Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 February 27

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February 27

Confusion getting started

If we want to establish a wikipedia page that is headed by our name, followed by Biography, references, etc. How do we do that? So far I could only find something that talked about starting a user page. The top line reads: USER: and then my name. I've seen pages, lets say that show a person's name (without the word user in front of it) and then the biography ,etc. such as George Washington Carver. How does one create that kind of page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wayne James Sheppard (talk • contribs) 01:24, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

If you are trying to create a page on yourself, don't. Most likely you won't qualify for a page on yourself. Note WP:GNG and WP:AUTO. CTJF83 01:32, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

(edit conflict) See WP:YFA, WP:BIO, and WP:AUTOBIO. In general you should not write an autobiography on Wikipedia. Use WikiBios for that. Good luck. --Teratornis (talk) 01:34, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

answer required

prove that after reflection oblique lattice gives rays to rectangular lattice —Preceding unsigned comment added by 115.248.105.94 (talk) 05:02, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Welcome to Wikipedia. Your question appears to be a homework question. I apologize if this is a misinterpretation, but it is our policy here not to do people's homework for them, but to merely aid them in doing it themselves. Letting someone else do your homework does not help you learn nearly as much as doing it yourself. Please attempt to solve the problem or answer the question yourself first. If you need help with a specific part of your homework, feel free to tell us where you are stuck and ask for help. If you need help grasping the concept of a problem, by all means let us know.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 05:22, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

deer feeding

Can you tell me if deer eat bread, such as that which you might throw out for the birds? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.81.72.84 (talk) 05:06, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Have you tried the miscellaneous section of Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in answering knowledge questions there; this help desk is only for questions about using Wikipedia. For your convenience, here is the link to post a question there: click here. I hope this helps.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 05:24, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Yes, they do. Darn things eat pretty much everything that's not running away, the overgrown vermin.--Danger (talk) 12:38, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

editing a "side panel"

i was wondering a) where does the information on the side panels come from, and b)how do i edit information on a side panel. specifically i was viewing the page on cobalt and on the side saw a panel with different information such as atomic radius, and was wondering what the source for that was and how i can edit it if i feel the info is not correct — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bskramer (talk • contribs) 08:06, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

At the top of the source for Cobalt you'll see {{Infobox cobalt}}. This transcludes Template:Infobox cobalt. If you want to change that you would need (as for any other edit) a reliable source. - David Biddulph (talk) 08:31, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

(e/c) Cobalt (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

In most articles you edit the "info box" by clicking "Edit" and changing the text at the top of the article. The Cobalt article is an exception; the info box is at Infobox cobalt. The radii were changed by Materialscientist (talk · contribs) in this edit following this discussion.

I suggest you ask either at User talk:Materialscientist or at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Elements. I may be missing something, but it does seem odd that the article does not give a source for the figures in the info box. -- John of Reading (talk) 08:38, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Cobalt is not an exception - all element articles (maybe except for some heaviest elements) use the same system. Their infobox can be edited by clicking "e" at their bottom. We can't easily list references for all data there - they are summarized in Chemical_elements_data_references. Materialscientist (talk) 08:45, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I hope nobody minds but I have a side question about the infobox. Why are elements different from every other article with an infobox that I've encountered before? Why do we use a separate template for the infoboxes instead of just putting them in the articles like for celebrities, politicians, etc.? Dismas|^(talk) 10:34, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I dug around a little and found Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Elements/Archive 7#New infobox template, Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Elements/Archive 8#separate pages for infoboxes, Wikipedia:WikiProject Elements/Guidelines#Reference data pages. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:18, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

It looks like Wikipedia:WikiProject Elements places element infoboxes in templates and not directly in the article for efficiency, control, and consistency. -- Uzma Gamal (talk) 09:27, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Loretta_Jafelice

Hi! I created an article about little-known voice actress called Loretta_Jaflice who voice acted in Sailor Moon. Would links from Tv.com and Imdb be a good enough source so the article doesn't get deleted? Thanks! Neptunekh2 (talk) 10:39, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I don't know much about Tv.com, but IMDb is not reliable. It is a wiki, that anyone can edit, and wikis are generally not reliable. You can ask here if the sites above are reliable.-- ♫Greatorangepumpkin♫ T 11:04, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

TV.com is not reliable, as much information is added by the users. You can ask this type of question at WP:RSN and you can check the archives there. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 12:57, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

You can also ask for help at Wikipedia:WikiProject Anime and manga. There are some resources there to help find reliable sources for anime-related topics, which includes voice actresses. Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 04:32, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Image alignment problem in article

In the article New Horizons, in section 'Jupiter Gravity Assist' I tried to arrange multiple images of Jupiter and the moons in one row. I used the multiple image template. However, now the whole gallery appears misaligned in my browser and shifted a bit upwards in a way such that it crosses into the previous section a bit. What can I do to fix this and have the gallery aligned the right way? Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 11:29, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

The Template:Clear can sometimes be used succesfuly to stop images running into the section below. You just place it at the end of the section. --Aspro (talk) 12:24, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I see you inserted the template, while I was trying to insert it. Just another question: Can the gallery be made to be left-aligned instead of hanging on the right side of the article like it does right now? Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 12:33, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

This gallery template might be better:Wikipedia:Gallery tag. See the see also in the lower section about more on galleries. I suggest you bookmark or make a note of them as it is easy to forget which was which the next time you need one. --Aspro (talk) 12:48, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Hang on a minute.. I meant this pageTemplate:Image gallery. It is more flexible and you can choose the left right center justification--Aspro (talk) 12:58, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Resolved

 – Used Template Multiple image with parameter align set to left. --Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 13:33, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Cite template not working?

I left the following message at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical) over 24 hours ago, but received no response whatsoever:-

The cite template does not appear to be working. The RH option is now headed <cite-section-label> which when selected produces a drop down <cite-template-list> (I don't remember either of these having < > before) When clicking the down arrow and selecting cite web (or any of the others), I get a totally blank form with nothing to say what goes in which box. (I'm using IE8, XP, Vector) Arjayay (talk) 12:21, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I guess you are not referring to Template:Cite but to the "Cite" link above the edit box which can be used to insert certain citation templates. It works for me. Try to clear your entire cache. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:00, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Yes I am referring to the cite link above the edit box.
No, I tried clearing the cache yesterday, and again today, it still looks exactly the same, i.e. totally unusable.Arjayay (talk) 17:10, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I have tested IE8 on Windows Vista with Vector and get the same error in IE8's compatibility mode, but not in normal mode. I can switch compatibility mode on and off with a broken page icon to the right of the address bar. There is nothing wrong for me in Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome. As said at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)/Archive 123#Cite template not working?, this may be better to discuss at Wikipedia talk:RefToolbar 2.0. PrimeHunter (talk) 18:30, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I don't have a complete answer, but I'll pass one what little I do know. The Cite option used to be an optional items selected form preferences. There was a request to make it on by default, which appears to have happened, and presumably rolled out with the latest software upgrade. I do note the appearance is different. It is working for me, but i am using Mozilla. I just checked my office computer, which uses IE7, and I don't see the option at all. I don't have IE8 anywhere, so i can't check that. However, I note that the form to be filled in is a pop up box - is it possible you have pop ups disabled? (By "pop ups" I mean browser pop ups, not the navigation popups.)--SPhilbrickT 18:41, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

A point of clarification: RefTools was approved before the upgrade, but not added until after the upgrade just in case there were problems. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 21:07, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

See [[ Wikipedia talk:RefToolbar 2.0#Troubleshooting]]. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 19:23, 2 March 2011 (UTC)

Pianoforte and others

Hi! I love the idea that people can edit and improve your oages, but what is the point if the edits are dumped within a few days? I am piano historian, and in a very good position to point out many errors and misleading items on your pages about pianoforte etc., but when I have edited them in the past, the edits are taken off again soon afterwards. Do you doubt that I know what I am talking about? Ask people who deal with piano history every day. For example, you apply the term "pianoforte" to Cristofori's original Italian instruments. This is not correct. It is a German term used after Cristofori's death for German instruments, although some people apply it to early pianos with no iron frame.

Bill Kibby-Johnson

Piano Histotry Centre

www.pianogen.org —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.15.82.117 (talk) 15:41, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Edits will be removed if they don't reference reliable sources. Please read WP:V and WP:RS. Your own knowledge is classified as original research. - David Biddulph (talk) 16:31, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

But since you are a piano historian, you probably have access to a bookshelf full of reliable sources. Your familiarity with the subject and the sources could be very valuable to the project - just be sure that everything you write is backed up by references to the sources so that people reading the encyclopedia could, in theory, check what you have written. There's a relevant essay at Wikipedia:Expert editors. -- John of Reading (talk) 16:45, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

This is the only edit by the IP adresss you used to post here so we cannot see your edits and examine why they were apparently reverted. Maybe they were misformatted, maybe they were unsourced, maybe the reverts were explained in the edit summary in the page history, but it's impossible to say based on your information here. Can you give the used IP address or account name? Or post diffs from the page histories? Wikipedia has millions of articles and I personally know almost nothing about pianos. I suggest you create an account so your edits are connected, explain your edits in the edit summary, and use talk pages to discuss disagreements with other editors. Expert editors are appreciated but they don't have special rights over articles, and they have to cite sources when challenged. Many editors will look for your sources and not for your background. PrimeHunter (talk) 16:53, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Cristofori died in 1731 and this book from 1830 talks about "As to the pianoforte of Cristofori, its merit does not appear to have been appreciated by his countrymen, for the harpsichord continued to be in use, as well in Italy as in France." This shows usage of the term pianoforte during Cristofori's life. The fortepiano and Bartolomeo Cristofori articles do not seem clear on the point you made, but it certainly could use an expert like yourself to improve it. You may want to consider applying Template:Cite book to your edits, using books in your library or from Google books. -- Uzma Gamal (talk) 08:59, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Book link

Is there a template if you wish to link just one book to a page? - Talk to you later, Presidentman (talk) Random Picture of the Day (Talkback) 16:37, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

The easiest option is the "cite" button above the edit pane, then choose the "book" option. If you want a template, try Template:Cite book. - David Biddulph (talk) 16:54, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Your question didn't give enough context so I looked at your contributions. You are working on Book:Rhode Island and have used {{Book bar}} so I guesss this is about Wikipedia:Books. {{Book bar}} links to {{Wikipedia-Books}}. Is that what you want? PrimeHunter (talk) 17:02, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

NEW HERBAL PRODUCTS

Dear Sir, I am in search of a HERBAL RESEARCHER who can be able to develop some DRINKABLE HERBAL WATER in diff indications for our Co, we are willing to manufacture and market the same in Pakistan. Would you like to provide me such information for a person or any institution. Please I am looking for your help.

Thanks Sajid Jafri Company name and email removed —Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.160.56.131 (talk) 18:00, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 3.5 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for asking questions related to using or contributing to Wikipedia itself. Thus, we have no special knowledge about the subject of your question. You can, however, search our vast catalogue of articles by typing a subject into the search field on the upper right side of your screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we have a reference desk, divided into various subject areas, where asking knowledge questions is welcome. Best of luck.  Chzz  ►  18:03, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Erroneous information

I was looking for a song by the band HEART and I found that Wikipedia states that the song "Unchained Melody" is listed as being released on vinyl in 1980 as part of a greatest hits love songs package. This is incorrect, the song was actually released on vinyl but it debuted on the album "Magazine" in the 70's.Litosky (talk) 19:22, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Feel free to change it, but don't forget to add reliable sources; original researches are not enough to make Wikipedia reliable.-- ♫Greatorangepumpkin♫ T 20:50, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Getting started with disambiguating

The Cerro Grande page is currently a stub about a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It may be identical to Cerro Grande do Sul, but I don't know for sure. Another noteworthy Cerro Grande is the summit near Los Alamos, which lacks its own Wikipedia page but is mentioned briefly on the Cerro Grande Fire page. I'm thinking of turning Cerro Grande into a disambiguation page that refers to Cerro Grande do Sul and an as-yet-nonexistent Cerro Grande summit page, which itself will be a stub that takes the reader to the Cerro Grande Fire page. I have two questions:

1. Is this the right approach?
2. Is there anything special I need to do before/after completely rewriting the Cerro Grande page into a disambiguation page?

I've never written a disambiguation page or even created a new page from scratch, so I felt I should ask before being "too bold" and winding up producing a lot of undo work for others.

Scott Pakin (talk) 19:37, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Hi, first of all, don't rewrite the Cerro Grande page untill you have moved the current content to a new name, using the move button on the top of the page. From what I see in the template on the bottom Cerro Grande and Cerro Grande do Sul are two different entities. The content of Cerro Grande should therefor be saved by moving it to another name ( for example "Cerro Grande (Noroeste)"). Once this is moved, you should fix all links to the old name and change them to the new name. You can see what links there are to a page on the left under "toolbox", "What links here". Once this is done, you can then overwrite the redirect you just created and make it into a disambiguation page. You may have use of Wikipedia:Disambiguation. -- Cheers, Taketa (talk) 20:43, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Thanks, Taketa! That was very informative. However, I'm a bit puzzled by the "What links here?" page for Cerro Grande, which shows four dozen entries. I clicked on a few of them arbitrarily but found no links to Cerro Grande. What's up with that, and how do I get Wikipedia to show me only "true" links to Cerro Grande? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Spakin (talk • contribs) 01:43, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Many entries at Special:WhatLinksHere/Cerro Grande are transcluding {{Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul}} which contains a link to Cerro Grande under "Mesoregion Noroeste Rio-Grandense". PrimeHunter (talk) 05:02, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Got it. I renamed "Cerro Grande" to "Cerro Grande, Rio Grande do Sul"; I edited the transcluded {{Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul}} page to use the new name; I turned Cerro Grande into a disambiguation page; and I created a stub Cerro Grande (New Mexico) page that refers to the summit. Whew! -- Scott Pakin (talk) 08:36, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

There also is Cerro Ciénaga Grande -- Uzma Gamal (talk) 08:36, 28 February 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. I added that to my new Cerro Grande disambiguation page, too. -- Scott Pakin (talk) 08:36, 6 March 2011 (UTC)