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The following discussion is preserved as an archive of a promoted featured portal candidate. Please do not modify it.

Portal:England

[edit]

I've been working hard with Qst over the past month or so getting this upto standard, and I finally think we've got it to a featured standard. It's portals been running for quite a while now, but it hasn't been updated regularly and certainly needed some help to make it visually attractive. We're now at a stage where we've got content sorted till March (except for the news sections) and we've standardised everything to make maintaining it easy. Anyway, as per usual, suggestions are welcome and we'll try and get deal with any problems as a matter of urgency. Ryan Postlethwaite 15:55, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

  • Support. I made a minor wiki-link edit to feature content, hope you don't mind. I prefer to see the In the news section at the top, right before the DYK box, but that's my personal preference. I'd like to see more quotes in the archives, to assure continuity. Other than that, support. - Mtmelendez (Talk) 16:18, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I'm in the process of finding more quotes, now. Thank you for the advice. Qst 16:22, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Comments
  1. The author is not credited in the "Selected picture" section. This is required.
     Done - although this is not required for portals. Qst 20:51, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    If not required, it is certainly highly recommended for the "Selected picture" section, and I have seen it in I think all Featured Portals I have looked at so far. Cirt (talk) 21:05, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
  2. Instead of "Read more" for all the sections, I believe the standard is simply "More...", and it's simpler.
     Not done. This was based on several other portals (all of which are featured), the Read more... is the most commonly used. Qst 20:51, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  3. No need to have external links in the "In the news" section, but the sources could be provided within the "In the news" subpage itself, through a separate subsection and use of <noinclude></noinclude>.
     Not done. It is common practice to have links to news articles for In the news section, thus making them verifiable. Qst 20:56, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Yes, but it is not needed to have them actually show up in the actual portal. They could still be verifiable, but it would look nicer if they were excluded from showing up, by using <noinclude></noinclude>. Cirt (talk) 21:00, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    Ineed, I may convert the format to plainlinks so it looks tidier, but I'll wait for Ryan to come onto IRC to discuss the matter. Thanks, Qst 21:02, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Please do convert to plainlinks, the current format is ugly. — Dihydrogen Monoxide (Review) 23:10, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
     Done. Qst 22:07, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  4. In all sections, the "Archives" section could be on the left bottom, and "More..." on the right bottom, as it is they are place differently, sometimes aligned, sometimes centered, not uniform throughout.
     Not done. The only portal I can find where this is done is Portal:Scientology. Qst 20:56, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    I have seen this done on other portals, but whatever you choose to do, the alignment of the footer stuff should be uniform throughout all subsections. If not, it's confusing and does not look good aesthetically. Cirt (talk) 21:00, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    For example, in "Did you know?" and "In the New", the Archives link is centered at the bottom, but in "Selected article" and "Selected picture", it is aligned right at the bottom. Cirt (talk) 07:31, 27 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
     Done Qst 13:14, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Try using {{Random portal component}}. Will reduce workload in the future of having to update all the various sections, and reduce risk of portal becoming stale. It is possible that participation/activity will fall of from some editors in the future.
    Mhh, the portal is update automatically by using {{CURRENTMONTH}} and {{CURRENTYEAR}}, so this does not seem necessary. Qst 20:56, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Yes, but if all of the subsections are updated in this manner, then it is always possible that at some point in the future the portal will become stale due to inactivity. Having at least one section use {{Random portal component}} will help with this. Cirt (talk) 21:01, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    Portal:France passed recently without this feature. Rt. 21:06, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Right, and it's not required, just a suggestion so the portal doesn't get stale due to potential future inactivity. I'm not saying automate/randomize the entire thing is required, but it would be nice to have at least one section that way. Cirt (talk) 21:08, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    Hmm, I suppose so. If Qst and Ryan would like any help with this feature, although I doubt they will, I could help if they liked due to my experience. Rt. 21:09, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Strongly recommended - for if/when you guys stop updating the portal, it'll still be useful. — Dihydrogen Monoxide (Review) 23:10, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
     Not done. If I was starting this portal from scratch, I'd implement this feature, but doing so now would mean all the selected article, picure and did you know would have to be moved, thus making it chaotic. Qst 23:00, 29 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  6. Is it common to have shortcuts in the intro to Featured Portals? I think the "More..." at the bottom is sufficient, no?
    Having links such as P:ENG is common for Portal shortcuts. Qst 20:58, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Shortcuts in the Intro to the portal? I think you may have seen this in WikiProject pages. It does not look nice in portal pages, IMO. Cirt (talk) 21:02, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    I agree, shortcuts aren't generally used in the introductions of portals. Rt. 21:06, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Portal:Bulgaria, Portal:Scotland... :) Qst 21:12, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Damn it! :) Rt. 21:14, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Thanks for those examples, but I still think it looks bad to have shortcuts in the intro. In a WikiProject, yes, in a Portal, no, IMO. Cirt (talk) 21:16, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    Well, if it becomes a major problem (which I doubt it will), I'll remove them. Qst 21:18, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    I'm fine with one shortcut, but having 2 looks bad IMO. — Dihydrogen Monoxide (Review) 23:10, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
     Done. By Ryan. Qst 13:15, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Regarding shortcuts, you may be interested in this discussion. Chris.B (talk) 22:25, 29 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  7. Could use some more creative icons for each of the sections in upper right corner, but not required, see Featured Portal Portal:Sustainable development for an idea.
    I'm sorry, I fail to see what you mean here, could you elaborate, please? Qst 20:59, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    Icons, pictures, for example see the "News" icon used in the section at Portal:Sustainable development. Cirt (talk) 21:03, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    These aren't required at all. Some portals can find use of it, others can't, it's not a requirement. Spebi 21:38, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    It's not a requirement, got it - but I think it adds some color and makes the portal look a bit more dynamic. It works at the Featured Portal Portal:Sustainable development, among others. Cirt (talk) 22:15, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    In the news =  Done. Did you know =  Not done. Qst 13:16, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    It's fairly common, from what I've seen (although not on the aforementioned portal) to have Image:Updated DYK query.svg appear on the DYK section. — Dihydrogen Monoxide (Review) 23:10, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  8. "Selected featured content" - Why "selected" ? Why not all the featured content for WP:England ? This section should have the Featured Star in the upper right corner.
     Not done The featured star is for articles, this is not used commonly in portals. Qst 20:51, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
    No, I mean the larger featured star used in other portals, for example Portal:North West England, a Featured Portal. Cirt (talk) 21:04, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]
    Okay, I'll add a small featured star, but having a large makes it look messy, IMHO. Qst 21:13, 26 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cirt (talk) 20:45, 26 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]

  • Support: Although I support the idea of using random portal component, the portal definitely meets featured portal criteria. A few suggestions —
  • More about England... should be completely right justified.
  • In the Selected featured content box, Read more... should also be right justified. Happy editing, [sd] 22:35, 27 December::* 2007 (UTC)
Comment

I agree with Mtmelendez (talk · contribs) that the section Portal:England/Selected Quotes/Archive is not sufficient and will soon become stale if not improved, perhaps by using {{Random portal component}} - but either way it needs more entries or some sort of rotation system. Cirt (talk) 17:45, 30 December 2007 (UTC).[reply]

  • Oppose No archives for Selected article/biography and DYK, also Associated Wikimedia links need a fix. feydey (talk) 16:47, 1 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
    • That would be my fault, there were some originally, but I removed them in error earlier today when I was tweaking the portal, so;  Done. And, about the associated Wikimedia links, could you please elaborate on where the links need fixing? Cheers, Qst 16:53, 1 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
      • Good fix on archives, but still no Did you know archive? Make sure that all the links go to a corresponding page on the sister wikis, i.e. rm. 404s (see f. ex. Portal:Literature AW box. feydey (talk) 17:20, 1 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
        • This portal, as with others, is using the standard template for linking to other Wikimedia Projects, so I can't really remove any inexistent links, but, I will, however, add the archive links to the Did you know. I'm going to tidy up the portal over the next few days :) Qst 17:24, 1 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment
  • Selected picture archive link is missing.
  • What is the criteria of selecting the featured content? Either list the criteria or add all of the featured content.
    • There is no particular criteria, really — it would be preferrable is the was a free image available for the selected article/biography, but excluding that, there are no formal requirements. Qst 12:15, 2 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Add more archives in the Selected quote.
  • Replace Did you know? by Did you know....
  • Related portals can have other portals, like Europe, and Culture and politics related prtals, if exist.
    • Related portals would then include the Europe, European Union, Bristol, Cheshire, London, Somerset, South East England, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, North West England, British Empire, British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force Portals (although the last few relate more the United Kingdom). [sd] 13:44, 2 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
      • I believe, at least having Europe, European Union, London, North West England, South East England, British Empire, British Army (Last two on the choice). Shyam (T/C) 06:55, 3 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Better listing requested articles or needing expansion articles in the Things You Can Do section.

Shyam (T/C) 10:36, 2 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted - All my requests were seconded by others and dealt with, so I don't really have a POV. Chill, dudes. Dihydrogen Monoxide (party) 02:17, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the discussion. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.
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