Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2011 May 14

Help desk
< May 13	<< Apr | May | Jun >>	May 15 >

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.

May 14

Would like to write an article on an item where I am the first, there are no external verifiable sources

In Australia there is a type of motor vechile in use at some beaches (to launch boats) that is quite interesting and it's use is increasing. It is a unique device, not manufactured by a specific company (made in peoples back sheds) and it has a specific name. This name does not yet appear in any books or online. The name has been in use since the 1950's and there are photos of the device on the internet (without the name). As this device is known by this name and the device is so unique and increasing in use, I feel it is worthy of a spot in Wikipedia (as the first place it will be recorded for people to read about it) but there are no references elsewhere to this item except photos and maybe a blog or two.

Can I get something like this onto Wikipedia ?

I can give history about the first person to build one, the first town where it was used and even discuss how mechanically it works and include photos I have taken of them.

Michael.jenkin (talk) 00:56, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Generally, if something is not reported on by third-party, reliable sources, it isn't notable. See WP:GNG. There mere fact it is unique doesn't really matter.--Bbb23 (talk) 01:11, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

It would help alot if you were to tell us the name of this contraption. That way we could do our own brief research and be able to provide a better answer. Maybe someone here has heard of it and knows roughly what you're talking about. They may have ideas about references that you haven't considered. Dismas|^(talk) 02:29, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

add name to catagory list

how do i add my name to the catagory:american stuntmans list? thanks steve connolly 76.93.219.155 (talk) 02:13, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

You would have to have a Wikipedia page first. CTJF83 02:19, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Yes, see Help:Category. I have reverted your edit to Category:American stunt performers. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:46, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Wolof language in Senegal

Hello

The Wikipedia page on Tambacounda Region, Senegal, says "Some Wolof has made its way into Senegal". This is misleading, as the language is spoken by 40% of Senegalese people, according to the Wikipedia page on Wolof language. I was born in Senegal and have visited the country. Wolof is considered one of its national languages, but you'd have to fact check that.

Thanks

(PS - Sorry for not doing the edit myself, or put in a link between the "Tambacounda Region" and "Wolof language" because I have not so done before and the process seems somewhat complicated. A barrier to entry, no doubt.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.7.160.199 (talk) 05:29, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I reworded it to "Its official language is French, but Wolof is more widely spoken in Sénégal." Is that correct? The two references I found all say that around 90% of Senegalese people can speak and understand Wolof with around 50% who speak it as a first language. Let me know if it should be something else.

Also linking articles in Wikipedia are as simple as adding two opening and closing square brackets around the exact spelling (including case) of the article title. :) To link Tambacounda region for example, you write [[Tambacounda region]], this gives you: Tambacounda region (More info can be found here: Wikipedia:Manual of Style (linking))-- Obsidi♠n^Soul 06:58, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Diff

Hai, I have made changes in this page. But it resulted in edit conflict. Can someone solve it for me? thanks in advance--Priya Nithya (talk) 09:25, 14 May 2011 (UTC) http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tamil_Nadu_legislative_assembly_election,_2011&action=submit

Hello, I'm sorry but we can not actually see what you wrote unless you save it (only you can see it at the moment). Edit conflicts happen when two editors are making changes to the article at the same time. This means while you were writing those changes, another editor had already changed parts of it. The only solution is to manually copy your changes from the bottom box into the top box then save it. You can also simply overwrite his changes and then restore it manually afterward.

You can read more about it here: Help:Edit conflict

You might also want to copy your version into Wordpad or something similar and save it to your computer just in case the text gets lost.-- Obsidi♠n^Soul 09:35, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Why is there no information on the important World War ll Dambusters Pilot George, L, 'johnny' Johnson

I was searching for information on this all important Pilot from the UK Royal Air Force during the dambusting missions in the world War ll period. You have no information regarding this person which I find very poor for Wikipedia, I am surprised. I wanted to read his biography and history in the forces but you have nothing !

Not to get confused with the more famous James, Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson, you do have an article and biography on, this other Johnny Johnson was just as important. Both were with the RAF as pilots during WWll. You will note the spelling of Johnny and Johnnie in their nick names are different and this is the distinguishing mark between the two men.

I think there should be a link from Johnnie Johnson to Johnny Johnson and vice versa once the info is created, so users are not confused as to which person they are seeking information on.

I am not a registered user on Wikipedia but I would like to be messaged when any info is available. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.210.124.39 (talk) 11:08, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

The reason we don't have an article on him yet is that none of the volunteers here have written an article about him. Since you are interested you could either register an account and create the article yourself or you could submit stay as an unregistered user and submit the article to articles for creation or just request it at requested articles. We do not have the ability to message you when an article is created, you would just have to keep stopping back and checking. GB fan (talk) 11:19, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your guidance, I have now requested it under the military Biographies section. Was not easy to navigate but got there in the end, hope somebody writes some info now ! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.210.124.39 (talk) 12:07, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Corrupted article Jenn Suhr

I made some cosmetic edits to the Jenn Suhr article. Now, the article appears but there is nothing at the top of the page. The Article, Discussion, Read, Edit and View History tabs are missing, as well as the Search box. Other articles display okay, it's just the Jenn Suhr article. I would revert my edits but I can't get to the history page to do the revert.

Could someone please take a look and see what happened. If there is something unusual (perhaps a non-printing character) in the edits I did, I apologize. Truthanado (talk) 13:12, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

• Hi there. It looks fine to me. Have you tried purging the page cache? --KFP (contact | edits) 13:16, 14 May 2011 (UTC)
• Forgot about that, thanks. It looks okay for me now that I've been to several other pages, which probably caused Firefox to flush its cache. Truthanado (talk) 13:28, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Ok, however, your browser cache and the server cache are different, and both can occasionally cause glitches (see the link in my previous post for an explanation of the server cache). --KFP (contact | edits) 13:31, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Where to make a proposal for an addition to the toolbox?

WP:VP/T says feature requests should be made at BugZilla. I have a specific feature request for an expansion of the Wikipedia interface (more specifically, and addition to the Toolbox). Where can I propose this? Is BugZilla really the right place for this? Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 13:57, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Hi there, is this a global wikimedia wide proposal or just one for the English Wikipedia? Thanks, The Helpful One 14:00, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

• Hi, do you mean an addition to the "Toolbox" section of the menu on the left? Where to request depends on what you'd like added: If it's just an interface link to some existing tool/feature, you can request at VP/T. If it's something that doesn't yet exist on Wikipedia, then it depends. What is it? --KFP (contact | edits) 14:01, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

It is the toolserver script found here. I am also not sure if a wider consensus would be required for this addition, since there is no consensus yet that Wikipedia should use WebCite to solve its dead link problem. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 14:15, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Ok, hmm. I don't think we currently link to Toolserver from the interface, only to on-wiki pages. WP:VP/PR might be a good place to discuss also. If you want, you can probably add the link for yourself by editing your account's skin CSS/JS. --KFP (contact | edits) 14:25, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I already did this (see WP:VP/R#Combatting linkrot. Some people argue WebCite would be too unrealiable in archiving citations and seem to think having no solution for WP:LINKROT is better than having a solution that might have some issues. However I think Help Desk is not the right place for this discussion, although I am unsure where to go, since the community doesn't seem to classify linkrot as a serious issue. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 14:33, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I can't find an article using the search box

Hi there! Yesterday I've created a new article, Liri Blues Festival, but I can't find it using the search box at the top right of the page. I mean, if I enter the exact words, I get the page. But it doesn't suggest the article while I'm typing "Liri Blue.....". Is there anything I/you can do to fix it? Many thanks in advance! p.s. Dunno if I posted in the right place... Sardognunu (talk) 13:59, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I am not sure why it doesn't work for you, I typed in, liri bl and Liri Blues Festival was the article that came up in the search box. Even with liri b it was one of two articles on the list. GB fan (talk) 14:13, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I am using Google Chrome 11.0.696.65 on windows 7. GB fan (talk) 14:39, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I have to go as far as "liri blu" for the page to come up, and it shows no results for "liri bl". Seems to happen a lot for new pages (or at least the ones I write), seems to clear itself up after a few days. doomgaze (talk) 14:21, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I also don't get the suggestion. The only suggestion that shows when I type liri b up is Liri Ballabani Stadium. Could it be a browser specific issue? I am using Safari on Windows 7. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 14:23, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I get my results on both Chrome and Firefox on Mac OSX. doomgaze (talk) 14:45, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Interesting. When I type liri b, I get Liri Ballabani Stadium. Typing liri bl yields no results at all. When I continue typing an u for liri blu then it suggests Liri Blues Festival. That's a very strange behaviour. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 14:53, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm using Firefox 3.6.6, italian version (I'm from Italy). Now I finally get the suggestion, but only when I write Liri Blu. This is the first time I get something: I haven't got any suggestion so far Sardognunu (talk) 15:02, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Firefox 4 gives me two entries on liri b. Om IE9 it takes until liri blu before it shows up. GB fan (talk) 15:04, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Shows up for me now. This happens in all new articles, I think. The search thingie just takes a while to update.-- Obsidi♠n^Soul 02:47, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Unwatch tab

This morning I used the page unwatch tab to unwatch some picture pages including File:Trinity-complex1.jpg and even after two minutes it didn't happen. It's still on my watchlist. Pictures that are not yet on my watchlist also cannot be watched by clicking the tab. Oddly enough, this help page can be watched and unwatched by the method that doesn't work for the picture pages. I'm using MSIE 8.0.6001.19048 under Vista SP2. Jim.henderson (talk) 14:35, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

It works immediately for me. I get the url http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Trinity-complex1.jpg&action=unwatch. Do you also get that? PrimeHunter (talk) 21:27, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Nope. MSIE 8 can watch / unwatch articles including the article that's using this picture, but cannot watch / unwatch the picture or others in the category, though it was doing it a couple days ago. Google Chrome can still watch / unwatch any of the above. Has there been a Wiki change that makes some browsers or versions fail, while others still succeed? Jim.henderson (talk) 00:09, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm not aware of any such change. Try to clear your entire cache in IE. What is your skin? Is there a url on the unwatch tab? PrimeHunter (talk) 01:21, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks but clearing the cached pages and history didn't help. When using Monobook the "Watch" tab's name changes to "Watching" but doesn't go to "Unwatch" (or vice versa if I'm trying to unwatch a watched picture). Using Vector the star starts spinning but doesn't stop or change color. No, I see no URL on the tab if that's what you mean. Is anyone else using IE8 under Vista SP2? Jim.henderson (talk) 02:36, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

I have now tried IE8 on Vista and I have the same problem on image pages and not on articles. This workaround works for me: Right-click the watch/unwatch tab/star, select Copy url, right-click in the browser address bar, select Insert, press Enter. PrimeHunter (talk) 02:59, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Good; the workaround works for me except the right-click menu lists "Copy shortcut" instead of "URL" but it works. So, that means it's not just me but however many millions of Windozers are still using Vista and whatever much smaller number of us want to watch / unwatch Wikipictures. I assume (a) It's a MSIE 8 bug interacting with a minor recent change in Wikimedia, (b) Even if it is a Microsoft bug (or two or three MS bugs interacting), policy is to make Wiki software fit even buggy versions of IE, and (c) Someone reading this knows better than I do how to get into touch with the appropriate Wikimedia software people. Jim.henderson (talk) 12:09, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Hospitality Industry

what are the main challenges for the tourism industry in south africa? name 5 atleast. Explain the difference between a hotel and a guest house? List six of ten points covered in SATOUR's Code of Conduct for the accomodation indusrty? List ten points of personal hygiene that should be followed by all hotel staff? explain the term 'limited service ' or 'selected service'? describe the steps that can be taken in a hotel to ensure the security of the guest and the guest's property? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.30.41.217 (talk) 15:03, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

WP:Do your own homework. -- œ^™ 15:25, 14 May 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. Toshio Yamaguchi (talk) 15:31, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Masking user area article from search engines

Answered

GB fan (talk) 21:02, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I had assumed that articles within my user space would not get searched by Google etc -- after all, these are by definition not presentable to the outside world. 15 minutes after saving my first rough notes, I googled to try and find some more sources, only to be referred to my still warm draft. I tried wrapping the article in <div class="robots-nocontent"></div> and added some random content inside the tag pair, but Google is still searching and indexing my draft. (Specifically, googling "Operabase and Clangers") How can I stop this happening? Scarabocchio (talk) 18:40, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

You can add __NOINDEX__ to the articles and google should stop. GB fan (talk) 18:50, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

That seems to work. Thanks!! (slightly odd, though that this is not the default setting, as copyrighted material will often end up in work spaces for reformatting/ paraphrasing etc before release) Scarabocchio (talk) 20:53, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree - especially as we have 'draft' articles in user space which would be deleted as promotional very quickly if it was in mainspace. Perhaps you could suggest NOINDEX as the default for non-mainspace pages at the Village Pump - it would also be useful if the developers could modify the 'move' coding so that if the move us to mainspade, any NOINDEX is removed. -- PhantomSteve.alt/talk\^{[alternative account of Phantomsteve]} 22:18, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

I've proposed before that noindex should be the default in user space. Hasn't happened. I don't recall compelling oppose arguments, may be worth pushing again.--SPhilbrickT 13:28, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

MV 'Kalia

Can an admin please sort out my mess. This article should be at MV Montauk, with a redirect at MV Kalia MV Kalia, with a redirect at MV Montauk. I think my typo, MV 'Kalia should be removed completely. Thanks. Finavon (talk) 19:23, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

• Why do you want the article to be listed under the ship's old name? Shouldn't it be at MV Kalia with a redirect at MV Montauk? =- Mgm|^(talk) 20:28, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Quite right! Finavon (talk) 21:34, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Requested MV Kalia be speedily deleted so you can move MV 'Kalia to MV Kalia. I've already changed the redirect at MV Montauk to redirect to MV Kalia. Astronaut (talk) 23:24, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Moved MV 'Kalia to MV Kalia. —teb728 t c 09:47, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

I've deleted the original title as it's an implausible typo. Mjroots (talk) 19:23, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. Finavon (talk) 20:36, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

Edits by time of day - Wikimedia projects

I once saw some something on Wikipedia that will show a graph of the time of day when someone edits. I can't find it. Does anyone know where it is? Magog the Ogre (talk) 23:51, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

The default edit counter at the bottom of everyone's contribution provides this but only for people who have opted in. If memory serves it used to provide these graphs automatically, but I guess people complained.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 00:11, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Thanks but that's edits by month; I want edits by time of day. Magog the Ogre (talk) 02:19, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

The {{User toolbox}} template has links to lots of extra tools. I think WikiChecker - User activity is the one you are looking for. -- John of Reading (talk) 07:24, 15 May 2011 (UTC)