Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2022 January 13

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January 13

University of St Andrews

Ref number 36 was hard to do - please fix with various concerns. Sorry and thank you. 1.145.153.254 (talk) 03:23, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I changed "page 30" to "page=30". The rest of the citation was fine. MB 03:33, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

University of Dundee

ref 15 is all wrong - please assist thanks. 49.198.41.28 (talk) 07:24, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

It says "missing or empty title", that means the title parameter in the template is missing or empty. 😛 One way to fix is to copy the URL, re-insert a new "cite journal", and use the automatic lookup feature to fetch details. The process varies depending on whether you're using the classic source editor or something else (I used the former, tapped the Cite drop-down and in the form that pops up, there is a magnifying-glass button under the URL field). Compare the before-and-after: Special:Diff/1065386926. It still should have authors added, but won't display a warning if they are missing. Hope that helps! ⁓ Pelagic ( messages ) 08:23, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Howl at the Moon Piano Bar

Should the "Relisting" comment at Talk:Howl at the Moon Piano Bar not go after my comment on January 1, 2022? Please {{ping}} me when you respond. --Jax 0677 (talk) 13:30, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@Jax 0677: I moved the comment so it now appears in the proper chronological location. GoingBatty (talk) 20:57, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Converting mobile diffs

I hate mobile diffs, so anytime someone uses one, which is unfortunately all too often, I want to convert it to an ordinary diff. It used to be that if I clicked on the mobile diff at the bottom I could click on "desktop" and that would convert it to a normal diff. Lately, the word desktop is gone. For example, look at User talk:Bbb23#Question and the mobile diff there. BTW, if anyone can do a better job answering the question posed by the user, that'd be good. :-) --Bbb23 (talk) 14:01, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I hadn't realised that the word "desktop" has gone, and yes it's annoying, so I hope that someone responsible can look at it. To convert to a normal diff one needs to remove the word "Mobile" from the url, so change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/1065336137?diffmode=source to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Diff/1065336137?diffmode=source . --David Biddulph (talk) 14:08, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I guess in the example you gave the easiest way would be removing "Mobile" from "Special:MobileDiff", which would convert to a normal diff. I don't know if there are any other methods. Concerning the question by the user, I believe Wikipedia:Rollback#Additional tools contains the answer they are looking for. Isabelle ^🔔 14:11, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I read the additional tools link, thanks, but although I'm assuming that the word "sum" automatically does what manually adjusting the URL does, it doesn't say that Twinkle adds the word "sum" (and the tiny picture doesn't show it).--Bbb23 (talk) 14:17, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I have Twinkle installed and do not have that option. I looked around and it appears to be from this script, which adds the "sum" button. Isabelle ^🔔 14:29, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Heh, thank you for telling me what scripts I have installed. Embarrassed.--Bbb23 (talk) 14:46, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

They posted the wikilink Special:MobileDiff/1065336137. If you click it at the desktop site then you actually stay at the desktop site, like all wikilinks. That's why you still see the normal desktop menus. It just uses a diffent way to display the diff. I also dislike it. You can click "Mobile view" at the bottom to go to the mobile site, and then click "Desktop" at the bottom to go to a normal desktop diff. It's silly but it works. If you have an End key to jump to the bottom then it doesn't take long. Or you can just remove "Mobile" from the url as others say. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:36, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

It was probably that way before, and I just forgot the extra step. Thanks.--Bbb23 (talk) 14:46, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

It wasn't always like this, and it only happens when somebody posts a wikilink like Special:MobileDiff/1065336137 instead of a url like https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/1065336137. In the past, mobile diffs had url's like https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/Incidents&diff=prev&oldid=1065336137. It redirects to Special:MobileDiff now but that special page hasn't always existed. PrimeHunter (talk) 15:20, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Well, they wouldn't want to make it easy, would they?--Bbb23 (talk) 15:37, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Importing pictures from other Wikipedia languages

Can I import pictures used in articles in other language Wikipedias? How do I do it? Jokkmokks-Goran (talk) 17:02, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Hello, Jokkmokks-Goran. If the picture is in Commons, then you may freely use it in any Wikimedia project. If it is not, then you need to check its licensing. If it is freely licensed compatibly with Commons' C:COM:Image use policy, then you can transfer it to Commons, and use it. If not, you need to determine whether your proposed use of it will be consistent with all of the Non-free content criteria. If not, then the picture cannot be used on English Wikipedia. If it does meet them, then you will need to upload it to English Wikipedia separately (I would think you can give the URL of it in the other-language Wikipedia) as non-free, and give the justification for using it in en-wiki. --ColinFine (talk) 17:47, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

cutting a link

Hello, Quite new in Wikipedia. I added info to precise child names in a person infobox, it triggered an automatic link to an homonym of one a children. How do I suppress that link (the child has no wikipedia page) ? Thanks for your help, — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zibou7 (talk • contribs) 18:37, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Removed. We don't list non-notable children in the infobox. And you should not just assume that articles exist or that they are for the correct person. Johanne Wagner (entered as [[Johanne Wagne]] ) is a red link because there is no article by that name. If we were going to mention that person it would simply be entered as Johanne Wagner, without the square brackets. Christian Wagner is an American film editor and is unlikely to be the son of the Canadian politician Claude Wagner. Meters (talk) 20:47, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Problems with editing text box

I'm having a lot of problems with the text box to edit articles. It is very slow; I type something and it can take up to 2 minutes to actually show on the screen. This results in a lot of errors due to the fact that the delay in it appearing the screen causes me to lose track of any changes I've made. Please help.--Beneficii (talk) 19:42, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@Beneficii: Are you using the visual editor or the source editor to edit, and are the articles you're trying to edit rather large? Some pages use templates that cause them to slow down substantially, especially with the visual editor. The best quick-fix I can think of is to edit in source by section. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 20:16, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@Beneficii: I had this issue on a few articles yesterday. I hope it was a temporary issue, as I'm not experiencing it today. GoingBatty (talk) 21:00, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Volume numbers in book citations

This is no doubt explained somewhere, but I cannot find it. I use a lot of references and citations that are multi-volume but cannot see any way of giving a volume number without the p. showing before it in the book citation. There must be some way of doing it, so if someone could give a link or explanation, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by ScotHistMaven (talk • contribs) 19:55, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

{{cite book}} allows a parameter of |volume. Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 20:15, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Trouble updating wikipedia page

Hi there. I am having trouble editing a wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Pollack_(music_executive)&oldid=1065125647

I updated it the other day with Jeff Pollack's film, TV, and producer accomplishments, and fully cited everything. But my updates were immediately removed. Need help figuring out why and what I am doing wrong! Thanks, Tara — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.82.150.11 (talk) 20:22, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Looks like it was removed for both being a promotional piece, and also a copyright violation. Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 20:24, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Deleted sock notice template?

I was giving a SPI procedures Wikipedia page a read and I found a red-linked template there. Someone may want to fix the issue. The red-link is at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerk and checkuser procedures § For tagging. Cheers! ---CX Zoom(^he/_him) (^{let's talk}|_contribs) 21:28, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@CX Zoom: Hi there! You might want to post your note on Wikipedia talk:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerk and checkuser procedures, where you'll be more likely to find knowledgeable editors who will know whether the template should be replaced or deleted. Thanks, and happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 21:30, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I actually posted it here because it looks like the relevant talk page is followed only once every long while and this place is always lively. Nevertheless, I posted it where it should reasonably belong to, at Wikipedia talk:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerk and checkuser procedures § Deleted sock notice template?. Thanks and cheers! ---CX Zoom(^he/_him) (^{let's talk}|_contribs) 22:41, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

An editor took the appropriate action after posting it on relevant talk page. Thansk everyone. Thanks Batty. ---CX Zoom(^he/_him) (^{let's talk}|_contribs) 23:11, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

How Do I get my Wiki page posted?

Hi there, I'm trying to get my Wikipedia page for Oberix Group posted. But it keeps getting knocked back saying it 'doesn't have significant coverage of the topic.' How do I change this? I find the automated response a bit vague and I'm a bit lost. Thanks, Magnus — Preceding unsigned comment added by Magnusthurley (talk • contribs) 21:48, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Magnusthurley If you are associated with this company, please read about conflict of interest and paid editing for information on required formal disclosures you must make. Wikipedia is not a place to merely tell about the existence of a business; a Wikipedia article(not a "page") must summarize what independent reliable sources with significant coverage- coverage that goes beyond merely telling of its existence or what it does- say about it, showing how it meets Wikipedia's special definition of a notable company. If there is no signficant coverage of this company, it would not merit a Wikipedia article and no amount of editing can change that. 331dot (talk) 21:54, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

You have a VERY clear conflict of interest which you must disclose as per the instructions on your talk page. Theroadislong (talk) 22:01, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@Magnusthurley: Hi there! The automated response contains many links to Wikipedia policies that you might find helpful. For example, Wikipedia:Reliable sources and Wikipedia:Independent sources. Hope this helps, and happy editing! GoingBatty (talk) 22:04, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Gallery problem

I can't figure out why the third second photo in Kelly-Springfield Motor Truck Company#Gallery isn't showing up. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:41, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

@Clarityfiend: In this template, unless you explicitly mention a parameter such as title=, height=, etc, this assumes that every alternate line is for a file and it's caption. In this specific case, 1st line is for title, then 2nd, 4th, 6th, .... are for File names; whereas 3rd, 5th, 7th, .... are for corresponding caption. The second picture is at the 5th line which should've been used for caption of picture at line 4. As line 4 is blank, the content of 5th line doesn't appear either. To fix it, place pictures at line 2, 4, 6 and so on. I hope it was helpful. ---CX Zoom(^he/_him) (^{let's talk}|_contribs) 23:04, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I think the point is that the altn parameter neets to be named. The layout in the Template documentation carefully uses the altn parameter every time, but doesn't draw attention to the fact that it is named every time. --ColinFine (talk) 23:10, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

I went to add a qualifier to that line but don't have the rights to edit Template:Gallery. "|Altn= – alt attribute: |alt1= for the first image, |alt2= for the second image, etc. If altn is blank, a single | must still be included between file names for the template to work.", at least until they fix the template code. TimTempleton ^{(talk) (cont)} 00:44, 14 January 2022 (UTC)

Thanks. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:21, 14 January 2022 (UTC)

Resolved