Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2008 April 5

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Jprdtalk

Hello. Sorry about this but I have a complaint about something that has happened due to this person messing up my Wikipedia screen skin. I find this totally unaceeptable that someone with a troll mind goes into other's work and messes it up. He and some other's can smea the reputation about Wikipedia. I can't understand the thinking of doing botched job on a page. I am sure there must be a list of problems associated with someone clled Jprw on Wikipedia.

He went into my page and screwed up the skin color and other thins that are too technical to put in words.

Jprwtalk is all I know.

I just fixed up his mess to my own page. Kinda childish to have someone claiming to be someone of importance on Wikipedia to behave like that. Anyways, I thank you. Electric Japan (talk) 13:03, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

April 5

Vandal Report

Im trying to tell somebody to check the entry on Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Someone has written that she was born in "pussyville" and "took it in the ass". I thought someone should know that this entry has been wrongfully tampered with. Thank you. Karen.wedderburn (talk) 01:20, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Will sort out. Thanks. (Although in the future, you can fix it too :) Be Bold!). --Bfigura ^(talk) 01:21, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Yep, see WP:REVERT and WP:WARN for future occurrences. Wisdom89 _{(T / ^C)} 01:25, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

What you are describing here is blatant vandalism and should be treated accordingly. Please note that the three-revert rule does not apply to that kind of vandalism, and you may revert such edits as often as required. But before reverting an edit, you should warn the perpetrator according to WP:WARN. If the perpetrator persists after you issued a level 4 warning, report him at WP:AIV. At this point, it is pointless to continue warning him, so just keep reverting his edits. --Blanchardb-^{Me•MyEars•MyMouth}-timed 13:00, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Daytona Beach Notable inhabitants -- How to make Lee Apperson's Bio and many awards on the page accessable

[edit] Notable inhabitants Dan Allen, comedian Duane Allman and Gregg Allman, musicians Vince Carter, professional basketball player Bill France, founder of NASCAR Ryan Lochte, 2004 Olympic medalist in swimming Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist Kevin Nash, professional wrestler Josef Papp, engineer who was awarded patents related to the development of a fusion engine and claimed to have invented a jet submarine. Ron Rice, former owner/founder of Hawaiian Tropic Glen "Fireball" Roberts, former NASCAR driver David Sholtz, 26th governor of Florida. Mike Skinner, NASCAR driver Howard Thurman, author and theologian T. K. Wetherell, president of Florida State University Robert Wright, musical theater writer Lee Apperson, professional body builder and former Mister America Fulgencio Batista, 19th Cuban President Ransom Eli Olds, Automobile Pioneer Smokey Yunick, mechanic and motor racing innovator —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.207.97.42 (talk) 03:54, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm trying to understand. Are you asking how to create an article for Lee Apperson or are you asking how to add Lee Apperson to the list of notable residents in the Daytona Beach, Florida article? To create an article you must register for an account and follow the guidelines at Wikipedia:Your first article --Torchwood Who? (talk) 04:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If you click "edit this page" or the section editing button for the section, which appears right next to the headline for: Daytona Beach, Florida#Notable inhabitants, you will see that some of the names are surrounded by two [[brackets]]. These brackets tell our software to link the word inside them to an existing article. You don't see these brackets when you are in read mode but just the link created by their addition. If the link is blue, that means we have an article on the subject; if the link is red, that means we don't yet have an article and clicking on the link will take you to a page which, if you have signed up for a account, will allow you to create the article. Lee Apperson can be linked by placing his name in brackets, but there is no article on him on Wikipedia yet. See the post above for advice about how to create the article, but please review first our notability requirements for biographies, and our policy for articles abut living people. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:12, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

call monitoring sys

i have to change datagrid values regarding their district wise and status wise..

i have 6 district and 5 status...

first i have to bound 1st district and its 1st status values in datagrid using asp.net

then  1st district and its 2nd status values like that....after changing 5 status then show 2nd district and its status one by one

i have to do this for a call monitoring system.

i have to do this as a web application also.

how can i do this programm.. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.96.47.18 (talk) 09:12, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Is there a specific article you are working on that I can take a look at and try to assist you with?--Torchwood Who? (talk) 09:19, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If not, I think you misunderstood the help desk. The help desk is here to service wikipedia related issues, not as a general all-purpose help chat.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 09:20, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If you have a question about how to write a program in a specific programming language, please ask on our Reference desk/Computing. For general information about call monitoring systems, you can search Wikipedia with Google for: call monitoring system. --Teratornis (talk) 18:45, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

How to make a big border in a table ?

Hi, I want to make a bigger border in a table to split up a Comparison of layout engines (SVG). By the bigger border it will be clearer the difference of layout engines and plugins. by ! style="width: 9%; border-right:3px solid grey;" | It works, but in the next row it won't work if i try to make it by the following line: Mabdul (talk) 13:19, 5 April 2008 (UTC)| style="border-right:3px solid grey;" | How do I have to code this? Mabdul (talk) 13:00, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

You might want to use nested tables. --Blanchardb-^{Me•MyEars•MyMouth}-timed 13:07, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

that don't want i use: I want to make only a big "line" from the first row to the last in the "middle" of the table (between amaya and adobe svg viewer) --> so there it becomes clearer to the reader that are layout engines in the first section and in the second libraries and plugins. There need any way to style the table without making a new stupid 1row-1column-table in another table. the table will become to big for that (on my talk page i give an example what i mean!Mabdul (talk) 13:19, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I've done something that means it shouldn't require such a change, by adding a new row at the top. Feel free to mess around with it and give your thoughts. x42bn6 Talk Mess 19:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

mmh I updated the table, that would woirk, but how making the extra column shouldn't be have a width of 1 so it shouldn't seeable... Mabdul (talk) 20:26, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

ah you edited the table in the SVG-comparison! em, that would work, but than it wouldn't be better in the middle of the next table... (how about the solution on my talk-page? how can the extra column invisble?)Mabdul (talk) 20:30, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm not a fan of enforcing more CSS styles where possible as that is not how CSS should be applied. If there's a bold line in between the columns, it is not clear why there is a bold line there, which is why I put an extra row at the top which solves things. I'm not sure how to hide the column. I know how to do such a bold line but then one cannot use the yes, no and partial templates. x42bn6 Talk Mess 21:09, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm also not a fan of too much css, but the combination of extra line and the extra information in the extra row would - in my opinion - the ebest solution. BUT: without the templates it would be very hard for somebody else who is not familiar witrh css, to edit the tables (without correction of an external person) to edit the tables. Mabdul (talk) 22:45, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I know. The templates seem to be designed for a single purpose - generate the cell background and text, and worst of all they cannot be "prefixed" so I cannot override the CSS of the cell. The solution is to use border-left: 3px solid grey; on the right cell (as the left cell's right border CSS is overridden by the right cell's left border CSS immediately afterwards) which isn't possible with the templates. x42bn6 Talk Mess 23:17, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

OK, and now the solution? maybe a new column with a width of ziro? or how?Mabdul (talk) 23:45, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I don't think it's possible to have a column width of zero if your CSS doesn't work. If you want it to work, one can't use the templates. x42bn6 Talk Mess 15:35, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I think I have found a solution which is ok. it works. see: User_talk:Mabdul (the explanation-row of yours will be included as well!) Mabdul (talk) 20:41, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

That's quite good, actually, although the line is a bit thick for my liking. x42bn6 Talk Mess 21:55, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

You're rightr, but how to make this rcolumn smaller? it is already width=1! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mabdul (talk • contribs) 22:24, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

width: 1px; would make a 1px width border barring any stupid CSS quirks, for example. I believe "1" means "1em". x42bn6 Talk Mess 12:21, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

doesn't work :( that idea had I before, too. But i tested and got no results... Mabdul (talk) 16:24, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Archiver not working again...

Can someone fix the archiver on my talk page? Maury (talk) 14:04, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

We've already had complaints about that bot. The maintainer asked for its deletion. You'll have to look for a new one...or do it manually. Feel free to contact me if you want it done manually and dont know how to...or read Help:Archiving a talk page--Cameron (t|p|c) 14:59, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

For archiving bots, there's MiszaBot III and ClueBot III. Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 23:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

referencing

I have made an update to the section on The Carbon Reduction Commitment but I'm having difficulty in setting up the referencing. I note the last person used <ref name=DEFRA-CRC"/>, which now links to the updated page, but needs to be updated in the referencing section. How did they set this up and how can I update this or add another reference in the same format?

Thank you

Whiz10 (talk) 14:57, 5 April 2008 (UTC)Whiz10

At the bottom of the article is a section denominated "References", which has a template placed in it you can only see while in edit mode: {{Reflist}}. This template tells the software that references placed in the text of the article in <ref></ref> format will appear as footnotes at the end of the article in the "References" section. So, if I wanted to cite to a reference at the end of this sentence, I would type<ref> followed by some text and ending with</ref>. Anything I typed between those two tags would appear, when saved and in read mode, as a footnote entry under the references banner if this page had one. However, every time I use <ref>text</ref>, a separate footnote is created. If I want to use a single reference more than once and not have this redundancy, I give it a name. The first time I use it I type <ref name="name">text</ref> and every time I want to use the exact same reference again, I simply type <ref name="name"/> (note the closing slash). Please see WP:CITE for lots more information. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:08, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Uploading a file

Hi,

I have followed all the directions for creating a page, but my article has not shown up. I first tried to upload my file, with no error messages, on April the 3rd. Please advise to as to how to proceed. How long is the review period, if there is one at all.

Thank you for your time and help —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mesobones (talk • contribs) 18:04, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Assuming the topic of the article you wish to create is regarding Akan Goldweights, you have never created this article, instead posting text on that subject to your user page. In order to post such a page, you need to create it under an appropriate name that exists in the article space, rather than in your user space (see Help:Namespace for information on namespaces). To create the page you can follow the directions at Help:Starting a new page, or you can move your user page to the article space by clicking on the tab marked "move" at the top of your user page, and typing in the article's proposed name. Doing so will preserve the existing page history currently attached to your userpage, which has only been used for this topic. Note that moving the page will automatically result in your user page being made into a redirect to the article, which you should then manually unwind. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 18:38, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I have moved the article to Akan goldweights. Note however that the article needs quite a bit of work, and I have tagged it accordingly. That should ge the attention of some editors who can help out. -- Kesh (talk) 00:03, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Searches on Wikipedia

When I type quotation marks in the Search box, a list of topics for articles that I have previously searched for appears. How can I delete those prior searches? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.153.214.148 (talk) 18:47, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps try clearing your cookies/cache on your internet browser. Then close the browser, and open it again. Does that clear the searches? --JamieS93 19:12, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

On Internet Explorer: Put your cursor over the first result and then hold down delete (not backspace) - all the results will whizz away. You can do this selectively, of course, by highlighting an entry and pressing delete. On Firefox, it's the same but with shift-delete. x42bn6 Talk Mess 19:16, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Clear your autocomplete forms. In Internet Explorer, properties/internet options-->content tab-->autocomplete-->self explanatory from there. In safari I think it's called autofill. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:21, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If none of the above apply to your particular browser, you can find more answers to this semi-frequently asked question by searching the Help desk archive for: clear search history. --Teratornis (talk) 18:40, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Starting this college

dear mr/mrs am glad to see this link on the internet, but my question is what do i need to start this college i will be glad if u reply. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.120.225.114 (talk) 18:49, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Hello. I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over two million articles, and thought that we were directly affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is a help desk for asking questions related to using the encyclopedia. Thus, we have no inside track on the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the left hand side of your screen. If that is not fruitful, we have a reference desk, divided into various subjects areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:56, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Qwanell Mosley

Since i'm not a certain tyoe of user can you put a picture of him on his page please i'll edit the rest. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ladii.breezy (talk • contribs) 21:10, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

We need a picture that is freely licensed, because we can't use a copyrighted picture of a person. If you have a picture of this person that you took, we can help you upload it. Please see WP:COPY and WP:NFCC for more information. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 21:15, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Your account is 3 days old and can upload images when it's autoconfirmed which will happen tomorrow. PrimeHunter (talk) 01:13, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Own article

Can we create our own article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Maliksefrioui (talk • contribs) 22:00, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Creating your own article is usually frowned upon (please read WP:COI), but if it is done in a non-promotional way (please read WP:NPOV) and everything in the article can be sourced to reliable third party sources (see WP:RS) and provided you meet the guideline for what wikipedians define as notability (see WP:N) you are free to introduce a self-written article without penalty. Just make sure to follow the guidelines very carefully.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 22:29, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

By the way, Torchwood means creating your own article about you or something you are personally involved with - you're welcome to make a new page about just about anything else; just see this page for how to get started. Hersfold ^(t/a/c) 22:42, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Hersfold! Yes, if you want to create an article on any subject you are very welcome to do so, if you are creating an article on yourself or something you are involved with you should following the guidelines I placed earlier.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 05:20, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Coding boxes

Will someone please look at this code?

User talk:Wanderer57/Birthday Greeting#Thank you!

On the page the box is the way I wanted it. When I am in edit / preview, the box has extra space at the bottom under the signature. Am I coding it wrong or is this quirk a standard feature? Thanks, Wanderer57 (talk) 22:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

The code doesn't jump out at me as incorrect, although you don't need the extra } at the end (according to my tests). Maybe it's just a function of the padding?--Torchwood Who? (talk) 22:45, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Nope, not the padding. It might just be the way the cookie crumbles on this one, but you should wait around for a second opinion.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 22:49, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

You seem to have forgotten the |} at the end of the wikitable. I fixed it for you. Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 22:58, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

HA! Sorry about that. I was looking at your thanks for the barnstar code! I was a little distracted, I apologize.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 23:01, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Thank you both. With the |} at the end of the wikitable, it is fine.

If I only have } at the end of the wikitable, it is not fine. I did not realize that last vertical at the end meant something. Using the "borrow someone else's code and mess with it" approach is such an adventure. Wanderer57 (talk) 23:15, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

For more help, see Help:Table. Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 23:24, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks again. I'll print it. I guess a 39 page manual isn't bad. I have an old PowerBuilder one here that's over 700. Wanderer57 (talk) 23:30, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Print a manual? I suggest just bookmarking it, and open it in another browser tab. One would have to slay entire forests to print all the manuals one needs to edit on Wikipedia. Or better yet, ask User:Calvin 1998 when there's a question. --Teratornis (talk) 19:50, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

And if you have any further trouble just jump on here and I promise I'll actually look at the correct code next time. lol.--Torchwood Who? (talk) 23:34, 5 April 2008 (UTC)