Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2016 July 16

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July 16

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Changing one's username

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Is there a limit to the number of times one can change one's username, by having one's account renamed? FreeKnowledgeCreator (talk) 03:04, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

As far as I am aware, no, there is no limit imposed by the software. However, username changes have to be requested and approved, and it's likely the people processing the requests will get fed up with someone who changes usernames a lot and refuse to approve any more requests. See Wikipedia:Changing username. --71.110.8.102 (talk) 11:14, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
 
An example.

Hi, I wanted to know if anyone could make a surname map image for the Maiorana article, or if not, know someone who can? Based on the ones on Griffin (surname) and Jones (surname) pages (which come from this website [1]), it should cover U.K. and Ireland. The website explains how it works, but basically areas with higher density of people (Wigan and Lancashire, etc. in Maiorana's case) are dark red and areas with no people with Maiorana name (Scotland, etc.) stay white, with shades of pink for less people. Here is the numbers of U.K. Maioranas [2](but the numbers don't have to show up on the image). If it's something you can do I'd appreciate it very much and it would be a great benefit to the page, thank you.2A02:C7D:C22A:F600:CD08:3FA2:BD1:E5F6 (talk) 07:27, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

You might try making a request at the map workshop. See Wikipedia:Graphics_Lab/Map_workshop--S Philbrick(Talk) 10:48, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

BTW, is 'Jones' a good name for such file? I would rather expect something like 'Jones surname GB', at least... --CiaPan (talk) 11:00, 17 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Coding problem: old versions of WP:ARBCOM only display current members

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Not sure if this is the place for this, but WP:ARBCOM has Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Members embedded in it, and this page has an automatically updating date stamp claiming the list is accurate as of now, but when one accesses a past version of the main ArbCom page in which the subpage is embedded, it gives the current text of the subpage but claims the list of members is accurate as of the date of the past version of the main page, with somewhat humorous results like the claim that Callanecc, Cas Liber, Drmies, Gamaliel and so on being on the committee was accurate as of May of last year.

Any idea how to fix this? I know fully displaying historical versions of subpages embedded in historical versions of main pages is probably difficult, but how about making it so the embedded version always displays the current date so at least the information is not inaccurate?

Hijiri 88 (やや) 08:37, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed.[3] PrimeHunter (talk) 13:16, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Rohini Balakrishnan

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I declined a speedy on Rohini Balakrishnan and moved it to Draft:Rohini Balakrishnan informing the initial creator here. A third editor turned the R2 tagged Rohini Balakrishnan into an article. Now I stand as creator, which I find is a bit unfair. What do we do in a case like this? Selective histmerge? Sam Sailor Talk! 10:12, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I have looked at the edit histories of both Draft:Rohini Balakrishnan and Rohini Balakrishnan, and am puzzled. It looks as if, a couple of hours ago at 09:10, you simultaneously moved the article to draft, and created a new article with the same name. Maproom (talk) 10:38, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
That's not the case, have a look again. I moved it to draft space and tagged the redirect with CSD R2 in Diff of Rohini Balakrishnan. A third editor turned it into an article again in the subsequent edit, Diff of Rohini Balakrishnan. Sam Sailor Talk! 10:51, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, but I don't quite fly the flags to do it. Sam Sailor Talk! 20:14, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not an expert, so may be the following is not a good idea... but I think I woud just boldly revert all edits back to the 'redir'+CSD state and after deletion ask the 'third user' to re-insert their version as an original article. --CiaPan (talk) 10:57, 17 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Checkboxes

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Use of the following code produces this: <inputbox> type=search namespaces=Main**,Help </inputbox>

If i want just the checkbox how do i retrieve it. Thanks VarunFEB2003 (talk) 12:55, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

(I made it display the code you're asking aabout, rather than just the dislay produced, VarunFEB2003). The extension is documented at mw:Extension:Inputbox. This is an extension for adding an input box of various types. The checkboxes are an additional feature for certain kinds of inputbox, but it won't give you anything without an input box. --ColinFine (talk) 13:36, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
No i just wanted to know how to have just a check box which could be ticked or unticked VarunFEB2003 (talk) 13:39, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
See Template:Checkbox. Dismas|(talk) 20:25, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thnx Dismas but I wanted that box displayed above that can be ticked and unticked. Is that possible VarunFEB2003 (talk) 11:54, 19 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I am new to wikipedia

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I am new to Wikipedia — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wayne Stickles (talkcontribs) 19:41, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Wayne, welcome. On your talk page, many helpful links have been left to make you understand this encyclopaedic project and various other issues that would be helpful. Click on those links and enjoy your experience of Wikipedia. If there's anything you require help in, feel free to leave a note here. Lourdes 20:02, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Renaming a page with a special character

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I would like to correct the spelling of a page name, using a special character (umlaut) in place of a U. Do I move the page and simply rename with the special character? I've done a search and have found other English pages with umlauts in the name, but want to confirm the best way to go about this. Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Heather.buchheim (talkcontribs) 23:00, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

You won't be able to move the page until your account is at least four days old and you have made a minimum of 10 edits. In the meantime you can request a move at Wikipedia:Requested moves or if you provide details here, an experienced editor may move it for you. Please sign your posts on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~). Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 23:10, 16 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
@Heather.buchheim: Note Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English)#Modified letters. We can say more if you say which name it is about. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:11, 17 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Keep in mind, though, that we use the name by which the subject is most commonly known in English to decide the title of the article in the English-language Wikipedia. So someone whose real name is Üschi, but who is known to English speakers as Uschi (or Ueschi; or Ooshi) would have their article in the latter name, regardless of what their actual given name might be. --Orange Mike | Talk 00:14, 17 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
A redirect can be made from alternate spellings to the spelling the article is at. RJFJR (talk) 14:30, 18 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]