Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2010 April 1

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April 1[edit]

"Create PDF" option[edit]

What happened to the "Create PDF" link that used to exist over in the toolbox when viewing an article? I liked that feature. Comet Tuttle (talk) 00:31, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

When you are logged in there should be a "Download as PDF" link in the Print/export box. Do you not have that link? PrimeHunter (talk) 00:40, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

uploading image[edit]

in one of my questions on science desk i wanna put a image <its a bmp file>. while editing the page isn't there a button on which i can click and put a image instantly--Myownid420 (talk) 04:05, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No. Images can be tricky, general advice follows:
  • If you want to add an existing image to an article, add [[Image:File name.jpg|thumb|Caption text.]] to the area of the article where you want the image to appear – replacing File name.jpg with the actual file name of the image, and Caption text with a short description of the image. See our picture tutorial for more information.
  • If you want to upload an image from your computer for use in an article, you must find out what the proper license of the image is. If you know the image is licensed under a free-license, upload it to the Wikimedia Commons instead of here, so that all projects have access to the image (sign up). If you are unsure what license the image takes, see the file upload wizard for more information. Please also read Wikipedia's image use policy. I hope this helps. – ukexpat (talk) 04:09, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

User account for link spam. What to do?[edit]

User http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/Subhash_Prajapati is only contributing linkspam. I didn't find any advice in the FAQ on how to deal with this. Thanks for any suggestions. pgr94 (talk) 09:21, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Spam is considered vandalism and the user may be blocked, if his/her edits are blatant advertising. Kayau Voting IS evil 09:24, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(ec)Serial spammers are essentially dealt with the same way you deal with serial vandals. You simply give them the appropriate warnings (detailed at WP:WARNING), and report to WP:AIV if they continue past the last warning (which I just issued). The only thing to keep in mind is that more likely than with vandals, spammers might not know they are doing anything wrong. But of course, WP:AGF can be thrown out the window when they won't stop. Someguy1221 (talk) 09:28, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the pointers - I didn't know about WP:AIV. pgr94 (talk) 09:36, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

AFD[edit]

I tried to list Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation for AfD using twinkle. But I've had problems getting it listed on the april 1st page. I'm assuming it is some kind of bug with the beta page layout I'm using. Can someone fix the afd. Szzuk (talk) 12:38, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

It's fixed. It was listed at the AfD log properly by its code, but wasn't showing up because the nomination page (the page that is named "Wikipedia articles for deletion/article name") was not formatted properly. Did Twinkle automatically create the nomination page or did you do that manually?--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 12:53, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. Twinkle didn't create the afd page, I waited overnight because there is sometimes a delay but it wasn't there. So then I created the afd page myself, incorrectly it seems. I'm not sure what is up. Szzuk (talk) 13:00, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ah. Well, the code to use on the nomination page you can take directly from here, and is in the form:
{{subst:afd2 | pg=PageName | cat=Category | text=Why the page should be deleted}}~~~~. As for why Twinkle didn't create it, I have no idea (and don't use it) but it might be a good idea to note the problem you had at Twinkle's talk page. Cheers.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 13:27, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Might just do it manually next time! Thanks. Szzuk (talk) 13:32, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Templates[edit]

How does one create a template? Immunize (talk) 13:59, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Simply by going to the appropriate page and creating it. For example, you could go to Template:Name of template here and insert the material you want (changing the title, obviously). TNXMan 14:03, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There is also a detailed guide to templates at Help:Template. TNXMan 14:05, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have created a couple of (simple) ones by shamelessly stealing the code from other similar templates. For example, I cobbled together {{Feedbackreply}} (yes I know it needs work, but at least it has documentation!) from {{Helpdeskreply}} (which has no documentation!). Create in userspace first, then trial and error. – ukexpat (talk) 14:34, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Lol, so have I! :) ♪ ♫ Wifione ♫ ♪ ―Œ ♣Łeave Ξ мessage♣ 10:32, 2 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

How do I edit the title of an article?[edit]

There is an article for my company which was created back in 2008 - although we've edited the content some the title of the article is our company name which currently is missing a word.

Can I edit the title of the article so it refelects the company's full legal name?

69.9.15.98 (talk) 18:12, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

It would have to be moved to a new title, but only autoconfirmed editors can do that. And see also the naming conventions for companies at WP:NCCORP, and our guidance on editing with a conflict of interest at WP:COI. – ukexpat (talk) 18:20, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've moved Global Solar to Global Solar Energy as this isn't a controversial move. Chris Cunningham (not at work) - talk 09:40, 2 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Approval of revised version of Wikipedia article[edit]

The current article Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee is not very good. It contains just a few sentences which are not sourced very well. I've written a more developed alternative version, updated now that it has been created and is in the news. This version can be found on my user page here. I would update this myself now but I am affiliated with one group listed in the Controversy section (ALG) so I am hoping that another editor see this as an improvement and move it over. Please make this change at your convenience. Or if there is consensus it is OK for me to add it, I can do that, but I thought it would be better to ask. Thanks. --As in liberty (talk) 19:29, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I suggest that you begin a discussion on the article's talk page or on the discussion page of the relevant WikiProject to gain consensus for your suggested changes. – ukexpat (talk) 19:34, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. There has only been one edit to that page ever. This is why I ask. I can ask some at that Wikiproject though. But what if they don't reply? --As in liberty (talk) 19:47, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Then come back here or ask at Requests for feedback. – ukexpat (talk) 19:55, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Broken new messages banner[edit]

Resolved
 –  – ukexpat (talk) 20:38, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I clicked on the last change button in the new messages banner, and it logged me out. Is something wrong? NERDYSCIENCEDUDE (✉ messagechanges) 19:58, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Never mind. It appeared to be an April Fools joke. NERDYSCIENCEDUDE (✉ messagechanges) 20:00, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Annoying isn't it? – ukexpat (talk) 20:38, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Notification that I have new messages[edit]

Hi, newbie here. I understand (basically) that the orange-box alert message will appear when I have a new message on my Talk page. But I can't find the answer to the following question in any of the FAQs, how-to's, etc.:

If I respond on my Talk page to a message another user has placed there, will the other user in turn be notified that I've left them a message, or do I need to answer on that user's Talk page?

If possible, please reply on my Talk page.

Thanks for your help! --Jackftwist (talk) 21:58, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No he or she will not receive a notification, but generally speaking if someone leaves you a message on your talk page they will check back or add your talk page to their watchlist, so there is no need for you to worry about them not seeing it. it is generally better to respond on your talk page rather than theirs as it keeps the conversation in one place. Theresa Knott | token threats 22:02, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
As Theresa says; but if you are concerned they might not see it, you can edit their user page and put the template {{talkback|your user name}}, usually at the top. This will add a message to their user page saying that there is a message for them at your user page. --ColinFine (talk) 00:10, 2 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

soxred93[edit]

On this tool, toolserver.org/~soxred93, it is now asking to opt in to graphs and to create the page. I want to opt in and get the monthly contribution comparison graphs, how is this working, do I create the page and then if I do what code do I add there? Off2riorob (talk) 22:00, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Just create a page called User:Off2riorob/EditCounterOptIn.js with any content in it. .js subpages can only be created by the owner of the account, which means that there mere existence of such a page verifies that the user in question wants to opt in. For example, this is my own opt-in page Excirial (Contact me,Contribs) 22:50, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Got it, thanks Excrital, done. Off2riorob (talk) 23:26, 2 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Using Book Creator[edit]

I have recently created an account on Wikipedia and am trying to save a book with the Book Creator feature. The Help:Books page mentions a "Save and share your book" section, and also a "Save book" button....neither of which I see on the "Book" page. I read on another page that this feature was in development in early 2009....is this still the case? Is there currently any way to save a book other than to download it as a PDF file? DrWikiBook 22:59, 1 April 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by DrWikiBook (talkcontribs)

Perhaps you have misunderstood to what "book" page was referring. If you have already added pages to your book, go to Special:Book, where you can manage your book. At the bottom right, there's a section called "Save and share your book". Proceed from there. You can only download it as PDF or OpenDocument format. See this for more information. Goodvac (talk) 23:11, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]