How to format a forum post using Markdown language

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These formatting tips are not required, but do make for an easier way to present a lot of information. Additional symbols and characters are presented here as well as the ones shown when one creates or edits a post.

Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed for formatting plain text. It allows users to create formatted documents using simple syntax that is easy to read and write. Key features include the ability to create headings, lists, links, images, and emphasis (bold and italic text) using straightforward symbols and characters. The Markdown language is built into this forum as suggested by the formatting icons present within the editor.

Here are examples of how to format a forum post using Markdown language, specifically tailored for the Monolithic Discourse forum. Each example includes the Markdown command and the resulting formatted output separated by a horizontal line.

Headers

Markdown Command

# This is a Heading 1
## This is a Heading 2
### This is a Heading 3

Result

This is a Heading 1

This is a Heading 2

This is a Heading 3

Emphasis

Markdown Command

*This text will be italic*
**This text will be bold**
***This text will be bold and italic***

Result

This text will be italic
This text will be bold
This text will be bold and italic

Lists

Markdown Command

- Item 1
- Item 2
	- Subitem 1
	- Subitem 2

1. First item
2. Second item

Result

  • Item 1
  • Item 2
    • Subitem 1
    • Subitem 2
  • Item 3
  1. First item
  2. Second item
  3. Third item

Links

Markdown Command

[Alt text for the link](https://www.example.com)

Result

Alt text for the link

Images

Markdown Command

![Alt text for the image (linked image would show here also)](https://www.example.com/image.jpg)

Result

(example image doesn’t show here, but a valid link will work)

Blockquotes

Markdown Command

> This is a blockquote.

Result

This is a blockquote.

Unformatted (escapes normal formatting)

Markdown Command

`Text to be left unformatted`

Result

This is forum formatted text.
Text to be left unformatted

For unformatted blocks:

~~~none

This is an unformatted block.
Many lines can be blocked
to escape normal formatting.

~~~
NOTE: “none” cancels additional coloring

Result

This is an unformatted block.
Many lines can be blocked
to escape normal formatting.

Tables (using pipes | and dashes -)

Markdown Command

| Header 1 | Header 2 |
|:----------:|:----------:|
| Row 1    | Data 1   |
| Row 20000    | Data 20000  |

Result

Header 1 Header 2
Row 1 Data 1
Row 20000 Data 20000

Horizontal Rule

Markdown Command

---

Result

These examples should help you format your posts effectively on the Monolithic Discourse forum using Markdown. If you have any specific formatting needs or questions, feel free to ask!

2

Thanks, but not quite sure why we would need to format what is seldom more than a couple of paragraphs!

1 Like
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Jeanette, I know you folks are working on a new dome home. So, start documenting The Journey in a post here in the How To category. Go back to some of you old posts and copy/paste. Just create a title in a new post and keep coming back and editing and adding to it. I’d bet that you have quite a bit done that you could start sharing, and just adding headings will help make it make more sense.

Of course, none of this formatting is needed for simple posts, but we all want to see a ton of details! :smiley:

4

Thanks for the reply! We aren’t working on the home yet. We have an investment on which the payoff has been delayed. When it finally does come through we can do pretty much anything we want to do. And I’ve been working on the (informal) plans for a couple of years, so they are unbelievably detailed, right down to picture rails on walls with no windows!
When we do start building, I will be updating here regularly, trust me! We want two joined partial tori for the home, and will have two 30-foot transparent geodesic domes for greenhouse and cat home/playground. It should make for interesting photos!