User talk:HBC RenameClerkBot

the bot
Your recent edit to Wikipedia:Changing username (diff) was reverted by an automated bot that attempts to recognize and repair vandalism to Wikipedia articles. If the bot reverted a legitimate edit, please accept my humble creator's apologies – if you bring it to the attention of the bot's owner, we may be able to improve its behavior. Click here for frequently asked questions about the bot and this warning. // MartinBot 22:16, 9 June 2007 (UTC)
 * OH NOES - bot wars! The bot doesn't seem to be picking up ones I've already renamed. It says they have no renaming history which clearly isn't the case. eg User:Celtic Emperor who I renamed yesterday and a negative response put on its usurption request. Secretlondon 22:25, 9 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Secretlondon, it checks the rename history of what is labeled "current name" for prior renames. I can make it search forward as well. The dates/renaming crat will be coming soon too. It is just being ran manually as I test and fix it now, but it will quickly after a new report when it is done. ( H )  00:00, 10 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Looking at this I'm not sure what it's doing. It picked up two which it said had already been renamed - those were names I had just renamed someone *to*. Also why is it altering its time stamps? Secretlondon 19:03, 15 June 2007 (UTC)


 * When you posted this, I thought you wanted it to reflect renames that had been done. The bot checks to see if the page needs updating instantly every time the page is changed or a rename occurs, so when something changes it changes its reports to show that. It updates all the other timestamps to show you that this information is still current. ( H )  19:29, 15 June 2007 (UTC)


 * This is getting confused - I was looking at that as it would be a clear cut positive. I'm not currently convinced this is actually working - if you see what I mean. Currently the only positive results I've seen have been wrong.


 * If it is repeatedly checking names against the renaming log then once they've been renamed they should have a renaming history. Could you go through logically how it works so we can work out what's happening? Secretlondon 20:07, 15 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I will have to figure this out later, I will stop the bot for now. ( H )  20:15, 15 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks. Sorry if I'm confused or I'm hassling you. You're doing a great job :) Secretlondon 20:35, 15 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Maybe have it ignore sections with the done template in it? (can it tell the difference between sections?) -- (Review Me) R Parlate Contribs@(Let's Go Yankees!) 21:27, 15 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I can turn off reporting the "future" history no problem, it is a feature. I have adjusted the format to make it clearer. I can have it either way, no problem. ( H )  21:53, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Tiny grammar bit
The Clerkbot's notes say "Robot clerks notes". That should be "Robot clerk's notes" with apostrophe. Flyguy649talkcontribs 23:54, 9 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Oh lord, what have I done! I will fix it. ( H )  00:00, 10 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm sure you have a fine selection of noodles suitable for self-flagellation... It's hard to tame my inner apostrophe snob ;) Flyguy649talkcontribs 05:25, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

What it does
Okay, here is a breakdown of how it works.


 * On startup, it catches up with the rename log to ensure it is current
 * Once the rename log is done it does a single pass on each page
 * For each request it will either
 * Declare that there is no rename in the logs associated with the user
 * Or show the backwards and forwards history of the rename
 * If the current clerk report is the same as the existing one it will update the timestamp
 * If the current clerk report is different than the existing one it will replace it
 * An update of the page is triggered every time either the page changes or a rename action occurs

Now, the confusion seems to be that it is shows the forward rename history too. So if the user is renamed, that "no rename history" becomes "Targetname &larr; Oldname". The reason no other names show a backwards history seems to be because none of them are in the logs. When I run the bot on an old revision it does detect users who have renamed themselves. I can change any of this if it is not how it should be. ( H ) 21:08, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Here is one that is showing a history: Changing_username ( H )  21:19, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

I have reformatted the report to hopefully be more clear. Instead of labeling the report after the most recent name, it will always show the one called "Current name"(even if it is not the current name after a rename), and that name will be bolded in the rename history. It will look like this for a name that has not yet been renamed but has renames in its past "Lagalag &larr; Manlalakbay &larr; חופש", and like this "Spartan33 &larr; Ljoversole" if it has been renamed since the request. ( H ) 21:27, 15 June 2007 (UTC)
 * This is a lot better! I'd prefer it if it didn't update the timestamps if there is no change - as I was getting edit conflicts with it, and it doesn't seem to serve much purpose. Secretlondon 22:27, 15 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I can remove the updating of the timestamps, but it will not reduce edit conflicts as it only happens when it needs to change something else. To avoid edit conflicts I can add a delay in the bots response to rename actions, or take log triggering right out. The post that are triggered by an edit are posted so close to the previous edit that it should not make a conflict. ( H )  14:38, 18 June 2007 (UTC)