Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2007 May 13

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[edit] May 13

[edit] Active users list

Is there a "special" page that lists all users who have been active since a certain date? I need a way to be able to weed out active users, so I was wondering if there were any specific Wikipedia or off-Wikipedia functions that did this. Even if not that, could I get a list of users who have made over a certain amount of edits? └Jared┘┌t┐  02:53, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

There's nothing I'm aware of, and I think it'd be too straining on the servers anyway. Why do you want it? -Amarkov moo! 02:56, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Hey I just talked with you here! Anyway, I was just working out a proposal for the RfA thing and thought that I may be better to use users who have been active, ensuring that users such as User:! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! is not included in the drawing. └Jared┘┌t┐  03:00, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How do I delete my Wekipedia search history?

How do I delete my Wekipepia search history? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Photon942 (talk • contribs) 04:16, 13 May 2007 (UTC).

Do you use Internet Explorer, Firefox or something else? --Mschel 04:39, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
This question comes up routinely. Search the Help desk for "search history". --Teratornis 17:42, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Index Table

How do I make an index table?

--Drnoitall.hello 04:26, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

There are many kinds of tables, to choose your yours, go here:[1]. Hope this information helps and Cheers!--Trampton 04:54, 13 May 2007 (UTC).

If you want a table of contents for an article, then it automagically shows up when there are at least 4 section headings. You can force it to show up earlier and control other things. See more at WP:TOC. PrimeHunter 11:45, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] help with code for image scrolling

I just edited Wikipedia:Featured pictures, trying to make it so an extremely long panorama image could be scrolled across instead of being a tiny, narrow thumbnail. It left this weird rectangle outline though, and I'm not sure why. I borrowed (and slightly modified) the code from Template:wide image. Can someone tell me how to fix this? (Or if not, weigh in on whether it's better unviewably tiny or viewable, but with the distracting rectangle.) Calliopejen1 05:15, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

The border came from the outer <div>, and presumably specifically from the class="thumb" attribute on it. I removed the outer div entirely, and that seem to have fixed it. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 05:33, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Thanks! Calliopejen1 06:04, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Motorbikes?

Could someone tell me when the police (of any country) started using motorbikes, cars and ambulences first?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.194.62.230 (talk • contribs)

You're looking for the reference desk. --Haemo 07:35, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Pasting a chunk of your question into a Google search of Wikipedia turns up Ambulance#History:
  • Perhaps the first ambulances, in the sense of a vehicle built for and dedicated (at least in part) to the transport of injured or ill persons to a treatment center, were the ambulance volantes designed by Dominique Jean Larrey (1766–1842), Napoleon Bonaparte’s chief physician.
You could also try pasting variants of your question into Google Search of the World Wide Web. --Teratornis 18:00, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Commons Images

How do you get Wikimedia commons images shown on a wikipedia page without uploading them onto wikipedia? many thank Lmc169 08:12, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

You can link to an image on commons the same way you link to an image uploaded here. There's no difference. See also Help:Images#Linking. PeaceNT 08:37, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] downloading wikipedia

is it possible to download the entirty of wikipedia as a PDF or as TXT without images? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 211.40.37.38 (talk) 08:56, 13 May 2007 (UTC).

  • I believe NOT: with the millions of articles, randomly updated... However, I'm no tech expert. Anyway, I can advise other way to receive an entire Wikipedia in a readable/saveable format: selected edition of WP (where articles are checked regarding formal readiness) is published on DVD periodically. Ukrained 09:16, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Read more: Sales/downloading site for Wikipedia 0.5 DVD edition Ukrained 09:44, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Some entries from User:John Broughton/Editor's Index to Wikipedia:
You can also search the Help desk for "PDA", as variations on your question have appeared here many times. And see TomeRaider. --Teratornis 17:40, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
I'm on the Wikipedia Torrent Project, you can check us out here: Wikipedia:Version_1.0_Editorial_Team/Torrent_Project. [Mac Δαvιs] ❖ 05:34, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] SVG image not showing

I have uploaded an SVG image (Image:Oceanic basin.svg) to replace an older PNG i made, but now the svg doesn't seem to be able to render, and the png has been deleted (it had the same filename) as it has been superceded. Does anyone know why this might be, is it too large? It has been up quite a while so i can't imagine it could be database lag of any kind. Chris_huhtalk 10:27, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I uploaded an SVG image a while ago, and I had the same problem. What happens, as far as I understand, is that the (MediaWiki) software renders a PNG image for your SVG at the right size, so that people without in-browser SVG support can see the image. The reason you don't see anything right now is because the software hasn't rendered your PNG yet, which can take a while, especially if the job queue is long. Nihiltres(t.c.s) 15:19, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Ah right, i thought it might be that but i uploaded it almost 2 months ago and WP still hasn't made it, whereas other svg images i uploaded on the same day were done almost immediately. It is actually on Commons, so i don't know if that might be the problem. Chris_huhtalk 15:42, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Articles protected?

Why do articles get protected on Wikipedia. Half the ones I have tried to edit are protected. Do you do this when vandalism gets out of hand? Malcourno 10:39, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Please see WP:PPOL. PeaceNT 10:43, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] cannot add link to my yahoo group

I run a yahoo group called Somerset Strolling Bears and placed the following in Wikepedia as a link under naked hiking. [htt://uk.groups.yahoo.co/group/somersetstrollingbears/ Somerset Strolling bears] Naturist walking group beased in Somerset, England.

Your recent edit to Naked hiking (diff) was reverted by an automated bot. You have been identified as a new user or a logged out editor using a hosting or shared IP address to add email addresses, phone numbers, YouTube, Geocities, Myspace, Facebook, blog, forum, or other such free-hosting website links to a non-talk page. Please note that such links are generally to be avoided. You can restore any other content by editing the page and re-adding that content. The links can be reviewed and restored by established users. Thank you for contributing! // VoABot II 07:08, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

The above is returned. I post from a private PC in my home subscribed to my IP demon.co.uk. Can you advise me how I enter my link that will be acceptable to Wikipedia? <<Graham J May>>

  • Thank you for working to improve Wikipedia, but you should under no circumstances enter a link to a site you are involved with. Please read Wikipedia:External links. Wikipedia is not a free directory service, and it is rare for links to be suitable. Notinasnaid 11:02, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Steel & Civil Engineering

interested in steel & civil engineering designs - give bis list

Have you tried Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in knowledge questions, and will try to answer any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that's what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. Hersfold (talk/work) 16:20, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Logging in is impossible even with temporary password+

I cannot log in even though I have a user name. I forgot my Password because the varification email took 24 hrs to reach my mail box, I used the temp password but does not work —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 86.153.234.115 (talk) 13:57, 13 May 2007 (UTC).

If your email isn't verified, you'll have to make a new account. Sorry. Hersfold (talk/work) 16:19, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inputting info question....

How do I add my name in the music section of Wikipedia? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Baldwin77 (talk • contribs) 16:56, 13 May 2007 (UTC).

Can you explain further? It's not clear what exactly you want to do. Calliopejen1 17:15, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
The answer to your question might be somewhere in Wikipedia:WikiProject Music or possibly could be inferred from something in there. Also see the sub-projects relating to more specialized topics such as Wikipedia:WikiProject Guitarists. However, your question as you phrased it is unclear, as Wikipedia does not really have the concept of a "section." Wikipedia has articles, and groups them with categories, lists, and series boxes. Did you see an article which listed musicians, composers, or music producers, and are you wondering how to add your name to the article you saw? Do you meet the notability requirements? --Teratornis 17:55, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Where to leave a link for a proposal of a new barnstar?

Hello! I'm proposing a new barnstar. I would like as many users as possible to see it so that it would have a chance to be accepted. It's on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Awards#A barnstar proposal. Are there any places I could leave links, so that people would know to come to see it? Rhanyeia 17:35, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

The section you linked to says you don't have to propose barnstars anymore, you can just make them. Anchoress 17:43, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Oh, there was a mistake in my link, sorry. Rhanyeia 18:01, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Do you mean I can just put this one among the General Barnstars? Because that's what I'm after. Do I not have to propose it for that? Rhanyeia 18:01, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
All I know about Barnstars I learned by reading the section you linked to before. Anchoress 18:18, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
We are now free from excess bureaucracy! Wikipedia:Barnstar and award proposals has been marked as historic following an epic MfD debate. From now on (actually since 3 May 2007) any user can create whatever stars they fell like with reckless abandon (though they can still be deleted). Mr.Z-mantalk¢ 19:48, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merge

Hi, I just suggested a merge between a hardly visited pages and it's counterpart. It is obvious that Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia should be moved to Gloucester County, Virginia, because they are talking about the same place. I feel that next to no-one will view it, so could some of you review it? Thanks. --Kkrouni 19:08, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I would advise against a merge. Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia is about a city (pop. 2,000+) in Gloucester County, Virginia (pop. 30,000+), not the same thing. While the city article could use a human touch and some non-demographics content (almost all editors have been bots) it is still significantly different than the county. Mr.Z-mantalk¢ 19:18, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
To both of you, gentlemen: See WP:MM for the details of merging process. Note that discussion must be held at article's talkpage (not here). Wide participation is not necessary for the decision: the current policy edition allows "10 days of silence" as a reason for merging. Oh, and thank you for discussing possibly controversial issue preliminary. Ukrained 19:25, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Deleting?

Can articles on wikipedia be removed. If someone creates a stupid, inapropriate one? etc. Telcourbanio 19:46, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, if the article is blatantly inappropriate, use the speedy deletion templates like {{db-bio}} to request speedy deletion. See Wikipedia:Speedy_deletion for more info and templates. -- Hdt83 Chat 19:48, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How can I edit a new page

how can i edit a new page on wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.181.225.231 (talk • contribs)

For most pages, use the [Edit] or "Edit this page" links. To create a new page, you need to create an account. To edit a semi-protected page, you need to have an account at least four days old. Nihiltres(t.c.s) 20:00, 13 May 2007 (UTC)
Go along with the above, please read WP:EDIT and Wikipedia:Your first article. PeaceNT 08:04, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to embed a special page list in the text of another page

Is there a way to embed content from a special page directly into another page? I want to create a page that shows both the 5 most recent changes and 5 most popular pages on the same page. Thanks. Michaelmcandrew 23:04, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

This is a hard question but very interesting. I don't know of a way, but you might ask on WP:VPT --Ideogram 23:06, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bifurcated geographical naming

The following bifurcated name seems to be inconsistent with the guidelines and policies for naming and resolving conflicts for dusputed names: Imia/Kardak. I was going to summarily move it to one name only plus a redirect, however I'm not sure which one is the "standard" and the matter appears to be currently under dispute, as well as the subject of discussion on NPOV. I am requesting additional eyeballs on this. dr.ef.tymac 23:08, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I'm afraid that's a danged if you do, danged if you don't situation. I'm not familiar enough with the dispute in question to be authoritative - so you're probably just going to have to ask on the talk page "Hey, we need a decision, because the name violates policy", then take a poll, and add a "disputed" tag to the page. --Haemo 23:59, 13 May 2007 (UTC)