Help:Beginner's guide to Index: files


 * For more help, see Help:Index pages

Index: pages, managed by the Proofread Page extension, are a powerful way to allow side-by-side proofreading of documents in Wikisource. This document describes the fastest way to set them up on Wikisource.

Index pages are the main page for each proofreading project on Wikisource. Each one will have links to all the individual pages in the book, issue or other text being proofread. The page will also show the progress of the proofreading and a quick summary of the text's details (such as title, author etc). These details can link to other pages such as the final version in the main namespace and the author page.

Quick version
Requires: A scanned text on Wikimedia Commons. For example,. Always strive to upload complete and workable source files. Flawed files with missing pages, blurred images, duplicate pages and similar defects that may hinder the proofreading process should be addressed prior to uploading whenever possible.

Actions on Wikisource:
 * 1) Replace the "File" with "Index" in the page title and go to this page. For example, if the file is called , enter the page title  . Enter this title into the search box on Wikisource, and press "enter.
 * 2) On the resulting page, you will find a link to "create" this page. Click that link.
 * 3) Save this page.

Notes: The fields on the Index page should also be completed but this can be done at any time. The index page will automatically generate a page list and display the first page of the file (usually the cover). Both of these can be changed as described below. Any known problems or defects with the source file should be noted as they are discovered either in the remarks (table of contents) section of the Index: page or on the Index's talk page.

Uploading content into the Wikimedia Commons

 * 1) Upload your PDF or DjVu file to the Wikimedia Commons. This is the easiest step of all: the commons has an excellent Upload Wizard. If you have any problems during the upload, get help at the Commons' help desk.
 * 2) * Name this file with the full title of the document as you want it to appear in Wikisource. If the full title is very long, a shortened title may be appropriate. It might be a good idea to add the edition and year of publication to make it easier to upload multiple editions of the same document.
 * 3) * Use categories to categorize your upload in the Commons.
 * 4) You should now have a PDF or DjVu document on the Wikimedia Commons. Some examples of such documents are File:Wind in the Willows (1913).djvu (DjVu) and File:Field Notes of Junius Henderson, Notebook 1.pdf (PDF).

Creating an Index: page on Wikisource

 * 1) In your browser (perhaps in a new tab or window), type https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Index: the name of the file you just uploaded . For example, if the document you uploaded to Commons was Wind in the Willows (1913).djvu, then you would want to type in https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Index:Wind in the Willows (1913).djvu . Using copy/paste for the name of the file is the best choice — it is very easy to type something wrong, mix up upper and lower case letters, and so on. Using copy/paste can avoid these pitfalls.
 * 2) Wikisource will indicate that "Wikisource does not have a page with this exact name". Click "Create" (or the "add Index:file name to Wikisource") to create this document.
 * 3) A page with fields to enter information about this document will appear. See the Wind in the Willows for an example.
 * 4) Populate each of the fields as in the table below.
 * 5) Click the "Show Preview" button near the bottom of the page. An Index: namespace page with an image of the book you just selected should appear. If the image does not appear, make certain that the name of the page is identical to the name of the file on the Wikimedia Commons. Once you see the page and make any corrections which become apparent in the preview, click "Publish page".
 * 6) Congratulations! You now have an Index: page for the work you'd like to transcribe on Wikisource.