Fix markdown documentation
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This is really a bug report, not a request for assistance.
The [guide to enabling Markdown](http://en.support.wordpress.com/markdown/), neglects to mention that a plugin is required, nor does in make the distinction that the instructions (plugin installation assumed) are for WP-hosted rather than self-hosted sites.
Please fix/clarify documentation.
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Hi alttag,
There’s no need to install a plugin to use Markdown on a WordPress.com site. It’s available at Settings > Writing > Use Markdown for posts and pages.
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The point being that the docs—which don’t indicate on the page that they apply just to WP-hosted installs—neglect to mention that it refers to a plugin necessary for self-installs (like mine).
In fact, there’s a reference to specifics of WordPress.com installations, which may cause a reader to infer (as I did) the rest of the page was applicable to self-hosted installations.
All I’m asking is that the page be clarified to indicate it’s for WP-hosted sites, with a reference to the plugin used so that self-hosted site can take advantage too.
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@alttag,
The support documents are exclusively for WordPress.COM. If you have a self-hosted site using WordPress.ORG software, then the information you find among those articles will not be applicable to your platform. Yes, there may be similarities, but wp.COM users cannot use plugins so there is no need to explain how to use them ! The plugins we can use have been modified to work on our platform, and they work automatically; that is, we cannot install them ourselves.
Here is where you’ll find support relevant to your site:
https://wordpress.org/support/
Details about the different versions of WordPress: -
Good to know.
As the entry point was Google, not the WP home page, this distinction isn’t clear on that (or any) page.
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That’s unusual! Most of the information found on Google refers only to WordPress.ORG so it’s interesting that you found it that way. As you know, folks don’t have much control over what Google does…
If it helps you can always check the tool bar to see what the link you are reading is:
en.support.wordpress.com/markdown/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/markdown/ -
Yeah, yeah. Got that part.
You’re missing the point. It’s not about me. I got it fixed. I’m trying to make a suggestion so the next person with a similar issue won’t have the same headache.
Blaming Google is disingenuous. I’m suggesting the page be clarified, something that’s within WP’s power.
If WP doesn’t want suggestions, then I’ll shut up.
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It does sound like a great idea for visitors who land on a WordPress.com support document via an external site (by detecting the referring site, perhaps) to have a box explaining that the article’s for WordPress.com only.
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The big blue bar at the top of each support page notes that it is WordPress.com. The search box at the top also notes that the page belongs to WordPress.com.
https://cloudup.com/cXVCXhuynzZThe issue comes down to the fact that many WordPress.ORG (as well as WordPress.COM) folks do not know that there are different versions of WordPress and that the two platforms are not interchangeable.
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I’m not staff, so I don’t have any say in the design of the support pages. The blue bar stays up top, and it does seem quite obvious, but perhaps there are folks who don’t notice it? Dunno.
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I personally don’t think WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG is a strong enough differentiator for the everyday user.
It’s quite obvious that the site belongs to WordPress.com, but there’s no explanation up front, unless you dig deep into the support docs or a volunteer calls it out. It’s similar to what Tess is saying — that many folks don’t know about the two WordPress platforms and their differences.
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As for WordPress.com users, it might be efficient to have information about the different versions of wp.com vs wp.org right there on the sign-up page. https://signup.wordpress.com/signup/?site= It already has info about the various upgrades available on wp.com, so an additional spot about wp.org might work.
As for wp.org self-hosted sites, there are so many places for folks to get the software that there is really no one single place for that information to be posted.
All that said, one must remember that lots of people simply do not read. Details are just not important so some folks…
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