Knowledge Base

• What is a knowledge base?

  A knowledge base is a collection of articles that captures and organizes helpful information that exists throughout a community.

  These are some of the features that make a knowledge base a great community resource:

  • You can search for knowledge base articles or use special navigation links that let you browse through the community's knowledge bases.
  • Once you find an article you want to read, you can add your comments, and maybe even edit the article (if you have the right permission). If the article's publisher incorporates your comment into a later version of the article, you'll get credit as a contributor.
  • Articles can contain some of the same rich media as other posts, including images and attachments.
  • Each article contains lists of contributors and related links.
    Contributors could be community members whose posts or comments are used in the article, authors who put the article together, or editors who reviewed or refined it.
    Related links take you to posts that were used in the article or other posts that the authors thought you might find helpful or interesting, including forum messages, blog articles, and ideas.

• How can I view a knowledge base?

  There are a number of ways you can view a knowledge base article.

  To go to the knowledge base for a board or forum:

  • Click the book icon next to the forum name on the community page.
    From there, you can browse the list of articles and choose one to read.

  To search for a knowledge base article:

  • Enter a search keyword and choose Knowledge Base in the list to the left of the Search button.
    From there, you can use search results filters to zero in on the article you're looking for.

  To go to an article related to a post:

  • Click the Knowledge Base links at the top of the article.
    You might find links to articles based on the post, links to articles related to the post, or both.

• How do I nominate content for a knowledge base?

  If you come across a great material in the community -- helpful questions and answers, or just plain useful information -- you can nominate the topic as a knowledge base article.

  Someone who is responsible for your community's knowledge base will evaluate the topics you nominate. Once a topic is accepted, a knowledge base author can use it as the basis for a knowledge base article.

  To nominate content:

  1. Go to the topic you want to nominate.
  2. Choose Topic Options > Nominate to Knowledge Base.

  That's all there is to it.

• How can I contribute to a knowledge base?

  You can contribute to knowledge bases in a number of ways:

  • By writing good answers to questions posted in the community.
  • By accepting good solutions to your questions (this automatically nominates the post to the knowledge base).
  • By nominating good posts you find in the community.
  • By reviewing or editing articles (if you have the right permission)
  • By commenting on published articles.

  Every time you contribute to an article -- by adding more information, providing clarification, or just helping to keep published articles up to date -- you can receive credit for your contributions.

• How do I edit a knowledge base article?

  Anyone who has permission can edit a knowledge base article.

  To edit a knowledge base article:

  1. To edit a published article, click the Edit button on the article page.
     Note: You only see the Edit button when you have permission to edit the article. Some users might have permission to edit articles in one knowledge base but not others.
  2. Click in the section you want to edit and make your changes.
     You can edit text, add text, or drag content from the clipping area on the right side of the Editor.
  3. To search for additional material, enter a search term and click Search.
  4. To find tagged material, click the Tags tab and click a related tag.
  5. Use the formatting and content buttons to style the text or add images.
  6. Use the spelling checker to check the contents of the article.
  7. Add contributors or related links as necessary.
  8. Add a revision note that explains your changes.
  9. Click one of the Save options.
     The buttons you see depend on your editing permissions.
     • Click Save to save your changes.
     • Click Save & Request Review to ask community members to review and comment on you revision.
     • Click Save & Request Publication to ask the article's publisher to make your changes public.

  That's all there is to it.