Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2008 August 24

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.

August 24

Contents

How do you make a table of contents? There is nothing about it in the tutorial.ILuvJisung (talk) 06:50, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I've found they are automatically created after 4 sections are made. If you want to do it manually you can use {{TOCleft}} or {{TOCright}} —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bvlax2005 (talk • contribs)

See more about these and other options at Help:Section. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:24, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Access to sources

Hi. A few months back, I saw a page where users with access to paid sources could fetch articles for other users. I have forgotten where it is located however, and need assistance finding it. Thanks. RedThunder 00:03, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I believe you're looking for Wikipedia:WikiProject Resource Exchange--danielfolsom 00:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

incorrect information

does anyone besides users check to see if someone has put up information that is incorect? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.186.131.119 (talk) 01:24, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

What do you mean by 'user'? Only people using Wikipedia check Wikipedia's information, more or less by definition. Algebraist 01:26, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Sometimes articles are reviewed by outside sources. For example the articles on Bill Clinton and Global Warming were reviewed by university professors and the results were published. However this is a rare, voluntary thing. — Realist² 01:45, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Algebraist was saying that it is practically impossible for non-users of Wikipedia to review information on Wikipedia. Even if these people (e.g. professors) had never previously checked Wikipedia, they become users as soon as they review a Wikipedia article. A user is anyone who uses Wikipedia in any way, and is distinct from an editor (editors are a subset of users). — Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 04:26, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

See WP:V, WP:RS, WP:NOR, and WP:CITE. Everything on Wikipedia that isn't widely known is supposed to cite a reliable source, many of which are online and reachable through external links. Therefore, the information on Wikipedia should be as reliable as its sources. If you see any unsourced claims on Wikipedia that look suspicious, you can mark them with the {{fact}} template. If you see something on Wikipedia that does not accurately reflect what the sources say, then feel free to correct the error. As far as reliability goes, Wikipedia's articles vary widely in popularity. Some articles attract very few readers, and some of those may contain errors that persist for a long time. (The relevant unit of "time" for a Wikipedia article might be the edit, rather than the clock time. An article which gets 50 edits per day is likely to mature faster than an article that gets one edit per month, although the skill and intentions of the editor(s) would have a huge impact.) Presumably, articles that attract lots of readers will also have lots of editors, who hopefully correct the errors. Wikipedia disabled its page hit counters, so you cannot easily tell how many people are reading an article (unless the various third-party sites which try to present this information actually work), but you can look at an article's history and see how many people have edited an article. As Wikipedia grows in importance, there may be collaborative filtering projects which attempt to rate the reliability of Wikipedia's articles and perhaps individual editors as well. --Teratornis (talk) 04:24, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

need help logging in - forgotten password/new email address

I can't remember whether I have already registered - I think I did a long time ago as my name already exists as an account but I can't remember my password - and any email address I gave originally is no longer in existence so a new password emailed to it is not going to be any help! It is important I can be identified when I put an edit up on the site I wish to correct. Obviously I'm slightly concerned that someone else is using my name (they may of course genuinely have the same surname and initial), but I think I did log on a couple of years ago and I want to keep the same user name. How can I get back in? 79.74.229.134 (talk) 01:30, 24 August 2008 (UTC).

If you can't remember the password or access the email, then you can't get into the account, so you'd better create a new one. You can redirect the old account's userpage to the new one and put an explanatory note on the new one if you want (after making sure the old account is yours, of course). Algebraist 01:34, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Additionally, you can request usurpation of the old account (again, if you are sure the old account is actually yours). Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 01:39, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Sorry if being dim but how do I access the old acount's user page if I can't log in? 79.74.229.134 (talk) 02:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

In the search bar on the left, type in User:YOURUSERNAME, replacing YOURUSERNAME with the one you want, and press enter. Cheers! TN‑X-Man 02:10, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Wikicode box

Has anyone noticed that the box for special characters under the edit field is doesn't work now? You can still copy and paste the code, but half of the characters that used to be there (such as cryillic alphabet and such) are no longer available and you can't click the text to insert it anymore. Does anyone know why this was removed? Thanks, —Mizu onna sango15^Hello! 01:58, 24 August 2008 (UTC).

I think it was discussed on this same page here. Is this what you were referring to? TN‑X-Man 02:02, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Make sure that your JavaScript works and is not blocked (for example, does Twinkle work for you?) Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 02:06, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, that's the one. I do not think it has anything to do with Js, though! Twinkle doesn't work for me, but only because I run IE and not Firefox. If I'm not the only one who's noticed this error, how can it be just because of Js? Thanks, —Mizu onna sango15^Hello! 02:19, 24 August 2008 (UTC).

Does something like Qui work? As long as your browser supports JavaScript fully it should work (security/script settings in IE might mess with it). Calvin 1998 ^(t-c) 04:05, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

If you get a popup when you load this page, then JavaScript is working. To enable JavaScript in IE, see this page--—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 11:27, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Intank eletric gasoline fuel pump for fuel Injectors. / used for carburetor

will a fuel injector intank pump work with a carburetor —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.127.104.37 (talk) 05:31, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Have you tried the Science 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. PrimeHunter (talk) 05:35, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Spoiler question.

Does the spoiler rule apply to information that is not available to the general public as well as that which is currently available? Specifically, a piece of information on the Secret Invasion page is from an issue not scheduled to be released until 8/27. I was just wondering if that information is included in this rule because there is no way for most people reading to know about it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ryheeles (talk • contribs) 05:35, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean Wikipedia:Spoiler? If the information about the unreleased material is from a reliable source, then it can be included. It should probably be presented something like this: "Before [Issue N] was released, [Publication X] stated that [something] happened to [someone]". When the issue is released, the sentence should be changed to "In [Issue N], [something] happened to [someone]". — Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 06:28, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Merger discussion

The merger discussion on Talk:Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest#Merger_proposal is going no where, we are just arguing with no end in sight. It is impossible to convince the one opposer. Can someone please close the discussion with whichever outcome they see fit. Thanks. Grk1011 (talk) 14:40, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

You could also try WP:MEDCAB - I'll take the case if you do (and want me to) - then you'll get some informal mediation on the dispute, rather than an immediate close Dendodge|Talk^Contribs 14:50, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Editing the article "Gelfand pair"

I tried to open the article "Gelfand pair" in order to edit it. It existed a month ago. However, now when I tried to open it it opens a dialog box to save a file "Gelfand_pair". This file has no extension and I did not manage to open it with any editor. Still, I could find the discussion page on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Gelfand_pair

How can I open and edit this article? 132.77.4.43 (talk) 14:56, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Here is the link to edit the article - http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gelfand_pair&action=edit. It sounds like you were possibly trying to edit an image? Let me know if this helps. Cheers! TN‑X-Man 15:00, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Box at bottom of user page

Yesterday there was a box at the bottom of my and others' user pages with links to contribs, talk, edit count and stuff like that. I thought it was pretty convenient, but it seems to be gone today. Anyone know what I'm talking about or where it went? Grk1011 (talk) 15:22, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I don't think we've ever had that. Are you sure you didn't see it at the bottom of users' contributions pages? Algebraist 15:35, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

You might try {{Usercheck-full}}. --—— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 16:55, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I just remembered more. It also had a button that when i clicked on it it showed a category with all of my sub pages. Grk1011/Stephen (talk) 18:02, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

That's present in the box at the bottom of contrib pages. Algebraist 18:04, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Haha, I just found it and was going to say that. Grk1011/Stephen (talk) 18:20, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

(undent) If you want to add links to all your user subpages and their talk pages, just add this magic-wordsy code to your user page:

*[{{fullurl:Special:Prefixindex|namespace=2}}&from={{PAGENAMEE}} See all my user subpages] and 
[{{fullurl:Special:Prefixindex|namespace=3}}&from={{PAGENAMEE}} all their talk pages]

See it in action on my user page at User:Teratornis#Subpages. (I put an extra line break in the example to make it more readable. You don't need the line break if you put that code on your user page.) --Teratornis (talk) 02:59, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Guidelines for Writing Books

My name is Dale Satre, and I am (or was) the beginning author of the Article "The Big Five" [extinction event(s)]. I am going to embark to create an article about a book titled Shooting at the Moon by Roger Warner. Is there any guidelines for writing about publications here at Wikipedia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dale S. Satre (talk • contribs) 16:42, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I left you a message on your talk page too but have a read through WP:BK, that should be of use to you. Also, don't forget to sign your posts with the 4 tildes ~~~~, —— RyanLupin • (talk) 16:45, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Help with a box

am writing an article called Shooting at the Moon (book). If you follow the link, you'll find a grey box under a main box of text. I do not know how it shows up, but I do deem it unneeded. Any ideas how to erase it without deleting the text inside it?--Dale S. Satre 17:13, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

It was caused by the spaces at the start of some of the lines you typed. That's what leading spaces do in Wikitext, so don't use them if you don't want that effect. Algebraist 17:15, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

posting picture to article

I am writing Shooting at the Moon (book). This website contains the picture of the book I want to post on the web page: [1]. However, i have a limited account, which prohibits me from doing such an action. Can an administrator post the the picture for me? (If copyright law prohibits this, I urge you to abort postage.) (Iam sorry if all my questions are starting to bug you!) --Dale S. Satre 17:58, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Dale_S._Satre"

See Help:Images and other uploaded files and Wikipedia:Fair use criteria for instructions. It looks like you figured it out at Image:Shooting at the Moon.jpg. --Teratornis (talk) 02:29, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Suzan Lewis

This article has been scheduled for deletion. It should not be deleted as it contains factual, historic elements relating to an international celebrity. Thank you for your consideration —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ricksaphire (talk • contribs) 18:14, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

• It's been deleted already.
• It didn't assert the notability of the subject.
• Assuming you are the same Rick Saphire whose website is at www.ricksaphire.com, she's your client.
• You shouldn't be editing articles relating to her, or Jerry Lewis, as you have a WP:COI. 18:52, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia download

I live in a place where there is no internet access. Is there a Wikipedia database available that can be upgraded occasionally? If so where can I find it and how much does it cost?72.11.175.79 (talk) 19:03, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

There are various database dumps available (all free). The raw databases tend not to dump properly and contain lots of stuff (like full details of every edit) you might not want, so you probably want a static HTML dump. Algebraist 19:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

And there was a CD produced a short while back - follow your nose to Wikipedia:V0.5. _Gb^T/c 19:19, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, but that's tiny, out of date, and not free. Algebraist 19:28, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Why the deletion on Biden??

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2008/08/24/more-biden-wiki-wackiness-whole-year-disappears

This is a joke, right? You will be adding the info on Biden's comments about McCain from the 2004 campaign back, right??

If you don't you have exposed this site as a site run by a bunch of biased hacks for Barry Obama. And that my friend is bullsh*t.

ADD IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.81.87.240 (talk) 20:16, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

If you'd bothered to look rather than ranting, you'd know it's there right now. Algebraist 20:19, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

And FYI, it was never removed from the article, it was moved slightly. May I suggest using a more reliable source for your news? Algebraist 20:26, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Good suggestion. The page history (which is visible to everybody) shows the text was moved in this edit with the informative edit summary "moving 2004 section into an intro section here, as he never campaigned for president that year". Your source claims it's missing in the Sunday 11 AM version, but that version is here and as anybody can determine in seconds by searching the page, for example for "McCain", the text is there (including the references). PrimeHunter (talk) 20:43, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

References!!!

I'm creating a page and I've added a reference but I can't seem to get the references below but it keeps on coming up as a black list please help

Jonni Boi 20:59, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

You did it incorrectly; you typed {{reflist)) instead of {{reflist}}Tombomp (talk/contribs) 21:02, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, but when done correctly, the external link turns out to be on the Spam blacklist. Algebraist 21:04, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I understand now, so it won't work??? Jonni Boi 21:05, 24 August 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jonni Boi (talk • contribs)

The ukmix link is to a forum, which is not a reliable source, so should not be used as a reference. It looks like the reason given for it being blacklisted is "excessive linkage for a forum site", which is usually the result of one or more parties trying to linkspam the site into articles. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 21:21, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

can't seem to quote anything on the Yahweh article. It says something about black list?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.135.199.16 (talk) 13:33, 25 August 2008 (UTC) 

Crucifixion

Is there is the crucifixion in present? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Aquitania (talk • contribs) 21:29, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

If I understand you correctly, you want crucifixion#Crucifixion as punishment in modern times. Further questions should go to the Reference desk. Algebraist 21:33, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

crucifixion

Can you tell me the websites that are about crucifixions? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.165.11.18 (talk) 21:46, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

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 21:49, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Created a New Article...

Not all of the information I included from my research showed up but when I click edit it does show up. Can someone please help me fix this. The page is about American Actress and Dancer Katherine "Kat" Slatery.

All of the important information I researched is under edit.

Please help.

Thanks. Lex. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Miltonmilton (talk • contribs) 21:54, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

A reference starting with <ref> must end with </ref>, and there must be an instruction telling where to display the references. See Help:Footnotes. I fixed this and some other things in [1] but somebody has suggested to delete the article. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:18, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

image deletion

What is the template to speedily delete an image i uploaded? Grk1011/Stephen (talk) 21:56, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

{{db-g7}}. Algebraist 21:59, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. Grk1011/Stephen (talk) 22:13, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Notability of Roman Catholic Bishops

User:RFD brought up a comment on my talk page after I had tagged an article he had created as "may fail the general notability guideline for biographies." RFD stated that he believed bishops who had headed dioceses were automatically considered notable. I wasn't so sure about that, so I decided to ask you friendly people at the help desk.

Thanks for your help. Feel free to move this if I posted it in the wrong place. NuclearWarfare ^{contact me}_{My work} 22:48, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Without being able to point to a specific guideline, my gut instinct is that bishops (and I'm assuming this refers to Roman Catholicism) are notable, but that's about as low in the church hierarchy that I would think notability extends. If that wouldn't work, a redirect to the appropriate diocese would be good as well. TN‑X-Man 22:56, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

NW thanks TNX but would still like a fourth opinion, because TNX is unsure. And yes, this was related to Roman Catholic bishops. NuclearWarfare ^{contact me}_{My work} 23:01, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Right as I hit submit, I saw the relevant part of the section header. D'oh! TN‑X-Man 23:07, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Obviously your local vicar isn't notable, a bishop is a bit wobbly, but one who has headed a diocese (as long as the diocese is notable) is definitely notable Dendodge|Talk^Contribs 08:54, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Question about stubs and other tags

I have recently added tags (such as a stub tag) to several articles I stumbled across. Now, my question is this: Is there some automatic script that adds the article to a list of stubs or something? I want to make sure these articles are noticed by those who can and want to edit them. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 3Juno3 (talk • contribs) 23:40, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, articles that have {{stub}} on them are automatically listed. It will happen shortly, if not immediately. However, it may take a while for someone to expand it, so I encourage you to do it yourself.  Mm40 (talk | contribs)  23:46, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

(edit conflict) When you add a stub tag to an article, it is automatically placed in a category with similar stubs. For example, using {{writer-stub}} will place the article in a category with other articles about writers that are stubs. WP:STUB has a lot more details. You should be able to see the category at the bottom of the page to which you added the stub. Cheers! TN‑X-Man 23:49, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Note that stub templates are placed at the bottom like [2] (usually before categories and interlanguage links but that makes no difference to the rendered page). PrimeHunter (talk) 00:12, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

But they should go above a persondata template so that the persondata box is below the stub text. – ukexpat (talk) 00:37, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Red and Green

On my watchlist, there are red and green fonts inside parentheses that say, like (-412) or (+341). What are they?

They indicate how many bytes of data have been added or subtracted by an edit. Also, don't forget to sign your posts by typing ~~~~ after your question. Cheers! TN‑X-Man 23:43, 24 August 2008 (UTC)