Difference between revisions of "PDB Tutorial"

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='''GETTING STARTED'''=
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<center><big>'''Under construction!'''<br>'''See [[Help:Contents]] for information!'''</big></center>
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=='''Validity Check'''==
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==Before Getting Started==
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For new users wanting to begin creating pages in PRIMUS Database, please be sure to review our guidelines and policies.
  
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Before you jump in you should ask yourself if the content you are creating has the potential to cause a PDB moderator to step in.  While we do not want to discourage the use of the site, we do need you to understand that there are some issues that may cause you problems down the line. 
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<center>'''[[Primus Database Guidelines]] | [[Primus Database Terms of Service]]<br> [[PDB IP Policy]] | [[Vandalism]]'''</center>
  
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====Those Damn Lawyers====
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The PRIMUS Database’s main purpose is to showcase original works created by the ''Champions Online'' community. '''We would prefer that any text or images with direct reference to Intellectual Properties other than ''CO'' are avoided within database articles.''' Links to outlying websites such as the [http://www.virtueverse.net VirtueVerse wiki] are recommended and encouraged if you would like to provide a reference to your (character’s) exploits in other MMORPGs.
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Many RPers want to maintain continuity for their characters, even when they've switched from another MMO ("Shirtless Bob took the portal from XXXXXX Corp in YYYYYYY City and came to Millennium"). Unfortunately, trademark violations can attract the most unwanted visitors of all to our site -- lawyers. So we ask for your cooperation in keeping them away by respecting other IPs and trademarks.
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For example, if you are bringing a character from "another city" of Heroes and Villians, we ask that you make the effort to review what you're entering and remove any copyrighted material that does not belong to the IP described by Champions Online. That might include changing your city origin to Boston (the closest real world major metropolitan area), or "a large metropoiltan city in the Rhode Island of an alternate dimension" (which would be true to the source material but not specifically violate IP, or even "a city of paragons and champions". Linking to a VirtueVerse entry to explain what happened there would be acceptable and is indeed encouraged.
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Another important thing to consider when adding a new character article to the PRIMUS Database is if the page is worth creating in the first place. For example, a character has been an established part of your roster for several months or years is a much better choice than one that you just created and are unsure of keeping long term. Creating a page as a placeholder ''is'' allowed but discouraged by the moderation team: be aware that these pages may be deleted if more substantial information isn't added within an decent time frame. '''When in doubt, it may be better to leave it out.'''
  
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Next, change the names of any trademarked heroes, villians, or organizations that you encountered there. Adjectives are your friends. "A sinister spidery organzation" or "a fascist order dedicated to raising a New Reich" will get your point across.
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==Article Creation==
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===Naming your Article===
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In order to create an article, it’s best to first determine if your character’s name has already been used. Type the name you wish to search for in the search text box and left-click on either the Go or Search buttons.
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*If the search does not come up with a page with your chosen name, it will prompt you to create one by providing a red text link. Click on it to go to the page creation screen.
 +
*If there is a page with the name already being used, do not overwrite the contents of that page with your own material! Instead, consider attaching a global name reference or the character’s real name in parentheses to your search.
  
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Additionally you may want to consider whether or not you costume is a clone if you intend to post images here.  Clones are in violation of Cryptic Policy and it would be unreasonable for us to not support Cryptic on this issue. A further cause for concern is images.  PDB does not allow the use of image that mingles the Champions IP' with any other creative or storytelling IP.
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===Wiki Markup===
 +
In order to create articles, you’ll need to know a little about how “wiki markup” works. Wiki markup is a combination of HTML-like tags and simple markings that alter a page's formatting.
  
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This policy is in effect out of respect for the creators of those properties, and to protect the site from the (admittedly low) chance of legal action. We apologize that these policies are deemed necessary; no one on the site enjoys placing these sorts of restriction on anyone's creations and we will try to work with you to revise your character in such a way that respects his or her powers, origins, and backstory as much as possible within these restrictions.
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Below is a quick reference table of often-used wiki markup. For more information, please see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wiki_markup Wikipedia's help article on wiki markup] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cheatsheet cheatsheet] as they have a more extensive list of functions that can also be used here.
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{|
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|'''<nowiki>''text''</nowiki><br><nowiki>'''text'''</nowiki><br><nowiki>'''''text'''''</nowiki>'''
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|Inserting a number of apostrophes before and after a section of text will ''italicize'' (two), '''bold''' (three), or '''''do both''''' (five) to the text.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki><br></nowiki>'''
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|Forces a single line break where placed.<br>''You cannot press the Enter key once manually to get this effect'', but pressing it twice
  
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=='''First Steps'''==
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will give you a paragraph break like seen above.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki><center>text</center></nowiki>'''
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|<center>Causes text or other items to center-align.</center>
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>=text=</nowiki><br><nowiki>=text=</nowiki><br><nowiki>==text==</nowiki><br><nowiki>===text===</nowiki>'''
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|Equals signs surrounding text will form section headers. Using more at once will create sub-sections. ''Generally, you do not need more than two or three levels of headers.''<br>After four sections are created, a table of contents will appear just above the first section header.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>[[text]]</nowiki><br><nowiki>[[text|alt text]]</nowiki><br><nowiki>[[text#alt text]]</nowiki>'''
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|Double brackets cause the surrounded text to become a link to another article within the PRIMUS Database.<br>Links "piped" with <nowiki>|</nowiki> (shift-backslash) will link to a page titled with text, but display as the following alternate text.<br>Use <nowiki>#</nowiki> if you want to create a page linking to a specific section or sub-section of an article. Section links can also be piped.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>[URL]</nowiki><br><nowiki>[URL text]</nowiki>'''
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|Single brackets make links that lead offsite. The first example is an unnamed link. The second example is similar to piping an internal link, except you only need a space between your web address and the alternate text you want to use. Offsite links are marked with a symbol.
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|-
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|'''*text<br>*text<br>**text<br>***text'''
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|Asterisks that begin a line will create a bulleted list, with more of them creating sub-bullets.<br>Replacing the * with # will create a numbered list.
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|}
  
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===Getting the Lay of the Land===
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===Content Sections===
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The first thing you will want to do is look at some of the pages already there. This will give you an idea on how a page should look. While there is no absolute right way to make a page, a good idea of what other pages look like will help you with the following  these steps. If nothing else, you will be able to see if something is going horrendously wrong while following these steps. Typos can happen, so it's best to know what you are looking for when you are starting out.
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The meat of most PRIMUS pages comes from the actual text of the article that others will be reading. Below are examples of section headers that you can use to organize your content.
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;In-Character Information
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:Origin Story
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:History and Current Events
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:Appearance
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:Personality
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:Abilities
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::Superhuman Powers
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::Skills
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::Equipment
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::Strengths and Weaknesses
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:Relationships
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::Allies
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::Enemies
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::Neutral
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:Character Opinions/Impressions
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:Other Facts and Trivia
  
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===Creating Your Page===
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;Out-Of-Character Information
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Once you've looked around, type in the name of the character you want to make in the search box on the top right, then hit Search. If the name is free, you will be taken to a new screen that says it cannot find the specified character. It will then give you the option to create that page. Click on that link. 
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:Roleplay Hooks
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:Tropes
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:Creator's Notes
  
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For example, let's say you want to create a character named Dr. Spuzzum. Inputing Dr. Spuzzum in the search box brings up the following entry:
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===Images===
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You can upload image files of to the PRIMUS Database for use in your articles by clicking the [[Special:Upload|Upload file]] link within the Toolbox section of the sidebar menu. It is recommended that you use the Search function to determine that there is not another file by the same name as the one you wish to upload, otherwise you may accidentally overwrite files.
 +
*Image file extensions that are accepted for upload are JPG, JPEG, PNG, and GIF.
 +
*Avoid uploading images that have a particularly high storage capacity: anything that is over 150KB should be cropped or scaled down if possible.
 +
*In terms of non-screenshot related uploads such as artwork, be mindful of the subject of content you are uploading. Keep your visuals to a PG-13 standard: inappropriate images will be moderated and subject to warnings, or in extreme cases, suspension.
 +
*For commissioned artwork, it is highly recommended that you give due credit to the artist who created the piece.
  
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----------------
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Below are some examples of wiki markup for inserting images into your articles. For more information, please see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Extended_image_syntax Wikipidia's article on image syntax].
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There were no results matching the query.
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{|
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|'''<nowiki>[[File:filename.ext]]</nowiki>'''
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|Displays the uploaded image at its normal size, and provides a link to its File page.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>[[File:filename.ext|300px]]</nowiki>'''
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|Displays the image, scaled up (not recommended for view quality) or down to the width shown after the pipe (in this case, 300 pixels wide).<br>
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>[[File:filename.ext|thumb|text]]</nowiki>'''
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|Displays image as a boxed thumbnail at the side of the page, with text as a caption.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki><gallery></nowiki><br>File:filename.ext<br><nowiki></gallery></nowiki>'''
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|Creates a gallery of boxed thumbnails that link to their respective File pages.
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|}
  
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Create the page "Dr. Spuzzum" on this wiki!
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If you're wanting to update an image file, you can go to the respective page and click on the "Upload a new version of this file" link. (If it appears to have not worked properly, such as showing the previous image in resized dimensions, you may need to clear your browser's cache first.)
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---------------
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Click on the name "Dr. Spuzzum" on that last line to create the entry.
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===Templates===
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Templates are a special kind of article intended to be used as elements within other pages, and can serve a variety of purposes in enhancing your articles. To use a template, you need to use a tag similar to how you would link to an article. Common uses of templates within PRIMUS Database include:
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{|
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|'''"HeroBox" and variants'''
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|Provides at-a-glance information on your character. Each HeroBox comes with its own cheatsheet code, found on the template's article page, that you can copy and paste into your edit screen.<br>''There are minimal unique differences between the majority of HeroBox templates. Deciding which one to use is a matter of personal taste.''
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|-
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|'''Navigation boxes'''
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|A menu of links found near the bottom of an article, providing quick access to other pages.<br>''These are generally used to connect articles by the same user or of characters in a Super Group.''
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>{{WIP}}</nowiki>'''
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|Inserts a centered box of text with a "work in progress" notification.
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>{{spoiler}}</nowiki><br><nowiki>{{player-spoiler}}</nowiki><br><nowiki>{{end-spoiler}}</nowiki>'''
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|The first two tags insert spoiler warnings, with the <nowiki>{{player-spoiler}}</nowiki> tag carrying additional warnings for roleplay reference purposes.<br>The third tag ends the spoiler warning.
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|}
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If you decide to create your own template or modify a current one to your own specifications, be sure to save it as a new Template article rather than overwriting an old one. For more information, see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template Wikipedia's article on template creation].
  
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This will bring up the Edit page, where you will build your character. Note that If the character's name is already taken, you will be taken to that character's page - this can be a problem with Champions Non-unique Name System, and we will be working on a solution momentarily.
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===Categories===
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In order to make your page easier to find among the hundreds of articles that exist on PRIMUS Database, you can add category tags in a manner (again) similar to page links by typing it in the format '''<nowiki>[[Category:name]]</nowiki>'''. Including a tag automatically adds the page to the respective category's index if it exists: if a category link has red text, it can be created by clicking on it.
  
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=='''Templates'''==
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An article may have as many categories associated with it as necessary. Keep in mind that while you may insert category tags ''anywhere'' within your edits, they will only appear within a grey box on the bottom of the page.
  
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A template is a set block of information that you may fill in as necessary. Think of it like a madlib. PDB has prepared a couple excellent tutorials for setting up your template.  
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It is recommended that you place your category tags in the following order:
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*'''By type of page''' (Character, Item, Location, Stories, etc.)
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*'''By gender'''
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*'''By species''' (Alien, Human, Mutant, etc.)
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*'''By character alignment''' (Hero, Villain/Nemesis, etc.)
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*'''By character ethnicity or nationality'''
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*'''By character powerset''' (Game Mechanics and/or Concept)
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*'''By character occupation'''
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*'''By other categories'''
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*'''By combat role''' (Melee DPS, Tank, Healer, Ranged DPS, Support)
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*'''By supergroup''' (if applicable)
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''Example:'' '''<nowiki>[[Category:Character]][[Category:Male]][[Category:Mutant]][[Category:Hero]][[Category:American]][[Category:Might]][[Category:Teacher]][[Category:Tank]][[Category:New Champions]]</nowiki>'''
  
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[http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:HeroBox HeroBox] | [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:VillainBox VillainBox ]| [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:AntiheroBox AntiheroBox] | [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:AntivillainBox AntivillainBox] | [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:NemesisBox NemesisBox] | [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Template:CitizenBox CitizenBox]
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[[Special:Categories|The entire list of categories recognized by the PRIMUS Database can be found here.]]
  
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Each of these templates has a cheat sheet section. To get started quickly, copy the cheat sheet, and paste it into your entry, then fill in the approrpriate values.
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===Other Details===
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{|
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|'''Tables'''
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|Insert tables to organize information in an easy to read manner or to give the appearance of special page formatting. You may find more information on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Table Wikipedia's help article on table creation].
 +
|-
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|'''HTML&nbsp;tags'''
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|You may use a variety of HTML tags for page formatting that can't be done by wiki markup. For more information, see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:HTML_in_wikitext Wikipidia's help article on using HTML in wikitext].
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|-
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|'''<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>'''
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|Four tildes in a row creates a signature with a link to your userpage, related talk page, and date/time of posting.<br>''Signatures should be used when commenting on any talk pages as well as when placing votes for [[Page of the Month]].''
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|-
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|}
  
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=='''Outlines'''==
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==Finalizing your Edits==
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When you've finished creating or editing a page or section, you can Preview your work before posting it to make sure that it looks correctly. If you wish, enter a brief comment about what you edited. If you've only made a minor change (such as fixing a typo or a markup error), there is a checkbox you can select.
  
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The outline you will see on various characters' pages is built automatically by the wiki software. You simply have to tell it where new paragraphs happen. First, you will write down any information you want to appear before the outline. In general, this is a basic summary of your character and possibly just your personal thoughts on the OOC origin of the character.
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All edits to PRIMUS Database are recorded in the [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent changes]] page, and you can keep track of your own contributions by clicking the link near the top right corner of the page (near your username).
  
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Next, you will set your first marker. This is done with an = sign before and after your title. For example you would write =History= in a line by itself. You can then write out your History as you see fit.
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==Tips for Creating a Good Article==
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*You should be mindful your content: is it comprehensible, relatively easy to follow, and compliant with the guidelines the site has in place? Even with this said, '''there is not one correct way in particular to create your page''': on PDb, you are free to tailor your articles to best represent you and your characters.
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To further break down this marker, you can add subdivisions. This is done with two ='s. For example ==The Early Years== will add a sub category of "The Early Years" underneath "History" in the outline. If you intend to divide the main section, you must create the marker and text before you start a new section.
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*Look at existing pages and templates for inspiration in laying out the format of your page. Don't be intimidated by articles which look "better": sometimes, less is more when it comes to a good PDb page, but it helps to see what you may be able to achieve in the future with practice.
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*Get a friend or database moderator to look over your page and proof it for you, and provide you with suggestions to fix errors if they find any.
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If a third division is desired you simply add 3 ='s before and after the division. For example ===That Fateful Day...=== would add the division of day underneath The Early Years.
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Remember that these markers must be in a line by themselves, and must be ordered the way you want them to appear on the outline.Once 4 Markers have been placed, a Table Of Contents will appear at the top of your character's page automatically.
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=='''Categories'''==
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Categories are used to help people find your character. There are a large number of categories that you can apply to your character. For example, to add your character to the Male category, you simply include '''<nowiki>[[Category:Male]]</nowiki>'''.
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* It is recommended you add a category for your character for your gender, powers, occupation, combat role, and Supergroup if applicable.
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The recommended format for categories is:
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* Type of page (Character, Item, Location, Stories, etc.)
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* Gender
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* Species (Alien, Human, Mutant, etc.)
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* Character archtype (Hero, Villain, Anti-Hero, Anti-Villain, Civilian)
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* Character ethnicity or nationality
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* Character powers and abilities
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* Character occupation
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* Other character categories
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* Combat Role (Melee DPS, Tank, Healer, Ranged DPS, Support)
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* Supergroup category if it exists
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You can place these Category links anywhere in your page, either on one line or on multiple lines. They will NOT be displayed in the text, however. You should end up with a list, at the bottom of your page, that looks similar to this:
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'''<nowiki>[[Category:Character]][[Category:Male]][[Category:Human]][[Category:Hero]][[Category:Sorcery]][[Category:Ice]][[Category:Teacher]][[Category:Supergroupname]]</nowiki>'''
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A list of suitable categories can be found [http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Special:Categories here].
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=='''Images'''==
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NOTE: You may want to open the link referenced below in a second window or browser tab.Doing so will allow you to upload images while editing your page, without having to constantly save and edit.
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To add a picture to your page, you will want to click on the link on the left side of the page labeled "[http://www.primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Special:Upload upload file]". From here, you can upload any picture on your system.
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Try to keep this picture's size within reason; as a rule of thumb, pictures that are over 150KB should to be trimmed down, and you should avoid uploading anything 300KB or larger. Once the picture is uploaded, you will be able to pull it up with the same name. For example, if I upload an image named '''Defender 1.jpg''', the file's name will be '''Defender_1.jpg.'''
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Although this is an uncensored wiki, it is recommended that you adhere to the PG-13 guidelines - some nudity may tolerated, but only if it's tastefully represented. This means absolutely no porn, snuff pics, gore, or other overly visceral or just plain GROSS pictures should be uploaded. Doing so will not only result in removal of said picture, but can result in banning you from the wiki. They say a picture says a thousand words so do please consider what words your picture evokes before uploading.
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WARNING! -- Please check to see if a file name exists, before you upload your file using that name. Otherwise you will overwrite the existing file, and someone else's page will suddenly have YOUR picture on it instead of theirs.
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Now to add your picture to your page, you can either place the image in the apropriate spot on the template, or add it anywhere inside your page with the command <nowiki>[[image:defender_1.jpg]]</nowiki>. This will place your picture aligned with the paragraph where you place the Image link.
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If you want to put your picture in a nice frame to the right side of the text as a thumbnail with a caption below, use the command <nowiki>[[image:defender_1.jpg|thumb|Your Caption Goes Here]]</nowiki>. For more image options, see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Extended_image_syntax Wikipedia: Extended image syntax].
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=='''Finishing Touches'''==
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Now you've got all this information typed out, and it looks like a garbled mess of brackets and equal signs - not to mention the template thing up top. You probably have no idea if it's going to look right or not! To find out, you simply push the Preview button at the bottom on the page. This will bring up your page exactly as you programmed it to look. The only thing missing will be the Categories. Categories do not appear in the Preview, only on the completed page. Once on the preview page, look it over. Does everything look right? Is something a bit off? This is also a good time to make any alterations or corrections to your page and fix any typos. Immediately after the preview is your page of symbols and text. Check over your syntax and spelling and preview again. Once you are happy with your work, press the Save page button.
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Once saved, you can look at your characters page at any time by simply typing in the character's name in the search window. Also bear in mind, you can always change your character's page at any time. At the top of the screen, you will see a tab labeled Edit. Clicking on this will allow you to view your blueprint once more and make additions or corrections as you see fit.
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Once you're done, feel free to add other characters or do some experimenting. Most of the coding listed here is pretty basic, but will be all you need to make an informative and interesting page for your favorite characters.
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==Has this helped?==
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If these bits of advice have not helped you solve your problem, click the help category below.  There are other articles there, as well as info on who you contact with questions, or have isssues investigated.
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==Taking it to the NEXT level==
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−
For a fantastic article on Image Manipulation and building your own comic take a look at [[Comic Tutorial]]
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=Spoiler Warnings=
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If you include information about your character that hasn't yet been revealed in game, information about an upcoming or ongoing storyline, or information about story arcs in game, you might want to mark it with a spoiler warning to let people know that they might want to stop reading lest they spoil the surprise.
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To start a spoiler warning, put the tag '''<nowiki>{{spoiler}}</nowiki>''' above the spoiler content. That looks like this:
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{{spoiler}}
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You might want to consider using the tag '''<nowiki>{{player-spoiler}}</nowiki>''' if your spoiler content deals with player-created content instead of canonical game content. That tag looks like this:
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{{player-spoiler}}
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On a line after the spoiler content, place the tag '''<nowiki>{{endspoiler}}</nowiki>''' to let people know where the spoilers end.
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{{endspoiler}}
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=Works In Progress=
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If you wish to mark a page as a creative work in progress simply insert '''<nowiki>{{WIP}}</nowiki>''' before all other text, templates, etc. on the page. The following text box will appear,
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{{WIP}}
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WIP Template added by [[User:ShyIsShy|ShyIsShy]] at 3:53 PM (GMT -5), 2 March 2010
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--[[User:Gunslinger|Gunslinger]] 17:24, 18 October 2009 (UTC)
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[[Category:Help]]
 
[[Category:Help]]

Latest revision as of 20:48, 5 April 2016

Under construction!
See Help:Contents for information!

Before Getting Started

For new users wanting to begin creating pages in PRIMUS Database, please be sure to review our guidelines and policies.

Primus Database Guidelines | Primus Database Terms of Service
PDB IP Policy | Vandalism

The PRIMUS Database’s main purpose is to showcase original works created by the Champions Online community. We would prefer that any text or images with direct reference to Intellectual Properties other than CO are avoided within database articles. Links to outlying websites such as the VirtueVerse wiki are recommended and encouraged if you would like to provide a reference to your (character’s) exploits in other MMORPGs.

Another important thing to consider when adding a new character article to the PRIMUS Database is if the page is worth creating in the first place. For example, a character has been an established part of your roster for several months or years is a much better choice than one that you just created and are unsure of keeping long term. Creating a page as a placeholder is allowed but discouraged by the moderation team: be aware that these pages may be deleted if more substantial information isn't added within an decent time frame. When in doubt, it may be better to leave it out.

Article Creation

Naming your Article

In order to create an article, it’s best to first determine if your character’s name has already been used. Type the name you wish to search for in the search text box and left-click on either the Go or Search buttons.

  • If the search does not come up with a page with your chosen name, it will prompt you to create one by providing a red text link. Click on it to go to the page creation screen.
  • If there is a page with the name already being used, do not overwrite the contents of that page with your own material! Instead, consider attaching a global name reference or the character’s real name in parentheses to your search.

Wiki Markup

In order to create articles, you’ll need to know a little about how “wiki markup” works. Wiki markup is a combination of HTML-like tags and simple markings that alter a page's formatting.

Below is a quick reference table of often-used wiki markup. For more information, please see Wikipedia's help article on wiki markup or cheatsheet as they have a more extensive list of functions that can also be used here.

''text''
'''text'''
'''''text''''' 		Inserting a number of apostrophes before and after a section of text will italicize (two), bold (three), or do both (five) to the text.
<br> Forces a single line break where placed.
You cannot press the Enter key once manually to get this effect, but pressing it twice

will give you a paragraph break like seen above.

<center>text</center>
Causes text or other items to center-align.
=text=
=text=
==text==
===text=== 		Equals signs surrounding text will form section headers. Using more at once will create sub-sections. Generally, you do not need more than two or three levels of headers.
After four sections are created, a table of contents will appear just above the first section header.
[[text]]
[[text|alt text]]
[[text#alt text]] 		Double brackets cause the surrounded text to become a link to another article within the PRIMUS Database.
Links "piped" with | (shift-backslash) will link to a page titled with text, but display as the following alternate text.
Use # if you want to create a page linking to a specific section or sub-section of an article. Section links can also be piped.
[URL]
[URL text] 		Single brackets make links that lead offsite. The first example is an unnamed link. The second example is similar to piping an internal link, except you only need a space between your web address and the alternate text you want to use. Offsite links are marked with a symbol.
*text
*text
**text
***text 		Asterisks that begin a line will create a bulleted list, with more of them creating sub-bullets.
Replacing the * with # will create a numbered list.

Content Sections

The meat of most PRIMUS pages comes from the actual text of the article that others will be reading. Below are examples of section headers that you can use to organize your content.

In-Character Information
Origin Story
History and Current Events
Appearance
Personality
Abilities
Superhuman Powers
Skills
Equipment
Strengths and Weaknesses
Relationships
Allies
Enemies
Neutral
Character Opinions/Impressions
Other Facts and Trivia
Out-Of-Character Information
Roleplay Hooks
Tropes
Creator's Notes

Images

You can upload image files of to the PRIMUS Database for use in your articles by clicking the Upload file link within the Toolbox section of the sidebar menu. It is recommended that you use the Search function to determine that there is not another file by the same name as the one you wish to upload, otherwise you may accidentally overwrite files.

  • Image file extensions that are accepted for upload are JPG, JPEG, PNG, and GIF.
  • Avoid uploading images that have a particularly high storage capacity: anything that is over 150KB should be cropped or scaled down if possible.
  • In terms of non-screenshot related uploads such as artwork, be mindful of the subject of content you are uploading. Keep your visuals to a PG-13 standard: inappropriate images will be moderated and subject to warnings, or in extreme cases, suspension.
  • For commissioned artwork, it is highly recommended that you give due credit to the artist who created the piece.

Below are some examples of wiki markup for inserting images into your articles. For more information, please see Wikipidia's article on image syntax.

[[File:filename.ext]] Displays the uploaded image at its normal size, and provides a link to its File page.
[[File:filename.ext|300px]] Displays the image, scaled up (not recommended for view quality) or down to the width shown after the pipe (in this case, 300 pixels wide).
[[File:filename.ext|thumb|text]] Displays image as a boxed thumbnail at the side of the page, with text as a caption.
<gallery>
File:filename.ext
</gallery> 		Creates a gallery of boxed thumbnails that link to their respective File pages.

If you're wanting to update an image file, you can go to the respective page and click on the "Upload a new version of this file" link. (If it appears to have not worked properly, such as showing the previous image in resized dimensions, you may need to clear your browser's cache first.)

Templates

Templates are a special kind of article intended to be used as elements within other pages, and can serve a variety of purposes in enhancing your articles. To use a template, you need to use a tag similar to how you would link to an article. Common uses of templates within PRIMUS Database include:

"HeroBox" and variants Provides at-a-glance information on your character. Each HeroBox comes with its own cheatsheet code, found on the template's article page, that you can copy and paste into your edit screen.
There are minimal unique differences between the majority of HeroBox templates. Deciding which one to use is a matter of personal taste.
Navigation boxes A menu of links found near the bottom of an article, providing quick access to other pages.
These are generally used to connect articles by the same user or of characters in a Super Group.
{{WIP}} Inserts a centered box of text with a "work in progress" notification.
{{spoiler}}
{{player-spoiler}}
{{end-spoiler}} 		The first two tags insert spoiler warnings, with the {{player-spoiler}} tag carrying additional warnings for roleplay reference purposes.
The third tag ends the spoiler warning.

If you decide to create your own template or modify a current one to your own specifications, be sure to save it as a new Template article rather than overwriting an old one. For more information, see Wikipedia's article on template creation.

Categories

In order to make your page easier to find among the hundreds of articles that exist on PRIMUS Database, you can add category tags in a manner (again) similar to page links by typing it in the format [[Category:name]]. Including a tag automatically adds the page to the respective category's index if it exists: if a category link has red text, it can be created by clicking on it.

An article may have as many categories associated with it as necessary. Keep in mind that while you may insert category tags anywhere within your edits, they will only appear within a grey box on the bottom of the page.

It is recommended that you place your category tags in the following order:

  • By type of page (Character, Item, Location, Stories, etc.)
  • By gender
  • By species (Alien, Human, Mutant, etc.)
  • By character alignment (Hero, Villain/Nemesis, etc.)
  • By character ethnicity or nationality
  • By character powerset (Game Mechanics and/or Concept)
  • By character occupation
  • By other categories
  • By combat role (Melee DPS, Tank, Healer, Ranged DPS, Support)
  • By supergroup (if applicable)

Example: [[Category:Character]][[Category:Male]][[Category:Mutant]][[Category:Hero]][[Category:American]][[Category:Might]][[Category:Teacher]][[Category:Tank]][[Category:New Champions]]

The entire list of categories recognized by the PRIMUS Database can be found here.

Other Details

Tables Insert tables to organize information in an easy to read manner or to give the appearance of special page formatting. You may find more information on Wikipedia's help article on table creation.
HTML tags You may use a variety of HTML tags for page formatting that can't be done by wiki markup. For more information, see Wikipidia's help article on using HTML in wikitext.
~~~~ Four tildes in a row creates a signature with a link to your userpage, related talk page, and date/time of posting.
Signatures should be used when commenting on any talk pages as well as when placing votes for Page of the Month.

Finalizing your Edits

When you've finished creating or editing a page or section, you can Preview your work before posting it to make sure that it looks correctly. If you wish, enter a brief comment about what you edited. If you've only made a minor change (such as fixing a typo or a markup error), there is a checkbox you can select.

All edits to PRIMUS Database are recorded in the Recent changes page, and you can keep track of your own contributions by clicking the link near the top right corner of the page (near your username).

Tips for Creating a Good Article

  • You should be mindful your content: is it comprehensible, relatively easy to follow, and compliant with the guidelines the site has in place? Even with this said, there is not one correct way in particular to create your page: on PDb, you are free to tailor your articles to best represent you and your characters.
  • Look at existing pages and templates for inspiration in laying out the format of your page. Don't be intimidated by articles which look "better": sometimes, less is more when it comes to a good PDb page, but it helps to see what you may be able to achieve in the future with practice.
  • Get a friend or database moderator to look over your page and proof it for you, and provide you with suggestions to fix errors if they find any.
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