Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2009 February 2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Help desk
< February 1 << Jan | February | Mar >> February 3 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.


February 2[edit]

Cite Error[edit]

Resolved

I keep trying to fix a cite error on InTru 3D but I can't find out what is wrong could someone please fix it and tell me what was wrong. Thank you. Hda3ku (talk) 03:19, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed in [1]. See Wikipedia:Footnotes. PrimeHunter (talk) 03:36, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Second longest river in Australia ?[edit]

Wikipedia shows the Darling River as being 1,390 kms long and describes it as the third longest river in Australia. (I must concede I always thought it was the longest or second longest, depending on one's interpretation of its confluence with the Murray.) Furthermore Wikipedia shows the Flinders River as the longest in Queensland and the second longest in Australia, but with a length of 840 kms.

I would have thought that the Murrumbidgee, Warrego and Diamentina, all being over 900 kms, would exceed the Flinders in Qld or Australia.

Does anyone have any clues on this ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.14.96.4 (talk) 03:25, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Have you tried Wikipedia's 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, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. – ukexpat (talk) 04:16, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I wonder how many people who live in North America can name the second longest river in North America? Or better yet, correctly state the number of bridges which span it? --Teratornis (talk) 06:03, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

How to edit the text in the box to the right of an article (re: Pittsburgh Steelers)[edit]

I have only made a few edits on Wikipedia but I was inspired by the Super Bowl to just make a quick change to the number of Championships from 5 to 6 on the Pittsburgh Steelers page. It has already been done so it is a moot point. My question is - how do you edit that summary box on the right hand side of the page? If I go to edit page, that text does not appear. I'm referring to what is now

Super Bowl Championships (6) 1974 (IX), 1975 (X), 1978 (XIII), 1979 (XIV), 2005 (XL), 2008 (XLIII)

in the box on the right hand side of the article. It does not seem to be in the "edit current page" area.

Thanks.. Randomplanck (talk) 03:46, 2 February 2009 (UTC)randomplanck —Preceding unsigned comment added by Randomplanck (talkcontribs) 03:43, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If you click "edit this page" at Pittsburgh Steelers then near the top it says {{NFL team| and a lot more. This is an infobox template with documentation at Template:NFL team. It includes the parameter sb_champs which determines what is written in the field you mention. As you noticed, it has been updated.[2] PrimeHunter (talk) 04:14, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Articles that relate to extremely high-profile events tend to attract a lot of attention on Wikipedia, and thus you have to move fast if you want to be the first person to add some extremely well-known recent event. Given the huge audience for the Super Bowl, the most trivial detail for this largely pointless event will receive oodles of loving attention on Wikipedia. Meanwhile, many topics with life-and-death importance go neglected. Wikipedia needs more help with its less popular articles. Check the history of an article to see how many edits it has had recently. Wikipedia has lots of infrequently-edited articles which you can easily be the next to improve. --Teratornis (talk) 05:54, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, articles about recent, and sometimes pointless events are updated very frequently as the event progresses. I saw at one point that every time the clock stopped during today's Super Bowl, somebody had updated the time almost instantly, along with the score, and virtually every play was updated and documented. Until It Sleeps 05:59, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Where do people find the time? --Teratornis (talk) 06:09, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

More about Infobox ship's code[edit]

As I asked before, unlike other infoboxes, Infobox ship dosen't have its real code. If Infobox ship doesn't have its real code, how can it be an infobox. If there is a code, where is it? Aquitania (talk) 03:44, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It's explained in the answer to your question above: #Code for Infobox Ship – ukexpat (talk) 04:11, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Note that any template can begin with "Infobox" which is just a part of the template name. It doesn't necessarily mean that the template produces an infobox. PrimeHunter (talk) 04:18, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Uploading[edit]

Sir/Mam, I am new user of wikipedia.I want to know that if i want to upload any topic related to society,political or something else.Then what i have to do.From where i can uplaod my any view. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ketan Goyal (talkcontribs) 04:05, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If by "upload" you mean "create an article", take a look at the following standard reply.
Before creating an article, please search Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject. Please also review a few of our relevant policies and guidelines which all articles should comport with. As Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, articles must not contain original research, must be written from a neutral point of view, should cite to reliable sources which verify their content and must not contain unsourced, negative content about living people.
Articles must also demonstrate the notability of the subject. Please see our subject specific guidelines for people, bands and musicians, companies and organizations and web content and note that if you are closely associated with the subject, our conflict of interest guideline strongly recommends against you creating the article.
If you still think an article is appropriate, see Help:Starting a new page. You might also look at Wikipedia:Your first article and Wikipedia:How to write a great article for guidance, and please consider taking a tour through the Wikipedia:Tutorial so that you know how to properly format the article before creation.
But note that articles must not be original research and must conform to a neutral point of view. – ukexpat (talk) 04:11, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]


Inexperienced Wikipedia User trying to upload image to article correctly, and with respect to appropriate protocol[edit]

I have been editing the article Jack Dann, and wanted to replace the current image with something I perceive to be more spontaneous and becoming.

I have found the following image, by photographer Cat Sparks

http://flickr.com/photos/42956650@N00/2919366711/in/set-72157607797775638

I have contacted Ms Sparks, and have been given permission via email to use the image, or others of hers in this Flickr set for the purpose of the Wikipedia article, as I see appropriate, as long as due credit is give to Ms Sparks as author of this image.

I am uncertain what to do from here. I am confused about the correct licensing attributions for upload and how I might proceed to use this imagine without attracting censure or deletion for proceeding inappropriately.Mesmacat (talk) 09:00, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

  • Answering on user's talk page. - Mgm|(talk) 11:09, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Finding Wikipedia article in Google search[edit]

Hi,

I have put an article on Pandit C R Vyas in wikipedia recently. I am checking if one can find that article from google. But when I am searching on Google search, i don't find this article.

Is there anything to be done with the article to be found in google?? What could be other reason??

Regards,

Niranjan. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Niranjan.ranade (talkcontribs) 10:19, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It takes time for google to index them... around three days on average, it's not instant. -- Mentisock 10:46, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Which name to use in foreign games?[edit]

Game in question is Jump Ultimate Stars which is a Japanese game and has not been translated to English (and it probably never will, but that's an aside). Jump game makes use of characters from numerous Manga titles, many of which have been translated into English and have English names, but most editors on the page seem to like to use the Japanese Romanji (Romanised Japanese) names of Manga instead of their translated English names.

(e.g. [[Fist of the North Star|Hokuto no Ken]] instead of [[Fist of the North Star]])

I personally prefer English, as this is the English Wikipedia and I think this would make the English names more recognisable than the Japanese ones, but I also understand that the majority of the editors (and probably the majority of the editors for Anime/Manga topics) would prefer the Romanji name. I also understand that this is a Japanese only game and that the Romanji names might be more appropriate (although to be completely fair the game uses their Japanese names, which are in Hiragana/Katakana/Kanji/Romanji; in the above example, the name would be 北斗の拳, but using this would be a bit extreme).

If there's no specific ruling saying one way or the other I'm willing to leave it as it is, but if the manual of style suggests that 'official' English translated name is to be preferred, shouldn't we be using the English names for the titles (that have been published in English)?

I understand this is pretty petty and I don't really care one way or the other (well actually I do, or else I wouldn't be asking here) but mainly I'm asking for future reference, so some info would be extremely helpful and in particular, not just for games but for any foreign material in general (i.e. Manga/Anime).

In other words, when dealing with names/nouns in foreign languages, when should the name in the original language (or Romanisation of the original language) be used over an English translated one or vice versa?

Thank you very much.

Serrin (talk) 10:32, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

P.S. could someone please leave a note on my talk page? I realise I'm procrastinating by watching this page constantly instead of studying. Sorry, but I like to find excuses to waste time (e.g. wikipedia).

Changing static link[edit]

Anyone knows how to change the 'user' link near the person icon? -- Mentisock 10:43, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Screenshots copyright.[edit]

Greetings!

My colleague has put some screenshots into the article about our company here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeroCraft Unfortunately, the moderators keep removing the pictures saying it may violate copyright although these very pictures are posted openly on company's website (http://www.herocraft.com). How can we provide the license or what else is needed to post these pictures? Thank you in advance.

Haseth (talk) 10:55, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

  • Posting images openly on any website, including a company's website, doesn't mean there is no copyright. Also, it's impossible for administrators to know that your colleague is actually allowed to share those images. In order for the images to stick, you need to go to WP:OTRS and send the relevant address a message from a company address that says it is allowed to copy the image, make derivative images and use them commercially without restrictions. - Mgm|(talk) 11:06, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Take a look at WP:IOWN, and also WP:COI as you appear to have a conflict of interest. – ukexpat (talk) 18:01, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

spam filter[edit]

Resolved
 – ukexpat (talk) 20:00, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

1.I Why is "http://www. fisheaters. com" in the wiki spam filter?

2.) Why can't I find a "special page" (or a FAA in FAQ) on the spam filter?

130.133.8.114 (talk) 11:21, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The latest discussion (as far as I can tell) is located here, and JzG's reasoning can be found here. — Manticore 14:40, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
thanks to both of you 130.133.8.114 (talk) 16:28, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

sN0W[edit]

1'm currently sn0wed in s0 n0 classes F0r me t0day Instead I th0ught i w0uld try t0 learn wikipedia Where d0 i start —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.75.171.39 (talk) 11:27, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The Wikipedia Tutorial would be a good place. You'd also want to get familiar with our key policies. You'll learn more as you go along. Have fun, and happy editing! Chamal talk 11:36, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Article Title[edit]

I have a question regarding the search on wikipedia. When you search for crown oil- you get crown central petroleum article, to get the actual crown oil article, you have to type in crown oil ltd, so typing in crown oil should take you to the actuall crown oil ltd article. Especially that their official website is www.crownoil.co.uk and they own the following domain names: crown oil, crown oils-both take you to their website (www.crownoil.co.uk and www.crownoils.co.uk and even www.crownoil.com). In a short cut-typing in crown oil in the search option should take you to crown oil article; and typing in crown central petroleum should take you to crown central petroleum article. I just think that if a company is not called crown oil (but crown central petroleum), how can it take to an article of a differently named company? Am I right? Crownoil1947 (talk) 11:31, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

  • There were some serious capitalization issues too. All is solved now. _ Mgm|(talk) 12:43, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Adminbots[edit]

Is there a list of adminbots somewhere? I've looked at Category:Wikipedia adminbots but it isn't comprehensive. User:RedirectCleanupBot isn't there and I'm sure there must be plenty of others who aren't. Is there a definitive list? -- Escape Artist Swyer Talk Contributions 13:23, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Look in Category:Wikipedia adminbots. Cheers. Chamal talk 13:29, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
User:RedirectCleanupBot is no longer a Bot, although it remains an Admin. GbT/c 13:32, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
No, it is no longer an admin either - see the meta log. BencherliteTalk 13:35, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Good point - didn't think to look there. GbT/c 13:57, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pad lock[edit]

What was used before a pad lock was inveted???? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.242.144.37 (talk) 15:24, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Have you tried Wikipedia's 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, select the relevant section, and ask away. I hope this helps. Algebraist 15:30, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Referencing to 1 book but many different pages[edit]

In the article List of military science fiction works and authors we have a source which provided many references, but on different pages. What is the easiest way to format these references? Debresser (talk) 17:04, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

<ref name="longbook"/>{{rp|424-5}} is one way, or was that not what you were asking? - Jarry1250 (t, c) 17:46, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
That's not precisely what I meant, but since it says on the template:rp page that this is the only thing to do, so that's what I did. It's not bad, actually. It's just that I would have prefered to see the pagenumbers in the footnotes and not inside the article. Debresser (talk) 21:31, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
See Wikipedia:Footnotes#Style recommendations and Wikipedia:Citing sources#Shortened footnotes. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:53, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, but I didn't find any real solutions here. Debresser (talk) 21:36, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Alternatively, you could have a simple list of references manually, then include a Notes section with the book's title and page number, using the <ref> system. See English heraldry for example. - Jarry1250 (t, c) 22:03, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
See article Alpha Phi Alpha where the book is cited once in the Reference section, then each page number(s) is cited when inforation from the book is used within the article (i.e Wesley 1950, op. cit, pp. 241).--Ccson (talk) 05:19, 4 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pictures[edit]

How do I upload a picture from Wikicommons to Wikipedia?

--Resr Vaguery (talk) 17:42, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You probably don't want to reupload the image, just use File links as usual on WP and all should be fine. - Jarry1250 (t, c) 17:46, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
(edit conflict) If it's already in Commons then you can use it in Wikipedia without uploading it to Wikipedia. See Wikipedia:Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia:Picture tutorial. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:47, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Double images[edit]

Resolved
 – ukexpat (talk) 19:59, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I've seen in some articles (don't remember which...) images that are doubled up horizontally in the same thumbnail frame. Can anyone tell me the syntax to achieve this, or just point me to an example? Thanks, Calliopejen1 (talk) 18:56, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You want this template for horizontally aligned or this template for vertical. - Jarry1250 (t, c) 19:02, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
thanks! Calliopejen1 (talk) 19:21, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Or, there is also {{imagepair}} Peet Ern (talk) 07:49, 5 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I can't edit a page, some sort of page protection i can't see?[edit]

Resolved
 – ukexpat (talk) 19:55, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I've been trying for a while to revert two edits to TUGS, made most recently with IP addresses. However, trying this with Twinkle and using the standard "editing an older version of the page" method both doesn't seem to work. I don't think its a problem with the cache as i first tried to revert it last night and it has still not shown up as changed. As well as this, it appears on my watchlist as the last edit by the IP address, not mine.

Does anyone know if there is some kind of page protection which i cannot see? Thank you --SteelersFanUK06 ReplyOnMine! 19:22, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The IP reverted themself. Thus your attempts to revert the two edits are treated by MediaWiki as a null edit, and essentially ignored. Algebraist 19:25, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
(edit conflict)works for me Dendodge TalkContribs 19:27, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Um, ok. I don't really know what's happened but everything's fine now so this is resolved. --SteelersFanUK06 ReplyOnMine! 19:32, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Logging in[edit]

I can't figure out how to access the page I have been working on. Under my preferences it says that I am logged into 1 project, but I can;t figure out how to get back to my page. The page I am working on is called The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book. Please help me get back to my page so I can continue to work on it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Talentsmart2 (talkcontribs) 19:35, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

No page The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book exists on the English Wikipedia, or ever has. Are you sure that was the precise name of the page you were working on? There was a page Emotional Intelligence Quick Book, but that was deleted two years ago. Algebraist 19:38, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Does your records show that I am working on a project? If so can you help me get there. I might have forgot to name the articule. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Talentsmart2 (talkcontribs) 19:40, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The one project referred to in your preferences is the English Wikipedia. You are there already. Algebraist 19:41, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Is there anyway to see what I have been working on. I was working on a page last week until Thursday afternoon. I don't want to have to start over on it, so can you see what I have been working on? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Talentsmart2 (talkcontribs) 19:44, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

All of the contributions you have made under this username are listed here. I don't see any to the article to which you refer. Maybe an admin can see the user's deleted contributions? TNX-Man 19:48, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Your article Emotional intelligence Quick Book (note the capitalization - wikipedia articles are case sensitive) was deleted as blatant advertising If you would like to rewrite it in a more neutral tone you may try to do so It may be best to work in a private userpage (like drafting your article at User:Talentsmart/sandbox) then ask here for someone neutral to review it Once it meets wikipedia guidelines it can then be moved into article space Please also read our conflict of interest guidelines Calliopejen1 (talk) 19:49, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
If you would like I can restore the article you were working on and move it to your userspace Let me know on my talk page if you want me to do that Hermione1980 19:52, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
And please also read WP:Spam and WP:N. – ukexpat (talk) 19:53, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
And please stop recreating the article - it's back at The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book, and has been tagged for deletion per WP:CSD#G3. – ukexpat (talk) 19:57, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Removal of valid wikilinks to Pygmy Marmoset[edit]

Ok, an dynamic ip address:

has for the last couple of days removing wikilinks to Pygmy Marmoset. Not sure why, maybe they are trying to orphan the article. They take 5 minutes to remove the wikilinks, and then disappear. After a few hours, or a day they come back and do it all over again. I went and read WP:AIV, but they say there that IPs have to be active. Where exactly should I report something like this? BeckyAnne(talk) 20:00, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting - try the administrators' incidents noticeboard if it continues. BencherliteTalk 20:28, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I have tagged all four talk pages with a shared ip notice - maybe once they see their college has been "identified" they will cease and desist, but I will keep a watch on them also and if they receive three more warnings, report them to AIV for vandalism. It's not just the Pygmy article though - there are 7 more articles common in between those four accounts, so it might be helpful to put them on your watchlist so we can more easily see the vandalism occuring from this location. ArcAngel (talk) 21:55, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
They almost never edit the Pygmy article it is always articles that wikilink to the it. BeckyAnne(talk) 22:17, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Now it was done by 76.78.147.216 (talk · contribs · WHOIS) which according to whois, is part of the same college. BeckyAnne(talk) 00:41, 3 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Moved to the administrators' incidents noticeboardBeckyAnne(talk) 01:45, 3 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Deletion code, what does this mean?[edit]

I am currently working on a page called The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book and after putting the "in construction" tag on the page, the page was deleted while I was working on it with a message that says: R2: Cross-namespace redirect from mainspace: userfied to User:Talentsmart2/The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book to allow more work before the article is put into mainspace.

What does that mean, and how can I work on my page without having it be continuously deleted? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Talentsmart2 (talkcontribs) 20:16, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It means your article has been moved to this page where you can work on improving it. It's not in the main article space, but in your user space. TNX-Man 20:18, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I moved your page into your userspace because I was not prepared to have a one-sentence article hanging around in the main encyclopaedia on the vague promise that you would be working on it "this week". You had previously been advised to work on the article first before submitting it. I have already left a message on your user talk about this, along with a welcome note. BencherliteTalk 20:21, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I presume that the articule I was working on last Thursday was also moved to that area. Can you please help me access that articule so I can edit it so its not as advertising.Talentsmart2 (talk) 20:31, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

No it wasn't, it was deleted outright. I am not going to resurrect that deleted version across for you, since it was written like an advertisement and you need to start again from the beginning. BencherliteTalk 20:36, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Someone else now has - User:Talentsmart2''/sandbox. BencherliteTalk 20:45, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Same IP?[edit]

Is there a way to tell if these: [3] and [4] are the same person? I'm trying to find the root of a little problem. Is there a template to provide a user who does too much or only user talk page edits in a forum-like environment with a lot of "personal experience" descriptions of drug use. They've found their way to my talk page, yay. Mjpresson (talk) 21:45, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It's likely. WHOIS returns the same ISP for both IPs, meaning if it's not the same person, it's two siblings or two friends with the same ISP. There is no template for this sort of problem; just leave a note on their talkpage explaining (civilly) that whatever they are doing is against Wikipedia rules, and if they start spewing profanities or insults or don't stop, then get an admin involved. Xenon54 (talk) 22:17, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]


Converting Bare References[edit]

I notice some articles have converted "bare referencs" and there is a "tool" or bot that does this. How would I convert bare references using such a tool? [5] is the tool (I think)97.101.183.225 (talk) 23:48, 2 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

There are some bots which do this (badly in my opinion). The easiest way is to do it yourself. A "Bare reference" is where there is only a blind html link like this: [6] and nothing else. Ideally, all references should contain full bibliographic information (author, title, larger work containing it, publication info, etc. etc.) The best way to do this is to use the citation templates found here: WP:CITET. I would recommend opening the bare reference, and converting it to a full reference using the citation templates yourself. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 04:07, 3 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]