FAQ: Participating in OpenLongTrails

OpenLongTrails.org

How can I interact with the OLT community, ask a question, or make a suggestion?

• Visit the OpenLongTrails community on Reddit.
• The OpenLongTrails Slack Workspace is for more technical and administrative communications, but everyone is welcome. You can join by following this invitation link.

LongTrailsMap

How do I add a trail to LongTrailsMap?

Please send a GPS file for the trail to data@openlongtrails.org. Only LongTrailsMap administrators can directly edit the map.

GPX, GeoJSON, and KML/KMZ file formats are preferred, but nearly any file format is acceptable.

Please send only files that you have authority to contribute.

How do I add a waypoint to LongTrailsMap?

1. Visit the Dedicated Map for the trail. Dedicated maps are linked from LongTrailsMap.net, just click on the trail and follow the Dedicated Map link in the infobox.
2. Double click / tap on the location for the waypoint, enter a brief description, and click Submit.

The waypoint will be reviewed by a LongTrailsMap administrator and added to the map!

LongTrailsWiki

How do I add a trail article to LongTrailsWiki?

1. Follow the steps in How do I add an article to LongTrailsWiki?
2. In the editor, add this text: {{subst:Trail}}. When the page is saved, the Wiki will replace this code with the contents of the Template:Trail template, which includes all of the standard section headers for LTW Trail articles.
3. Add an edit reason, such as 'Created page', in the Summary field, and click Save.
4. To add additional information to the article, click the Edit tab from the article page.
5. Add the trail to the List of Long Trails article. Please keep the list in alphabetical order.

How do I add an article to LongTrailsWiki?

1. Use the LongTrailsWiki search page to search for the title of the page you would like to create.
2. If the page does not already exist, click the 'Create page' link.

Please cite sources for information whenever possible.

How do I edit an article on LongTrailsWiki?

1. Create a free account. (OpenLongTrails projects never share user account information outside of OLT).
2. Browse to the article you would like to edit.
3. Click on the Edit tab in the upper-righthand corner of the page. Be sure to add a brief edit reason in the Summary field before saving.

How do I add citations to LongTrailsWiki articles?

• Inline citations can be added anywhere in Wiki articles by enclosing the source URL in reference tags: <reference>https://example.com/article</reference>.
• The Wiki will automatically render the inline link in superscript (ie ^[1]) and add the link to the References section at the end of the article.
• Every article should include a References section. Add the following text near the end of the article to create the section:

  == References ==
  <references />

How can I add formatting to LongTrailsWiki text?

• The editor provides quick reference information for simple formatting -- links, lists, boldface and italics, etc. -- at the top of the edit window.
• The following links provide more information about Mediawiki formatting:
  • Quick Reference
  • Full formatting documentation page

How should I enter measurements on LongTrailsWiki?

• LTW makes use of automatic unit conversions. Measurements should be recorded in SI / metric units in LTW articles, and the Template:Convert should be used to display US units in parenthesis.
• Example usage: {{convert|461|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} is rendered as: 461 km (286 mi).
• For a more detailed explanation, see the Template:Convert page on Wikipedia.

How can I add an image to a LongTrailsWiki article?

• LTW is capable of displaying any image from Wikimedia Commons simply by adding [[File:Filename.jpg]]. It is not necessary to include the full URL of the file.
• Several options are available with [[File:]] links. For more information, including full documentation for [[File:]] links, consult the following pages:
  • Mediawiki.org's Help:Images page
  • Wikipedia.org's Help:Files page
  • Wikipedia.org's Help:Pictures page
  • Wikipedia.org's Wikipedia:Extended_image_syntax page