How to Create a SharePoint Knowledge Base with Wiki Pages
Question details
The user needs to transition from a basic flat-file system to a structured and interconnected knowledge base using SharePoint Wiki Pages.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up a team or enterprise knowledge management system to organize information effectively.
- Observed behavior
- A need to organize information with formatted text, links, images, and cross-topic navigation instead of relying on flat files.
Ensure you have Site Owner or Edit permissions on your SharePoint site so you can create new apps, add page libraries, and configure site navigation.
Build a Knowledge Base using a SharePoint Wiki Page Library
Create an interconnected knowledge system using SharePoint's native Wiki Page functionality for easy content creation and cross-linking.
SharePoint Wiki Pages are specifically designed for capturing and sharing information across a team. They allow quick editing, embedded media, and seamless navigation between related topics.
Navigate to your SharePoint site, click on the Settings gear icon, and select 'Site contents'. Click 'New', select 'App', and choose 'Wiki Page Library'. Give it a descriptive name like 'Team Knowledge Base'.
Open your newly created Wiki Page Library. Click the 'New' button to create a new page, enter a descriptive title for your knowledge topic, and click 'Create'.
Use the rich text editor on the page to add headings, text, and images. To link to another wiki page, simply type two left brackets '[[' followed by the page name, and close with ']]'.
To make the knowledge base easily accessible, copy the URL of your Wiki Page Library homepage. Click 'Edit' on the left-hand navigation menu of your SharePoint site and add a link to the library.
Draft Your Knowledge Base Articles Offline with WPS Office
While SharePoint is excellent for hosting your team's wikis, drafting detailed knowledge base documents is often easier with a dedicated desktop client. WPS Office provides a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office that is highly compatible with SharePoint file uploads.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation.
- 2. Draft Documents: Open WPS Writer to draft out comprehensive knowledge base articles with advanced formatting.
- 3. Save and Upload: Save your documents in the standard DOCX format and upload them directly to your SharePoint document libraries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I restrict who edits the SharePoint Wiki Knowledge base?
Yes, you can manage permissions at the library level. Go to Library Settings > Permissions for this document library, stop inheriting permissions, and assign 'Read' access to general users and 'Edit' access to your designated knowledge managers.
How do I insert images into a SharePoint Wiki Page?
While the wiki page is in edit mode, click on the 'Insert' tab in the top ribbon and select 'Picture'. You can choose to upload an image directly from your computer or select one that is already hosted in a SharePoint library.
Is a Wiki Page Library better than standard Site Pages for a knowledge base?
Wiki pages are specifically tailored for rapid text entry and immediate cross-linking using double brackets [[ ]]. Standard Site Pages offer more modern web parts and layouts, but Wiki pages are generally faster for text-heavy, interconnected documentation.
