Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2008 February 26

= February 26 =

How does someone ask for an unblock?
I don't even know if this question will go through.

How does someone ask for an unblock? Will they even consider it or just be nasty to me? The checkuser cleared me. 216.185.29.69 (talk) 00:19, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * There are no current blocks on your IP. You are good to go. Dr.K. (talk) 00:23, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * If you are having problems editing a page, it was probably a protected article. ---CWY2190TC 00:28, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * (edit conflict) Although I would consider getting an account if I were you, because your IP is shared and looks like it is used for vandalism.  Soxred93 | talk bot 00:29, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. I am blocked. Somehow, I can edit from here but my account is blocked. 216.185.29.69 (talk) 00:39, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Which account is it? —teb728 t c 00:40, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Type this in your talk page  S  t  a ff w aterb oy© 17:41, 29 February 2008 (UTC)


 * See Appealing a block. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:51, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Subpage List?
I remember that a page existed that listed every subpage for a given page. Can someone give me a link? Perfect Proposal Speak Out!  01:31, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Yep! Special:Prefixindex is what you want. • Anakin (talk) 01:38, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

At what point is an article deemed "Wikified"?
Hi

I pretty much tried to add internal links (as requested) at this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Fedler

It is riddled with internal links, several of which don't exist.

At what point does common sense prevail and you will allow the article to be approved as "Wikified"?

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.202.124.156 (talk) 02:58, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Personally, I'd say that was probably just a little overboard. If your aim was to get rid of the notification up the top of the article, it doesn't happen automatically when you wikify the article - you have to remove the up the top, which you are allowed to do once you believe that you have solved the problem. Confusing Manifestation (Say hi!) 03:05, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I have removed the tag but as said, you could also have done it yourself. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:39, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks both of you, I thought I had removed it as well. No matter. I am a bit of a newbie, thanks again for the help —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.202.124.156 (talk) 03:46, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Just some added info. Typically an article is considered "wikified" once certain guidelines are followed/met - per WP:LEAD, wikilinking relevant terms/dates, following WP:MOS. Also, see WP:ARTICLE and WP:YFA. But as the others have already pointed out, simply remove the template at the top if you feel you've met the "requirements".  Wisdom89  ( T |undefined /  C ) 19:32, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Trivia template broken?
Could someone check out the trivia template, there seems to be something wrong with it, as it no longer adds the pages to Category:Articles with trivia sections. Nan oha A's Yu ri    Talk, My master 03:00, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * It's working as intended as far as I can tell. The monthly subcategories like Category:Articles with trivia sections from February 2008 transclude MonthlyCleanupCat which has added the new magic word __HIDDENCAT__ in this edit. It means the category is no longer displayed on the article, but the article is still listed on the category page. See Help:Magic words. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:30, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Guitar Compatibility Chart Deletion?
Can someone explain why the chart of guitar controller compatibility was removed? Guitar controller compatibility "Spartaz (Talk | contribs) deleted "Guitar controller compatibility" ‎ (Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Guitar controller compatibility)" I can personally attest to it being a huge help in my quest for information about rhythm video games, and I disagree with it's deletion. 666Fox (talk) 03:40, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Please see Articles for deletion/Guitar controller compatibility for more information. If you think the deletion should be reviewed, see WP:DRV for more information on that process. However, make sure you read the page and understand why, exactly, the article was deleted. Cheers, Master of Puppets   Call me MoP! ☺  03:45, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * (edit conflict) See Articles for deletion/Guitar controller compatibility. Most people wanted to keep it but Articles for deletion is not a vote and the closing administrator thought the delete arguments fitted our policies and guidelines better. See also Why was my page deleted?. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:46, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Image editing
At Image:Bubonic plague map 2.png, I believe "Marsailles" should be spelled "Marseilles". The image history shows 2 editors have worked on the image, but both have left Wikipedia. Is there a practical way to fix it, short of redrawing the map? Art LaPella (talk) 04:41, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I'll see if I can fix it so that it looks passable; I'm afraid it probably isn't possible for you to fix it, unless you've got some advanced graphics editors. I'll tell you how that goes on your talk page soon. Cheers, Master of Puppets   Call me MoP! ☺  04:48, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. Art LaPella (talk) 04:58, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Dashes
Are they being used properly in references #27 and #43 of this article? Thanks, – thedemonhog   talk •  edits  05:23, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I don't see anything wrong; probably a browser bug? Master of Puppets   Call me MoP! ☺  05:30, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I was actually referring to the manual of style. – thedemonhog   talk  •  edits  05:52, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Glitch in the Matrix
why does 25th precede 24th in this contribution list? --Seans Potato Business 06:54, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Hah, that's some bug! I would file a bugzilla report now.  Soxred93 | talk bot 07:17, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Actually, hold off on the bug. Look at the years. The edits on the 25th were made in 2007, the 24th in 2008.  Soxred93 | talk bot 07:24, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Another opinion requested
I would appreciate a disinterested opinion on the appropriateness of a few small edits that I've made. (If this is the wrong place to ask, then please direct me elsewhere.) In particular, I'd like to know if I might have violated 3RR, or if I would be doing so if I persisted with more such edits, in case my latest edit is reverted. I'd also like to know if I'm off base with the reasons that I gave in the talk page & my edit summaries. If I'm all wet, I'll just move on. If the other editors involved are in error, I'd like to know how to bring that to someone's attention if they persist.

To review my edits, I would suggest reading them in the following sequence: First, read my comments in Talk:Citrix_Systems, and then read the following of my edits to Citrix Systems:
 * 22:30, 1 February 2008 revert counter-productive EL changes (see talk)
 * 09:56, 6 February 2008 restore previous link; pls state reasons for edits & justify second link to citrix.com, per WP:EL; see talk
 * 07:50, 23 February 2008 restore previous link. Note to User 76.108.135.51: Repeatedly replacing another link with one that you prefer may be in opposition to NPOV, as well as the issues previously noted.
 * 05:55, 26 February 2008 see talk and my previous comments re deleting this link

I have no vested interest in Citrix Systems, its products, that article, or that subject, nor do I have any interest in an edit war for its own sake. If I've found something worth improving in the article, great; if it's better for me to ignore it, that's OK, too. I read some of the article originally for some info on the subject. That's when I noticed a bad EL, which led to my 1 February 2008 edits on the article & talk pages; the other edits followed from that when my changes were reversed w/o comment.

Thanks, Rich Janis (talk) 07:47, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I will take a look over the links and edits and reply on the talk page there. • Anakin (talk) 20:15, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Theft
Hi! Someone has uploaded an image on Commons with the wrong attribution. The image is actually mine. The user who did it is, and the image is. I've originally uploaded it to another site under a free license. Can't remember where, but I'll find it in 24hrs. The problem isn't the license, but the attribution. I can prove I'm the author because I always upload images (including WP) at a lower resolution than the original, and I have the original - the uploaded image is 1024x768, the original 1600x1200 (if an admin would like to check, I'll e-mail it). I also have other photos from the same location because I've done them... from the window of my home.

This is plain theft and because I'm angry I think it's best for me not to speak with the uploader. Thank you. adriatikus |  talk  11:06, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * This is the Wikipedia help desk, and your problem relates to an image somewhere else, i.e. on Commons. You would be better off taking the matter to the Commons help desk instead. BencherliteTalk 11:10, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Note that I've added disputed to the Commons image due to a helpme request by the same user; db-copyvio would be appropriate if the source of the image (either the emailed high-resolution version, or the original source on the Internet) is found. --ais523 11:17, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * The copyright violation has now been deleted. • Anakin (talk) 20:00, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * If Adriatikus uploaded the image to another site under a free license, the other user had the right to upload the image to Commons, didn't they? Thanks, George D. Watson  (Dendodge). Talk Help and assistance 20:34, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * It depends on how "free" the license was. Regardless, improper sourcing still makes it a copyvio. -- Kesh (talk) 23:42, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * More precisely, improper attribution. We only require sourcing so that we can verify attribution.  Sam Korn (smoddy) 23:46, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Expand the article of an iconous actor in Tamil Nadu
Dear Editor,

Article title: "Joseph Vijay" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.145.125.100 (talk) 12:53, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Why have you limited the content of this article to a single paragraph? is there no other news about him? Does it need stupid lines such as "his mother tongue is Tamil"? And why cant you put more things about his childhood life and how he struggled in his childhood days? He is not a born-actor and born-rich. Taking Ajith's article you have put up heaps of things about him with lots of headings. Do Wikipedia thinks Vijay is in someway cheaper than that Ajith? IN NO WAY!

This is not a fan blog after all. Only a global encyclopaedia aspired by all, I believe.

After all, he is an iconous actor in TN next only to Superstar Rajni. If you dont bother, we will be giving content about Vijay with lots of headings which you can search, break your heads for accuracy and approve it.

Thanks WikipediaFan —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.145.125.100 (talk) 12:52, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your suggestion. When you feel an article needs improvement, please feel free to make those changes. Wikipedia is a wiki, so anyone can edit almost any article by simply following the  link at the top. The Wikipedia community encourages you to be bold in updating pages. Don't worry too much about making honest mistakes — they're likely to be found and corrected quickly. If you're not sure how editing works, check out how to edit a page, or use the sandbox to try out your editing skills.  New contributors are always welcome. You don't even need to log in (although there are many reasons why you might want to). AndyJones (talk) 13:50, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

download data dumps
I am a research student working on visualization of online social networks. Totally new to wikipedia. Trying to familiarise myself with datadumps, downloading datasets into databases and the same stuff

Am wondering why the following links do not work;

http://en.wikimedia.org/wiki/Data-dumps http://download.wikimedia.org/tools/

Tried it several times to download a sample datasets. But it always failed. There should be something wrong with the above mentioned URLs.

Waiting for your help and response

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.40.95.206 (talk) 14:03, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Maybe you mean http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Data_dumps . the other one seems to work. F r e e  style  14:11, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Did you see the url http://en.wikimedia.org/wiki/Data-dumps somewhere? That would have to be corrected. Freestyle's correction and the other 3 url's work for me. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:25, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

The following are also faulty.


 * 1) Dumps from any Wikimedia Foundation project:   http://download.wikimedia.org/
 * 2) English Wikipedia dumps in SQL and XML:        http://download.wikimedia.org/enwiki/

Really confused. I have no idea why cant load these urls.

Any comments are highly appreciated

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.40.95.206 (talk) 14:07, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Those urls are working fine. What type of error message are you getting?  Gtstricky Talk or C 14:18, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Since you are a research student you may wish to see: Wikipedia in academic studies, Researching Wikipedia, WikiProject Wikidemia, and WP:EIW. --Teratornis (talk) 22:14, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Opinion on Lead Paragraph
I'm not sure whether this question is meant to be under Wikipedia or Miscellaneous but...I'd like advice on the lead paragraph for McFly (band). I know it's meant to be 3-4 paragraphs, but I'm having trouble in deciding what the content to be. Is it good at the moment? (We're trying to get GA Status) What else should be added? -- Stacey talk to me 16:47, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Asking here works fine. Your lead section looks pretty good. The lead section is supposed to be a brief summary of the rest of the article, which appears to be what you've done. Lead section has more information on what should be included. Hers fold  (t/a/c) 18:04, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia Signatures page problem
The page puts the cart before the horse: it assumes you already have a signature and then tells us how to use a signature, what to include in a signature, and when to use a signature. But! It should start with HOW TO CREATE A SIGNATURE; if you don't have one, you can't use the page. Or at least a link at the beginning of the page to the how to create a signature page. If it's already there, I can't find it. How does one CREATE/edit a signature? McGoo 17:53, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Try this page Signatures (or maybe that is the page you are talking about). You have a default signature which can be seen when you sign with ~ .  Gtstricky Talk or C 17:58, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Signatures has that information. We have the page laid out in that order as the priority of all guidelines is to show editors how to make edits that are constructive to the project, that is building an encyclopedia. Discussing changes and signing those discussions is constructive to that project - making a signature is less so. Please try to include a link to your user or user talk page in your signature, as this is one of the requirements of a signature. Thanks. Hers fold  (t/a/c) 17:59, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

helpme question
I would like to use Wikipedia information in my book. If I just credit Wikipedia with the text quote, is that enough? Does Wikipedia want to see the information I use before I publish? Thank you. Joan Hibbs (talk) 18:34, 26 February 2008 (UTC) Joan Hibbs
 * So long as you cite the source of the information, using the "Cite this page" link in the toolbox, you can use the information freely. See the text of the licence under which Wikipedia content is licenced for more information.  Stwalkerster  [  talk  ]  18:41, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

"magic words"
I am having problems with the "magic word". I went to the WP:Magic words and read the text on the DISPLAYTITLE, it says the syntax is where xxx is the intended title. So I used, on my userpage: for variety from the  template, but it still came up with the title being User:Flaminglawyer. What is the proper syntax? flaming-lawyerc 19:29, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * It works for me, try clearing your cache.  Soxred93 | talk bot 19:36, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I replied above in . My edit worked but you reverted it. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:46, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Google Earth and coordinates
I have just loaded up Google Earth and find it facinating. I recently wrote an article on Blue Ridge Music Center. I can find the coordinates there (36|08.58|64N and 81|41.32|35 W) and would like to drop these exact coordinates into an appropriate template. Which template and how how to I go about that without typing in these numbers myself - can they just be copied in somehow? Would this then show up in the upper right hand corner as I have seen in other articles. For those that have Google Earth installed, then would these coordinates work automatically by clicking on the hotlink. Also I understand there is "Wikipedia for Google Earth" where apparently then this article would show up on Google Earth if someone looked it up or was "flying by" the area of the location. Is it a good idea to have these coordinates available in the article then? Where is the best place it should be located (e.g. "External Links")? Could someone help me on this one example (Blue Ridge Music Center), then I will be able to take it from there on other new articles. Thanks.--Doug talk 20:36, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * °N, °W should do it. Thanks, George D. Watson  (Dendodge). Talk Help and assistance 20:42, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

I tried, however I still don't get it.

Thanks! --Doug talk 21:57, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * 1) I can find the coordinates for Blue Ridge Music Center on Google Earth, however how do I copy those numbers in the lower right corner marked ""Pointer" into a template.
 * 2) That template doesn't seem to give the coordinates in the upper right hand corner of the article.
 * 3) For those that have Google Earth installed, then would these coordinates work automatically by clicking on the hotlink.
 * 4) Is it a good idea to have these coordinates available in the article then?
 * 5) Where is the best place it should be located (e.g. "External Links")?
 * 6) most important (please) Could someone help me on this one example (Blue Ridge Music Center)?
 * I went ahead and added it. The formatting for those templates is not straightforward. &mdash;Noah 22:29, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks! --Doug talk 22:50, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Calendar with or without year
The page January 1 and 365 other pages display a calendar. The calendar header shows the year 2008, but if you click on a date, it links to, for example January 5 not to January 5, 2008. Is it desired that a year is displayed in the header?

See also Portal:Music/DateOfBirth/December current version (without year and without weekdays) and previous version (with year and weekdays). HandigeHarry (talk) 21:12, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Since this is not the place for this type of discussion, I recommend that the topic be discussed at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Days of the year. -- Mufka (u) (t) (c) 21:34, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia articles cited elsewhere - what responsibility ?
Where a Wikipedia article is tagged as having been cited elsewhere, for example with, what responsibilities are there on editors to maintain the substance of the article at the time of citation, even though the article needs major major work ? Is there some form of formal versioning to which the citation can be referred as well ? See for example Death threat. Pee Tern (talk) 21:24, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Those are some good questions. I don't see anything in Citing Wikipedia that helps. Neither did anything jump right out at me from the Editor's index (although my search was hardly exhaustive). The entries on Template talk:Onlinesource suggest there are more questions about this template than answers. If someone wants to cite a specific revision of a Wikipedia article, they can use a Permalink. See: Help:Page history. --Teratornis (talk) 22:42, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks. If I get time I will have a look at some cleverer templates - actually one with parameters!


 * While this question will now go to the relevant template discussion page, just to kick it off, what are people's thoughts on having "reverse references" appearing in, that is references, in standard format, references TO the wiki article?  My thinking is that if we can put the inward citations on the article page they will be more obvious to editors and give the article "obvious non wiki standing"?  Also, what is involved in getting the server primitives for a  developed.  There does not seem to be any parameters or class attributes documented to allow /reflist to filter into more than one reference list? Pee Tern (talk) 11:55, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

How do I participate in discussion?
I don't see how to participate in discussion of an article. The "how to" section of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Talk_page_guidelines#How_to_use_article_talk_pages does not explain how to. Instead, it repeats good manners advice. If someone could include a step by step instruction that would be helpful. It might also be helpful to say that THIS form is submitted by clicking "Save page". (Since there's no submit button I assume that's correct?) Aefields (talk) 21:44, 26 February 2008 (UTC)Adrian Fields


 * To participate in a discussion, simply click on the "edit this page" button at the top of the talk page, and write your comments either underneath the last comment (bottom of the page), or under the comment itself if you're replying to something specific. Usually, you can add a * (bullet point) beforehand to demarcate the start of a new comment. Don't forget to sign afterwards with four tildes ( ~ ). Hope this helps. Mr Senseless (talk) 21:51, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * (edit conflict) You got it correct. :) Wikipedia doesn't have special forum software for discussions. Instead, article talk pages are just like other pages technically, but you edit them in a different way. If you click the little "+" tab at the top of a discussion page, you can add a new section. If you want to add to an existing section, click the [edit] link beside that section and post at the bottom of it. I see you've already figured the four tildes bit out; it adds your user name and the current UTC date and time. Post it with the Save page button as usual. You'll get used to it fairly quickly. Talk page has better information about using them than Talk page guidelines, so you may want to look at that too. • Anakin (talk) 21:57, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Censoring Wikipedia
This is in reply to you accusing me of censoring Wikipedia. I would just like to explain that I was not censoring, but correcting, because that subject matter is in debate (it even says so further down in the article) but that statement implies that there is no debate, but a definate answer. Therefore the article was contradicting itself in favour of a bias answer, which supports potential hateful content that can be dangerous when used to support hatespeech towards minorities. It is also irresponsible to claim it as a fact seeing as it is targeting a group of people who are already subject to abuse and restricted human rights -all of which use the same theology to justify such actions. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.45.158.119 (talk) 22:55, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * The people who read and contribute to the Help Page -- "you" in the paragraph above -- are not the single editor who left the comment on your talk page. I would kindly suggest you bring the issue up (in the same civil manner you have already employed) with that editor. Cheers, &mdash;Noah 23:11, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

My edits are not appearing on the Wikipedia page
While I have thoroughly searched all the references and FAQs, I have not found an answer to my question: Today I contributed a major edit to the article on ICONOGRAPHY, following Wikipedia rules and style manual. The information added was used with permission; no copyright infringement was involved. The addition specifically addressed iconography in the Eastern tradition and added a wealth of information missing from the original article. Now that information, i.e., my edit/addition, is not appearing. Why? And how may I correct that? Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mymim3 (talk • contribs) 23:02, 26 February 2008


 * Your contributions were reverted by with the justification "Not wified, includes spamlink etc & would belong on icon and other pages rather than here. likely copyvio also".  Without commenting on the merits or otherwise of his reversion, your best course of action is to ask him exactly why he reverted the information and how you can address his concerns, using his talk page.  Rockpock  e  t  23:10, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * (ec) Your edit was reverted by Johnbod, an experienced editor in this field, in this edit. His view was that your addition to the article contained no wikilinks (which help improve the encyclopaedia by connecting relevant articles to add detail and explanation), was suspected of being a copyright violation, did not necessarily fit on this article (as opposed to others) and included an unnecessary/inappropriate external link (possible spam). I suggest you think again whether what you want to add is necessary and appropriate, and perhaps then discuss possible changes to the article at Talk:Iconography so that other editors can add their views on how best to improve the article. Regards, BencherliteTalk 23:14, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * That's right - the material is however still preserved in the article history. If the material is used "with permission" - ie is copyright, but permission has been granted - that permission has to be documented, by procedures I am not an expert in.  Very similar material already exists at Icon and Russian icons; it would not be appropriate just to add the whole text there either, but some of it could certainly be worked in. But you need to sort out the copyright permission too - you said you were quoting your expert, and I expect she asserts copyright on her website material or wherever it came from. Hope this helps. Johnbod (talk) 01:59, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

magic word
The "magic word" : why does the title have to have a namespace in it? i.e. User:Flaminglawyer: produces title "User:Flaminglawyer" (the default). But: produces the title "User:flaminglawyer", which works (notice that all I did was add the namespace). Why is this? Is there any way to get around this? flaming-lawyer-c 23:55, 26 February 2008 (UTC)


 * You can always use the following:

-  Milk's   Favorite   Cookie  00:29, 27 February 2008 (UTC)


 * says:
 * Fix up DISPLAYTITLE and enable per default:
 * Clean up the mess in ParserOutput
 * Reject (ignore) custom titles which don't normalise to the same as the current page -- THIS IS IMPORTANT OTHERWISE LINKING GOES TO POT (and not the good kind of pot)
 * [WARNING: Touches parser version. Old caches will be expired. You might wish to undo this and add some temporarily backwards-compatibility for a few days.]


 * I don't know more about DISPLAYTITLE than this. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:34, 27 February 2008 (UTC)