LOST-Theories.com

Tutorial: How to post links or pictures and use proper emphasis in your theories and comments.

— Billy_G_Oat

katesawjack asked me how I linked to url’s using only a single word or phrase. The lost-therories page is partially powered by markdown, a simplified language of code that’s converted to html when displayed in your browser. I know wtfsignmeup posted instructions on how to insert pictures into your theory and/or comments here and I’m sure someone else has made mention of it before I came around. But some of you are probably still confused or curious about other ways to create useful links and pictures as well as elegant emphasis in text.

For those interested in the complete do’s and dont’s, visit this markdown language page.

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For those suffering from attention disorders, here’s a simple run-down of the most common syntax you might want to use in your theory or comments:

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Line and Page Breaks

• Traditionally, in html code, when you hit enter you start a new paragraph unless you specify a line break. Markdown does not see it that way and wraps all text into a single paragraph until you hit enter twice, effectively forcing Markdown to create a paragraph tag for html viewing.
• Avoid trying to use html code for line and page breaks and simply remember to tap enter twice to start a new paragraph. Your post will look better and be easier to read.

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Italics

• Use an single asterisk or underscore before AND after the word or phrase you want highlighted
• Typing: *Italics are fun!*
• Produces: Italics are fun!

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Boldface

• Use double asterisks or underscores before AND after the word or phrase you want highlighted.
• This: * *Boldface is fun!* *
• Produces: Boldface is fun!

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Bullet Lists

• Use an asterisk, addition sign, or subtraction sign.
• Followed by some spaces.
• Followed by your list entry.
• Repeat for additional list entries that look just like these.
• NOTE: A small, light colored horizontal rule will be placed after each list entry on comments. I don’t know how to avoid this. Any suggestions?

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Html Links

• Use a link word surrounded by square brackets, open then closed.
• Followed by the html url surrounded by parenthesis, open then closed.
• Typing: [Lostpedia] (http://lostpedia.com)
• Produces: Lostpedia

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Image Links

• Use an exclamation point
• Followed by a title word, surrounded by square brackets, open then closed.
• Followed by a the image url, surrounded by parenthesis, open then closed.
• Make sure to use the complete url.
• NOTE: Make sure you link to the direct image and not a page containing the image.
• NOTE: PLEASE avoid using large images. If an image is more than 400 pixels wide, just link to it using the Html Links method or resize it and host it on photobucket.
•  This:

 

•  Produces:

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Horizontal Rules

• Use any number of multiple asterisks, dashes or underscores without preceding text or following text. Make sure you have a line break before and after your horizontal rule to ensure proper spacing.
• Either this: _ _ _ _
• OR this: - - - -
• OR this: * * * *
• Produces the thick line you see below.

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Headings

• Use 2-6 pound signs to create different styles of headings. The fewer pound signs used, the larger the text will appear.
• NOTE: While Markdown does allow for the use of a single pound sign to represent the largest heading, the lost-theories website reserves this for it’s own heading image. Attempting to use this will result in your text being overlayed on the generic image and it will be very difficult to read.
• NOTE: Heading 2 will result in a horizontal rule in every instance.
•  This:

# # # # # # Heading 6

# # # # # Heading 5

# # # # Heading 4

# # # Heading 3

# # Heading 2

•  Produces:

Heading 6

Heading 5

Heading 4

Heading 3

Heading 2

I think that about sums it up. There are more tricks that can be accomplished with Markdown, but that should cover the most commonly used syntax needed for theory writing and comments.

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