Skip to: Site menu | Main content

compose tips

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img>

    This site allows HTML content. While learning all of HTML may feel intimidating, learning how to use a very small number of the most basic HTML "tags" is very easy. This table provides examples for each tag that is enabled on this site.

    For more information see W3C's HTML Specifications or use your favorite search engine to find other sites that explain HTML.

    Tag DescriptionYou TypeYou Get
    Anchors are used to make links to other pages.<a href="http://www.apluscompuservices.com">A+ Computer Services</a>A+ Computer Services
    Emphasized<em>Emphasized</em>Emphasized
    Strong<strong>Strong</strong>Strong
    Cited<cite>Cited</cite>Cited
    Coded text used to show programming source code<code>Coded</code>Coded
    Unordered list - use the <li> to begin each list item<ul> <li>First item</li> <li>Second item</li> </ul>
    • First item
    • Second item
    Ordered list - use the <li> to begin each list item<ol> <li>First item</li> <li>Second item</li> </ol>
    1. First item
    2. Second item
    Definition lists are similar to other HTML lists. <dl> begins the definition list, <dt> begins the definition term and <dd> begins the definition description.<dl> <dt>First term</dt> <dd>First definition</dd> <dt>Second term</dt> <dd>Second definition</dd> </dl>
    First term
    First definition
    Second term
    Second definition
    No help provided for tag img.

    Most unusual characters can be directly entered without any problems.

    If you do encounter problems, try using HTML character entities. A common example looks like &amp; for an ampersand & character. For a full list of entities see HTML's entities page. Some of the available characters include:

    Character DescriptionYou TypeYou Get
    Ampersand&amp;&
    Greater than&gt;>
    Less than&lt;<
    Quotation mark&quot;"
  • Textile Help

    Block modifier syntax:

    CSS attributes can be applied to blocks (paragraphs, headers, etc.). CSS classes are specifed with "(class)"; CSS IDs are specified with "(#id)"; both can be specified with "(class#id)". An arbtirary CSS style can be applied by using "{style}". Finally, language attributes are applied using "[language]".

    Additionally, alignment and indentation shorthands are provided. To left-align, right-align, center, and justify text, use "<", ">", "=", and "<>", respectively. "(" left-indents a block 1em for each occurrence, and ")" right-indents similarly.

    Tables have additional options. "^", "-", and "~" specify top, middle, and bottom vertical alignment. The "_" attribute on a cell indicates that it is a table header.

    The examples below illustrate these attributes.

    textile input output

    Headings

    hx. (where x is 1 - 6)
    h1. Heading

    Heading

    h2(class). Heading with class

    Heading with class

    Paragraphs

    p=. Centered text

    Centered text

    p())(#id). Indented text with ID

    Indented text with ID

    Block quotes

    bq(class#id). Quote with class and ID
    Quote with class and ID
    bq[en]. English quote
    English quote

    Ordered lists

    {color: blue}# Attributes specified
    # before the first item
    # affect the whole list
    1. Attributes specified
    2. before the first item
    3. affect the whole list

    Unordered lists

    * Lists can have
    ## subitems or
    ## sublists
    * too
    • Lists can have
      1. subitems or
      2. sublists
    • too

    Footnotes

    fnx. (where x is 1 - 100)
    fn17. Footnote

    17 Footnote

    Tables

    |_. A|_. B|_. C|
    (dark). |very|simple|table|
    |<. left|=. center|>. right|
    |^{height:3em}. top|-. middle|~. bottom|
    A B C
    very simple table
    left center right
    top middle bottom

    Phrase modifier syntax:

    The class, ID, style, and language attributes described above also apply to the span phrase modifier as shown below.

    textile input output
    _emphasis_ emphasis
    __italic__ italic
    *strong* strong
    **bold** bold
    ??citation?? citation
    -delete text- deleted text
    +inserted text+ inserted text
    ^superscript^ superscript
    ~subscript~ subscript
    @code@ code
    %(class)span% span
    %{color:red;}span% span
    ==no textile== no textile
    "link text":url link text
    "link text(title)":url link text
    !imageurl!
    !imageurl(alt text)! alt text
    !imageurl!:url
    ABC(Always Be Closing) ABC
    Footnote reference[17] Footnote reference17