Wiki

Timeout

If you select a timeout, people editing the wiki are only allowed to edit it for a given time. The wiki locks pages while they are being edited (so that two people can't edit the same page at once), so setting a timeout prevents the wiki becoming locked for others.

What users see

When timeout is enabled, users see a countdown when they edit a page. If the countdown reaches zero, their browser will automatically save any changes and stop editing.

Users without Javascript enabled

This option has no effect on users who don't have Javascript enabled or who have old browsers. A fifteen-minute timeout always applies to these users. When they edit a page, it displays the time by which they must save it; if they do not, they might lose their work.

Why you might not need this option

Even when this option is turned off, locks are automatically discarded in the following situations after a user has begun to edit a page:

In these situations the lock is automatically removed after about two minutes.

In addition, tutors and course staff have (by default) the ability to override any lock at any time.

What this option doesn't do

This option doesn't stop somebody holding on to a page and preventing other users from editing it if they are very determined. They could edit a page and wait until the timeout is about to expire before saving changes then very quickly editing it again.