View source for Guidelines for Creating a Topic Page

__NOTOC__
<noautolinks>
[[Category: Dam Safety Toolbox Formatting/Style Guide]]
----
Topic Pages introduce a topic by providing relevant background information and peer-reviewed guidance that follows identified Best Practices Resources and are generally between 100 and 500 words in length. The purpose of these pages is not to document every formula and procedure relating to a topic, but rather to give an overview of the topic and point the user to best practices resources where the topic is addressed in a more comprehensive manner. 

Where appropriate, headings should be included to organize and distinguish between subsections of a single topic page. If more than five subsections are needed to convey the information for a single topic page, the creation of new subtopic pages for each of the subsections should be considered. This will help keep topic pages concise and focused, thereby increasing the ability to link between subtopic pages and reducing the potential for redundancies in content.

==Naming a New Topic Page==
Care should be taken when naming a new topic page. Avoid simplistic titles or terms that can mean multiple things or apply to multiple disciplines. Rather, names of topic pages should be as specific as possible. For example, if creating a page about the design of relief wells, the page should be called "Design of [[Relief Wells]]." If it was simply called "Design", this generic page title may inadvertently auto-link to other pages on the website where the term "design" is used but a link to the very specific topic of relief wells is not appropriate.

==Typical Topic Page Content==
At a minimum, a topic page will include a page name/title and introductory text (e.g., a definition of a given term). A thoroughly developed topic page may include any and all of the following content:
 
# '''Topic Page Title''' (see section above regarding the importance of naming a new topic page)
# '''Breadcrumb Menu Navigation Links''' 
#* ''[[Guidelines for Adding "Breadcrumbs" to a Page|Learn how to create breadcrumb menu navigation links]]''
# '''Introductory Paragraph''' (typically 100 to 500 words in length)
# '''Pertinent Figures or Images''' (for demonstrative or aesthetic purposes)
#* ''[[Media and Copyright Policies and Guidelines | Learn about copyright law and the policies on using images on this site.]]''
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to use the picture template for inserting images into Topic Pages]]''
# '''Links to Related Subtopic Pages''' or '''Sections with Guidance on Related Subtopics''' (when content for related subtopics is limited). 
#* ''[[Guidelines for Inserting Links|Learn how to create internal and external links]]''
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to create icons for document, website, and video hyperlinks]]''
# '''List of Examples''' that illustrate the concepts explained in the previous section(s). These can be links to content on other websites such as ASDSO's DamFailures.org, news articles, videos, etc. 
#* [[Creating an Example Page | ''Learn how to create a new Example Page'']]
#* ''[[Guidelines for Inserting Links|Learn how to create internal and external links]]''
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to create icons for document, website, and video hyperlinks]]''
# '''List of Best Practices Resources''' that are applicable to the topic of interest.
#* [[Creating a Best Practices Resource Page | ''Learn how to create a New Best Practices Resource Page'']]
#* ''[[Guidelines for Inserting Links|Learn how to create internal and external links]]''
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to create icons for document, website, and video hyperlinks]]''
# '''List of Trainings''' that are applicable to the topic such as webinars, presentations, etc. and consist of more than just cursory or introductory information on the topic (if applicable).
#* [[Creating a Training Page | ''Learn how to create a new Training Page'']]
#* ''[[Guidelines for Inserting Links|Learn how to create internal and external links]]''
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to create icons for document, website, and video hyperlinks]]''
# '''List of Citations''' (if any) used in the previous sections. 
#* ''[[Guidelines for Inserting a Citation|Learn how to use the Citations Template to automatically populate a list of citations]]''
# '''Revision History''' should be included at the bottom of every page. 
#* ''[[Guidelines for Using Templates|Learn how to add the revision history template]]''

----
==New Topic Page Template Code==
The following template code should be copied and pasted into the editor when creating a new topic page to facilitate the process of creating, formatting, and reviewing new content. Users should add or delete sections, pictures, and code as necessary to a specific topic. 

''<nowiki><!-- Default code to remove table of contents and add line break at top of page --></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>__NOTOC__ </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Add Category to drive breadcrumb menus --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>[[Category:Undefined]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>----</nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Insert image using {{Picture}} template --></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Picture </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Add image file name (ex.image.jpg) --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>|image= 1.jpg</nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!--Add link if applicable --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>|link= </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Add picture caption --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>|caption= This is a dam.</nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>}} </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Introductory paragraph or topic page summary --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>Paragraph text </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>== Heading Title == </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>Paragraph text </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>== Examples == </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Website Icon}} <!-- Internal Link Format --> [[Page Name | Internal Link Text]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Website Icon}} <!-- External Link Format --> [ExternalURL Displayed Text] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Video Icon}} <!-- Internal Link Format --> [[Page Name | Internal Link Text]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Video Icon}} <!-- External Link Format --> [ExternalURL Displayed Text] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>== Best Practices Resources == </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Document Icon}} [[Page Name |  Title, Author]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>== Trainings == </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Website Icon}} <!-- Internal Link Format --> [[Page Name | Internal Link Text]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Website Icon}} <!-- External Link Format --> [ExternalURL Displayed Text] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Video Icon}} <!-- Internal Link Format --> [[Page Name | Internal Link Text]] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{Video Icon}} <!-- External Link Format --> [ExternalURL Displayed Text] </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Citations will automatically populate if instructions on the "Guidelines for Inserting a Citation" are followed. --></nowiki></br> 
''<nowiki>{{Citations}} </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki></nowiki></br>
''<nowiki><!-- Revision history information --> </nowiki></br>
''<nowiki>{{revhistinf}} </nowiki></br>''
----

<!-- Revision history information -->
{{revhistinf}}
</noautolinks>