#Beta|development]] and thus has [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations|known limitations]] and bugs, and this guide may occasionally lag behind the release of new updates. For larger pages, VisualEditor can be slower than using wikitext with Source Editor and is not available for discussion pages. While VisualEditor remains in development, you should [[#Saving changes|review your changes]] to ensure that the edits are those you intended. 

We welcome your problem sightings, comments and suggestions on the [[mw:VisualEditor/Feedback|MediaWiki Feedback page]]. ''(Please note: In late 2017 all '''Save changes''' and '''Save page''' buttons were renamed '''Publish changes''' or '''Publish page'''. Every edit – even to drafts – is now saved in this way, and this should not be confused with [[Wikipedia:Moving a page|putting drafts into the main part of Wikipedia]]. That is a separate process.)''

__TOC__

==Availability==

VisualEditor is available on the following types of pages (namespaces):

*Article ("mainspace")
*User
*Category
*Help
*File (but not with files, or other pages, at Wikimedia Commons)
*Wikipedia namespace

VisualEditor is not available for use on discussion (talk) pages. [[WP:Source editor|Source editor]] must be used there instead.

==First step: enabling VE==
[[File:Enabling Visual Editor (2025-01-27).png|right|frameless|Enabling the visual editor in your preferences]]

As a prerequisite you'll need a VisualEditor-supported browser; most are.

If you are registered on Wikipedia, you can opt to make VisualEditor available for editing as follows:

# Go to [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-editing|your preferences]].
# Go to the "Editing" tab
# In the "Editor" find the checkbox labelled 'Enable the visual editor' and tick it

If you are not registered, you can still use VisualEditor by adding <code>?veaction=edit</code> to the end of a Wikipedia page URL. (Registered editors who have not enabled VisualEditor in their preferences – that is, the box for "Temporarily disable the visual editor while it is in beta" option '''is''' checked – can do the same.)

== Opening VisualEditor ==

{| cellpadding="20" style="clear: both"
|-
| To edit a page using VisualEditor, click on the "{{int:vector-view-edit}}" tab at the top of the page.

It can take a few seconds for the page to open for editing, and longer if the page is very large.

Clicking on the "{{int:visualeditor-ca-editsource}}" tab will open the classic wikitext source editor.
| [[File:VisualEditor edit tab-en.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You can also open VisualEditor by clicking on the "{{int:editsection}}" link on each section. Protected pages do not have this link.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Section edit links-en.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
|}

== Getting started: the VisualEditor toolbar ==

<div class="overflowbugx" style="overflow:auto; width: 100%;">
[[File:VisualEditor toolbar-en.png|frameless|center|upright=5.5|alt=Screenshot of the VisualEditor toolbar]]</div>

{| cellpadding="20"
|-
| colspan=2 | The VisualEditor toolbar appears at the top of the screen when you begin editing. It includes some familiar icons:
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Toolbar - Undo-redo.png|frameless|border|150px|center]]
| '''{{int:visualeditor-historybutton-undo-tooltip}}''' and '''{{int:visualeditor-historybutton-redo-tooltip}}''' the changes you have made.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Toolbar Headings-en.png|frameless|border|upright=0.7|center]]
| '''Headings''' pull-down menu: allows you to change how the paragraph is formatted. To change the style of a paragraph, put your cursor in the paragraph and select an item in this menu (you don't have to highlight any text). Section titles are formatted "{{int:visualeditor-formatdropdown-format-mw-heading2}}", and subsections are "{{int:visualeditor-formatdropdown-format-mw-heading3}}", "{{int:visualeditor-formatdropdown-format-mw-heading4}}", and so on. The normal format for text is "{{int:visualeditor-formatdropdown-format-paragraph}}".
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Toolbar Formatting-en.png|frameless|border|upright=1.4|center]]
| 
'''Formatting:''' Clicking the "<u>'''''A'''''</u>" opens a menu. 
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-bold-tooltip}}" item ('''B''') bolds the selected text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-italic-tooltip}}" item (''I'') italicizes the selected text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-superscript-tooltip}}" item (x<sup>2</sup>) causes the selected text to appear smaller than surrounding text and to be slightly higher than the surrounding text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-subscript-tooltip}}" item (x<sub>2</sub>) causes the selected text to appear smaller than surrounding text and slightly lower than the surrounding text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-strikethrough-tooltip}}" item (<s>S</s>) adds a solid bar through the selected text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-code-tooltip}}" item (a set of curly brackets: <code>{}</code>) changes the font of the selected text to a monospaced font, which sets it apart from surrounding (proportionally spaced) text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-underline-tooltip}}" item (<u>U</u>) adds a solid line beneath the selected text.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-language-tooltip}}" item (Aあ) allows you to label the language (for example, Japanese) and direction (for example, right-to-left) of the selected text.
* The final item ([[File:VisualEditor MediaWiki theme clear icon bitmap.png]]), called "{{int:visualeditor-clearbutton-tooltip}}", removes all character formatting from the selected text, including links.

If you have not selected any text, then when you click the "<u>'''''A'''''</u>" to open the menu, and then select an item, that formatting will apply to the text that you start typing, from wherever your cursor is located.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Toolbar - Linking.png|frameless|border|upright=1.4|center]]
| '''Linking tool:''' The chain icon is the [[#Editing links|linking tool]]. Clicking on it (usually after selecting some text) opens the [[#Editing links|link dialog]].
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor citoid Cite button.png|frameless|border|upright=0.7|center]]
| '''{{int:Cite-ve-toolbar-group-label}} button:''' The "{{int:Cite-ve-toolbar-group-label}}" button is used to add inline citations (also called "footnotes" or "references"). The Automatic tab service tries to fill out citation templates automatically. Templates can also be manual added from the Manual tab. 

Instructions for configuring the local citation templates in the Manual tab are available at [[MW:VisualEditor/Citation tool|VisualEditor/Citation tool]]. Instructions for configuring the citation templates used by Automatic tab are available at [[mw:Citoid/Enabling_Citoid_on_your_wiki|Citoid/Enabling Citoid on your wiki.]] 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Toolbar Lists and indentation-en.png|frameless|border|upright=1.4|center]]
| '''Lists and indentation:''' The first two items allow you to format text as either a "{{int:visualeditor-listbutton-bullet-tooltip}}" or a "{{int:visualeditor-listbutton-number-tooltip}}". The last two items allow you to decrease or increase the indentation level of list items.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|- id="insert"
| [[File:VisualEditor Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|upright=1.1|center]]
| '''{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}:''' The "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu may be different on some projects. Below is a list of '''all''' options that may appear.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-media-tooltip}}" icon (a picture of mountains) opens the [[#Editing images and other media files|media dialog]].
* The "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-template-tooltip}}" icon (a puzzle piece) allows you to [[#Editing templates|edit templates]].
* The "{{int:visualeditor-commentinspector-tooltip}}" item (a speech balloon with a "!") allows you to insert comments that are not visible to readers; these comments can be seen only when in edit mode and are then indicated by an exclamation mark icon.
* The "Table" icon allows you to insert a table.
* The "{{int:visualeditor-mwgallerydialog-title}}" icon (a set of photos) allows you to insert a gallery to the page.
* The "{{int:math-visualeditor-mwmathdialog-title}}" icon (Σ) opens the [[#Editing mathematical formulae|formula inserter dialog]].
* The "{{int:wikihiero-visualeditor-mwhieroinspector-title}}" icon (an [[:w:ankh|ankh]] symbol – ☥) allows you to enter the hieroglyphics inserter. <!-- (<s>See below.</s> Not mentioned again.) -->
* The "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-referenceslist-tooltip}}" icon (three books) opens a dialog in which you can specify where references will be displayed to the reader. Usually this only needs to be done once on every page.
Note: To '''remove''' any inserted image or template, simply select the item and press 'Delete' on your keyboard. To remove a Table, select the item and click the red 'delete' button that appears on screen. 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| colspan=2 | '''Special character insertion:''' The "{{int:visualeditor-specialcharacter-button-tooltip}}" (Ω) icon on the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu, when clicked, displays a dialog showing many special characters. By clicking on a specific character, you place it into the text. These special characters include some standard symbols, accents, and mathematical symbols. (This list may be customized locally. See [[MW:VisualEditor/Special characters|VisualEditor/Special characters]] for instructions.)
|}
<div class="overflowbugx" style="overflow:auto; ">
[[File:VisualEditor Toolbar SpecialCharacters-en.png|frameless|border|upright=5.0|center]]</div>
{| cellpadding="20"
|-
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor More Settings-en.png|frameless|upright=1.8|border|center]]
| The '''Switch editor''' button (slanted pencil icon) is to the left of the '''Publish changes''' button. It lets you switch from VisualEditor to the classic 'Source Editor' and vice versa without losing the work you've done.



The '''{{int:visualeditor-pagemenu-tooltip}}''' menu (hamburger icon) is further left of the '''Publish changes''' button. On this menu there are options to adjust page settings, such as whether the page is a redirect, or how it is indexed; to [[#Editing categories|add, edit, or delete categories]]; and to see, using the "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-language-tooltip}}" item, the list of articles on the same subject that are in other languages. It also includes a Find/Replace tool that supports plain text searches as well as [[regular expression]] searches with capture groups that can be recalled using backreferences such as $1, $2, etc.
|}

== Saving changes ==

{| cellpadding="20"
|-
| When you're done editing, click the blue '''Publish changes''' button in the toolbar. If you have not made any changes, the button will be disabled (grayed out). To cancel all your editing changes, just close your browser window or press Esc on your keyboard.
| [[File:VisualEditor toolbar actions-en.png|frameless|border|300px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| Pressing the blue "Publish changes" button opens a dialog. You can then enter a brief summary of your actions, mark your edit as minor, or add the page to your {{int:mywatchlist}}. The box for the summary is the equivalent of the {{int:summary}} field in the wikitext editor.

You can also review your changes using the "{{int:visualeditor-savedialog-label-review}}" button to be sure they will work as intended before saving your changes. This is similar to the "{{int:showdiff}}" button in the [[Source editor]].

The "{{int:Visualeditor-savedialog-label-resume-editing}}" button returns you to the page you were editing. You can save and publish all of your changes later.
| [[File:VisualEditor save dialog-en.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|}

== Editing links ==

{| cellpadding="20"
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Toolbar - Linking.png|frameless|border|300px|center]]
| Links can be added through the "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-link-tooltip}}" icon (links in a chain) in the toolbar, or by using the shortcut {{key press|Ctrl|K}} on PC (or {{Key press|Command|K}} on a [[Mac (computer)|Mac]]).

If you select (highlight) text and then press the "{{int:visualeditor-annotationbutton-link-tooltip}}" button, that text will be used in creating the link. For a link that involves just one word, you can either select that word or just put the cursor anywhere within it.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor-link tool-search results.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| When you use either the button or the shortcut, a dialog will open in which you may type the link.

VisualEditor will try to help with '''[[Internal link|internal]]''' links by looking for likely matches.

|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor link tool 2015.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
| Once you have entered or selected the link, you complete the linking process by pressing {{key press|Enter}} or by pressing the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-done}}" button. Your link will immediately appear on the VisualEditor page but, as with other changes to the page, it will not be saved until you 'Publish' the entire page.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor-link tool-external link.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
| To link to a web page on another website, the process is similar: Choose the "{{int:visualeditor-linkinspector-button-link-external}}" tab, and enter a URL in the box.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor link tool simple link.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
| External links without labels look like this: [http://example.com]. You can add these by placing your cursor to the right of the text to which the link is related. Open the link tool by clicking on the button or pressing the shortcut keys. Type the URL in the box, and click the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-done}}" button to insert the link.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor-context menu-link tool.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
| To change or remove an existing link, click within the text for that link. A dialog will appear, for editing. (You can also get to the dialog with the {{key press|Ctrl|K}} keyboard shortcut.)

Click "{{int:visualeditor-contextitemwidget-label-secondary}}" to change where the link goes. You can also remove the link altogether by pressing the red chain icon with a line through it. You can open the link's target in another window by clicking on the displayed target. (You might want do this to check if an external link is valid.)
|}

== Editing references ==
<div style="margin:auto; padding: 2em; background: #EBF4FA; box-shadow: 7px 7px 5px #CCC; border-radius: 15px; ">
<big>This section is '''out of date'''. A more current user manual can be found [[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_references|on mediawiki.org]]</big> </div>
<br/>

{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| colspan=2 | 
=== Editing an existing reference ===
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 1.png|frameless|border|300px|center]]
| To edit an existing reference, click on it where it appears in the text (usually as a bracketed number). You will see either a "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-reference-title}}" icon (bookmark) or an icon (and name) for the template that was used to create this reference. Clicking on this icon will open a dialog where you can edit the reference.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 6.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| If what appears is the "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-reference-title}}" icon, clicking on it opens the Reference dialog, where you can edit the reference's contents.

Many wikis use templates to format references automatically. If a template is used in your reference, then all the text in the template will be highlighted when you click on the reference information.

If a template was used and you've clicked on information in that template, then the {{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-template-tooltip}} icon (puzzle piece) will appear. Click on that to edit the content of the template, in the template mini-editor dialog.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing References - Cite Web.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| If, instead of the "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-reference-title}}" icon (bookmark), what appears when you click on a reference is an icon for a standard template for citations, clicking on that icon will take you directly to the template mini-editor dialog.
|-
| colspan="2" | <hr />
|-
|If you open a reference and it only contains a link, you may see any option to "Convert" the reference. This will attempt to use the Automatic feature to replace the simple reference with a fully formatted reference.
|[[File:Visual editor citoid convert button.png|thumb|300x300px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 5.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| Inside the template mini-editor, you can add or remove types of information or change current content. Only fields (template parameters) that are used (have content) should be shown, initially. To add fields, click on "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-transclusion-add-param}}", which is at the very bottom of the mini-editor.
|-
| colspan="2" |<hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Apply changes.png|frameless|border|center|150px]]
| Click on "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" when you're done. 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| colspan=2 |


=== Re-using an existing reference ===
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Cite menu re-use tab.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| If the page already contains a citation that applies to the text you want to source, then you can choose to re-use the existing citation.

To re-use an existing reference, place your cursor in the body of the text where you want to add a new reference (number) for that citation. Click on the "{{int:citoid-citoidtool-title}}" button, and then click on the "{{int:citoid-citoiddialog-mode-reuse}}" tab from the "{{int:citoid-citoiddialog-title}}" dialog.

You can also just copy-and-paste the reference number.

In the "{{int:citoid-citoiddialog-mode-reuse}}" dialog, look at the list for the reference you want to reuse, and select it. If there are many references, you can use the search box (labeled "{{int:cite-ve-reference-input-placeholder}}") to list only those references that include certain text.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| colspan=2 |
|}

=== Adding a new reference ===
{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| colspan=2 | 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor_Citoid_Inspector-en.png|frameless|border|500px|center]]
| To add a citation using the "{{int:citoid-citoidtool-title}}" button, place your cursor where you want to add it in the text. Then on the "{{int:citoid-citoiddialog-title}}" dialog, select the appropriate tab.
|-
| colspan="2" |<hr />
|-
| colspan=2 |

==== Using Automatic tab====
|-
| colspan=2 |The '''[[:mw:Citoid|Citoid service]]'''&nbsp;takes a&nbsp;[[:en:URL|URL]]&nbsp;,&nbsp;[[:en:Digital object identifier|DOI]]&nbsp;, ISBNs, PMIDs, QID, and full text search, and returns a pre-filled, pre-formatted bibliographic citation. After creating it, you will be able to change or add information to the citation, in the same way that you edit any other pre-existing citation in VisualEditor. Later, editors will be able to improve precision and reduce the need for manual corrections by contributing to the Citoid service's definitions for each website.
|-
| [[File:Citoid in VisualEditor Screen Shot 2015-04-02.png|frameless|border|430px|center]]
| With [[:mw:Citoid|Citoid]] in VisualEditor, you click the 'book with bookmark' icon (next to the 'Links' icon) in the main toolbar, paste in the URL or DOI of a reliable source, and click 'Lookup'.
|-
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:Citoid results in VisualEditor Screen Shot 2015-04-02.png|frameless|border|430px|center]]
| Citoid looks up the source and returns available citation details as result. Click the green "Insert" button to accept its results and add them to the article.

After inserting the citation, you can change it. Select the reference, and click the "Edit" button in the context menu to make changes.
|-
|
===== Using standard cite templates =====
|
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:Manual_tab_only_-_visual_editor_-_citations.png|frameless|border|500px|center]]
| The Manual tab offers quick access to the most-used citation templates. Extra citation templates can be added by following the directions at [[MW:VisualEditor/Citation tool|VisualEditor/Citation tool]].

|-
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references - Cite book required fields.png|frameless|border|430px|center]]
| Clicking on a template icon such as "Cite book" will take you into the template mini-editor for that template. Important information fields may be marked with an asterisk. While the most common fields will be shown, not all of them are required.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references - Add parameter.png|frameless|border|230px|center]]
| To add additional parameters, scroll down in the template mini-editor and click on the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-transclusion-add-param}}" option.

Click on "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-insert}}" when you're done.
|-
|-
| colspan=2 |

==== Using the "Basic" citation ====
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 20.png|frameless|border|500px|center]]
| Shown here is what you will see if you select the "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-reference-title}}" item. In the Reference editor, you can add your citation, including formatting. 

You can make the reference belong to a given group, although this is almost always left blank. (This option is used to display groups of references with the "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-referenceslist-tooltip}}" tool; if you need more information, see [[WP:REFGROUP]].)
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Template Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| In the Reference dialog, if you want to include a template in your new reference, click the {{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-template-tooltip}} icon (puzzle piece) in the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" toolbar menu within the Reference editor.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 9.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| Then, look for the template you want to use, add it and edit it as you would any other template. (See the [[#Editing templates|Editing templates]] section, below, if you need more information about templates.)

After you're done editing your new template, click on "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" to return to the Reference editor, and "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" again to return to the page you're editing.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Reference List Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| If there isn't already a list of references on the page (for example, if you're adding the first reference for the page), you need to specify where the list of references, and their text, will be displayed to the reader.

Place the cursor where you want to display references (usually at the bottom of the page), open the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu and click the "{{int:cite-ve-dialogbutton-referenceslist-tooltip}}" icon (three books).
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Editing references 11.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| If you are using different groups of references (which is unusual), you can click "{{int:visualeditor-contextitemwidget-label-secondary}}" and specify a group, to display only those references that belong to that group.

|-
|-
| colspan=2 |

|}

== Editing images and other media files ==

{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| colspan=2 |
=== Editing images ===
|-
| To add a new image (or another type of media file) to the page, click the "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-media-tooltip}}" icon (a picture of mountains) in the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu. The image will be added wherever your cursor is.
| [[File:VisualEditor Media Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|150px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| Clicking the "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-media-tooltip}}" icon opens a dialog that automatically searches Wikimedia Commons and your local wiki for media files related to the title of the page you're editing.

You can change the search by changing the text in the dialog's search box.

To choose a file, click on its thumbnail image.

This places the image onto the page you are editing.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Media editing 2.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| After the image you selected is inserted into the page, another dialog will open. This dialog allows you to add and edit the caption of the image. The caption can contain formatting and links.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Media editing 6.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| The media dialog also allows you to add alternative text captions, to help users who use screen readers, or who have disabled image display.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Media editing 7.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You can also set various parameters for the image in the "{{int:visualeditor-advancedsettings-tool}}" window. These include the alignment, the type, and size of the image.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Media editing 8.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| When you're done, click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" to close the dialog and return to editing the page.
| [[File:VisualEditor Apply Changes-en.png|frameless|border|center|150px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|For an existing image, you can add or edit a caption or other settings by clicking on the image, then clicking on the "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-media-tooltip}}" icon that appears below the picture.

You can resize an existing image by clicking on it, then moving the resize icon (the two-headed arrow on one or both bottom corners).

You can also drag and drop an image to a place higher or lower on the page.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Media editing 3.png|frameless|border|center|360px]]
|}

=== Editing media galleries ===

{| cellpadding="15"
<!--
|-
| To add a new gallery, click the "{{int:visualeditor-mwgalleryinspector-title}}" icon (a set of photos) on the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu. (If you don't see this icon on that menu, then your local wiki has decided to delay implementing this functionality in VisualEditor.) 
| [[File:VisualEditor - Gallery1.png|frameless|border|150px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr /> -->
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr /> 
|-
| To edit an existing gallery in VisualEditor, click that gallery. Then, near the bottom of the gallery, click the gallery icon (a set of photos). This brings up the gallery editor, with the full list of images included in the gallery.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Gallery2.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|- 
| The gallery editor has two tabs, one to add images and their captions, the other controls display options.

The order of images can be rearranged by dragging the images on the left, and can be added using the "Add new image" button at the bottom of the list. The options tab allows size and layout to be edited. The default display options are preferred in most cases.

When you click the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-done}}" button, you will exit the gallery editor. You should then see your changes, with the gallery as it will now appear to readers.

Remember that exiting the gallery editor does not save your changes. As with other changes made using VisualEditor, you must 'Publish' the entire page in order to save your work and make it viewable online.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Gallery3.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|}

== Editing templates ==

=== Starting ===
{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| To add a new template to a page, place your cursor where you want the template to be inserted, and click on the "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-template-tooltip}}" icon (a puzzle piece) in the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu.
| [[File:VisualEditor Template Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|300px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| Start typing the name of the template you want to insert. When you see it on the list, click on its name. Then click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-transclusion-add-template}}".
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 4.png|frameless|border|500px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You can also edit a template that is already on the page. When you click on the template to select it, it turns blue, and a box appears with a "{{int:visualeditor-dialogbutton-template-tooltip}}" icon (a puzzle piece). Then click on the "{{int:vector-view-edit}}" link. 
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 1.png|frameless|border|300px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|Some templates are not visible to someone reading a page. In VisualEditor, such hidden templates are shown as puzzle icons, such as [[Template:Anchor|Anchor]].
|[[File:VisualEditor template not visible.png|frameless|border|center|70px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|When you select the icon, the context menu is displayed, and you can edit the template.
|[[File:VisualEditor template not visible context menu.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| colspan=2 |

=== Template parameters ===
|-
|When you add a new template or open an existing one, VisualEditor opens the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-transclusion-title}}" dialog. What you see depends upon whether there is TemplateData for that template. 
|
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| The template shown here has no TemplateData set up for it. The dialog shows a link to documentation for the template. You can read the documentation to figure out if the template has any parameters (fields), and what goes in each field. Use numbers as the name for each nameless parameter. The first un-named parameter is named <code>1</code>, the second is named <code>2</code>, and so forth.
|[[File:VisualEditor template with no TemplateData.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|If a template has been updated to contain [[Wikipedia:TemplateData#What is template data?|TemplateData]] information, then the dialog will show a list of all available individual (named) parameters in the left sidebar
|[[File:VisualEditor template with TemplateData.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| For an existing template, you can edit the parameters shown in the dialog, and you can add and remove parameters from the main dialog by checking and unchecking its checkbox in the sidebar. To add an undocumented parameter, press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+D on your keyboard. The input field will appear at the very bottom of the dialog.
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 3.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| When a template embeds other templates, these sub-templates will appear inside the parameters that display them. They can be edited or removed inside the parameter field.

New sub-templates are added by following the steps for adding a parameter. You may need to check the template documentation to make sure that the sub-template is supported. Nested templates can currently be edited as wikitext only, without the facility offered by VisualEditor (see [[phab:T52182]]).
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 5.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|-
| colspan=2 |

=== Finishing ===
|-
| When you have finished editing a template, click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" to close the dialog and return to editing the main page.
|
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| colspan=2 | 
=== Substituting templates ===
|-
| When a template must be [[:w:en:Help:Substitution|substituted]], type <code><nowiki>subst:</nowiki></code> (colon included) before the template's name.

Autocompletion doesn't work with <code><nowiki>subst:</nowiki></code>. If you want to use autocompletion, first find the template you are looking for, and then add <code><nowiki>subst:</nowiki></code> in front of the template name.

Then, click the green "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-transclusion-add-template}}" button.

Add any parameters as usual and click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-insert}}".
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 7.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You will see the template expand on the page after you click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}".
| [[File:VisualEditor - Template editing 8.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|}

== Editing lists ==
{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| [[{{#ifexist:Media:VisualEditor Toolbar Lists and indentation-{{CONTENTLANGUAGE}}.png|File:VisualEditor Toolbar Lists and indentation-{{CONTENTLANGUAGE}}.png|File:VisualEditor Toolbar Lists and indentation-en.png}}|frameless|border|300px|center]]
| You can use VisualEditor to create lists, or to change the format of an existing list. There are two types of lists: unordered (bullet) and ordered (numbered).

To start a new list, just click on one of the two menu items shown here. Or, if you already have typed the list (on separate lines), select (highlight) the list you have typed, then click on one of the menu items. 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor lists 1 unordered bullet.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
  [[File:VisualEditor lists 2 ordered numbered.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
| Shown here are examples of the two types of lists: unordered (bullet) and ordered (numbered). 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor lists 3 select to indent.png |frameless|border|center|200px]]
| If you want to change the indentation level of part of an existing list, select the part of the list that you want to change.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor lists 4 indentation menu.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
| Then use the menu, or press the Tab key. (The Tab key increases indentation; use the shift key plus the Tab key to decrease indentation)
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor lists after indenting.png |frameless|border|center|400px]]
| Here is the result of increased indentation. 
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor lists mixed.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| You can even mix ordered (numbered) and unordered (bullet) lists, if the list items have different indentations.
|}

== Editing tables ==
{{Main|Help:Introduction to tables with VisualEditor/1}}

{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor insert table.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
| You can use VisualEditor to insert and change tables. 

You can even import a table by dragging a comma-separated value (.csv) file from your computer into the main editing window.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|When you click on "{{int:visualeditor-table-insert-table}}", in the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu, VisualEditor inserts as a default a blank four-by-four table.

Now the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-table}}" menu is available. From that menu, you can add a caption to the top of the table.
|[[File:VisualEditor empty table.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|To select a cell, click it once.
|[[File:VisualEditor tables select one cell.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|To edit the contents of the cell (for example, to add content or to correct a spelling error), double click in the cell. Or you can select the cell and then press Return.

To end your editing of a cell, just click elsewhere.
|[[File:VisualEditor tables type inside a cell.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor_table_editing_add_and_remove_columns.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
| You can add or delete a column or a row.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You can merge cells: Select them, then from the Table menu, click on "Merge cells".
|[[File:VisualEditor tables merge cells.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|If you merge cells, only the text in one cell is kept; any text in the other cells is deleted when you merge the cells. If you decide that you wanted some or all of the text that was deleted, use the Undo button, move or copy the text you want, then merge the cells again.
|[[File:VisualEditor tables post-merge cell.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
|You can also split cells that were previously merged. All the content that was in the merged cell will remain in the first cell when you do the split. You can then cut and paste text to other cells, if you want.
|[[File:VisualEditor tables split cells.png|frameless|border|center|200px]]
|}

== Editing categories ==

{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor category item-en.png|frameless|border|200px|center]]
| To edit categories, on the "{{int:visualeditor-pagemenu-tooltip}}" menu, click the "{{int:visualeditor-categories-tool}}" item. If the tool is not visible, first search for three horizontal lines. That's where it is.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor category editing-en.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| Clicking on "{{int:visualeditor-categories-tool}}" opens a dialog that lists existing categories and allows you to add new ones, and to delete existing categories.

You also have the option of setting or changing the general (default) sorting key, which determines where the page appears when listed with other pages in the same category.

For example, the default sorting key for the article "George Washington" is "Washington, George". In the category "Presidents of the United States", the article is listed under the letter "W", not the letter "G".
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Category editing 3.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| To add a category for a page, type the name of the category into the field "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-meta-categories-input-placeholder}}". As you type, VisualEditor will search for possible matching, existing categories. You can either select an existing category, or you can add a category that doesn't yet have its own category page. (Until that category page is created, your new category will show as a red link after you publish all your editing changes.)
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor - Category editing 2.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
| To remove an existing category, click on it and click on the "{{int:visualeditor-inspector-remove-tooltip}}" icon (trash can) in the dialog that opens.

Clicking on a category also allows you to specify a sorting key for that specific category. Such a sorting key overrides the default sorting key.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Apply Changes-en.png|frameless|border|center|150px]]
| Click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" when you're done editing categories to return to the page editor.
|}

== Editing page settings ==

{| cellpadding="15"
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor page settings item-en.png|frameless|border|500px|center]]
| To edit a page's settings, click to open the "{{int:visualeditor-pagemenu-tooltip}}" menu, in the toolbar, and select the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-meta-settings-label}}" button.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Page Settings-en.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
| The "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-meta-settings-label}}" button opens a dialog that shows several options.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Page Settings Redirects-en.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| You can make a page a redirect to another page by checking the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-meta-settings-redirect-label}}" checkbox, and then typing the name of the page to which you want to send the reader who tries to go to the page that you're editing.

At the bottom is the option to prevent page renames from updating this redirect. This is very rarely used.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Page Settings TOC-en.png|frameless|border|center|500px]]
| You can change whether the page shows a Table of Contents by selecting one of these three buttons. The default option is "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-meta-settings-toc-default}}", which shows a Table of Contents if there are three or more headings.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Page Settings Edit Links-en.png|frameless|border|center|400px]]
| You can make a page not show edit links next to each section header by checking this checkbox.
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| [[File:VisualEditor Apply Changes-en.png|frameless|border|center|300px]]
| Click "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-apply}}" when you're done editing the {{int:visualeditor-pagemenu-tooltip}} to return to the page editor.
|}

== Editing mathematical formulae ==

{| cellpadding="15"
| To add a new mathematical formula to the page, place your cursor where you want it to be inserted, and click on the "{{int:math-visualeditor-mwmathdialog-title}}" icon ("Σ") in the "{{int:visualeditor-toolbar-insert}}" menu on the toolbar.
| [[File:VisualEditor Formula Insert Menu-en.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| A window will open in which you can type the formula, using LaTeX syntax. VisualEditor will update the formula as you type it, so you can see how it will look as you make changes. Once you are happy with the formula, click the "{{int:visualeditor-dialog-action-done}}" button.
| [[File:VisualEditor formula-en.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| To edit an existing mathematical formula on the page, click on it and then click on the "Σ" icon that appears. This will open up the formula window, where you make changes.
| [[File:VisualEditor - editing existing mathematical formula.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| Mathematical formulae can be placed inline or centered as a block.
|[[File:VisualEditor mathematic formula inline.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|}

== Editing poems and other special items ==

{| cellpadding="15"
| Some items, such as association lists, poems, and musical scores, are not yet fully supported by VisualEditor.
| [[File:VisualEditor editing poem 1.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| In most cases, the existing items can be edited, but new ones cannot be inserted in VisualEditor.
| [[File:VisualEditor editing poem 2.png|frameless|border|400px|center]]
|-
| colspan=2 | <hr />
|-
| You cannot add an automatic datestamp to a page in VisualEditor.
Until they are fully supported, you can copy an existing one from another page, or edit the source wikitext directly.
| 
|}

==Moving pages==
Moving a page with VisualEditor is functionally the same as moving it with the [[source editor]]; see [[Help:How to move a page]] for an introduction to moving pages, or [[Wikipedia:Moving a page]] for more detailed instructions.

== Keyboard shortcuts ==

Many editors are used to entering wikitext directly, especially bold, italics and wikilinks. [[mw:VisualEditor/Portal/Keyboard shortcuts|Keyboard shortcuts]] allow to quickly insert similar formatting without having to use toolbar items. Here are the common general shortcuts in VisualEditor:

{| style="text-align:center; margin:auto;" cellpadding="15"
|-
! PC shortcut
! Action
! Mac shortcut
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|B}}
| Bold
| {{Key press|Cmd|B}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|I}}
| Italics
| {{Key press|Cmd|I}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|K}}
| Insert link
| {{Key press|Cmd|K}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|X}}
| Cut
| {{Key press|Cmd|X}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|C}}
| Copy
| {{Key press|Cmd|C}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|V}}
| Paste
| {{Key press|Cmd|V}}
|-
| colspan=3 | <hr />
|-
| {{Key press|Ctrl|Z}}
| Undo
| {{Key press|Cmd|Z}}
|}

{{Help navigation}}
{{Wikipedia technical help|collapsed}}
[[Category:VisualEditor|*]]