Convert Text to MediaWiki

Why Convert Text to MediaWiki?

Converting Text files (.text) to MediaWiki format is essential when you need to publish content on Wikipedia, corporate wikis, or any platform powered by the MediaWiki software. MediaWiki markup provides a rich set of formatting tools specifically designed for creating interconnected, encyclopedic content with internal links, categories, references, and collaborative editing capabilities.

MediaWiki's internal linking system, using double brackets like [[Article Name]], creates a web of interconnected pages that is fundamental to how Wikipedia and other wikis organize knowledge. By converting your plain text content to MediaWiki format, you enable readers to navigate between related topics seamlessly and build a comprehensive knowledge base with automatic backlink tracking.

The MediaWiki template system allows you to create reusable content blocks that can be included across multiple pages. This is invaluable for standardized information like infoboxes, navigation bars, and citation templates. Converting to MediaWiki format gives you access to thousands of pre-built templates on Wikipedia and the ability to create custom templates for your own wiki installations.

MediaWiki also provides built-in support for citations, references, and footnotes through its Cite extension, making it ideal for academic, research, and reference content. The format supports structured data through Wikidata integration and offers mature tools for content categorization, versioning, and collaborative editing with full revision history.

Key Benefits of Converting Text to MediaWiki:

• Wikipedia Compatible: Publish directly to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects
• Internal Linking: Create interconnected pages with [[double bracket]] links
• Template System: Use reusable content blocks for consistent formatting
• Categorization: Organize content with built-in category system
• Citations: Proper reference and footnote support for academic content
• Collaboration: Built for multi-user editing with full revision history
• Extensibility: Thousands of MediaWiki extensions for specialized needs

Practical Examples

Example 1: Encyclopedia Article

Input Text file (article.text):

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services
over the internet. Services include servers, storage,
databases, networking, and software.

Types of Cloud Services
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Software as a Service (SaaS)

Major Providers
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud

Output MediaWiki file (article.wiki):

== Cloud Computing ==

'''Cloud computing''' is the delivery of [[computing]] services
over the [[internet]]. Services include servers, storage,
databases, networking, and software.

=== Types of Cloud Services ===
* [[Infrastructure as a Service]] (IaaS)
* [[Platform as a Service]] (PaaS)
* [[Software as a Service]] (SaaS)

=== Major Providers ===
* [[Amazon Web Services]]
* [[Microsoft Azure]]
* [[Google Cloud]]

[[Category:Cloud computing]]
[[Category:Information technology]]

Example 2: Corporate Wiki Page

Input Text file (policy.text):

Remote Work Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Department: Human Resources

Employees may work remotely up to 3 days per week.
A minimum of 2 days per week must be in-office.
Remote work requests require manager approval.
Equipment will be provided for home office setup.

Output MediaWiki file (policy.wiki):

== Remote Work Policy ==

{{Infobox policy
| effective_date = January 1, 2026
| department = [[Human Resources]]
}}

Employees may work remotely up to '''3 days per week'''.
A minimum of '''2 days per week''' must be in-office.

=== Requirements ===
* Remote work requests require [[Management|manager]] approval
* Equipment will be provided for home office setup

[[Category:Company Policies]]
[[Category:Human Resources]]

Example 3: Technical Documentation

Input Text file (api_guide.text):

REST API Guide

Authentication
All requests require an API key in the header.
Use the X-API-Key header for authentication.

Endpoints
GET /users - List all users
POST /users - Create a new user
GET /users/123 - Get user by ID
DELETE /users/123 - Delete a user

Output MediaWiki file (api_guide.wiki):

== REST API Guide ==

=== Authentication ===
All requests require an [[API key]] in the header.
Use the X-API-Key header for authentication.

=== Endpoints ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Method !! Endpoint !! Description
|-
| GET || /users || List all users
|-
| POST || /users || Create a new user
|-
| GET || /users/123 || Get user by ID
|-
| DELETE || /users/123 || Delete a user
|}

[[Category:API Documentation]]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is MediaWiki markup?

A: MediaWiki markup (also called wikitext) is the formatting language used by Wikipedia and all wikis running the MediaWiki software. It uses symbols like == for headings, ''' for bold, '' for italic, [[]] for internal links, and special syntax for tables, templates, and categories. It is designed for collaborative content creation and renders as HTML on wiki pages.

Q: Can I paste MediaWiki content directly into Wikipedia?

A: Yes, converted MediaWiki markup can be pasted directly into Wikipedia's source editor. Switch to the source editing mode (rather than VisualEditor), paste your markup, and it will render correctly. Make sure your content follows Wikipedia's guidelines for notability, neutral point of view, and verifiability before publishing.

Q: How do internal links work in MediaWiki?

A: Internal links use double brackets: [[Page Name]] creates a link to another page on the same wiki. You can use piped links for display text: [[Page Name|display text]]. If the target page exists, the link appears blue; if not, it appears red, indicating a page that can be created. This system is central to how wikis organize interconnected knowledge.

Q: What are MediaWiki templates?

A: Templates are reusable content blocks stored on special template pages. They are included in other pages using double curly braces. Templates are used extensively on Wikipedia for infoboxes, navigation boxes, citation formatting, and standardized notices. You can create custom templates for your own wiki to maintain consistent formatting across pages.

Q: Is MediaWiki markup different from Markdown?

A: Yes, they are different markup languages. Markdown uses # for headings and **text** for bold, while MediaWiki uses == Heading == and '''text''' for bold. MediaWiki has more advanced features like internal linking, templates, categories, and built-in citation management. Markdown is simpler and more commonly used in software development, while MediaWiki is optimized for collaborative encyclopedia-style content.

Q: Can I use MediaWiki format outside of Wikipedia?

A: Absolutely. You can install MediaWiki software on your own server for corporate wikis, community documentation, or personal knowledge bases. Hosted solutions like Miraheze and Fandom also use MediaWiki markup. Pandoc can convert MediaWiki to many other formats including HTML, PDF, and Markdown.

Q: How do tables work in MediaWiki?

A: MediaWiki tables use a unique syntax starting with {| and ending with |}. Headers use ! and cells use |. Rows are separated by |-. You can apply CSS classes like "wikitable" for styled borders. While the syntax is more verbose than Markdown tables, MediaWiki tables support advanced features like spanning, sorting, and custom styling.

Q: What tools can convert MediaWiki to other formats?

A: Pandoc is the most versatile tool for converting MediaWiki markup to formats like HTML, PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and LaTeX. The Python library mwparserfromhell can parse and manipulate MediaWiki content programmatically. MediaWiki itself can export pages as XML dumps for backup and migration purposes.