Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2014 September 30

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September 30

Automatic Unit Conversion

(NOTE: I have my reasons for standing by the Imperial Units/Customary Units and loathing the metric system.)

In any case, not all pages list what a measurement in metres, kilometres, etc. convert to, and I don't really feel that I should have to look up a conversion chart or learn the metric system to be able to understand what a measurement is implying in an article.

As such, I ask this:

Is there some way (whether through a script that I can execute for my browser or otherwise) that I can have metric units replaced with imperial units client-side? Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 00:24, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

I don't know a Wikipedia tool for this. The Google search unit converter extension finds some browser extensions. I don't know anything about them. Install at own risk. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:57, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

See {{convert}}. The applicable guideline is MOS:UNITS. --  Gadget850 ^talk 08:13, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

I've installed an add-on that auto-converts metric and Celsius to the normal traditional Imperial Units and Fahrenheit for me. Thanks much. Honestly, though, I think that this should be implemented as a feature within Wikipedia that is changeable in the user preferences. Tharthandorf Aquanashi (talk) 23:17, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Ghost series of footnotes following me around and tacking onto the end of what I write

On the Talk Page for the article Daguerreotype, When I add a comment, the code version does not show a series of footnotes that it has picked up from the article, like this:

Unlocking the Secrets in Old Photographs, p. 126. 1991. Retrieved 2009-06-29.

Jump up ^ Jump up ^ Nelson, Kenneth E. (1996). "A Thumbnail History of the Daguerreotype" Jump up ^ Davis, D.T. (November 1896). "The Daguerreotype in America" McClure's Magazine 8(1):4-16. Near the end of the article, the author notes that the venerable Mr. Hawes, of Southworth and Hawes, has "a number of daguerreotypes made recently, for he is one of the few operators who remain loyal to the old process". Available online from the Daguerreian society Jump up ^ Tennant, John A. (August 1902). "Copying methods" The Photo-Miniature 4(41):201 et seq. See page 202 for mention of new daguerreotypes being made circa the 1890s by recycling old plates. (Selected text available online from The Daguerreian Society) Jump up ^ Cannon, Poppy. (June 1929). "An Old Art Revived" The Mentor 17(5):36–37 Available online from The Daguerreian Society Jump up ^ Romer, Grant B. (July 1977). "The Daguerreotype in America and England after 1860". History of Photography, 1(3):201 et seq.

but the section shows up when I save the page.

But now when I cut and paste, I notice that all the numbers of the footnotes have been omitted, and at the commencement of each line it says "Jump up" followed by a circumflex accent.

We will see what it looks like when it is written out after clicking on "Save page" - and in the highlighting, I can't highlight the initial 1 for the first footnote.

This series of footnotes has stuck itself onto the last "new section" I write at the end. It is not visible in the code version, but only later after it is saved. The section is added at the end of what I write and disappears from where it was previously. RPSM (talk) 11:51, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

It is a new feature that automatically creates a reflist on the bottom of any page that has ref tags in it. I have fixed the talk page by adding {{reflist-talk}} on two sections that had ref tags in them. GB fan 11:56, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

@RPSM: see Automatically generated reference lists. --Redrose64 (talk) 11:59, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Automatically generated reference lists are a new feature that automatically creates a reference list at the bottom of any page that has <ref> without reference list markup. On talk pages you can add {{reflist-talk}} at the end of a discussion to properly place the reference list. For more issues see the Automatically generated reference lists help page. --  Gadget850 ^talk 15:23, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Thank y'all. RPSM (talk) 20:33, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

• Why is this enabled in the talk namespace, where it is almost certain to put the references in the wrong place every time? --Guy Macon (talk) 07:35, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Skyquake

The talk page refers to Skyquake (Transformers).

As the term 'mistpouffers' appears on the List of unexplained sounds could the two be reconciled. 108.171.128.162 (talk) 14:24, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

What happened here is that a couple of months ago the Mistpouffers article was moved (re-titled) to Skyquake, but its talk page wasn't moved. I have asked for deletion of the redirect from Talk:Skyquake to Talk:Skyquake (Transformers), and once that goes through then Talk:Mistpouffers can be moved to Talk:Skyquake. Meanwhile I have added hatnotes to both article pages: Noyster (talk), 12:02, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Above has now been done (thanks User:Thryduulf): Noyster (talk), 13:25, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Please delete

http://wpedia.goo.ne.jp/enwiki/User:SK_AKIF_HOSSAIN Please delete this page as it content promotional content — Preceding unsigned comment added by 101.57.47.213 (talk) 14:44, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

 Not done - We have no connection to wpedia.goo.ne.jp - Arjayay (talk) 15:03, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Note: wpedia.goo.ne.jp contains some templates copied from Wikipedia, for example see the line starting with 'Administrators: check links'... on the linked page. That may confuse many readers, which can then come here with requests and complaints relating to wpedia.goo.ne.jp pages. --CiaPan (talk) 15:17, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Edit conflicts

Can you answer this, please? Editor A starts an edit to a page. Editor B starts an edit and saves it before Editor A has finished. Editor A finishes his edit and saves it. Does that not knock out Editor A's edit, because Editor B is effectively saving an old version of the page? If so, what is the best way for Editor A to avoid this problem? Sometimes an edit can take a long time to complete. --P123ct1 (talk) 15:40, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

The {{in use}} template can help.--ukexpat (talk) 15:57, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

You might want to read through Help:Edit conflict. GB fan 16:00, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Help:Edit conflict only describes a scenario where the first to click edit is also the first to click save, but as far as I know it makes no difference who clicked edit first. PrimeHunter (talk) 16:38, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Whilst not wanting to encourage hundreds of minor edits, it is often helpful for major changes to be broken down into sections, as this allows an editor who does not agree with one part of the changes, to revert just that portion, rather than reverting all the changes; whilst also avoiding losing many minutes work in the event of an edit-conflict.
I don't think there is an easy answer to this - I have worked on computer systems where, once one person opens a file for editing, no-one else can edit it until they have completed, but this leads to "file hogging" where people leave files open for hours, so they can edit it when they want to. This would create a new problem of people blocking edits to an article by opening it. - Arjayay (talk) 17:02, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

indecent link and access to personal data

How do we report a link from wickipedia that takes you to a porn site which then sends text messages to your phone charging you a large amount of money. The link was from dinocroc V's supergator page on external links the official web site page is the link to an unpleasant porn site — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.200.29.50 (talk) 17:18, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

The link has been removed by Glaisher. You could have also removed it yourself but if you needed a hand, asking here is good. --NeilN ^{talk to me} 17:29, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

HELP - ARTICLE KEEPS GETTING TAKEN DOWN

I am trying to get an article up and running about a literary magazine, but it keeps getting taken down. Help? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.156.95.36 (talk) 17:52, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

What is the name of the article? What account or IP address were you using when you created it? There is no record of any edits by this IP address. --Orange Mike | Talk 17:55, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

I suspect this is about Quiddity International Literary Journal and Public-Radio Program, also created as Draft article on Quiddity international literary journal, now recreated at Draft:Quiddity International Literary Journal and Public-Radio Program.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:41, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Any quick way to build a diff template?

When I need a {{diff}}, I (1) copy my sample out of sandbox, (2) fill in page, either by typing or by copy-and-paste, (3) type label, (4) navigate to the diff that I want, and (5) copy-and-paste the oldid out of the URL. All this is so cumbersome and time-consuming that I feel there must be a tool to eliminate some of these steps (1, 2, 5). If there is, what is it? ‑‑Mandruss (talk) 17:57, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Diff links vary in format. If you take a diff link from your own contributions page, the parameters are already in the correct order. For example, in your contribs, I find

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Help_desk&diff=prev&oldid=627709049

which becomes

{{diff|Wikipedia:Help_desk|prev|627709049|Link}}

Diffs found elsewhere need some more reformatting. --Redrose64 (talk) 19:03, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

question about moving content to new articles

If I move content from an original article, leave a summary, and then start a new article, how do I make this known on the article other than the edit summary? Any special tags, etc.? SW3 5DL (talk) 19:06, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Copying within Wikipedia: "When copying content from one article to another, at a minimum provide a link back to the source page in the edit summary at the destination page. If substantial, consider posting a note on both talk pages." AndyTheGrump (talk) 19:31, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

AndyTheGrump, thank you. Appreciate it. SW3 5DL (talk) 03:43, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Responsive?

On my iPhone right now and am having to scroll from left to right. This is quite irritating. Are you responsive? Am I inadvertently missing the mobile version of the site? All the best, — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.90.139.17 (talk) 20:09, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Try asking at WP:VPT.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 21:56, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Archiving User Page

My User Page is in a mess because I never got the hang of archiving stuff. Where do I go to find out routines? Can I delete unimportant things like unpaired bracket reminders? RPSM (talk) 20:41, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

You can delete anything you like, with certain exceptions (see WP:BLANKING). The two main archiving bots are ClueBot III (talk · contribs) and lowercase sigmabot III (talk · contribs), the instructions for which are at User:MiszaBot/Archive HowTo. --Redrose64 (talk) 20:51, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

(edit conflict) You mean user talk page. See Help:Archiving a talk page and WP:BLANKING. I have added {{Reflist-talk}} to a section of your talk page [1] so the 13 references are displayed there and not automatically added at the bottom. That was the only thing I would call a mess. PrimeHunter (talk) 20:54, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Did all msg from face book

Did you delete all from sept26 Thur sept29 back fourth darrold larson and andrew dent.Reason I am asking.On the night sept around mI mr dent he continued that night I maybe 8 times stop this .Because continued to msg me really matter subject I needd because drawing papers get records of .We filed order proaction based when to he wouldn't.Yesterday also he my clint asshole disabled and if completely deleted you see when insulted first.That he go on insult back he very so people arguing him.That my ?As told you are stop nyou have stop plus because ada stays.I tired to tell mr dent It wrong my part I said I am sorry .mr also I lot same if we fault insults.If first instant complete you don't who In am I will froiggie Like judge what mean shwe ask him.You can threat with ok I fight.I understand Some try change 1st amendment ever since obama taken office.I don't read I voted form twice.I spell moral mental ill oh well.so I need have for we know thank you — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.223.46.201 (talk • contribs) 21:13, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

This is Wikipedia. It is nothing to do with Facebook. If you want to report a problem with Facebook, go to Facebook, and pick "Report a problem" under the down arrow at the end of the toolbar. --ColinFine (talk) 22:04, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Userboxes--pictures disappeared, deleted?

I recently looked at my home page and saw that in perhaps a little more than half of my Userboxes, the pictures have disappeared. They've been replaced with little statements including "PX" and numbers; I'm supposing that those refer to the size of the pictures in question. This includes already established Userboxes that I transcluded and ones I created myself.
When I click on one of those spaces where the pictures used to be, on some of them I get a file upload page (at least, I think that's what it is); on others I get a note that the file has recently been deleted. But in those cases, I can sometimes get to the picture itself, and there's no history on them since long before I joined Wikipedia.
And I'm wondering why there would be a run on stuff deleted. Uporządnicki (talk) 21:15, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

When I edit your page the images show, so they aren't deleted. Looking into this. --  Gadget850 ^talk 21:26, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

A purge fixed it. --  Gadget850 ^talk 21:27, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Thank you! I hadn't heard of this. But yes, it's fixed now. Uporządnicki (talk) 17:46, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Mobile version of Wikipedia ( ios ) : no language column to the left, how to switch?

Hello,

as a regular user of Wikipedia I noticed some time ago when looking for topics in google and clicking Wikipedia links, that the mobile version is pretty neat for tablet reading, but this new look does not feature the left column where you can easily switch from one language to another

being interested in different languages, cultures and different info on certain topics, this desktop function is very handy

is there an easy way to access the language switch without quitting the page in mobile version?

thanks for helping out

kind regards

Nico — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jazzooka (talk • contribs) 21:22, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

There is a blue button on the bottom of the screen with interwiki language links. This button is not there if there are no links. - Sincerely, Taketa (talk) 10:10, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Math symbols via Unicode.

I need to enter some math symbols for my post but so far I could not figure out if I can do it via Unicode. In particular I need a symbol for the norm (double vertical parallel lines). Thanks --AboutFace 22 (talk) 21:24, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

See Norm (mathematics)#Notation; the Unicode character is U+2016 which may be entered as ‖ and displays as ‖. --Redrose64 (talk) 21:32, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

&#x2016 does not work. Placed in a line of text it comes up as the number "&#x2016" Placed between < math >&#x2016</ math > (distorted on purpose) it gives a parsing error. There is a secret there you failed to mention. --AboutFace 22 (talk) 16:08, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

The semicolon is required. RJFJR (talk) 16:14, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Thank you, but the parallel lines are displayed so close, I cannot see double. Please take a look at my sandbox. --AboutFace 22 (talk) 16:31, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

∥ is in fact what I need, (& # x 2 2 2 5;) Thanks, --AboutFace 22 (talk) 16:47, 1 October 2014 (UTC)