Introduction
editDespite its name, reviews created by this script aren't by peers, but by a JavaScript (written by peers, though). "Peer" is in there to clarify its purpose.
The suggestions generated by the script focus largely on style issues, e.g. those that can be found on WP:MOS. Other topics covered by the script include: WP:CONTEXT, WP:GTL, WP:LEAD, WP:LINK, WP:SS, WP:FOOTNOTE, WP:PDATA, WP:AWT, and several subpages of WP:MOS including WP:MOSDATE. These tips tend to appear (based on my experiences) on WP:PR, WP:FAC, and WP:FARC (most of these tips are covered by my suggestions page). Though most of the tips are generally accurate, some will not be accurate/applicable for the article in question.
Fixing the generated issues is not mandatory (for WP:FAC or WP:GAC), nor will completing them guarantee that the article will pass both. The goal of the script is to supplement the advice of manual reviews by looking for common issues often overlooked by editors, as well as setting up a starting point for problems to work on while editors review articles with more comprehensiveness. Comments/questions about the suggestions can be placed directly on the PR/A page (I'll try to address all questions placed there) or at other locations, like the actual peer review for other editors to elaborate upon or my talk page.
Note: AZPR is not a BOT – it can be considered a semi-bot. The current automated peer review listings can be found at Wikipedia:Peer review/Automated/November 2024.
Some FAQs [edit]:
What is an automated peer review? And why is it called a peer review, if it is automated?
An automated peer review is a list of suggestions generated by JavaScript by searching an article for certain errors, mainly based on stylistic problems.
Peer is misleading; as the review is automated, it clearly is not by a peer (the script was written by peers though!). It is there simply to specify its purpose (instead of Featured Article Review, for example).
I'm confused. I clicked on the link, and I can't understand anything there.
First, make sure that you're at the right article (read the headings, or scroll back up to the Table of Contents). Though it may look daunting at first, it actually isn't that bad. If any of the suggestions are confusing, click on the provided links; if those don't help, notify me and I'll try to clarify it.
I don't like the automated peer reviews; I find them useless/overwhelming/rude.
Feel free to delete my notice if you find the autoPR unhelpful.
If you wish for me to skip over the article, add a comment somewhere on the Wikipedia:Peer review page saying <!--No User:AndyZ/peerreviewer-->
(be sure that the User:AndyZ/peerreviewer part is typed exactly like that, the "No" is not necessary). You can still find the review at Wikipedia:Peer review/Automated/November 2024 though.
I found it helpful; where can I get an updated review?
To get an updated autoPR,
- drop a note on my talk page (or that of any other user who has installed the script)
- run the script yourself. To install it, see the simple installation instructions. If you don't wish to install it, there is an alternative method to run it quickly (though it might not work with the same effectiveness) — see here.
What can/do I do with the suggestions?
Pretty much anything. Feel free to strike out incorrect/nonapplicable/completed items, move them to other pages (talk, sandboxes, etc), or anything else.
I've installed the script, and it isn't working.
There are multiple reasons why this might happen. Some possibilities:
- make sure the .js file is lowercased, and make sure that it matches your current skin (monobook is the default one).
- if there has been recent activity in the history for User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js, it is possible that I've accidentally made a mistake. If so, wait for a while before trying again, and hopefully I will have noticed it and fixed it by then.
- there could be a conflicting script (however, I think that is highly unlikely now, unless you have the script installed twice).
- remember to bypass your cache.
- if nothing is happening, go to the edit mode for any main namespace article (like test). There should be a "peer review" link right next to the "log out" link, which is what you should click (don't click on the "send to WP:PR" tab!)
Where can I learn more about using JavaScript on WP?
See Wikipedia:WikiProject User Scripts. They offer a tutorial for starting your own scripts.
None of these have answered my question(s).
If you're looking for specifics about each of the suggestions, take a look at the User:AndyZ/peerreviewer/guide (in progress). Otherwise, leave questions on the talk page or my talk page.
Installation
editYou do not need to have an account in order to use this tool. (However, if you don't, please make one).
For logged-in users, follow the instructions below. IP users or users who do not wish to install the script (for whatever reason) can follow the directions below. If you still cannot understand the following instructions or receive an error that seemingly can't be fixed no matter what you do, just drop a note on my talk page.
Logged in
editFor those of you who are familiar with the process, you can skip this section (the source code is at User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js). In one sentence: add {{subst:js|User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js}}
to your vector.js or monobook.js etc and bypass your cache. In more detail:
- The following instructions assume you are using the default Vector skin on Wikipedia. If you are using a different skin then you need to edit a different file and ignore references to "vector.js". If you are using the Monobook skin then you need to edit monobook.js and so on.
- Open your vector.js (link: vector.js).
- Add the following line to your vector.js:
{{subst:js|User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js}}
- which should expand to the contents of Template:js.
- Save and then bypass your cache. Mozilla/Safari: hold down Shift while clicking Reload (or press Ctrl-Shift-R), IE: press Ctrl-F5, Opera/Konqueror: press F5. More detailed instructions can be found at WP:BYC.
- Go to edit mode for any article (must be in the article namespace). There should be a "peer review" link right next to the "log out" link. On clicking, it presents suggestions for the article generated by the code. (Some suggestions will appear in template form because they contain parameters – the content of these can be found by searching on User:AndyZ/PR or by copy+pasting the suggestions to a new page [sandbox, talk, etc.] and using the preview/save buttons).
- To have the "peer review" link appear next to the "log out" link for articles while not in edit mode also, add to your monobook.js:
toolbarLink_PR = true;
- Other configurable options are listed below, at #Options.
- To have the "peer review" link appear next to the "log out" link for articles while not in edit mode also, add to your monobook.js:
Problems? Make sure that you bypass your cache (and also that JavaScript is not disabled).
If this fails (from Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation popups/FAQ), if you have a lot of stuff in your user javascript file, it's possible that it's conflicting with the script. Remove everything except the PR installation and see if that helps. If it does then you can start adding things back piece by piece to see where the conflict lies.
Note that the script may conflict with itself if it is loaded twice.
Anons/lazy users
editIP users and logged-in users who don't wish to install the script directly can still use this script, but it will be less convenient. While in edit mode for an article, replace the URL (address) bar with (be sure to copy the entire thing!):
javascript:importScript('User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js');output_PR = 'wpTextbox1';JSpeerreview_simple();
Hit Go/Press Enter, and this will simply replace the article with the suggestions (be sure NOT to save!, but you can use the 'Show preview' button to see the suggestions). However, this will lack the options and versatility of directly installing the script. Also note that this will cause several errors, but these shouldn't affect the actual output of the script.
To bookmark/add this to favorites, see /bookmark.
Uninstallation
editThe uninstallation is simple: search your monobook.js for the following line and delete it, and then bypass your cache:
importScript('User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js'); //[[User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js]]
Features
edit- Note: whenever I mention monobook.js below, it also applies to the other JS files based on the current skin
The main purpose of the peer reviewer script is to create suggestions for articles, generally assuming that the article is attempting to reach good or featured status. The suggestions vary in importance and difficulty in fixing: some are minor stylistic issues, while others require heavier revising of the article. Some suggestions include to add footnotes/references to unreferenced articles, delinking words that do not provide WP:CONTEXT for the article, and others (more can be found at User:AndyZ/PR).
A secondary feature is to make an automated style cleanup of the article. This will only take care of a few minor issues (from WP:MOS and other guidelines). It is activated by the button that reads "Autoformat article per MoS". See #Formatter.
- Configurable:
Basic spell-checking is also provided by the script (similar to User:Lupin's anti-vandal script
s spell-checker), but will not work like MS Word's or that of other spell-checking software. Instead, this is based upon common misspellings found at Wikipedia:Lists of common misspellings/For machines (If you think the list of common misspellings is faulty, please view and/or prudently edit it). While the script will take considerably long to execute, it may help to locate some typos. To use this, add spellcheck_PR = true;
to your monobook.js.
For maintainers of WP:PR/A and its subpages, part of the script includes lines to speeden the generating of suggestions for articles listed on WP:PR and giving a notice to the nominators of articles on WP:PR. These however will inhibit normal activity on Wikipedia (ex. it opens up the review immediately). To use this, add maintain_PR = true;
to your monobook.js.
Also provided in the script is a tab that states "send to WP:PR". Clicking on the tab completes most of the WP:PR submission parts for you: these include adding the {{peerreview}} tag to the talk page, the addition to WP:PR, and the starting of the actual nomination text. Be sure to use the difference button to check these edits before submitting them. (no longer in use; may attempt to restore later. To try, use sendTo_PR = true;
)
- Transcluded scripts
- Instaview, the Live Preview script written by User:Pilaf (2005-6), is included within the PR script. To use it, add
showInstaview_PR = true;
on a new line to your monobook.js. It allows you to preview pages without having to reload the page by clicking the 'Show preview' button.
- User:Omegatron's addlink script is included. Alone, the addlink script does nothing; it is a helper script to include tabs/links to execute other functions.
- User:Gimmetrow's ref fixer script, which cleanups footnote spacing problems, is executed with the autoformatting button.
- User:Bobblewik's scripts, including his date, unit formatting, and unit nbsp formatting, fix MOS:NUM issues, and can be executed again with the autoformatting button. (The controversial date-delinking part of the script has been excised)
- Several parts of Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts/Formatter (most contributions from User:Bluemoose, User:Mathwiz2020) are also included.
Suggestions
editList of things checked by script
- Length of lead (based on WP:LEAD)
- Recent terms (WP:MOS#Time)
- Checking for captions for images (WP:CAPTION)
- Checks image licensing information – looks for image tags. If fair use, it looks for a fair use rationale. (note: there is an occasional bug for images on the wikimedia commons) not currently working1
- Looks for <gallery> tags, which are discouraged by WP:IG.
- Looks for infobox/taxobox/etc.
- In biography articles, looks for the metadata template {{persondata}} (WP:PDATA)
- Checks if numbers +units of measurements are separated by no-breaking spaces ( , see WP:MOSNUM)
- Usage of standard abbreviations in parentheses (again, WP:MOSNUM)
- Spelling out of units in text (again, WP:MOSNUM)
- Looks for an 's' appended to standard abbreviations in parentheses (again, WP:MOSNUM)
- Makes sure that dates aren't followed by th (WP:MOSDATE)
- Checks that the is not at the front of headings (WP:MOS#Headings)
- Checks that the title is not repeated in headings (WP:MOS#Headings)
- Sees if there is a trivia, miscellaneous topics, etc. section
- Sees if there is a "how-to" section, which is disapproved of by WP:NOT
- Looks for references (WP:CITE, WP:V)
- Proper order of final sections – See also, References, External links (WP:GTL)
- Interlanguage links (and if desired, categories) in alphabetical order (see #Options)
- The length of the TOC and overall of the article (WP:SS)
- Looks for weasel words (WP:AWT)
- Checks between American English and British English
- Looks for common redundancies (User:Tony1/How to satisfy Criterion 1a)
- Searches for footnotes and posts a reminder if it finds {{fact}}
- If desired, a simple spell-checker (see #Options)1
- By default, it will post a copyediting reminder
- Have another idea for the script to check? Post a note on the talk page.
1uses ajax
Formatter
editIssues formatted by button
- Bobblewik's scripts, including the unit-formatting (w/ nbsp) and the dates. The delinking section of Bobblewik's dates script has been excised; it can be restored by setting the variable
context_PR = true;
.- The unit formatting script add spaces (but not nbsp;s) between numbers and units and corrects certain units into the proper format.
- The nbsp unit formatting script then adds
between many numbers and their respective units. - The dates script cleans up MOS:DATE issues, including unnecessary links to days of the week, incorrect date grammar (like 1930's -> 1930s), and others (no delinking of years/centuries).
- Gimmetrow's fixRefs.js corrects footnote spacing problems.
- Parts of Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts/Formatter are incorporated. These include spacing, formatting, and other simple fixes.
- Other random WP:MOS fixes (mainly from myself), including currencies (MOS:NUM), basic heading capitalization fixes, contractions, expansion of WP:PDATA, and a basic conversion of incomplete external link ref citations to use Template:Cite web.
Options
editTo change a configurable option, add a line to your monobook.js:
- option = value;
, replacing option with the name of the variable from below, and value with one of the possible values listed below.
Be sure to copy the option exactly as it is written on the table. Only add quotes (single (') or double (")) if the Other values column states to do so. Beneath the table are explanations for some of the more complicated/unique variables.
Configurable options edit
Variable name | Description | Default value | Other values (outside of default) |
---|---|---|---|
Opening suggestions
| |||
allSpaces_PR | controls which namespaces the peer review link shows up in | false (only article namespace) |
true (all namespaces) |
defaultView_PR | how the suggestions are provided: if 0, it will be normal; if 1, it will show suggestions in template format; if 2, it will show footnotes which can be found on WP:PR/A or the current PRA page | 0 | 1, 2 |
select_PR | selects the suggestions text, making it easier for copying+pasting | false | true |
sendTo_PR | adds the send to WP:PR button in edit mode | false | true |
toolbarLink_PR | shows the toolbar link even on non-edit mode pages (creates a new window on clicking) | false | true |
toolbar_PR | which toolbar the link appears on | "personal" | "cactions", "navigation" |
width_PR | the width of the suggestion box | 1200 | an integer |
userSandbox_PR | as of now, it has no use, but it may become useful later – the name of your sandbox | username + "/sandbox" (actual code is: "User:" + wgUserName + "/sandbox") |
name of user sandbox, in quotes |
Output
| |||
noXHR_PR | disables ajax (XMLHTTPRequest) stops the spellchecker and image licensing checks if turned to true |
false | true |
spellcheck_PR | does a spell check for the article, based on comon mispelings Note that this causes the script to take a much longer time to execute |
false | true |
showInstaview_PR | provides a live preview button, [awesome] script (BSD) by Pilaf | false | true |
instaview_PR | preview the suggestions provided by the script without having to go through the agonizing process of copy+pasting onto a new page and pressing the diff button | true | false |
directRef_PR | uses direct <ref> tags to footnotes on pages like WP:PR/A |
false | true |
cat_PR | gives a note about categories if they are not alphabetized | false | true |
showHeading_PR | shows a level 3 heading containing a link to the article, used mainly for maintenance of WP:PR/A | false | true |
initMsg_PR | the message that is automatically shown for the introduction | "The following suggestions were generated by a semi-automatic [[User:AndyZ/peerreviewer.js|javascript program]], and might not be applicable for the article in question." | message, in quotes |
endMsg_PR | the message that is automatically shown for the closing | "\nYou may wish to browse through [[User:AndyZ/Suggestions]] for further ideas. Thanks, ~~~~\n\n\n" | message, in quotes |
Style
| |||
topBarColor_PR | changes the color of the top (close) bar when the suggestions are displayed | "red" | a web color, in quotes |
botBarColor_PR | changes the color of the bottom bar when the suggestions are displayed | "#cccccc" | a web color, in quotes |
restoreText_PR | the text for the restoration button (the yellow one) | "[restore]" | text, in quotes |
restoreStyle_PR | the style for the restoration button | "background:yellow; position:absolute; margin-left:5px margin-top:120px;" | style attributes, in quotes (note that z-index and visibility have already been defined) |
Autoformat
| |||
expandContractions_PR | Attempt to exapand common contractions such as "can't" to "cannot" | true | false |
Other
| |||
maintain_PR | some maintenance functions are provided for ease for updating WP:PR/A and its subpages: automatically saves notices on WP:PR pages, opens up suggestions on edit mode immediately, etc. | false | true (not recommended, or turn to false afterwards) |
Notes:
- defaultView_PR – if assigned the value of 1, the suggestions will appear in template format (instead of posting the suggestions in prose, it will list almost all of the generated suggestions as {{subst:User:AndyZ/PR/~~}}). Pros: after checking the diffs or saving, the output will exactly match the template, while it may be slightly outdated if it were listed out in prose. Cons: it is hard to understand what the template is dealing with.
- If it is assigned the value of 2, the suggestions will be in prose and will be followed with footnotes. These footnotes link to notes on User:AndyZ/PRnotes. (Note that if directRef_PR is set to true, the notes will instead be regular footnotes, but will not link to anything unless it is on WP:PR/A or its subpages)
- toolbar_PR – "cactions" refers to the tabs (similar to the edit, move, etc.); "navigation" refers to the navigation links at the top left hand corner. With both, the peer review link will be at the bottom of the list.
- cat_PR – alphabetizing categories is controversial; therefore, the suggestions will not note about the alphabetization of categories unless this variable is set to true (but it will note WP:ILs)
- restoreStyle_PR – see CSS. Style attributes are listed, following by a colon/equal sign and the value for the attributed. Ex. to set the color to orange instead, use restoreStyle_PR = "background:orange";.