Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2009 March 11

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March 11

Ames Monument

Resolved

See Talk:Ames Monument. Not all the references are showing up in the article, and I can't see what is wrong. CosmicPenguin (talk• WP:WYO^Help!) 02:45, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I replied on the article's talk page. There are two refs named "uprr", that may be it. – ukexpat (talk) 03:17, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Fixed in [1]. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, PrimeHunter, for the help. Fishdecoy (talk) 16:30, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Restoring my watchlist

Is there any way to restore/retrieve an old version of my watchlist? My watchlist usually has about 5000 pages on it. I notice it currently only has about 2000. My guess is that when using the raw watchlist editor within the last few days I've accidentally deleted about half of my watchlist. Is there any way to get it back? DH85868993 (talk) 02:52, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't know of a way, if you did not export a copy to a text file that you could save. The links under WP:EIW#Watch document a lot about watchlists. --Teratornis (talk) 04:23, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Chateau Dudley Wayland MA

Why isn't the Chateau Dudley in Wayland MA open. I haven't found any new or relevant information pertaining to this. I even called and the number was disconnected. Do they still have a liquor license? I know they were supposed to renovate but stay open. I can't find out what happened at a Wayland town meeting either, though there was mention of one on Dec. 28 2008. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.233.30.171 (talk) 03:59, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Sorry, this is the Wikipedia Help Desk, for queries pertaining to the use of Wikipedia? Perhaps you were looking for the reference desk or some other more general help desk site? Calvin 1998 ^(t·c) 04:03, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

WP:NPA

Anybody thinks my edit contravenes the aforementioned? -- Mentifisto 04:37, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

If I understand your question correctly - I don't really see anything that I'd consider a "Personal Attack". I mean he's allowed to remove anything from his talk page he wants, but I wouldn't worry about it. just IMHO — Ched ~ ^(yes?) 05:55, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

He said in the edit summary that it was one. Thanks, though. -- Mentifisto 06:32, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

commons

I've uploaded several images to Wikipedia, how can I get them to appear in wikimedia commons? the roof of this court is too high to be yours (talk) 06:05, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

You can go to Wikipedia:Upload and follow the links in the first couple lines there. Where it says "Uploading a free image..." Dismas|^(talk) 06:25, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I did that. But I tried putting images I uploaded on wikipedia into a commons gallery and they're not appearing... the roof of this court is too high to be yours (talk) 06:33, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I can see these: Commons:File:Detail St John's.JPG, Commons:File:Trad door balzan.JPG, Commons:File:Taeuber.jpg. Jay (talk) 07:02, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

The ones not appearing are: Commons:File:JewishmalteseFamily.jpg, Commons:File:Trad door balzan.JPG the roof of this court is too high to be yours (talk) 07:06, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

As I said before, I can see Commons:File:Trad door balzan.JPG. What do you get when you try to view this? Maybe you can try a different browser? I don't see a Commons:File:JewishmalteseFamily.jpg. Jay (talk) 07:58, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

You can see on Wikipedia images uploaded on Commons, but you can't see on Commons images uploaded on Wikipedia. In order to see them on Commons, you have to upload them on Commons, as explained by Dismas. That is, login on Commons and reupload them there. —teb728 t c 07:20, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Bothersome. Pietru (talk) 08:04, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

The smart method is to move the images to commons. See WP:EIW#MoveToCommons. You can use the CommonsHelper tool, which makes the process relatively painless once you figure it out. But note that Commons only accepts free content, whereas Wikipedia also accepts some non-free content. You can read about my exciting adventures with using these tools:

• User:Teratornis/Notes#Move some images to Commons

Yes, it is bothersome that everyone in the world cannot agree to speak one language and live by one set of copyright laws. The consequence of this fragmentation is that we have several hundred Wikipedias in different languages, with Wikimedia Commons trying heroically to serve images and other media files to them all. It is a bit of a bother to learn how to upload images to Commons, but if you will slog through it, you will help all those other language speakers who can also use your images. The English Wikipedia is the largest single Wikipedia, more than twice the size of the German Wikipedia at number two, but if you add up all the Wikipedias, about 3/4 of the articles are in languages other than English. Thus for every person you help by uploading images to the English Wikipedia, you might be hampering about three other people by not uploading your images to Commons instead. Commons has other key advantages, such as vastly better image categorization and way-cool galleries. Use Special:MergeAccount to create a single sign-on account if you haven't already. That way you won't have to log in separately at Commons or any other Wikipedia. --Teratornis (talk) 22:22, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

template for undeleted article

When an article is listed for deletion and result of discussion is to KEEP, a note of this discussion is made in the article's talk page using the {{Oldafdfull}} template. What is the template to be used to link to the deletion review discussion after a page is undeleted? Jay (talk) 07:07, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

{{Olddelrev}}. Nanonic (talk) 07:27, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Wow, thanks, I never thought there would be one! I thought I had searched everything possible - WP:Undeletion#Closing reviews, WP:Deletion process#Wikipedia:Deletion review discussions, WP:Introduction to deletion process#Deletion review debates, and could not find any mention of such a template or a process of referencing the discussion in the article talk page. Jay (talk) 08:38, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Also {{ArticleHistory}} which incorporates the information of {{Oldafdfull}}, {{Olddelrev}}, {{Oldafdmulti}} and others. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 10:37, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Proper way to copy or cite discussion on talk pages?

Resolved

 – ukexpat (talk) 15:10, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I found a discussion at Talk:Pharmacology that suggests that the topic (withdrawing from medications) be discussed at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Pharmacology/Style guide, but it doesn't appear to have been discussed there. Is it considered better form for me to copy the discussion to the Wikiproject style guide talk page, or to simply make a comment on the style guide talk page referencing the discussion at Talk:Pharmacology? Thanks. Shanata (talk) 08:16, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps the Village pump would have a better answer, since this is a policy rather than usage question, but my two cents: I'd take the conversation wholesale over to the style guide page in this case, if only to make sure it gets the attention of more interested editors. There's probably not a formal preference either way on where the discussion should happen, but since someone's positively suggested it go over to the style guide page I'd say that's the pragmatic choice. Gonzonoir (talk) 10:37, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

In fact, it might be worth just taking that one up at the main WP Pharmacology talk page, since it's a pretty radical proposal (potentially at odds with the requirement that WP not give medical advice), and you're likely to get the most eyes on it that way. It may even have been discussed there already, in which case someone should point you to the earlier thread. Gonzonoir (talk) 11:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. I copied my question to Village pump. I will also do a quick search of the WP Pharmacology talk page archives and put the question there if I don't see a similar discussion (you're right that the style guide talk page doesn't seem that active). I agree that, at best, it would be walking a fine line to give labeling information. However, description of physiological effects of coming off medications might be appropriate. Thanks again. Shanata (talk) 11:45, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

transfer of credit hours

Please inform that how many credit hours are trasnsferred from Diploma to undergraduate course —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.138.47.12 (talk) 10:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck. Gonzonoir (talk) 10:27, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

File:Kenya Provinces Riftvalley.png

Resolved

 – ukexpat (talk) 15:09, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Why does this page (that already exists) have a "Create this page" tab at the top. Is this a bug or a feature. It seems illogical to me. --droll [chat] 11:08, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Because the page doesn't actually exist on the english wikipedia. What you're seeing is the information from commons. Previous to this (I'm guessing recent) software update, the file tab would appear red to signify this - showing that the page didn't exist. Nanonic (talk) 11:19, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, If that is the way they want it then that's fine by me. --droll [chat] 12:07, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Linking to Commons

Resolved

 – ukexpat (talk) 15:08, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I seem to have the opposite problem to that in the issue "Commons" earlier today. I have uploaded some images to Commons (on the 8th March) but can't link to them from Wikipedia. The file Garneddwen_Halt_31_May_1975_1.jpg is one of them. It can be seen in Commons with no problem. Can anyone point out where i am going wrong? Bruern Crossing (talk) 13:10, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

No such image exists, either here or on commons. You're probably thinking of File:Garneddwen Halt 31 May 1975 1.JPG, which is working fine. Algebraist 13:12, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

(e/c) Works fine using [[File:Garneddwen Halt 31 May 1975 1.JPG|100px]]:

Note that since the file name has the extension in capitals, it should be given the same way in the link too. Cheers. Chamal ^talk 13:16, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks Algebraist and Chama. Looks like the capitalised extension is what I was getting wrong.Bruern Crossing (talk) 13:25, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Getting autoconfirmed status

Hi. I'd like to clean something up on the iPod page, specifically that the release date of the ipod (23 October 2001) has been broken over the line, i.e. 23 is on one line, October 2001 is on the next line down. This is poor writing and falls into the kind of clean up I tend to do instinctively(and mostly anonymously) any time I see a problem like that. (I ask myself what Strunk or EB White would say and then fix it so they'd like it.) However, because the ipod page is locked (some sort of locked, I can't tell which level), I can't edit it. How do I get the right status to be able to edit that? Thanks, cheers. Friedlad (talk) 14:42, 11 March 2009 (UTC) PS-are the four tildes all I have to do to sign this post? [self edit: YEP!]

It appears the article iPod is currently semi-protected, which means that you must be autoconfirmed to edit it. That simply means your account needs to be active for four days and made at least ten edits. You have four more edits to go before your account is autoconfirmed. TNXMan 15:03, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Note that where lines break in articles depends on what browser and settings one uses (the date all appears on one line when I view iPod, for instance), so don't just put in a hard line break; if you want "23 October 2001" to always appear on one line, add HTML non-breaking spaces, thus: "23 October 2001" (open the edit window to see what I did). This code is also available in the "Wiki markup" section of the special-characters box below the edit window. Deor (talk) 17:01, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Letters with accents

How would I type letters with French accents? Thanking you in advance, Hammerdrill (talk) 15:46, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Right below the edit summary box (when you are editing a page), you should see a drop-down menu. The default option says "Insert", but if you choose "Latin", it should bring up an entire menu of letters with accents, umlauts, etc. TNXMan 16:02, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Depending on your computer, you may also be able to use alt codes or something similar. Algebraist 16:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

See also Diacritic#Generation with computers. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:46, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Editing titles for articles

How can I edit the title of an article that I submitted? There is a capitalization error that I want to correct. My title reads 'Duval teachers united' instead of 'Duval Teachers United.' —Preceding unsigned comment added by Johnmeeks1974 (talk • contribs) 15:54, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

In order to correct the title of a page, the page must be moved to the correct title (assuming the new title isn't taken). In order to do this, your account must be autoconfirmed, which means your account has been active for four days and made at least ten edits. I've gone ahead and move the page for you. You can see it at Duval Teachers United. TNXMan 16:06, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Warnings

I am just wondering it is only administrators that can give warnigns to users? or can anyone do it, by warning i mean leave a message on the users talk page not acutally any sort of givign thema warnign ont ehre account or such if it exists. If i am able ot to do that is there a script for doign it automatically? just have a user who is adding informaiton to article that isnt vandlism as such but adding stuff that is inappaiorate and is nothing to do with the shpow ie adding basically sex topics and implying it happens in the episode to children cartoon episodes. I am starting with askign the user to explain there edits and where a source for it is but the response is not directly offesnive or rude but it seems to be getting that way hence why i like ot know if it possible to warn--Andrewcrawford (talk) 16:17, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Of course non-admins can leave messages for other users. Just go to that user's user talk page, and explain in a civil manner your concerns. If the user is blatantly disregarding Wikipedia rules or basic norms of human decency, feel free to remind them of the rules and direct them to the appropriate policies and guidelines. Admins are editors with special tools, but they do not have any special rights or powers. Admins may delete articles or block users, but they are not "judges" or "police" and do not hold any additional weight when solving disputes. Just go ahead and ask the misbehaving user to stop; when it becomes clear that they will not, and if you need an admin to stop them, after you have given them ample warning, you can post a message at WP:AIV or WP:ANI. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 16:43, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Anyone can revert vandalism and leave warnings. From Special:Preferences → Gadgets, you can enable Twinkle and Friendly. Follow the links from that page for more help. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 16:46, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Though you should be cautious using these, especially with established users, there's also a set of warning templates you might find useful in cases of clearly-defined policy breaches. Gonzonoir (talk) 20:05, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Indeed. There are templates, but too many users, both as givers and receivers, look at these templates as "magic bullets" which somehow carry more weight than a personally written message. They do not. If you just tell someone to stop being disruptive, and cite policy, and warn them of the eventuality of being blocked, there is no need to use those templates. You may use them for convenience purposes, but they are not required. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 21:34, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Not only is it OK for you to message another user re disruptive edits, but it's a helpful step. Many "vandalism" edits are really just first-time experiments, and a polite, positive message to the editor may stop further experimentation and even convince them to contribute instead. I like Template:Welcometest for this purpose. However, if a disruptive editor is bent on vandalising articles and ignores warnings there is a four-step warning process, after which an admin may block the vandal if s/he feels it appropriate. Your message, along with any others issued to the same user, may eventually be used by an admin as part of the process of deciding whether to issue a block, so it's a useful part of the collaborative process. See Wikipedia:Vandalism for advice on what vandalism is and is not, and how to deal with it. And thanks for helping. Karenjc 23:57, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

in-line template for "wrong" link?

Resolved

 – TNXMan 20:54, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I'm sure I used to know an in-line template for when a citation given didn't actually prove the fact at hand, and now I can't find it. I don't *think* it's {{specify}}. Been looking around for 15 mins now and no luck, anyone who can point me in the right direction? Ta. AllynJ (talk | contribs) 19:03, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I think you want {{Failed verification}}. Algebraist 19:16, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

That's it. Thanks a lot :) AllynJ (talk | contribs) 19:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Capitalizing the title

I wrote an article, but I can't figure out how to capitalize Donald Leroy Evans at the top of the page. Hopefully somebody else knows how. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_leroy_evans —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thehull (talk • contribs) 19:58, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

• Hi TheHull: that text reflects the article's title, which was established when you created the page. I've now moved it to a correctly-capitalized version. Gonzonoir (talk) 20:03, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Why my posting is Tagged

Please forgive me I am new at this. I have read "Wikipedia: Your first Article" and posted "Secure Video Hosting"

Am I being tagged because: 1) my formatting (my references were not in the right place) 2) the fact that I refer to a company 3) the topic is already covered

How can I correct this?

NButen (talk) 21:05, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Actually, it appears your article was deleted as advertising. Wikipedia does not host advertising for companies, products, or services. All articles must be written from a neutral point of view and cannot be promotional. TNXMan 21:27, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

And see WP:BFAQ and Wikipedia: The Missing Manual. --Teratornis (talk) 21:54, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

footnotes

how do you cite wikipedia as a footnote for a research paper in MLA format? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.245.135.216 (talk) 21:26, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I think this page may have the answers you need. TNXMan 21:27, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Upcoming albums for musicians

If a musician has an new album coming out soon, should I list the album under his discography and/or mention it in the body of the article?--Pokeronskis (talk) 22:13, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

See if Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums gives any specific guidance. If not, then I would think adding it under the discography section would be fine, since that is where the album will eventually appear when it comes out. Mentioning the album somewhere else would just create extra work later, and I can't see the point. If the album is coming out in, say, three months, that gives a three month window during which someone else might complain about having a to-be-released album in the discography section. So even if someone might not like the idea, what are the odds that they will notice in the next three months? That's only my opinion. I haven't edited album articles enough to know the current best practice. You could also ask on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Albums if you can't find a documented answer and you want to be sure. --Teratornis (talk) 22:41, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

As usual, reliable sources apply. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 22:52, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Thank you for adding that. In case the original poster hasn't heard the term or needs a refresher: WP:RS. That is, regardless of where the to-be-released album goes in the article, the o.p. should provide a footnote citation to at least one reliable source that gives the details and the release date. --Teratornis (talk) 03:30, 12 March 2009 (UTC)

false information

Hi I am Callum O'Grady from Nuneaton and under my name there is false information about me being the 'oldest graduate' Under 'Nuneaton' 'notable inhabitants'. I think somebody did this on my laptop a while ago as there has been laughing about it from friends - how do i delete this? Thank you —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.13.133.84 (talk) 22:21, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

WP:BLP says any unsourced information about a living person which is in any way contentious should be removed (by anyone) immediately, with no need for prior discussion. --Teratornis (talk) 22:26, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I removed the unsourced claim. You may now return to your former obscurity. --Teratornis (talk) 22:30, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

archives fort lauderdale florida

i want to know what offices were next to holy cross hospital from the time it was bulit thru when the fort lauderdale hospice was built nex to it 23:59, 11 March 2009 (UTC)74.225.43.61 (talk)

You could ask at the Reference desk, or maybe someone at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society could tell you. We have a History of Fort Lauderdale, Florida which you can read, but I would be surprised if it is that detailed. --Teratornis (talk) 04:04, 12 March 2009 (UTC)