User:XLinkBot

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Administrators: if this bot is malfunctioning, try changing its settings. It can also be shut off there in a server friendly way.
This user account is a bot operated by Versageek (talk).

It is not a sock puppet, but rather an automated or semi-automated account for making repetitive edits that would be extremely tedious to do manually.
Administrators: if this bot is malfunctioning or causing harm, please block it.
:: History & Ownership
:: Subpages


Contents

Purpose & Scope

  • XLinkBot is primarily intended to deal with domains which may have a legit use on-wiki, but are frequently misused by new and anonymous users (or have a history of being misused). The bot allows established users to add links, while reverting links added by others. IP's and new users can still edit a page that contains links on the bot's revert list, they won't be reverted unless they add or change a link themselves.
  • XLinkBot can also serve as a good "step-up" or "step-down" from the Mediawiki:Spam-blacklist, allowing time to see if the URL continues to be abused.
  • The Override list and the HardOverride list should only be used for short-term issues. If URLs are being abused to the point that the override is necessary on a long-term basis - they should be placed on the Mediawiki:Spam-blacklist.
  • Sites which are completely inappropriate for Wikipedia belong on the Mediawiki:Spam-blacklist rather than the RevertList.
  • At the request of the community, we have extended the ability to modify XLinkBot's revert list and revert behavior to all English Wikipedia admins. This can be done by editing the XLinkBot control pages noted below.

A Note to Users

A Note for RC Patrollers

  • Due to the nature of what the bot does, it will occasionally revert additions which may have been appropriate. Please don't automatically revert someone who reverts or 'undoes' an XLinkBot edit.

A Note for Admins

  • If you don't understand how to format a complex regular expression, please limit yourself to adding simple entries. Requests for complex entries can be made on the requests page.

A final comment

As bot owner, I am ultimately responsible for the actions of this bot. I reserve the right to remove entries from any of the lists and return Settings to default. --Versageek 01:14, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

RevertList requests

For requests, see the request page

Frequently asked questions

See the FAQ

Reversion reasons

See Reversion reasons and list of commonly reverted sites

Customised warnings

See the customised warnings.

Revertlist

The regular expressions reverted by XLinkBot can be found here: RevertList

When the settings have the parameter 'RevertListSource' set to wiki, this revertlist is the actual source of rules which XLinkBot will revert. Admins may edit the RevertList. It uses the same syntax and format as the Mediawiki:Spam-blacklist. Versageek has stocked her trout pond with especially large fish for benefit of those who add bad Regex.

Override & Hard Override

For certain cases, certain settings can be put on override by adding a regular expression to

  • /OverrideList (overrides references, templates, size_limit, reversions, and the bot will revert to itself and other AntiVandalismBots, but the bot will still obey 3RR and ignore established users)
  • /HardOverrideList (same as the OverrideList, but now also ignores 3RR, and it will now also revert established users).

The regex has to be on the RevertList as well.

User and Page Locks

When an external link should not be used by one specific user, or not be used on one specific page, it is possible to 'lock' the rule to that single user or page.

The regex has to be on the RevertList as well, and the regex can be used together with the OverRide and Hard Override, which will have the described effect. This may result in edit-warring between a user and XLinkBot!

Barnstars & such

The Technology Barnstar
This Barnstar is awarded to XLinkBot for reverting Spam vandalism On Wikipedia! --Hu12 (talk) 12:56, 31 January 2008 (UTC)