2025-05-30 12:43:55 -06:00

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# Make Your First Edit
Ready to make your first contribution? This guide will walk you through editing a file directly in your web browser - no special software needed!
## What You'll Do
We'll make a simple change to practice the process. Don't worry about breaking anything - there are safeguards in place.
## Step 1: Choose a File to Edit
For your first edit, let's improve a page that already exists:
1. Go to the project homepage on Gitea
2. Navigate to `mkdocs``docs`
3. Find a page you'd like to improve (maybe `faq.md` or create a small edit to any `.md` file)
## Step 2: Open the Editor
1. Click on the file you want to edit
2. Look for the **pencil icon** (✏️) and click it
3. You're now in the web editor!
## Step 3: Understand Markdown
The files use "Markdown" - a simple way to format text. Here are the basics:
```markdown
# This is a big heading
## This is a smaller heading
**This text is bold**
*This text is italic*
- This is a bullet point
[This is a link](https://example.com)
```
## Step 4: Make Your Edit
Let's practice with a small change:
1. Find a paragraph you want to improve
2. Make a simple edit like:
- Fix a typo
- Add a sentence
- Improve wording
3. Don't make huge changes for your first edit - keep it simple!
## Step 5: Preview Your Changes
1. Click the **"Preview"** tab to see how your changes will look
2. Switch back to **"Edit"** if you want to make more changes
3. Review your work carefully
## Step 6: Save Your Changes
At the bottom of the page, you'll see a "Commit Changes" section:
1. **Commit message**: Write a brief description of what you changed
- Good: "Fixed typo in FAQ section"
- Good: "Added information about voting rights"
- Not helpful: "Updated file"
2. **Choose commit type**:
- Select "Create a new branch for this commit and start a pull request"
- This lets others review your changes before they go live
3. Click **"Propose Changes"**
## Step 7: Create Your Pull Request
After clicking "Propose Changes":
1. You'll see a "Pull Request" form
2. Add a title that describes your change
3. In the description, explain why you made the change
4. Click **"Create Pull Request"**
Congratulations! You've submitted your first contribution!
## What Happens Next?
- A team member will review your changes
- They might suggest improvements or ask questions
- Once approved, your changes will appear on the live website
- You'll get notified by email about any updates
## What's Next?
Now that you've made your first edit, learn more about [Git Basics](git-basics.md) to understand what just happened behind the scenes.
## Video Tutorial
*[Administrator: Add a video tutorial showing the complete process of making an edit through the web interface]*
## Troubleshooting
**Can't find the pencil icon?** Make sure you're viewing a file (not a folder) and that you're logged in.
**Preview looks wrong?** Check your Markdown syntax - missing spaces or symbols can cause formatting issues.
**Nervous about breaking something?** Don't worry! Your changes won't go live until they're reviewed and approved.