Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 August 24

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August 24

How to reference an academic thesis?

What is the correct cite template to use for a Masters or Doctoral thesis? This is the one I'm struggling with. It is not a book or a journal article. Roger (talk) 07:45, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Would {{Cite thesis}} work for you? Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 07:55, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! (Note to self - do better searches before posting here!) Roger (talk) 07:58, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

{{Cite journal}} is used for academic papers— see the documentation. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 10:29, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

{{Cite journal}} is for publications in scientific journals, such as Mathematics of Computation. A thesis is not a publication by a scientific journal, therefore {{Cite thesis}} should be used in this case. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 11:15, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Follow-up question - Does the fact that the thesis is available for downloading in PDF format on the college or university's website mean it is published? Most theses are also available in book form from the institution's library - does the existence of a small number of dead tree copies in one library qualify as publication. Whether a work is published or not is a determining factor in selecting the correct cite template, but "published" is not defined. Roger (talk) 07:51, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Based on Template:Cite thesis/doc#Usage purpose, I think the idea is that a thesis ought to be available in the manner you've described to be citable in Wikipedia at all, and that's the intended use of {{cite thesis}}. {{cite book}} seems to be for theses that have been "published" in the sense of having been issued for public sale. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 10:20, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Formatting problem with section heading on my userpage

On my userpage in the section User:Toshio Yamaguchi#WikiProjects, the header of the next section, "Archive reference links with WebCite" appears to the right of the second userbox. I want it to appear below the userboxes. How can I do this? I can't seem to figure it out. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 09:27, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

 Done See this edit. You're welcome, Dismas|^(talk) 09:59, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Cool. Thanks Dismas. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 10:21, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Fixing links to the English Place-Name Society database

A number of English place articles have references to the English Place-Name Society database at Nottingham University for the origins of the name. Unfortunately the database has been recently moved, and so the links now fail.

For example, the origin of "Yeardsley cum Whaley" , referenced in Whaley Bridge, was at

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~cczappdv/epnnewmap/detailpop.php?placeno=11721

but is now at

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~aezins/kepn/detailpop.php?placeno=11721

Is there any way of automating (or semi-automating) the task of fixing these links?

WhaleyTim (talk) 10:54, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

You can find the pages containing http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ by using Special:LinkSearch; see [1]. You can do aemi-automated editing with WP:AWB. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 11:09, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks Gadget850 - I'll give that a try. WhaleyTim (talk) 11:12, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Everyday I Wake Up On the Wrong Side of Capitalism

I'm just about to leave work, so I don't have a minute to fix this (if I even can due to copying over pages with moves or whatever need be done). Anyway, an editor has created articles for Everyday I Wake Up On the Wrong Side of Capitalism and Every Day I Wake Up On the Wrong Side of Capitalism. They seem to be about the same thing but one has a talk page comment and one doesn't. So, could someone straighten it out? Thanks, Dismas|^(talk) 11:04, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Sure thing. Both pages were identical, and each only had one revision, so I just redirected Everyday I Wake Up On the Wrong Side of Capitalism to Every Day I Wake Up On The Wrong Side Of Capitalism, and moved the talk page as well. ^Avic_ennasis @ 11:11, 24 Av 5771 / 11:11, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! If I hadn't posted, I would have completely forgotten about this on my drive home. Dismas|^(talk) 19:25, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

How to USE Wikipedia to ask about general knowledge

My computer savvy is quite deficient, but I have checked around your various pages, because I have questions about one of your articles (Space tourism), but I don't know how to ask. This current page I'm typing on, as you know, says it is NOT for knowledge questions---I accept that---but I can't find WHERE to ask such questions! Please answer via E mail because if you answer on Wikipedia, I won't even know where to find THAT answer!!

Thanks,

John D.,<redacted> — Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.137.67.189 (talk) 11:47, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Email address redacted. Have you tried looking at WP:Reference desk? —Jeremy v^_^v ^{Components:V S M} 11:48, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

I left a message at the IPs talk page pointing to this section here at the help desk. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 11:55, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

If your question is about the Space tourism article, you could ask on the article's talk page. - David Biddulph (talk) 12:06, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Not if his question is a general knowledge question about the article. The talk page is only for questions/discussion on improving the article. Ryan Vesey Review me! 13:01, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

The OP's question at Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science does look as if it, and its answer, could contribute to improving the article. - David Biddulph (talk) 13:05, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Ahh, I didn't realize he was asking about something that was missing from the article. Ryan Vesey Review me! 13:11, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Yes. It's important to understand the difference between a question about the article and a question about the subject of the article. The thread title might have implied the latter, but (as it turns out) the OP apparently intended the former. - David Biddulph (talk) 14:15, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Wrong Birthday: Adam Gazda Bio

Hi All,

In the Adam Gazda Wiki his birthday is incorrect. He was born Macrh 20, 1987 not April 20th, 1987. You can verify this through any documentation of his while at Lehigh University. If needed I can have Adam Gazda himself verify this information as well.

Thanks! Kayla Smith — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.233.36.71 (talk) 14:54, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

See the article again. It states March, not April. Anyone can edit Wikipedia (including YOU). So, false information is added and then corrected all the time. -- kainaw™ 15:07, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict)Since there was no source for the original birthday, I have taken your word for it and changed it. It would be beneficial if you could provide a link to a webpage stating that his birthday is on March 20, 1987. Ryan Vesey Review me! 15:08, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

BLP info such as birth dates really should be cited. I went to the USL soccer official web site and found that they have team rosters which list all the players birthdays. It's cited now. Dismas|^(talk) 19:00, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Australian edition

I seem to have the Australian Edition of Wikipedia. I live in Ireland and I could understand it if I had the British or American editions, but why the Australian edition? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.77.43.3 (talk) 18:17, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

There are many language editions of Wikipedia, but Strine isn't one of them. - David Biddulph (talk) 18:22, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedias are organised by language, not by country. What are you seeing that makes you think this is an Australian edition? (It might be something that is covered by WP:ENGVAR) --ColinFine (talk) 20:28, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

State Bank of Mauritius

User:Deepakanandd has several time now blanked this article and replaced it with a copy of a legal case against the bank. I need an administrator to warn them off. Regards, Acad Ronin (talk) 18:25, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

What you posted on their talk page is the right thing to do. If they continue, you can report it at WP:Administrator intervention against vandalism. —Akrabbim^talk 18:32, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Transfer and rename

I believe this file is too simple to be copyrighted and doesn't pass the threshold of originality. Could you transfer it on commons? It should be also renamed because the single's currect name is "There's No Home for You Here", not "There's No Room..."--79.27.161.108 (talk) 19:25, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

You can replace the FUR licensing template with {{PD-textlogo}} or {{PD-ineligible}} and request a renaming of the file with a {{Rename media}} template.-- Obsidi♠n Soul 05:47, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

And for the transfer on Commons?--79.27.161.108 (talk) 09:51, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Add a {{Copy to Wikimedia Commons}} template to the file page. -- Obsidi♠n Soul 10:06, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

 Done. I suppose I didn't do wrong.--79.27.161.108 (talk) 13:01, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Yep, looks good. Just wait for a file mover or an admin to fill in the requests.-- Obsidi♠n Soul 13:23, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

subst

Hi, is it possible to {{subst}} articles in the same way as templates? It would be helpful with an article merge I'm planning for several compilation albums which I want to incorporate into a discography article. Cheers TheRetroGuy (talk) 19:38, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Yes, see WP:SUBST. – ukexpat (talk) 19:44, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Can you direct me to the right one? TheRetroGuy (talk) 20:02, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Per Help:Substitution: To substitute the current content of a page in mainspace (i.e. one with no namespace prefix), two colons are required, as in {{subst::Page}}. Jarkeld (talk) 20:07, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Cool, thanks for that. TheRetroGuy (talk) 20:10, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Rex Rabbit title

The Rex rabbit page is mis-named "The Standard Rex Rabbit" All the references listed on the page correctly refer to the breed as the Rex Rabbit, but the page itself is misnamed. After the mini rex was developed some people began refering to the Rex as standard Rex in reference to its size, not as part of the breed name. Is there a way to correct this page title? Thanks, — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.81.52.109 (talk) 19:45, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Yes, see WP:Requested moves. – ukexpat (talk) 19:47, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

 Moved. — Kudu ^~I/O~ 20:27, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Image licence question

This was asked at Talk:Salty liquorice. There is an image on the Internet taken of Finnish salty liquorice at http://img.thedailywtf.com/images/201002/souv/IMG_0035.JPG. At http://thedailywtf.com/Comments/Souvenir-Potpourri-Salmiak-Attack.aspx#300391, the creator of the image says he is licensing it under Creative Commons. Is this enough for the image to be uploaded to Wikipedia? JIP | Talk 20:28, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Not quite, as there are many kinds of Creative Commons licenses. The creator must have released it specifically under CC-BY, CC-BY-SA or CC-Zero (Public domain) for it to be usable by Wikipedia. BY and SA mean Attribution and Share-Alike respectively (any usage of the file has to credit the original author and any derivatives must be released under the same license). Be careful because Wikipedia can not accept Creative Commons licenses with a Noncommercial (NC) stipulation. So CC-BY-NC and CC-BY-NC-SA are not eligible for upload to Wikipedia.

Ask him to explicitly say that he is releasing it under CC-BY or CC-BY-SA. He can also actually upload it himself.

However, the picture includes identifiable trademarks. Not too sure what the usual policy is for that, but I think all you need to do is add a {{trademark}} to the file page. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this.-- Obsidi♠n Soul 06:00, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Book in progress is gone

All the articles i collected for a book have been erased to 0. Do i have to start over? I've been working on it the whole day, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You/ Coco-snow (talk) 21:41, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

See the answer to your question at Wikipedia:New contributors' help page/questions. - David Biddulph (talk) 21:47, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

Interlanguage map?

Does anyone know where I can locate the page that specifies how the software displays interlanguage links in the sidebar for the English Wikipedia? More specifically, a user has proposed here that the tooltip for interlanguage links display the language in English, i.e., for the interlanguage link in Michael Dukakis to the Greek Wikipedia article, which currently displays as Ελληνικά, we would have have instead Ελληνικά (hover over each to see the difference). Changing this is probably technically easy; if we can't do it, then a developer can, but it may be a slog, because I imagine there remains the grunt work of adding the English language name for each of the 281 other language Wikipedias.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 21:51, 24 August 2011 (UTC)

The feature would require a developer. It was suggested as bugzilla:5231 in 2006. The English names of the languages can be seen at meta:List of Wikipedias. If the developers don't want to maintain hundreds of language names in hundreds of languages then perhaps it could be implemented as a page called something like MediaWiki:Language names in each Wikipedia, to be edited by the local admins. Then the MediaWiki software could periodically read these pages and use them when generating tooltips for the sidebar. If a language is not named in the MediaWiki page then it could simply be omitted from the tooltip. I rarely contribute to Bugzilla but feel free to pass on my idea if you like it. PrimeHunter (talk) 01:48, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

User:Tra/sidebartranslate.js may do something similar - it turns the sometimes obscure IL links into the names of the languages. – ukexpat (talk) 13:50, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

As with many bugzilla report responses, there's not much to sink your teeth into teeth into. There's a conflict asserted but no detail. They say because its "200+ it's a problem without any substance as to why. Someone opines that the undefined problem is resolved by some new extension and then it just trails off. Frustratingly opaque if you are not well-versed in the underlying software architecture that implements the feature. Well aware of the list of WIkipedias (see my post at the village pump where I referred to it). I'll add to the bugzilla report, and maybe ask other to do so at the pump discussion so as to possibly bump up its importance level from "Lowest enhancement" and ask about a local implementation.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 18:40, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

I actually already have that in my monobook.js. I support this sitewide though because it would be a boon for many editors.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 18:40, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Sounds like a useful tool to propose as WP:VP/T. DMacks (talk) 20:15, 25 August 2011 (UTC)