Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2024 February 22

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February 22

I've lost access to my account.

First, I'm sure that this is answered somewhere, but I've not been able to find where. I had an account several years ago. I no longer know the password. I no longer have access to the email account which was used to set up the account. What are my options? I would like to be able to merge my old account with my new (this one) account. Secret Egypt 2 (talk) 01:02, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Secret Egypt 2: If you don't recall the password and cannot get password reset in your email, then your only option is a new account. You can add a note to your user page that you previously edited under the old account name. RudolfRed (talk) 01:08, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Is the password saved on any of your devices? ~WikiOriginal-9~ (talk) 01:14, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

No. Unfortunately, the last time I accessed the old account was in 2019, and I don't have any of my old devices. I'd like to be able to edit my old User Page bio, because it's out of date. I wouldn't mind if an admin just came and deleted the bio.... Secret Egypt 2 (talk) 01:28, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Secret Egypt 2, what was your previous account name? Cullen328 (talk) 01:40, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Now I see that your previous account was User:Secret Egypt. You are free to edit that user page. Cullen328 (talk) 01:43, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

I tried to, but I received the message "This edit has been prevented because you attempted to edit a user page other than the one associated with your account. Please note that unregistered and newly registered editors cannot modify other editors' user pages. If you would like to contact this editor, please do so at the editor's talk page. If this is your user page, you can log in to edit it." Secret Egypt 2 (talk) 01:52, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Secret Egypt 2: I think that message is referring to "Autoconfirmed" user right, which happens when your account is at least 4 days old and you have at least 10 edits. You're in that group now, so try again. RudolfRed (talk) 04:37, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you everyone! Problem solved. Secret Egypt 2 (talk) 20:25, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Accounts cannot be merged even if you know both passwords. PrimeHunter (talk) 12:48, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Resolved

Secret Egypt 2 (talk) 00:00, 23 February 2024 (UTC)

Non-standard dates in Cite web

I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times before, but I can't find it. In Edward Diethrich, reference 4 is to a magazine which has the date "July/August 2018". That is what is says on the front cover. But it is giving an error "{{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)". Unfortunately, the "help" link does not help with this error. Any suggestions on the best way to handle it? Gronk Oz (talk) 12:13, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Resolved

Found it! Should be "July-August 2018". Sorry to bother you.Gronk Oz (talk) 12:15, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Renaming a page

The page "Vidyasagar Evening College" needs to be changed to "Vidyasagar Metropolitan College", as the college has changed its name after shifting its working hours. How to change the page name? PushanBanerjee (talk) 14:51, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

PushanBanerjee see WP:Moving a page. Technical instructions start at Wikipedia:Moving_a_page#Before_moving_a_page. Sungodtemple (talk • contribs) 15:06, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

List_of_Muppets#Additional_characters,_recurring_characters_and_minor_characters

The A B C etc links doesn't work, can someone make them work, please? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 16:38, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

I don't think those type of links make any sense, as the table below is sortable, so the "A"s could be anywhere after sorting on the second column. As far as I can tell from the history, that set of links have never worked. Should be removed IMO. Mike Turnbull (talk) 17:02, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

I aggree that they don't make much sense unless sorted by name, but that still has use IMO. These work: List_of_Sesame_Street_Muppets#Muppets. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 17:26, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Such table TOC's are common for long tables, also when sortable. In this case it was added by an IP [1] who didn't add the corresponding anchors to table rows so it doesn't work. I have therefore removed it [2] but wouldn't object to using {{Compact TOC}} if the required anchors are added. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:36, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

I have added {{Compact TOC}} and the required anchors.[3] PrimeHunter (talk) 22:20, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! I was looking at how that worked (don't add anchors much) but decided to sleep on it. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 06:53, 23 February 2024 (UTC)

How to add a page

Dear Wikipedia,

The foundation for Nonco Pelafigue to sainthood would like to be a part of Wikipedia.

Mr. Pelafigue, like Charlene Richard, is currently being considered for sainthood and we would like to share his life with the world.

How do I go about doing this? What information is needed? Where do I start and who do I submit the information to in order for the page to be added.

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely, Pamela Pelafigue Pelafigue (talk) 18:08, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Pelafigue: before you spend any more time on this, please carefully read our notability requirements (WP:N). If a subject is not notable by our definition, no Wikipedia article can exist. Really. It's not what you think is notable, it's what other Wikipedia editors agree is notable. Only after you satisfy yourself that the subject meets these requirements, please come back here fro further information. -Arch dude (talk) 18:55, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

If he is canonized, will he be automatically notable? —Tamfang (talk) 18:14, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

@Pelafigue: Please be aware of WP:COI, and WP:PAID. You may also find WP:FAQAS and WP:BOSS useful. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 19:05, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Strange site / browser bug

Hello all, I have been experiencing a strange bug as of recently, where sometimes, seemingly completely random as of now, the Wikipedia site only allows me to delete or add 1 single character at a time when editing, and if I try to add or delete more, the site seemingly crashes and reloads automatically, undoing my edits and thus erasing any progress I made. Very, very frustrating. Any tips would be greatly appreciated LoneWolf803 (talk) 18:38, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@LoneWolf803: WP:VPT are better placed to assist with this, but you need to tell them how you are editing (app, mobile or desktop; source code or visual editor; operating system; device, etc.) Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 19:02, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you. I will post on there when I have time. LoneWolf803 (talk) 19:47, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Collapsed sections in infobox

Enrique Baldivieso
Vice President of Bolivia
In office 28 May 1938 – 24 April 1939
Preceded by	José Luis Tejada Sorzano
Succeeded by	Julián Montellano
Ministerial offices Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion In office 16 March 1944 – 8 August 1944 Preceded by José Tamayo Succeeded by Víctor Andrade
Parliamentary offices Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Chuquisaca In office 1942–1944 Constituency Sud Chichas
Personal details
Born	Enrique Baldivieso Aparicio

I'm trying to resolve an alignment error in a collapsed infobox section, wherein the attributes added to each collapsed section all appear shifted to the right. (Note that the example shown is significantly condensed). I'm curious as to what I'm doing wrong or if it's an existing issue, as I've seen it occur on other articles using the template. Krisgabwoosh (talk) 19:13, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Krisgabwoosh Looks fine to me (in a laptop Chrome browser), apart from contravening MOS:DONTHIDE. Each section in the box, including the collapsible ones, has a two-column table, with the left column containing the attribute headers (e.g. Preceded by), and the right column their values (e.g. José Tamayo). Each table is 100% wide and columns' widths are automatically determined by the browser to fit their content: the longer the longest attribute, the wider its column. Bazza (talk) 20:14, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

This is more what I'm referring to, where each parameter becomes successively more staggered. It's not as noticeable here, but becomes more so the longer the infobox is. Krisgabwoosh (talk) 21:30, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Krisgabwoosh: That external link goes nowhere. Give an article in which this is apparent. Bazza (talk) 09:50, 23 February 2024 (UTC)

Here is is archived. Krisgabwoosh (talk) 20:30, 23 February 2024 (UTC)

How to edit the content of a current page

A couple of months ago, I tried to make some revisions on the "Transactional Analysis" page's content. However, wikipedia did not allow me to do this. The reason I wanted to make those revisions was that the content was not good enough, was not updated, did not even include the main and most important subjects about Transactional Analysis and there were also some incorrect contents. When somebody would search for Transactional Analysis to get an idea about what it is, the content he would see would not really reflect what it is about. First of all, I would like to say that I would do these revisions voluntarily. Of course, I am not an authority on this subject but I did a master in Transactional Analysis, I am a Transactional Analyst (psychotherapist) and also a member of the European Transactional Analysis Association. As the members of this association (we are not getting paid by the association, we are just volunteers) we only want that Transactional Analysis wikipedia page has a better and correct content. This is why I've been trying to make some edits on the page which hasn't worked yet. Maybe, I could not understand the way Wikipedia work. If this is the case, I would be happy to hear from you whether I would have any other options. I hope that with this message I could explain why I want to edit the content and that you can help me with this. If it is really not possible to edit the current content, can I create a new page with a totally new content about Transactional Analysis? Or do you have any other suggestions? What I want is just that people who are interested in Transactional Analysis get the correct and enough content when they search it on wikipedia. Many thanks in advance for your support. BowlbyMaya (talk) 20:18, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@BowlbyMaya, this account has only made three edits to that article, all in September of last year. You added some unsourced information and then did some strange things with references and the references section; your edits were reverted for being unsourced (and generally making a bit of a mess). The article has a talk page, Talk:Transactional analysis, where you can suggest and discuss improvements if you'd like. Please remember to cite reliable sources in support of any additions you wish to make. 57.140.16.1 (talk) 21:12, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Relevant help desk query from last year: Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2023 September 20#Changing the content on Transactional Analysis page. 57.140.16.1 (talk) 21:14, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Artibeus lituratus

I am trying to update the page dealing with Artibeus lituratus. The distribution list is incorrect. I have performed bat research through the caribbean for 30+ years and have several publications on this matter. I rec'd a message that my edits were of little value and hence dismissed.

• Pedersen SC, Kwiecinski GG, Genoways HH, Larsen RJ, Larsen PA, Phillips CJ, & Baker RJ. 2018. Bats of St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University, 69:1-61.
• Kwiecinski GG, Pedersen SC, Genoways HH, Larsen PA, Larsen RJ, Hoffman JD, Springer F. Phillips CJ, & Baker RJ. 2018. Bats of St. Vincent, Lesser Antilles. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University, 68:1-68.
• Genoways HH, Larsen RJ, Pedersen SC, Kwiecinski GG, & Larsen PA. 2012. Bats of Barbados. Chiroptera Neotropical 17:963-988.
• Genoways HH, Kwiecinski GG, Larsen PA, Pedersen SC, Larsen RJ, Hoffman JD, de Silva M, Phillips CJ, & Baker RJ. 2010. Bats of the Grenadines, West Indies & placement of Koopman's line. Chirop. Neotrop, 16:501-521.
• Pedersen SC, Larsen PA, Genoways HH, Morton MN, Lindsay KC, & Cindric J. 2007. Bats of Barbuda, Northern Lesser Antilles. Occ. Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University, 271:1-20.
• Pedersen SC, Genoways GG, Morton MN, Swier VJ, Larsen PA, Lindsay KC, Adams RA, & Appino JD. 2006. Bats of Antigua, Northern Lesser Antilles Occ. Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University, 249:1-18.

-- 24.21.72.89 (talk) 21:11, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

IP editor, your first edit added information without including any sources - putting them in the edit summary is not enough. It was reverted. You then made another edit and added sources, but you didn't re-add the information, and you put the references at the very end of the article, breaking the References section in the process. I've made a rough fix, but the references are now hanging out down there without any information to attach them to. 57.140.16.1 (talk) 21:24, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Perhaps I should add, this is about the article Great fruit-eating bat. 57.140.16.1 (talk) 21:26, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Hello, IP user (SC Pederson, perhaps?). It's not that we don't want your contributions, but you need to make them according to Wikipedia's procedures. As well as the citation issues that 57.140 mentions, there is another point: adding citations to your own publications is regarded as a conflict of interest, so rather than editing the article directly, you should make edit requests on the article's talk page. ColinFine (talk) 21:46, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

What is the protocol for which surname to use?

Hello. I am writing an article about Hilary Bradwell / Amis / Bailey / Kilmarnock. She was most well-known as the first wife of Kingsley Amis and mother of Martin Amis but she name changed twice after their divorce. The Guardian obituary called her Hilary Kilmarnock, but several books call her Bradwell. Is there a general rule of thumb for this, please? Thank you BJCHK (talk) 21:18, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@BJCHK You take your best shot at judging what the WP:COMMONNAME is. This [4][5] may be a hint, but it's very much not scientific. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 21:33, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you @Gråbergs Gråa Sång for the very speedy response! I will stick with Kilmarnock. Much appreciated. BJCHK (talk) 21:39, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@BJCHK I was going to say create redirects, but Hilary Bardwell and Hilly Bardwell already exist. TSventon (talk) 21:47, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@TSventonYes - that is a bridge I am going to have to work out when I get there. I may well be back here asking about that when the article is published and in need of redirects away from her husbands' articles and to her own.BJCHK (talk) 22:27, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

SATs

Foreign students did not take SATs. I graduated with BA than MA and never took any SATs. Return to sanity! Gzubicka (talk) 23:57, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

@Gzubicka: Did you have a question about editing or using Wikipedia, particularly around the SAT article? Please note that the talk pages for Wikipedia are not to be used as general discussions about the topic. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 00:05, 23 February 2024 (UTC)