Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2010 October 22

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October 22

Is there a WYSIWYG format?

I want to add an article reference to the Further Reading section, but it looks like I need to be able to write computer code. Is there a WYSIWYG format? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.15.32.87 (talk) 00:28, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Hi. Don't worry, you don't need to know computer code to write Wikipedia. Wikipedia uses what's called a markup language. Not programming... but not quite simple word processing either. Nonetheless, it's not too complicated. A tip... hit "edit" on articles and review how people use the markup in an article to gain a better understanding of it - it's easier than you think. And as long as you don't hit save (until you are comfortable with your Wikipedia editing knowledge), you dont run the risk of damaging an article.

But most helpful tip of all, especially when used in conjunction with the above tip, is to review the Help: Editing Wikipedia topic on this site. It will explain all you need to know to get started editing Wikipedia. And if you get stuck, you can find other editors to help you, find one to mentor you, or simply place {{helpme}} (exactly like that) on your talk page to get help along the way (but don't forget to register an account... makes finding a mentor or requesting help via the "helpme" tag a lot easier). Oh, and don't forget to sign your posts on talk and project pages - that too uses WikiMarkup, but is also really simple. Just add ~~~~ at the end of your posts. Best, Robert ROBERTMFROMLI ^TALK/_CNTRB 00:42, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Two more things:

1. You are free to edit the sandbox to test out your editing skills; that page has been designed for this purpose.
2. If you have an account, you can go to Special:Preferences and enable wikiEd under the Gadgets tab. For references, you can also enable the reference toolbar from there. -- Bk314159 (Talk to me and find out what I've done) 03:27, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

If this is the only edit you will ever do on Wikipedia, a simpler approach would be to tell us the reference you want to add, along with the article, and a Help desk volunteer will add it if it meets Wikipedia's requirements for reliable sources or a valid external link. If you plan to stick around and edit a lot, you should learn our markup language, but if this is just a one-off edit there is no need for you to slog through the rigmarole when someone more experienced can do it for you in a few minutes. (Also note that not every thing a new user gets the idea to do on Wikipedia is allowable here. Many users who are new to Wikipedia ask questions of the form "How do I do X?" when the first question to ask is "Should I do X?" One fact that isn't immediately obvious about Wikipedia to new users is that we have many rules that restrict the edits that are allowable.) --Teratornis (talk) 17:15, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

Background web color?

Anyone know what the web color code is for the background of this page? I am talking about the lightish blue, and it also appears on user pages, and pretty much everywhere except articles. Thanks in advance, ∙:∙:.:pepper:.:∙:∙ 00:43, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I assume that you are using the MonoBook layout, correct? The background color is #F8FCFF. And, if you're interested, you can download a free Windows program called "GetColor!" off of the internet. GetColor! allows you to use an eyedropper tool to detect the color of anything on your screen. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 00:47, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Great, thanks (and for the program)! ∙:∙:.:pepper:.:∙:∙ 10:14, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Userpage and image upload

Is it ok to upload an image for the sole purpose of displaying on my userpage (free image, respects all image policies)? Thanks. - CET^TALK 01:10, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Yes; a leniency is given for users to upload an image or two for personal use on their userpages. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 01:12, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Great, thanks a lot. - CET^TALK 01:15, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

AfC Script

Hi there, I want to import a script, which is here, per recommendation of fetchcomms. I have no clue as to how do do it correctly.

I set up User:Sven Manguard/afchelper4.js to try and do this, and it isn't working. Worse yet, it won't let me add my db-self the damn thing.

Can someone help me fix this mess? Sven Manguard _Talk 05:05, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Have you tried bypassing the browser's cache to the page yet? Minimac (talk) 07:30, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

(e/c) I think you may be editing the wrong file. The "importScript" line needs to go in a .js file named after your skin. The link Special:MyPage/skin.js will redirect to the correct file for the skin you are currently using. I've never tried to delete a .js sub-page - what goes wrong? -- John of Reading (talk) 07:33, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Templates don't expand on .js pages so {{db-self}} doesn't display the deletion request or put it in a deletion category. I have deleted the page. As John says, you have to edit the page Special:MyPage/skin.js leads to. PrimeHunter (talk) 12:43, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

@PrimeHunter: What is the recommended way to get a .js or .css page deleted? Could this be documented at WP:CSD#G7 and at {{Db-g7}}? -- John of Reading (talk) 14:21, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I don't know a recommended way and haven't come across the issue before. People usually just blank a .js file when they don't want code in it. {{Adminhelp}} on user talk would be one of many ways to get attention from an admin. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:25, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

As far as I can tell, I still am not getting the damned script to work. It is now at User:Sven Manguard/vector.js. I think someone told me that only admins and I can edit that page because it is a js. If anyone can get it working, it's be very appreciative. Sven Manguard _Talk 20:36, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

This conversation will be continued on my user talk, so that I can use the adminhelp tag. Sven Manguard _Talk 21:02, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Change to organisation name

Hello Our organisation name is changing and we will need to update all of the Wikipedia page because our work is also changing as we are merging with another charity. Is it better to just delete the current page for iThemba and then create a new page? Or should we just edit the iThemba page - in which case I can't work out how we would change the page title. Please advise. Many thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sarahlsmith123 (talk • contribs) 10:09, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

The move option in the new "Vector" skin appears when you move your mouse cursor over the small drop-down menu, shown here. (Other users may not have the "TW", which is the optional gadget, twinkle- reposted from a previous comment by another editor named User:Chzz )

You wont need to delete the page (and cant either- thats an admin task anyway). You can Move the page (See Help:Moving a page (Your account will need to be autoconfirmed)). Chzz posted an excellent image a while back in June showing how to do this. You are free to edit a page, BUT Just be careful when you edit a page regarding a company you work for or are associated to, WP:conflict of interest is a good read. Hope this helps feel free to ask away if it doesnt, further explanations by other editors most welcome if I havent been specific enough.Ottawa4ever (talk) 10:25, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I don't think you should move the iThemba page. It should instead be reworded, starting with "iThemba was a charity...". However, the information on the page needs to be backed up by references to reliable sources, independent of the charity; the page as it stands risks deletion.

Before starting to write about the new charity please read the notability guideline and especially the notability guideline for organisations and companies, otherwise a new page will also be deleted as non-notable. -- John of Reading (talk) 10:46, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Page Upload

How do i add a page online like upload it. i have it in my account but no one is able to search for it online! Seems very stupid but i am new here and need to fix this! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Puzzolana Group (talk • contribs) 10:20, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Your text is not suitable for Wikipedia because it is clearly promotional in tone - Wikipedia is not a medium for advertising. I've posted some standard advice on your talk page.

More bad news - your user name conflicts with the Wikipedia user name policy and is likely to be blocked soon. -- John of Reading (talk) 10:35, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Tuition center

-Take a look at this article.Take a look at its 'Public opinion' section.I think it is not O.K.Help me.Max Viwe | Wanna chat with me? 11:02, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. I've tightened the article some. TNXMan 14:03, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Japanese naval commanders

Where can I locate a list of former Commander Naval Forces Japan commanders? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.83.50.41 (talk) 11:16, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

This page is for questions about using Wikipedia. Please consider asking this question at the Humanities reference desk. They specialize in knowledge questions and will try to answer any question in the universe (except how to use Wikipedia, since that is what this Help Desk is for). Just follow the link and ask away. You could always try searching Wikipedia for an article related to the topic you want to know more about. I hope this helps.

The article Naval history of Japan spans several centuries, so when you ask at the Reference Desk I suggest you give them the approximate dates you are interested in. -- John of Reading (talk) 11:29, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Deletion of an over-specific article and consolidation of its contents into one where it belongs

Hi,

Sorry if this question has already been answered but I couldn't find it having been previously addressed. Although it seems like a concern that would have been previously encountered.

I am editing in a few topics, trying to improve the quality of the articles, and trying to make Wikipedia more concise (and thus more useful for the reader). Perhaps the latter is a foolish task to be attempting, given the amount of overlap and redundancy that can be found! But here is one very particular case where there is an article with some useful information that shouldn't be a separate article. I'd be happy to make sure that every other article that currently links to it doesn't suffer from its deletion (which I don't think will be difficult in this case). But I also want to avoid offending the editors who wrote this, certainly in good faith, believing that it merited inclusion as a distinct topic. I'm afraid it doesn't.

The article in question is entitled "Output coupler," but I'm not asking you to look at the article itself to judge this matter, particularly if you don't have technical familiarity with the field to which it applies. You're probably wondering "which field?" It certainly wouldn't be obvious, since one could think of many items having an "output" and something that could be described as a "coupler" at that location. It wouldn't have been totally obvious to me, even being in the field where this term would be employed! Thus I really really doubt anyone is going to look it up directly (rather than following an internal link), and if they did, and didn't find it, then they would surely know enough to look up one of the pages about lasers which currently links to it.

The problem is this: the "output coupler" is simply a partially transmissive mirror used in a particular application, a laser. It isn't notable in any other respect. You couldn't tell for sure that a mirror of that sort was an "output coupler" rather than being used in a different application, unless you recognized the particular shape, size, etc. as being appropriate for its application in a laser. More specifically, every laser contains an "optical resonator" (which there is an article about. but which doesn't even link to this one!). An optically resonator consists essentially of two mirrors. ONE of them (the one that the output light comes from) is often referred to as the "output coupler," so it is an essential component of any laser, but is only notable in the way that it is used in that application. I am quite certain that you will not find a scholarly article about "output couplers" though you may well find one about a paticular design of a mirror for a particular laser, thus having that designation. But abstracted from the laser in which it resides, this item lacks identity. You cannot go to a catalog and order an "output coupler" unless you are already looking in the section called "laser mirrors."

I propose to delete the article and redirect current links to it instead to a section of an article (I haven't determined which yet) concerning lasers where it is mentioned. I will transfer any unique information contained in the current article to that section (though I don't think it has any, but will be careful to determine that). But again, I don't want to offend any editors who wrote it, and what's more I don't even know how to go about this process. Can you help?Interferometrist (talk) 11:41, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

There's general advice at Wikipedia:Merging and how-to advice at Help:Merging. The last non-trivial edit to output coupler was in 2007, so you are unlikely to upset anyone. -- John of Reading (talk) 11:54, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Thank you, that's just where I needed to be pointed! I gather from your remark (but let me know if I'm mistaken) that it would be alright to boldly go ahead with merging without subjecting the matter to discussion, in this rather clear-cut case.Interferometrist (talk) 12:13, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

One way to find out if anyone objects is to do it - see the essay Wikipedia:BOLD, revert, discuss cycle. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:27, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Moving a lost query here

I found the following accidentally tagging an unrelated redirect:

Edit request from 68.118.4.59, 21 October 2010 {{edit protected}} This is NOT an objective bio, but rather slander of special interest groups, who have been after Mr Trudeau for many years. I have no business with Mr Trudeau, neither do I know him personally, yet, this is clearly a defamation of character, rather than a Bio. 68.118.4.59 (talk) 21:17, 21 October 2010 (UTC)

It's rather lacking in context (it was on Wikipedia talk:Contact us/Article problem), but I thought that instead of deleting it outright I'd move it here just in case someone wanted to react to it (this place seemed more reasonable than any of the others I could think of offhand). --ais523 11:47, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I've posted at User talk:68.118.4.59; it's just possible that the IP may see that message and try again. A search for "Trudeau" returns 2000+ articles. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:46, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Need some help

How do you link one article to another? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Catlover324 (talk • contribs) 13:57, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I'm not sure what you mean. You can link to different Wikipedia articles by enclosing the title in double brackets. Thus [[Stuff]] links to Stuff. Is this what you mean? TNXMan 14:01, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I see you've already got a welcome message on your talk page - on it is a link to the Tutorial which has a rather excellent page for linking - Tutorial_(Wikipedia_links). CaptRik (talk) 14:29, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

thanks. Catlover324 (talk) 14:35, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

kasakhs, azerbaijanis, turkmen...

why are some of this countries described as being a turkic ethnic group? kasakhs for example looking more asian than turkic, but they are considered to be a turgic ethnic. can you help me, it might be the wrong place to write something like that, but i don't know where to write this. thank you-- ♫Greatorangepumpkin♫ T 15:00, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

This is a question that should have been asked at the reference desk, not here. I'd suggest you look at the article Turkic peoples. --Orange Mike | Talk 15:04, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

i know that article, im not a noob, but thanks for that link-- ♫Greatorangepumpkin♫ T 15:32, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Rollback edit summary

Is it possible to change the edit summary during a rollback edit? If so, how does it work? Minimac (talk) 16:36, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Not with standard rollback. Twinkle, however, allows you to customize rollback edit summaries. TNXMan 16:41, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I was given a script that does this. See here.--Bbb23 (talk) 00:43, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

Upload Image

I want to upload a copy of the back cover of my novel SOMETHING YOU DO IN THE DARK from 1971 to show that It was considered by other people to be a "protest" novel that goes beyond its predecessors. The Original press release from publisher G.P. Putnam says the same thing. You keep saying my book is "self-described" as that. I cannot find where to upload this evidence. daniel curzon —Preceding unsigned comment added by Danielcurzon (talk • contribs) 16:49, 22 October 2010 (UTC)
Added a section header Rojomoke (talk) 17:28, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Publisher's blurbs are among the least reliable sources on the planet, even worse (because necessarily briefer) than their press releases. You're a writer; you know that. If there are no reliable sources which describe the book that way, then the blurb is certainly no help. --Orange Mike | Talk 21:37, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

It might be an acceptable source for the claim that the publisher said that; but that is rather a weak claim. Also, you need to be very careful about copyright when uploading book and record covers: even though it is your book, you may not control the copyright on the cover, and even if you do you will need to be prepared to licence it under an acceptable licence. --ColinFine (talk) 22:42, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Linux commands

I need all Linux commands. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alok26 (talk • contribs) 17:53, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Then this article may be what you need. TNXMan 17:54, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Type ls /usr/bin. You will see more than you want to know. For each one, type man COMMAND where COMMAND is the command you want more information about. -- kainaw™ 17:55, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Oh, but by the way, this is not the place to ask factual questions. This help desk is for asking questions about using Wikipedia. If you want to ask a factual question, you should go to the reference desk. Usb10 ^Connected? 17:59, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Update picture

hello, I would like to change out my childs picture. There is currently a photo of a boy that played his character a year ago. My son has played the character of Spike Lavery for 8 months. Please let me know what i need to do. Thanks! Janet mom to Jake T. Vaughn —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.105.114.36 (talk) 18:09, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

What article are you talking about? --Orange Mike | Talk 21:34, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Maybe Spike Lavery.--Bbb23 (talk) 00:37, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

McEwen Centre needs moving

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McEwan_Center_for_Regenerative_Medicine

Title is wrong. I work for the Centre and have been trying to move this article but I cannot. The tab doesn't show. It should be spelled "McEwen" NOT "McEwan".

If someone could please remedy and notify me at [email address redacted] it would be greatly appreciated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vivisectvi (talk • contribs) 19:12, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

 Done. TFOWR 19:15, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

You cannot move the page because you are not WP:AUTOCONFIRMED. In order to reach autoconfirmed status, your account must be at least 4 days old and must have made at least 10 edits. -- Bk314159 (Talk to me and find out what I've done) 19:17, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I have moved it again, from McEwen Center for Regenerative Medicine to McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine with correct spelling of Centre. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:20, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Oops, missed that. Thanks, PrimeHunter. TFOWR 19:27, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, PrimeHunter. I also missed the spelling of Centre. Much appreciated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vivisectvi (talk • contribs) 20:36, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Need help with template and date math

How can I make a template that says "this month" in October 2010, "last month" in November 2010, "two months ago" in December 2010, and "last year" in 2011? --Uncle Ed (talk) 19:52, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Check Category:Date-computing templates. If one does not aready exist, there should be hints in the existing templates. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 02:45, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

One possibility is to use the switch function. Here I've made a switch function for displaying "last year" when the year is 2011:

{{#switch: {{CURRENTISOYEAR}} | 2011 = last year | }}

What this does is take the current year, expressed by the template "CURRENTISOYEAR", and if the template's value is 2011, it will display "last year". Otherwise, it would be blank. Likewise, here's the one to display "this month", "last month", etc.:

{{#switch: {{CURRENTMONTH}}{{CURRENTISOYEAR}} | 102010 = this month | 112010 = last month | 122010 = two months ago | }}

Hope this helps. ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 03:57, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

mossberg500 A shotgum 30 inch barrel

can u give me a price of that gun ples and can i still buy it now its barrel is not ribed its all one thing and its colour is light hardwood in colour ..thanking u Cluny Barnes iam in canada newfoundland A0C2S0 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.7.136.209 (talk) 22:20, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

This is an encyclopaedia: we don't have information about prices and the like. Also this page is for questions about using the encyclopaedia. It is possible that somebody at the Miscellaneous Reference Desk could help you. --ColinFine (talk) 22:38, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Any Way To Assume Responsibility For My "Forgot-To-Sign-In" Edits?

Forgot To Sign-in - Made Several Edits To Main Articles - Any Way Of Assuming Responsibility For Those Edits? TIA :) Drbogdan (talk) 23:45, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Yes please see Help:Dummy edit. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 23:49, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

If your concern is privacy of IP address then see WIkipedia:Requests for oversight. The edits cannot be reassigned to your account but the IP address may be hidden. PrimeHunter (talk) 04:54, 23 October 2010 (UTC)

Thanks For The Comments - Yes, I Was Concerned With Reassigning Edits With My IP Address To The Same Edits With My Account UserName Instead - Seems There May Be No Way This Can Be Done - Thanks For The Help In Any Regards - Enjoy! :) Drbogdan (talk) 12:53, 23 October 2010 (UTC)