GameFAQs Help: Formatted FAQs
What is a Formatted FAQ and how do I write one?
How do I compose a Formatted FAQ?
Formatted FAQs are still basic text files, containing markup that is interpreted by GameFAQs servers and displayed as HTML. It's designed to allow you to take any existing guides you have and convert them to the new format. You can still use whichever text editor you want, even Notepad, and as long as you include the proper markup, the guide will be converted to the new format automatically.
A Formatted FAQ must have an extension of ".txt", and the following text as the first line of the file:
;format:gf-markupThis line tells the GameFAQs server to interpret the guide as a Formatted FAQ - otherwise, it will be considered a standard text file.
How do I add markup to a Formatted FAQ?
Formatted FAQ markup is loosely based off of the WikiMedia Markup format, with customizations to better suit FAQ writing.
| Basic Formatting | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single line breaks in formatted guides are ignored and considered to be spaces. A double line-break denotes a paragraph. More than two line breaks in a row are ignored, and will be considered a paragraph break. To make your text bold, use two apostrophes on either side of the text you want bolded. For italics, use three apostrophes. For bold and italic text, use five apostrophes. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Text: | Is Displayed As: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hello world How are you doing? |
Hello world How are you doing? | ||||||||||||||||||||
This is a ''bold'' move |
This is a bold move | ||||||||||||||||||||
Missed it by '''that''' much |
Missed it by that much | ||||||||||||||||||||
People say I '''''overemphasize''''' some words |
People say I overemphasize some words | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sections, Headers, Boxes, and Links | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Headers denote the beginning of the Sections of your guide. The first and second level Sections are automatically included in your Table of Contents, so they should only be used to denote important areas. To begin a new section, surround its title with two or more equals signs. A Box is a section that is highlighted with a background color, using an equals sign and two dashes to denote its start. You can create a box without a title by starting it with =-----=. A box can be ended by either starting a new section, or using the ending notation =-=. You can link to any section within your guide by enclosing the section header title in double square brackets. If you have multiple sections in your guide with the same title, then the link will be made to the highest level, then the first, section with that title. If you want to have a regular divider without starting a brand new section, place a % as the only character on the line. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Text: | Is Displayed As: | ||||||||||||||||||||
==Section Header== | Section Header | ||||||||||||||||||||
===Sub-Section Header=== | Sub-Section Header | ||||||||||||||||||||
====Sub-Sub-Section Header==== | Sub-Sub-Section Header | ||||||||||||||||||||
=====Sub-Sub-Sub-Section Header===== | Sub-Sub-Sub-Section Header | ||||||||||||||||||||
=--Boxed Section--= This text is in the box. =-= This text is not in the box. |
Boxed SectionThis text is in the box. This text is not in the box. | ||||||||||||||||||||
=-----= This box has no title. =-= This text is not in the box. |
This box has no title. This text is not in the box. | [[Section Header]] | Section Header | ||||||||||||||||||
=S= Spoiler text goes here! =-= But not here. |
SPOILER! Highlight to ViewSpoiler text goes here! But not here. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Text above a horizontal line % Text below it |
Text above a horizontal line Text below it | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lists | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
One asterisk (*) as the first character of each line denotes an unordered list. Multiple asterisks in a row (**) within a list denote sublists. Ordered lists are denoted with the number sign, #. Intended lists are denoted with the colon, :. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Text: | Is Displayed As: | ||||||||||||||||||||
*Item 1 *Item 2 **Item 2.1 **Item 2.2 *Item 3 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
#Item 1 #Item 2 ##Item 2.1 ##Item 2.2 #Item 3 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
: Item 1 : Item 2 :: Item 2.1 :: Item 2.2 : Item 3 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tables | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
To create a table, begin a new line with a vertical line character. Table headers are delineated with an asterisk immediately following the line. Spacing is ignored, so you may format the table in text to make it more readable while editing. Trailing markup with no data is also ignored. You can make multi-column table cells by using a + sign followed by the number of columns, or multi-row cells with the - sign (9 is the maximum). You can set the text alignment in individual cells by adding l, c, or r immediately after the |. You can also make multi-column or multi-row cells by adding that markup after the text alignment letter. If no text alignment is specified, it defaults to left as the standard. | |||||||||||||||||||||
|*This |*is |*the |*table |*header | | This | is | a | table | row | | This | is | another | table | row | | This | is |c+2 a centered table | row | |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-Formatted Text, Comments, and Escaping | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pre-formatted text is text that is displayed in a fixed-width font. Use a plus sign at the start of a new line to begin a line of pre-formatted text. To include comments in a file, which will not be displayed within HTML, begin a line with a semi-colon. To escape (ignore) any formatting text, use a double-backslash. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Text: | Is Displayed As: | ||||||||||||||||||||
+Preformatted + text | Preformatted text | ||||||||||||||||||||
;You can't see this | |||||||||||||||||||||
\\;You can see this | ;You can see this | ||||||||||||||||||||
How do I submit a Formatted FAQ?
How do I preview my Formatted FAQ?
How can I add images to my Formatted FAQ?

This is how a small image is displayed.
- Maps
- Annotated or Illustrative Screenshots (those that point out a particular item or feature in the game, not just random pictures from the game)
- Charts (with colors/graphics that can't be easily duplicated in text
- Title Graphics
- Random Screenshots
- Character Artwork
- a carat (^)
- a lowercase "s" or "l" to denote a large or small image
- optional: a lowercase "l" or "r" to denote left or right alignment (small images only; large images can only be aligned left, even if you try to specify otherwise)
- an image ID (an integer from 1 to 100)
- a vertical line (|) to separate the image ID from the caption, and
- a caption for the image.

This is how a large image is displayed.
^sl1|This is image number 1.Will create a small image with an ID of 1 - left justified, inline with text, with a maximum size of 300 pixels wide by 200 pixels high.
^l2|This is image number 2.Will create a large image with an ID of 2 - left justified, separated from text, with a maximum size of 750 pixels wide by 500 pixels high.
Images must be JPG, BMP, PNG, or GIF. JPGs will remain in JPG format, while BMPs and GIFs will automatically be converted to PNG. Images will not appear in your preview, and must be uploaded separately. You will be given a link after submission for uploading images, and you can re-visit the image manager from the Contribution Status page for your submission.
What can't I have in a Formatted FAQ?
Do I have to submit new FAQs in this new format?
Can I update my existing FAQs in this new format?
Can I submit both a plain text FAQ and a Formatted FAQ for a single game?
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