Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2008 May 13

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[edit] May 13

[edit] How to edit an infobox? When there is no Edit butto to it?

I am trying to edit the infobox on the following article: History of Bahrain

However, these is no edit button on this infobox and I am unable to edit it. Could you please help me how to edit it?

--Larno Man (talk) 01:03, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

The infobox you are reffering to is actually a template. CHanges to the template should be carefully made as the template will be displayed on all pages that have {{History of Bahrain}} on the page. You can access the template and edit it at Template:History of Bahrain. Be sure to discuss any major changes before editing. --Hdt83 Chat 01:08, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Hi. To edit an infobox, go to the button on the top that says "edit this page". In the edit box, there should be something like (this is an example only)
{{Infobox tree
|isbn = 010303124234
|code = 1818181
|capital = Bombay
|magnitude = 9.1
|age = 21
|temperature = 32
|inclination = 1.2313131435

..., etc. The ... = is the parameter, and you edit whatever is after the equals sign to change the infobox. Thanks. ~AH1(TCU) 01:10, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you so much! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Larno Man (talkcontribs) 01:27, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
I put a nowiki tag around User:AstroHurricane001's example so it would render with code formatting. See Help:Template and Help:Infobox for more information. Usually an infobox appears in the lead section of an article, so by default you don't see a section edit link for it, but there is a trick way to edit just that section if you want, and it seems to be available as a Gadget now (the name seems to be Edittop). --Teratornis (talk) 01:57, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
But of course as User:Hdt83 pointed out, {{History of Bahrain}} is a navigation template rather than an infobox (although it does use the "infobox" CSS class, just to keep things confusing), so it takes no input parameters, and you would have to edit the template page itself (as you just did). More information about these kinds of templates is at WP:EIW#Series, Wikipedia:Article series#Article series boxes, and Wikipedia:Navigational templates. Thus the section heading for this question should be "How to edit a series box?" rather than "How to edit an infobox?" if we wanted to be strict with our jargon (and we should, because using the proper names for things helps us look up the correct manuals). --Teratornis (talk) 02:09, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Another image question - but easier this time

Is there a way to rename an (en:wiki) image? Like if I upload to the wrong name (typos double my edit count!)?

Or copy over a mispelt image, like Image:Cardina_Leger.jpg, who was actually a cardina"l", then update the linked articles? Thanks! Franamax (talk) 02:10, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Currently there is no feature enabled on Wikipedia that will do this so all image moves have to be done by re-uploading it and deleting the old image. The image links will have to be updated manually as well. I would suggest that you just leave it the way it is, it will not hurt. -Icewedge (talk) 02:26, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks for the response. It seems strange that you can move pretty much anything else between names, I'm sure there's a good reason for it though - probably something to do with making redirects in the Image: space. And yes, nothing will be hurt except my strong desire for an ordered universe, but I'm used to that! :) Franamax (talk) 04:37, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
People on the Commons seem to think that image moves are coming soon, so I assume they'll appear here at roughly the same time. -mattbuck (Talk) 09:31, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Behavior question

Resolved.

I know there is a policy or guideline that specifically addresses revealing personal information about others on talk pages, but I can't find it. Could someone guide me? Thanks. AndToToToo (talk) 03:07, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

There's Wikipedia:Revision hiding#Policy, which covers when oversight is to be used, or WP:OUTING, which doesn't mention the removal of such information but does class it in certain cases as being harassment. Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 03:14, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
I think that might be covered under WP:No personal attacks too. Calvin 1998 (t-c) 03:21, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks!! AndToToToo (talk) 04:09, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tehuacán

Resolved.

Could someone who knows about "all those symbols" please create a redirect from Tehuacan and Tehuacan Valley to the above page. That way the links would work and people who don't have that accento can get to the page, too. Thanks. --Lisa4edit (talk) 04:12, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Tehuacan already redirects to Tehuacán. Is there something else you were looking for? Calvin 1998 (t-c) 04:17, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Looks like another editor beat me to it. However, if you'd like to do it yourself. It's really simple. Simply put:
    #REDIRECT [[Tehuacán]] {{R from title without diacritics}}
into your target pages. More information can be found at Wikipedia:Redirect. -- ShinmaWa(talk) 04:18, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks. Couldn't get it to show up. Now it works. Maybe I had a typo or something.--Lisa4edit (talk) 04:30, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] American Actor John Howard article

I'm looking into this. JaakobouChalk Talk 08:21, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Resolved.

Hi. My dance instructor in Minneapolis is the youngest daughter of American Actor John Howard. I recently interviewed her for an article I am writing for a school project. I updated some information today on John Howard's site, then looked back tonight and saw the "citation needed" at a part in the page. I was wondering how to cite my interview with Diedre for the "citation needed" next to the part where he was a shy man?

Thank you for your help! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hannah1187 (talkcontribs) 07:28, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for your contributions to Wikipedia! Unfortunately, your interview with Deidre does not really fall under what Wikipedia refers to as a reliable source. This is nothing personal, of course. The problem comes with the fact that, since no one else was at this interview, and it wasn't published in a professional journal of record or something similar, no one else can verify the information you obtained on this interview. In order to include that information, you really should find a reliable source stating the same thing that you can cite. -- ShinmaWa(talk) 07:54, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Yep, see also WP:OR. weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 09:34, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Password Change

Resolved. A 'preferences' option...... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 11:41, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

How do I change my password of my Wikipedia account? thanks! ACM2:talk 08:05, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Simply go to Special:Preferences (or click the "my preferences" link in the upper right corner). The Change Password area is the second section right below "User Profile" -- ShinmaWa(talk) 08:07, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks! ACM2:talk 08:34, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Userbox Code

Resolved. The userbox is {{Wikipedia:Huggle/UB1}}...... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 11:40, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Does anybody know the code for the userbox which says i am armed with Huggle? If you know, please tell me. Thanks! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.166.222.141 (talk) 09:26, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

My search found a version at User:Katalaveno/huggle. And click edit to see code I copied from User:Antonio Lopez/Userboxpage. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:38, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
This user is armed with Huggle, Beware!


(ec) I found one: {{Wikipedia:Huggle/UB1}}; click here to see it displayed. I don't know whether that's the only Huggle userbox. You can also add yourself to the category Category:Wikipedians who use Huggle by putting [[Category:Wikipedians who use Huggle]] on your userpage. Coppertwig (talk) 09:43, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks! ACM2:talk 10:09, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] resarch methodology

three type of small business —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.200.92.50 (talk) 12:39, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

This page is for questions about using wikipedia, not for general inquiries. I suggest you try the reference desk, but beware that they will not do your homework for you. -mattbuck (Talk) 12:53, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Please do your own homework.

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help desk. Your question appears to be a homework question. I apologize if this is a misevaluation, but it is our policy here to not do people's homework for them, but to merely aid them in doing it themselves. Letting someone else do your homework does not help you learn how to solve such problems.
Please attempt to solve the problem yourself first. You can search Wikipedia or search the Web.
If you need help with a specific part of your homework, the Reference desk can help you grasp the concept. Do not ask knowledge questions here, just those about using Wikipedia.

Image:Signature_icon.png Please sign your post by typing four tildes (~~~~) or clicking the signature button above the edit box (as shown to the left ←). Do NOT sign in articles....... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 15:21, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Commons pic of questionable origin

I'm fairly certain this pic was not taken by the user with his cell phone. It appears to be a TV image. Do I have any recourse? --Endless Dan 12:57, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

The pic is on the Commons so I suggest you take it up with them (the image is only transcluded here and exists only on the Commons). But yes, it does look suspiciously like an image on a TV screen. The Commons will advise. Thanks, PeterSymonds | talk 13:11, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Site author indicates wikipedia copyright violation

On the Gyatri talk page a web-site owner has left a message saying that content has been lifted from his site without permission. He seems to be amenable to allowing content, but not happy with it just been taken. I have answered giving him what I think are his options, but I would appreciate someone with more experience of policy checking and adding any advice. -- Q Chris (talk) 13:01, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

He's right. I've deleted the copied content. The last sentence wasn't part of the website so I've left it there. Thanks for notifying, PeterSymonds | talk 13:08, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Redirect?

How can I redirect in articles? example: if you type in

S.U.C. it redirects automatically to the article called "Screwed Up Click" and it says 'Redirected from S.U.C.'

Thank you —Preceding unsigned comment added by De Mosselman (talkcontribs) 13:23, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Redirect gives you all the information you could ever need on how to make one page redirect to another! -- Natalya 13:28, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
"#REDIRECT[[]]" just put the article you want to redirect to inside the brackets. Avoid double-redirects. Mac Davis (talk) 18:08, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Austrian admins

Hi there! Are there also Austrian administrators? Volkov talk 13:29, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

I would think so. It is not only English speaking countries which contain admins; however, the category Category:Austrian Wikipedians doesn't contain any admins. weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 13:41, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Courier text

Is there a simple tag- or template-based way to have text appear in Courier? All I know is

how to make it appear in Courier in a bordered box like this.

(By "simple" I mean simpler than the obvious route of using html to specify the font.) \sim Lenoxus " * " 14:00, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Yep. On Wikipedia you can use the code: <code> </code> to make text go in "code" or Courier font. weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 14:34, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks! \sim Lenoxus " * " 14:47, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Also see Help:Wikitext examples#HTML tags and Help:Wikitext examples#Just show what I typed. The <tt> tag is slightly shorter than the <code> tag, for example. But I usually use the <code> tag myself, for reasons I cannot just now explain. --Teratornis (talk) 16:01, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Block Bots

I am getting very sick of bots leaving me messages. I know there is a way to block these messages, but what? Thanks. SimsFanTalk to MeCommons 14:56, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

If you don't want SineBot to keep beeping you, put [[Category:Wikipedians who have opted out of automatic signing|{{BASEPAGENAME}}]] on your userpage. Other bots cannot be blocked from your userpage. weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 15:00, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
That is not entirely true. See Template:Bots for more information on how to prevent bots leaving messages on your talkpage. Regards. Woody (talk) 15:03, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
ECx2... {{nobots}} or {{bots|deny=all}} will both do the trick for most bots. However, the last bot to leave a message on your user talk page, BJBot, doesn't respect these messages — if you wish to opt out of receiving future messages from this particular bot, you need to add your name to this page. haz (talk) 15:05, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Sorry, I can't believe I forgot about that. =/ weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 15:30, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
It may also be worth noting that some messages on the talk page are not actually bot created, although they may look and act like a bot; such as a tool like TWINKLE which actually edits as a user, but places an automated message on your page.Tiggerjay (talk) 22:33, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Should ref numbers appear before or after periods?

Seems to me that the reference number should appear at the end yet be within the sentence in the text to which it refers. If placed after the period, it becomes part of the next sentence, no? (Someone shifted my numbers to after the period.) JohnClarknew (talk) 16:17, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

After...... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 16:20, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
WP:FOOT#Ref tags and punctuation says:
  • Footnotes at the end of a sentence or phrase are normally placed immediately after the punctuation, except for dashes, as recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style and other style guides.
--Teratornis (talk) 16:45, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
It also says "Some editors prefer the in-house style of journals such as Nature, which place references before punctuation. If an article has evolved using predominantly one style of ref tag placement, the whole article should conform to that style unless there is a consensus to change it". DuncanHill (talk) 19:13, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
The numbers appearing after the period are considered part of the sentence. It doesn't become part of the next sentence. I, personally, think the style of putting the footnote before the punctuation is sloppy and gets a little unweildly when there are multiple footnotes for a sentence. But if the editor wants to use that style, he or she should make a case for it in the discussion section of the article and let people take it from there. I respect the author's wishes when they are made known, but it can't be assumed that the author is using Nature's style, especially when some of the articles I read are just plain inconsistent in footnote-number placement. SailorAlphaCentauri (talk) 19:48, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
It should also be noted that the reference comes directly after the period, without a space between them. Tiggerjay (talk) 22:30, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
I have to say that the more I think about this the more irrational and unæsthetic I find the "after the full-stop" style. DuncanHill (talk) 08:36, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Siting a Reference More than Once

In writing a wikipedia article, you may reference (footnote) the same external source more than once. Let's say the first time you reference the external source, it is reference 6. Let's say the next time you reference the same external source, it is reference 12. Is there a way to just put the number 6 footnote again in the text rather than citing the same source twice under two different reference (footnote) numbers 6 and 12? Thank you for your assistance. Chokusen1 (talk) 19:07, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Use <ref name="NAME">TEXT</ref>...... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 19:10, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
And then <ref name="NAME" />...... Dendodge .. TalkHelp 19:11, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
See Help:Footnotes for examples. Someguy1221 (talk) 19:13, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Signature

Are there any cursive-like fonts I could use for my signature? WikiZorro 19:15, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Hi WikiZorro. There is Monotype Corsiva, Lucida Handwriting and Bradley Hand ITC at the top of my head. Are they of any use? Adam (Manors) 22:12, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
WZ, this may be asking the obvious, but you do know how to use font faces in your signature, right? If not, please let me know. Tiggerjay (talk) 22:28, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Sorry about the delay- Yes I am fairly good a sigs, but I have just changed my username and was looking for one. Than you for the politeness!Wiki Zorro 22:05, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Finishing Wikipedia!

Wikipedia is constantly edited: it cannot be finished. Who has finished wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.17.175.154 (talk) 22:35, 13 May 2008 (UTC) 75.17.175.154 (talk) 22:36, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

  • Nobody. This has been a work in progress for ages, and will probably neer be. Ten Pound Hammer and his otters(Broken clamshellsOtter chirps) 22:36, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
    • Much like Disneyland, it will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there are editors willing to contribute to it. -- ShinmaWa(talk) 22:39, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
See WP:DEADLINE, WP:FAIL, and WP:NOTFAIL. --Teratornis (talk) 04:52, 14 May 2008 (UTC)