Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 May 2

= May 2 =

Measurement conversion
I can't seem to find a feature that I remember surely existing. Isn't there a template (or series of templates) in which you can type a measurement (weight, length, whatever), and the reader sees metric or imperial, depending on their user preferences? I've searched and searched, with no hint of where this might be. -- Zanimum (talk) 02:38, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I think Convert is what you are looking for, though it doesn't provide the ability to change what users see based on their preferences. Rather, it allows a value to be given followed by a hardcoded conversion of that value to units of a measurement you specify.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 02:48, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Awesome, thanks Fuhghettaboutit! Exactly what I was looking for, albeit slightly different than I remembered. --  Zanimum (talk) 13:18, 3 May 2011 (UTC)
 * You're most welcome.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 21:32, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Adding a new page?
I know it's probably a stupid question, but how do you add a new page? I found something was missing, and wanted to make that page. How? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Diassie (talk • contribs) 07:44, 2 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Before creating an article, please search Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject. Please also review a few of our relevant policies and guidelines with which all articles should comply. As Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, articles must not contain original research, must be written from a neutral point of view, should cite reliable sources which verify their content and must not contain unsourced, negative content about living people.


 * Articles must also demonstrate the notability of the subject. Please see our subject specific guidelines for people, bands and musicians, companies and organizations and web content and note that if you are closely associated with the subject, our conflict of interest guideline strongly recommends against you creating the article.


 * If you still think an article is appropriate, see Your first article. You might also look at How to write a great article for guidance, and please consider taking a tour through the Tutorial so that you know how to properly format the article before creation. An Article Wizard is also available to walk you through creating an article. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 08:06, 2 May 2011 (UTC)

The Shoes (French group): disambiguation
Hello! There is a French indie-pop and melodic electro-pop duo with the name The Shoes. I'm new here and for the time-being, i don't know how to write a good quality article about this group from Rheims. --78.123.94.187 (talk) 13:11, 2 May 2011 (UTC) (it was 78.123.91.16, but i can't do nothing about this for the moment. Our connection should be repaired tomorrow, i think, then i'll register

Editing a list
I want to add our ERP software to the list of ERP packages. I can click on edit and see the list, but even when I add the special characters I see in front of the existing packages, my package doesn't join the list properly. I am new to Wikipedia. Do I read correctly that I have to add an article about the company to be able to add to this list? 23:08, 2 May 2011 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Athiercelin (talk • contribs)
 * You say you want to add "our" software to the list? Please read the FAQs for organizations. Anyway, if you are trying to edit List of ERP software packages, copy
 * into the list where your software is alphabetically and replace the information with your software's info. BurtAlert (talk) 23:15, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Yes, only software with articles can be put onto our List of ERP software packages. You are, however, discouraged from writing your own article; please read our policy on conflicts of interest. Also bear in mind that WIkipedia is an encyclopedia, and as such only topics that have received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject can be covered. If you still feel that your software is notable enough for inclusion, you can read Your first article. doom gaze   (talk)  23:23, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
 * When I look at the existing list, the company names have a link to information about the company. Is that considered an article?  If I can't put in company info, how does it get listed for all those companies?Athiercelin (talk) 23:53, 2 May 2011 (UTC)


 * It gets included by other editors who believe that the subject is notable, and can be appropriately referenced. - David Biddulph (talk) 13:17, 3 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia is not the place for business listings. Encyclopedia articles about notable subjects get created by volunteer editors.  When you went to edit the list, you would have noticed right at the very top a comment that says: "...Please do not add web links or products which do not have Wikipedia articles"  That suggests to me that non-notable products will be quickly removed.  The general rule is to first create the article about the notable subject, then add it to a list if a suitable list exists.  Astronaut (talk) 11:55, 4 May 2011 (UTC)

trouble geting my book edits to "stick"
Hope you can help. I created, and saved a book called Particle Physics Final. the problem is when I call up that file and rearrange the article, add a chapter title, and then save the file under the same name,  I find that the changes I made were not saved. Wh would that be?

As a work around, I saved my book with changes under a different file name. Sometimes my changes get saved, sometimes not.

I can't figure this out. I'm using the same process to save my book, but I don't get the same results.

Can you help me with this?

thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Zangobob (talk • contribs) 23:16, 2 May 2011 (UTC)


 * According to the page history, in the latest edit you deleted the page contents. As for edits not being saved, is it possible you are forgetting to click the "Save Page" button? - it is very easy to do especially if you already have a preview on the screen.  I am of course assuming you are using Wikipedia's own editor to edit the page, rather then some external editor configured in your preferences.  Astronaut (talk) 11:52, 4 May 2011 (UTC)