Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2008 January 4

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January 4

Image use question

I'm not longer actively contributing to Wikipedia, and apparently image-use rules and requirements have changed again. From what I understand I'm to provide justification for including this image; which is from the author's press kit.. From somebody who's versed in the current image use standards, what's the best way to show this justification according to the new rulings? -Tim Rhymeless (Er...let's shimmy) 02:16, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately, the simple link to randomhouse.com is no longer sufficient. Please take a look at the guidelines and add the {{Non-free use rationale}} template to image page, filling in all the fields - and in particular stating where the image came from and why that image is used in the article instead of a freely licenced one. Be sure to include in your rationale another link to the main article (ie. something like this: "Used to illustrate Madeleine L'Engle article for the purposes of ..."). Astronaut (talk) 03:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Log-in confusion

Help folks—

Seeing an entry that was embarrassing both in its grammar and in its lack of objectivity, I tried to log-in and edit. Blaaaat! Rejected.

Figuring maybe I had already registered but forgotten, I tried to log-in with my standard username (which I have never, ever seen pre-empted on any site at any time), but I was dissed.

My standard username is "Scarabus," which is also the title of my blog My usual email addresses are these:

(addresses removed to avoid spam)

Is it just a log-in problem? Has a quantum coincidence occurred? Is my on-line identity being stolen?

Hep me, folks!

—wayne —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.121.44.126 (talk) 03:27, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia has millions of accounts. Are you interested in Turkish football? Special:Contributions/Scarabus shows 4 edits. If it's you but you cannot remember the passsword then just create a new account. The Scarabus account has chosen not to allow email from other users, but if it's you and you did give an email address for other purposes then click "E-mail new password" at the login screen. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:40, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

By the way, we have an article at Scarabus and there are 56100 hits on google:Scarabus (some of them probably you), so the name is not that special. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:44, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

(edit conflict) :A User:Scarabus was created in July and made a small number of edits to Turkish football clubs. If that is not you, then sorry you will have to think of another username. If that was you and you added your email address to the preferences page, your can request a new password.

One other thing. It is a very bad idea to put your email address on this page for all to see - including spammers, identity thieves, etc. Astronaut (talk) 03:49, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

JavaScript and Interactive boxes

I was kinda hoping I could find some way to get one of those countdown clocks in a message box on my userpage...counting down to my graduation on May 17. It that possible? If so, how? (The work-in-progress message box is in my sandbox). -- §HurricaneERICarchive 08:03, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Some things can be build with Category:Date mathematics templates. For example: There are -5993 days to 1 July 2008, where the day count is made with {{#expr: -{{age in days|2008|7|1}}}}. {{age in days}} returns a negative number for future days so the result is negated. PrimeHunter (talk) 16:25, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Okay, wow! So this will automatically update? It would be even better if I could get other timeframes in here, like months and days instead of just days. I'll take whatever I can get. If you don't know of a way to do that, that's fine, but if you do I'd love to hear it. -- §HurricaneERICarchive 19:49, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Question about TABLES

I have a specific question about TABLES in Wikipedia. Both of my following attempts can be seen on my user page. Feel free to copy, paste, and alter them in order to demonstrate the solution(s) to my question(s).

I am trying to create a table for the Sicilian alphabet. The first table I attempted consisted of 1 column (with 5 headers for each letter), and it ended up much too long and skinny. The format was similar to:

letter	pronunciation	example
Aa	/a/	apple
Bb	/b/	boy
Cc	/k/	kite
Dd	/d/	dog

The second table I attempted consisted of 2 columns (with 5 headers for each letter), with an empty cell in between to separate them. The format was similar to:

letter	pronunciation	example		letter	pronunciation	example
Aa	/a/	apple		Cc	/k/	kite
Bb	/b/	boy		Dd	/d/	dog

I am happier with the second attempt, however the problem is in separating the two columns from one another, so that it's clear that it's not merely a long, connected row. As it stands now, I have placed an empty, skinny row in between, but I'm not happy with this.

So my question is, how can I alter the style of just the right border of a cell, or column of cells? I would like to bold, or somehow alter, the right border of the 5th header of the 1st column, so there will be some separation between column 1 (headers 1-5) and column 2 (headers 6-10). How, or can, this be done? And is it possible to make this border thicker as well, for added separation? Is there a website, or tutorial, of which you can inform me?

Thank you much,

Michiluzzu Scalisi (talk) 08:09, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

P.S. I know that this can be done in other codes, or styles of code, like CSS using "border-left=". However, to use this I believe it would require me to rewrite the entire table using this code, or style of code. Is there a way to do what I'm asking in the style of code in which I've already written the table? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michiluzzu Scalisi (talk • contribs) 08:19, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Prime gap#Numerical results shows a different approach: Make separate tables in cells of a larger table. PrimeHunter (talk) 12:15, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

You can use two tables and put them in a two-column format. -Arch dude (talk) 13:48, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

how to create same article in different language & show language hyperlink on the page

For Example; For the page = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra languages are appearing on left side of the article, so if user wants he can read in other languages for exmample Marathi language.

But I want to have same language option on left side of below article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shri_Ramakrishna_Kshirsagar_Swamiji

How to do that????

Thank you in advance....

Regards, Rohit —Preceding unsigned comment added by 163.157.254.25 (talk) 11:17, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

You need to put something like [[xx:page name]] in the article, where xx is the language code (ISO 639-1) of the Wikipedia you want to make the link to. For more info see Help:Interlanguage links. Arthena^(talk) 11:26, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

As far as I know, you have to create each article, in each Wikipedia, but I can't be sure. The Helpful One ^{(Talk) (Contributions) (Review Me!)} 11:26, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Yes, the bar on the left indicates the location of the article in another language Wiki. I checked on the Spanish, French, Hindu and German Wiki, and neither of them has an article on Shri Ramakrishna Kshirsagar Swamiji. If you want to have the article in another language (which means, in another Wiki) you should ask for help at Wikipedia:Translation or try and translate the article yourself. --Yamanbaiia^{(free hugs!)} 11:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Browser problem

As of a few months ago, whenever I access Wikipedia my browser crashes. I use Netscape 7, running in Solaris. I used not to have this problem, and do not have it with any other sites. It seems that a change was made to the site at that time which causes Netscape to crash.

I would be grateful if you could look into this problem for me. 80.128.97.81 (talk) 12:04, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

You're running a rather old version of the web browser (version 9 is current), so there's not much that can be done on Wikipedia's side. I would suggest downloading a newer web browser. Since Netscape is being discontinued, I would suggest Firefox instead. -- Kesh (talk) 13:50, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Four tildes doesn't work! Assistance needed.

The last few days the 4 tildes signature no longer works for me. Instead of a proper signature, I get what you can see on the Talk:Transnistria page in my last edits. Hopefully, the same error will occur on this page, too (yes, it did, so you can see here what I'm talking about). I have never changed my signature in the preferences, so I don't understand why I have this problem and how to correct it. Dpotop 13:32, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Despite the fact that you haven't intentionally changed your preferences, go to them and make sure on the User Profile page the "raw signature" box is unchecked.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

I just did that, and everything is now OK. Thanks. But I don't understand how it got checked in the firt place. Dpotop (talk) 13:40, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

You're dealing with electrons and chaos and cosmic rays...computer bugs of all sorts just happen:-)--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:58, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Fear of Notability Factor

Hello:

I'm a collector of a cappella music, and I'm a considering using the multi-platform music manager software, Jajuk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jajuk) to organize my collection, once I've digitalized it. One of excellent features of Jajuk, is their information perspective, which takes you to the wiki page of the artist or of the album corresponding to the song currently playing.

But, thoughthere are several thousand a cappella groups in the world, most are fairly unknown to mainstream music. I'm afraid that if I go ahead and create wiki pages or stubs for each of the artists in my collection (some of whom are defunct or do not have web sites, thought most do have web sites), some or many of them will get deleted due to failing your notability test.

If Jajuk, ever allowed it (or I used J.River Media Center,which has a plug-in for wiki info), an alternative would be for me to create my own local wiki.

Please either reassure me that I can "safely" use the public wikipedia or discourage me from entering my groups there. Would they likely pass the notability test? I don't want to do a lot of work for nothing.

Thanks

Jim —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.141.169.108 (talk) 16:19, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Notability (music) should hopefully help you to decide whether the artists in question meet our notability guidelines. There's also the possibility that you might wish to write one or two articles, let us review them and give advice on whether you should continue or not. Hope this helps. Nick (talk) 16:29, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

(Edit Conflict)Honestly it will be a lot of work to make the pages for each group good enough not to be deleted. For each page you would have to provide references that show the group's notability per the guidelines in WP:MUSIC. If this weren't done I'm afraid most of the stubs would probabably find their way to deletion. As Wikipedia is not a collection of indiscriminate information, simply creating stubs without illustrating notability is generally not accepted practice.--Oni Ookami Alfador^Talk|@ 16:35, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

(edit conflict) I don't know anything about a cappella groups but many music group articles are deleted for failing Wikipedia:Notability (music). If you want to reduce the risk of deletion then read the guideline carefully, include references from reliable sources to satisfy it, and don't use a promotional tone. But there are not any guarantees against deletion. It's possible but far from certain that other editors will find references to a notable group to prevent deletion of a poorly referenced article. PrimeHunter (talk) 16:41, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

I just wanted to add that there is nothing in Wikipedia requiring that reliable sources must be available online, nor any requirement/expectation that all notable entities will have their own website. Don't let modernist delusions that "everything's on the 'Net" keep you from creating sound articles based on printed references, properly cited. --Orange Mike | Talk 17:35, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia is an encylopedia, rather than a wiki catering to enthusiasts of any particular topic. What Wikipedia concept of "notability" tends to be much narrower than a topic enthusiast's concept. I would expect the authors of Jajuk to understand this - by linking (only?) to music articles on Wikipedia, they will not maximize coverage for music enthusiasts, many of whom are likely to have very specialized tastes. Jajek should provide options to link all the other public wikis about music, which generally aim for comprehensiveness within their declared scope. I suggest you find a wiki specializing in the type of music you want to write about. --Teratornis (talk) 20:07, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Detecting template-only talk/discussion pages?

Often, after reading an article, I'll look at the blue "discussion" tab and think, "I see there's an active talk page; I should read that too." Most of the time, that talk page is only a set of templates, listing the status of the article in various projects. This wastes over five seconds of my time - possibly six! (insert self-referential irony)

Is there a script/extension/other way that will pre-visit the page and see if it's nothing but templates? Is there talk somewhere of moving categorization and status to a different tab? Am I neurotic? Please answer only the first two. --JayLevitt (talk) 17:14, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

There is a script you can use that shows pop-up previews of pages when you put your mouse over the link. I've seen it, but I do not use it. I believe that will work for you - it is just a matter of tracking down what the script's name is... -- kainaw™ 17:21, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation popups -- kainaw™ 17:22, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Northwest Airlines

My Name ia Emily Graves. This is the seventh tie that I have tried to reach someone to help me with a loss I suffered when flying Northwest Airlines. The flight inbformation is as follows: My husband (Dennis Graves) and I flew from Detroit to Springfield, Missouri on December 23, 2007 on flight # Nw5825, At the last minute our gete number was changed only our luggage was routed to Minneapolis. When we finally recieved our luggage there were a number of items missing. All of my meications were misssing, but that isssue has been resolved through my insurance company. E —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.105.128.56 (talk) 17:33, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

You might want to take that up with Northwest Airlines, as this is Wikipedia, an encyclopaedia. Here is the Northwest Airlines web site.

Sorry to here you had a bad journey. All the best. • Anakin ^{(contribs • complaints)} 17:38, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Create an article

How do I go about creating my own article? I want to add something to wikipedia.XEDx (talk) 19:36, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Before creating an article, please search Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject. Please also review a few of our relevant policies and guidelines which all articles should comport with. As Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, articles must not contain original research, must be written from a neutral point of view, should cite to reliable sources which verify their content and must not contain unsourced, negative content about living people.

Articles must also demonstrate the notability of the subject. Please see our subject specific guidelines for people, bands and musicians, companies and organizations and web content and note that if you are closely associated with the subject, our conflict of interest guideline strongly recommends against you creating the article.

If you still think an article is appropriate, see Wikipedia:Your first article and Wikipedia:How to write a great article for guidance, and please consider taking a tour through the Wikipedia:Tutorial so that you know how to properly format the article before creation.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Also, the article you write will not be your own article, please take a look at WP:OWN, too. :) PeaceNT (talk) 19:40, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

"Contributing significantly" before GA review

I was looking through the GAN backlog today and decided that I would like to review an article (Roberto Clemente). I noticed, however, that it needed quite a bit of copyediting. I went through most of the article (adding punctuation, fixing wikilinks, etc.) and plan to finish copyediting it later today, but I just wanted clarification on whether or not that would disqualify me from reviewing it. I didn't change any information and I have no ties to the article, but I just wanted to make sure I would be avoiding a conflict of interest. Thanks, GaryColemanFan (talk) 20:47, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

To be on the safe side, I would let someone else review it. NF24^{(radio me!)} 01:26, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

Creating Pages

I was wondering how to make your own pages. I just became a member of Wikipedia and I wan to make a page, but I don't know how. Can you help me?

Smiley529 (talk) 23:19, 4 January 2008 (UTC)Smiley529

Before creating an article, please search Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject. Please also review a few of our relevant policies and guidelines which all articles should comport with. As Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, articles must not contain original research, must be written from a neutral point of view, should cite to reliable sources which verify their content and must not contain unsourced, negative content about living people.

Articles must also demonstrate the notability of the subject. Please see our subject specific guidelines for people, bands and musicians, companies and organizations and web content and note that if you are closely associated with the subject, our conflict of interest guideline strongly recommends against you creating the article.

If you still think an article is appropriate, see Wikipedia:Your first article and Wikipedia:How to write a great article for guidance, and please consider taking a tour through the Wikipedia:Tutorial so that you know how to properly format the article before creation. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

question please help

hello - i accidentally created a Vivek shraya page instead of a Vivek Shraya page...i was hoping to delete the former as I have now moved the content into the Vivek Shraya page... please assist. thank you. SM —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sabrina Miller (talk • contribs) 23:23, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

I have set the Vivek shraya page to redirect to Vivek Shraya. In the future, use the move tab to rename pages. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 23:35, 4 January 2008 (UTC)