Convert ORG to MediaWiki

Why Convert ORG to MediaWiki?

Converting Org-mode documents to MediaWiki format is essential when you want to contribute content to Wikipedia or any MediaWiki-powered wiki. If you've drafted articles, documentation, or research notes in Org-mode, converting to MediaWiki markup allows you to publish directly on wiki platforms.

MediaWiki is the software behind Wikipedia, the world's largest encyclopedia, as well as thousands of other wikis including Fandom, Wikia, and corporate knowledge bases. By converting your Org-mode content, you can share knowledge with millions of wiki users worldwide.

The conversion is particularly valuable for academics and researchers who maintain notes in Org-mode. Converting to MediaWiki format allows them to contribute to subject-specific wikis, academic encyclopedias, and collaborative knowledge projects.

Organizations using MediaWiki for internal documentation can benefit from team members who prefer working in Org-mode. Converting their work to MediaWiki ensures seamless integration with the company's knowledge base while allowing individuals to use their preferred editing environment.

Key Benefits of Converting ORG to MediaWiki:

• Wikipedia Compatible: Publish directly to Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects
• Wiki Integration: Works with any MediaWiki-powered site
• Collaborative Publishing: Share knowledge with wiki communities
• Template Support: Use wiki templates and infoboxes
• Cross-Linking: Create internal wiki links automatically
• Version Control: Wiki's built-in history tracking
• Global Reach: Access millions of wiki readers

Practical Examples

Example 1: Encyclopedia Article

Input ORG file (article.org):

#+TITLE: Emacs Org-mode

* Overview

*Org-mode* is a document editing and organizing mode
for [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][GNU Emacs]].

* History

Org-mode was created by /Carsten Dominik/ in 2003.

* Features

- Outlining and folding
- Task management
- Literate programming
- Export to multiple formats

Output MediaWiki file (article.wiki):

= Emacs Org-mode =

== Overview ==

'''Org-mode''' is a document editing and organizing mode
for [https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ GNU Emacs].

== History ==

Org-mode was created by ''Carsten Dominik'' in 2003.

== Features ==

* Outlining and folding
* Task management
* Literate programming
* Export to multiple formats

Example 2: Technical Documentation

Input ORG file (docs.org):

#+TITLE: API Documentation

* Authentication

Use the following endpoint:

#+BEGIN_SRC http
POST /api/auth/login
Content-Type: application/json
#+END_SRC

| Parameter | Type   | Required |
|-----------+--------+----------|
| username  | string | Yes      |
| password  | string | Yes      |

#+BEGIN_NOTE
Tokens expire after 24 hours.
#+END_NOTE

Output MediaWiki file (docs.wiki):

= API Documentation =

== Authentication ==

Use the following endpoint:


POST /api/auth/login
Content-Type: application/json


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Parameter !! Type !! Required
|-
| username || string || Yes
|-
| password || string || Yes
|}

{{Note|Tokens expire after 24 hours.}}

Example 3: Wiki Links and References

Input ORG file (links.org):

* Programming Languages

** Python
[[file:python.org][Python]] is a versatile language.
See also: [[file:javascript.org][JavaScript]]

** References
- [[https://python.org][Official Python Website]]
- [[https://docs.python.org][Python Documentation]]

* See Also
- Emacs
- Vim
- Visual Studio Code

Output MediaWiki file (links.wiki):

= Programming Languages =

== Python ==
[[Python]] is a versatile language.
See also: [[JavaScript]]

== References ==
* [https://python.org Official Python Website]
* [https://docs.python.org Python Documentation]

= See Also =
* [[Emacs]]
* [[Vim]]
* [[Visual Studio Code]]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is MediaWiki markup?

A: MediaWiki markup is the syntax used by MediaWiki software, which powers Wikipedia and thousands of other wikis. It uses symbols like == for headers, ''' for bold, '' for italic, and [[]] for internal links. It's designed for collaborative web editing.

Q: Can I use this for Wikipedia contributions?

A: Yes! The converted MediaWiki markup is fully compatible with Wikipedia. You can paste the converted content directly into Wikipedia's editor. However, remember to follow Wikipedia's content guidelines and citation requirements.

Q: How are Org-mode links converted?

A: Internal Org-mode links (file:page.org) are converted to MediaWiki internal links ([[Page]]). External links ([[url][text]]) become MediaWiki external links ([url text]). This preserves your link structure in the wiki.

Q: What about Org-mode tables?

A: Org-mode tables are converted to MediaWiki table syntax using {| class="wikitable" |}. The structure is preserved, though spreadsheet formulas won't be functional. You may need to adjust styling for complex tables.

Q: Are code blocks supported?

A: Yes, Org-mode code blocks are converted to MediaWiki's <syntaxhighlight> tags with language specification. This provides syntax highlighting on MediaWiki sites that have the SyntaxHighlight extension installed (including Wikipedia).

Q: How are TODO items handled?

A: TODO items are converted to plain text since MediaWiki doesn't have native task management. You can manually add wiki-specific task templates if your wiki supports them.

Q: Can I convert MediaWiki back to Org-mode?

A: Yes, Pandoc supports bidirectional conversion. Use: `pandoc -f mediawiki -t org input.wiki -o output.org`. This is useful for importing wiki content into your Org-mode workflow.

Q: What about MediaWiki templates?

A: The converter uses common MediaWiki templates like {{Note}} for admonitions. However, template availability varies between wikis. You may need to adjust templates for your specific wiki's conventions.