How to Create a Portal in Wikipedia

It is possible to create a portal in this user-friendly online encyclopedia. Portals are like gateways to broad subject areas and list many topics, articles and images. Although there is no set design, the Box portal is one of the most commonly used patterns. In order to create a portal you need to open a Wikipedia account. Here is how to create a portal on Wikipedia.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Steps to Open a Wikipedia Account

1. Go to the Wikipedia Web site.
2. Go to the top right corner of the page. Click on "Create Account" and register by providing your username and a unique password. The account is created immediately and the username that you selected will be displayed on top of the page.

Steps to Create a Portal in Wikipedia

3. Go to the Wikipedia Web site and sign in.
4. Start creating a new page by entering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Starting_a_new_page
5. Insert [[Portal: Topic]]. Here topic will be the name of the subject. Enter the following text:
   {{Subst: box portal skeleton}} and save the instruction by clicking on the "Save" button.
   
6. Create two subpages: Save Portal:Topic/box-header with this text:
   
   {{Portal: Box-header | title= {{{1}}}
   |editpage= {{{2}}}
   |border=red
   |titleforeground=white
   |titlebackground=#aaccff
   |background=#f9f9ff
   |foreground=black}}
   
   Or Save Portal: Topic/box-footer with this text:
   
   {{Portal: box-footer | {{{1}}}}}
   
   
7. Return to your portal page and start editing. You need to add content to all pages indicated by the red links to your portal.
8. Link the appropriate articles to your portal by placing {{portal}} at the top of the page. You can also insert {{portalpar}} on other pages.
9. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Portal/Directory and list your portal there by clicking on the edit link for the appropriate category, giving all details and saving the changes.
10. Announce your new portal on the Community Bulletin Board. To do so, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_Portal#Community_bulletin_board and click on the post link. Save your changes.
11. Remember at this point, your portal is in the "Portals Under Construction" category.
12. Recategorize the portal from the Category: Portals under construction to Category: Portals once the portal is complete and ready to be viewed by all. To do this, go to your portal page and click on the ‘edit this page’ link. Go to the end of the edit window and change [[Category: Portals under construction|{{PAGENAME}}]] to [[Category:Portals |{{PAGENAME}}]].
13. Add a link to your portal at "Portal: Browse." Your portal is now ready.

Tips & Warnings

• Select broad areas of interest as subjects for your portal.
• Portals need to be updated often to sustain the interest of readers in the subject area.