Help desk
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October 29

Time to upload images

Hello, can anyone tell me why nothing happens if I click upload? Wiki-newbie 22:01, 29 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

October 26

Infobox formatting

Just wondering, how could I format it so the two infoboxes on my userpage stop wrapping and instead either display one after the other, or both on the same horizontal level? --Nic the Man 13:05, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have fixed the infoboxs so that they are aligned horizontally. If you want to see what I did to fix it, check out the diffs in the history tab. —Mitaphane _talk 18:20, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for that. Now that I have the base I can tinker around but good job. *thumbs up*

Blocked

y am i being blockedfor vandalism when i didnt vandalise anything?

You are not blocked, otherwise you wouldn't be able to post here. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 09:43, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Why i can't use Chinese version of Wikipedia??????

I'm from mainland China, and I can't use the Chinese version of Wikipedia!

Could you tell me why and how I can use it?

I'm in a hurry!

Wish you can solve this problem soon!

Do you get any errors when you try to view the web page, is it possible the Chinese version is blocked by the government? --Skywolf ^talk/_contribs 02:14, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'd say the latter. More here. Pacific Coast Highway ^{{blah • Happy Halloween! • WP:NYCS}} 02:16, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think i get errors. why you said it's possible the Chinese version is blocked by the government? There isn't anything should be forbade on Wikipedia.

I do really want to search some information here!

How do you know it's not working, if you don't get any errors? What's it doing, exactly? Wikipedia has been blocked partly because of certain articles which the Chinese government doesn't like (ie. on the English Wikipedia: Tiananmen Square protests of 1989); see the article Pacific Coast Highway linked to. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 03:04, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The was an article in the [[Wikipedia

Wikipedia Signpost|]] about a week ago about the status of blocking in mainland China. It may help give you an idea of the way thigs are at the moment. Here it is: Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2006-10-16/China_unblock. Harryboyles 06:15, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I can't see the two pages:Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2006-10-16/China_unblock. Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 Could someone helps me to copy the contents of those articles and send them to my e-mailbox? It's : <email redacted> →Emilyou 01:12, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Here is the ROT13 version of it. Use an ROT13 decoder to view it, such as this one. — Dark Shikari ^talk/_contribs 16:25, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Sbe gur svefg gvzr va arneyl n lrne, hfref va znvaynaq Crbcyr'f Erchoyvp bs Puvan pna ernq zhpu bs Jvxvcrqvn'f pbagrag jvgubhg erfbegvat gb inevbhf pvephziragvba grpuavdhrf. Vagrearg erthyngbef ynfg jrrx cnegvnyyl yvsgrq gur oybpxvat bs Jvxvcrqvn. Ubjrire, nf Naqerj Yvu pbzzragrq, "gur zbfg vzcbegnag cneg bs Jvxvcrqvn sbe CEP hfref - gur Puvarfr irefvba - vf fgvyy abg trarenyyl npprffvoyr."

Gur yvsgvat bs gur oybpx jnf ercbegrq Ghrfqnl, 10 Bpgbore, ba gur Jvxvzrqvn Sbhaqngvba znvyvat yvfg ol Zbhagnva naq Fuv Munb, gjb cebzvarag pbagevohgbef gb gur Puvarfr-ynathntr Jvxvcrqvn. Gurl vaqvpngrq gung gur Ratyvfu Jvxvcrqvn naq zbfg bguref pbhyq abj or npprffrq, ohg gur Puvarfr Jvxvcrqvn erznvarq oybpxrq.

Nygubhtu abg gur svefg gvzr Jvxvcrqvn unf orra oybpxrq va gur znvaynaq bs Puvan, guvf unf rnfvyl orra gur ybatrfg. Gur pheerag ebhaq bs oybpxvat ortna ba 18 Bpgbore be 19 Bpgbore 2005, zrnavat gung gur Puvarfr Jvxvcrqvn jvyy unir orra oybpxrq sbe n shyy lrne nf bs yngre guvf jrrx. Gjb cerivbhf oybpxf va 2004 ynfgrq sbe bayl n srj qnlf be jrrxf.

Zrqvn ernpgvba

Gur arj qrirybczrag jnf fbba abgvprq ol gur bhgfvqr zrqvn, nygubhtu abg nyjnlf jvgubhg fbzr pbashfvba nobhg gur snpgf. Rqvgbe & Choyvfure choyvfurq n fgbel ba 11 Bpgbore nobhg gur haoybpxvat, erylvat va cneg ba gur negvpyr Oybpxvat bs Jvxvcrqvn va znvaynaq Puvan. Vg frrzrq gb gerng na rqvg ol na haertvfgrerq hfre nf vs vg jrer na bssvpvny Jvxvcrqvn fgngrzrag ba gur znggre.

Ercbegref Jvgubhg Obeqref, va vgf fgngrzrag nobhg gur yvsgvat bs gur oybpx, fnvq, "Jr pbatenghyngr gubfr va punetr bs Jvxvcrqvn, rfcrpvnyyl Wvzzl Jnyrf, jub pbhyq unir pubfra gb prafbe gurve bja fvgr gb trg bssvpvny oyrffvat. Vafgrnq gurl fghpx gb gurve cevapvcyrf naq fchearq frys-prafbefuvc." Nyyhqvat gb vagrearg pbzcnavrf gung unir orra zber nppbzzbqngvat gb gur CEP tbireazrag va erfgevpgvat npprff, gur betnavfngvba pnyyrq Jvxvcrqvn na rknzcyr sbe gurz gb sbyybj.

Gur Arj Lbex Gvzrf pnzr bhg jvgu n zber pnershyyl ercbegrq negvpyr nobhg gur fgbel ba 16 Bpgbore. Gur negvpyr vapyhqrq n dhbgr sebz Wvzzl Jnyrf gung, "Jr ner cyrnfrq gb frr gur punatr, ohg jbhyq yvxr gb frr gur Puvarfr irefvba haoybpxrq, gbb".

Zvkrq npprff erfhygf

Naqerj Yvu, jub vf onfrq va Orvwvat naq pheeragyl jbexvat ba n obbx nobhg Jvxvcrqvn, pbyyrpgrq ercbegf sebz inevbhf crbcyr nobhg jung gurl pbhyq naq pbhyq abg npprff. Juvyr gurer jrer fbzr ercbegf bs orvat noyr gb npprff ng yrnfg cneg bs gur Puvarfr Jvxvcrqvn, ur pbapyhqrq gung gur znwbevgl bs hfref cebonoyl pbhyq abg. Ercbegref Jvgubhg Obeqref fnvq vg unq pbasvezrq guvf va vgf grfgf nf jryy. Yvu hcqngrq uvf erfhygf ba 16 Bpgbore jvgu n puneg fubjvat gur npprffvovyvgl bs gur Ratyvfu naq Puvarfr irefvbaf, erfcrpgviryl, sebz n ahzore bs qvssrerag ybpngvbaf.

Va nqqvgvba, gur CEP unf erfhzrq svygrevat n inevrgl bs gbcvpf gung ner trarenyyl prafberq ba nyy jrofvgrf, fhpu nf gur Snyha Tbat zbirzrag. Fbzr eryngviryl frafvgvir fhowrpgf pbhyq or npprffrq jvgubhg erfhygvat va n oybpx, ubjrire, ng yrnfg ba gur Ratyvfu Jvxvcrqvn.

Gur npgvba ercbegrqyl pnzr nf gur fb-pnyyrq "Terng Sverjnyy" jnf tbvat guebhtu na hctenqr. Vg'f abg xabja jurgure guvf unq nal pbaarpgvba gb gur cnegvny yvsgvat bs gur oybpx. Nf va gur cnfg, ab bssvpvny rkcynangvbaf jrer ninvynoyr, fb vg vf qvssvphyg gb xabj gur ernfbaf sbe gur punatr be jurgure guvf vf zreryl n grzcbenel ercevrir.

But actually, I can't see anywords of those pages. The decoder does nothing to me.Emilyou 01:12, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, that would be because someone accidently cleared a chunk of the help desk page. It's up there now. And please sign your posts with ~~~~. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 00:24, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm a new comer in wikipedia. I want to seach something in CHINESE. How can things go like that? The goverment has no right to block here.Emilyou 01:22, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You can download Tor and Privoxy here. Tor will let you get around the block of Chinese wikipedia. --Wooty Woot? | contribs 00:56, 28 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I do not know how to use the software...who can tell me? Emilyou 12:04, 28 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Loss of session data

Experiencing the "Sorry! We could not process your edit due to a loss of session data" message whenever I try to edit a long page (like my user page). Sometimes it doesn't even display the message and just erases much of the bottom of the page. I've tried logging out and logging back in, reloading, deleting the en.wikipedia.org cookies, and empyting my Opera disk cache. Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme 23:51, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

finding old merges

http://tools.wikimedia.de/~interiot/cgi-bin/queries/en_to_be_merged this is a tool that lists articles with a "merge" tag in order (so lets people find articles which have been tagged as 'merge' for a long time).

It doesn't seem to work for me, and I have a feeling it may be because of my computer. Can someone check and see if it works. And if it does, i don't suppose they could copy and past the results here for me. I'm trying to clean out articles with old merge tags. --`/aksha 03:25, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's a toolserver issue. Some tools can't receive information from the English Wikipedia. That's one of those tools. -Royalguard11(Talk·Desk) 03:32, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

are you sure? Because...it's linked to from the category of articles to be merged here on the english wiki. The tool is also named "en_to_be_merged" and it says "This is a re-ordered version of the on-wiki Category:Articles to be merged" (with a link to the english wikipedia for the "Category:Articles to be merged" bit).

Assuming it can't, is there another way to find articles that have been tagged with merge for a long time? --`/aksha 03:49, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Editing and/or Censoring of Talk Pages

My name is user:jerry.mills and after searching all over wikipedia, I cannot come up with a concrete answer to the policy on editing and/or censoring the Discussion (Talk Page) of an article.

I have read the NPOV, No Original Research, Defamation and all other neutral policies and still cannot find an answer to my question.

The situation is as follow: I have included information in a talk page of an article that I consider to be of importance. The talk page keeps getting censored by one user, and my information is removed.

Now, I understand that the article needs to inform, not be an advertisement page, and be NPOV with appropriate data sources. But I was under the impression that the Talk Page was a place to discuss issues and that censoring of it was discouraged.

I have also received a warning in my user talk page regarding possible defamation statements. Is this warning appropriate? I have not defamed a user, nor have I used offensive or combative communications.

Now, I am a novice wikipedian, and my contributions might not be as impressive as other great productions displayed for the benefit of the community, but I was also under the impression that censorship was not encouraged, even it if is to defend somebody whom might be known in the real world by the censor.

I have tried to politely explain to the censor about not censoring the talk page, but it has become an editing war, and now, I have been accused as a possible defamer.

The information has be removed once again, and to keep a spirit or cooperation, I will not re-introduce the information. But the censoring question is important to me.

Can somebody point me in the right direction?

I would greatly appreciate any and all assistance.

Cordially,

user:jerry.mills

Our policy on biogrpahies of living persons mean that inadequately sourced negative information may be removed wherever it is found, not just from articles. That most definitely applied to your post, which relied on forum posts, which are not reliable sources. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 09:40, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, brother, what a mess. I've taken some time to try and trawl through the archives of the Strider Knives talk page (which seems to be the talk page in question, am I right, Jerry?).

To address your question of 'censorship'... this is difficult ground. As per the Wikipedia policy on libel, all libellious statements will be removed - so, yes, the editor who removed your comments about Mick Strider's service record was acting in accordance to policy. However, I can see a difficulty in drawing the line between libel and verifiable, negative information about a person. But I am no lawyer, and a bit in over my head on this one. I hope another user better versed in such matters will be able to help you.

Just as a side note, in future, please sign all your posts on talk pages with four tildes (like this: ~~~~), and please indent your discussions (using colons, see: Wikipedia:Talk_page#Formatting), otherwise it's an absolute nightmare to sort out who said what when. Also, the "Show preview" button is your friend, it will avoid making a whole string of small changes to the page, saving it every time, which not only makes trawling through the history more difficult, but also puts an unnecessary load on the Wikipedia servers (just to emphasise, this last one is a minor point!)

Right then. A few other points. There seems to be an awful lot of editing and rearranging other user's comments happening on this talk page, which is a no-no. For instance, this (followed up from this) looks fishy unless Mike Searson wasn't logged in when he posted the first comment. Also, the wholesale removing of entire sections (such as here) looks a bit off to me. Yes, whole sections can be removed but shouldn't unless there is a good reason (see below), and if they are, a header should be left in place, with a note saying why the section was removed (and linking to the diff which shows the removed section can be helpful so people clearly know what was removed).

Let me (try to!) explain: In principle, things should not be removed from talk pages. Conversations should be left as they are, one should not edit one's old comments (let alone other people's comments!) so as to keep a record of what was said. If you want to amend something you said earlier, you can do so by using <s>text to be deleted</s> (which looks like this: ~~text to be deleted~~).

However, there are exceptions to the "don't remove or change past things on talk pages" rule. Libel is one of these. For legal reasons, libel and defamation should be removed from talk pages (leaving the header intact and putting in a note, like I explained above, would make things clear). So, yes, technically by questioning Mick Strider's service record, you were getting a bit close to defamation. I am no lawyer (someone else help on this point, please?), but this could be counted as libel, hence the warning on your talk page.

From my reading of your contributions, I do not think you were doing this maliciously, and I appreciate the message you left for Mike Searson. One of the Wikipedia principles is assume good faith. I don't think that anyone can accuse you (based on your edit history) of acting maliciously.

I know this is not of much help, but I hope it has given you at least some background on the issue. — QuantumEleven 10:02, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Maharashtrian Saint of 17th Century

Hi! I am Vivek from India, I have read a lot of information about the saints from India on your portal. This is impressive. I also wish to send some information about a saint of 17th century who has contributed a lot for Marathi literature. This saint is next incarnation of Saint Tukaram . Unfortunately this saint hand his literature is in dark. May I request you to guide me so I can send some information about this saint to you and it will help every one to know about that saint. Thanks & regards

Vivek Vipra —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vivekvipra (talk • contribs)

Hi Vivek, you can get in touch with the folks at Wikipedia:WikiProject Maharashtra. They would have common interests with you. ~~If you dont have a username, I would advise you get one~~ -- Lost^(talk) 08:05, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Signature

How do I change my signature? Littleghostboo 08:55, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Go to 'my preferences' at the top right, click the 'raw signature' check box, and type whatever you want in the 'signature' box. My signature, for example, is generated by [[User:Samuel Blanning|Sam Blanning]]<sup>[[User talk:Samuel Blanning|(talk)]]</sup>. For more information, see WP:SIG. --Sam Blanning^(talk) 09:41, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Also see Wikipedia:How to fix your signature for some more detailed instructions -- Lost^(talk) 09:45, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! Littleghostboo 07:46, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Pandoh dam image

I want to insert a picture of a dam. Since photography is not allowed there is no option rather than inserting a copyright image. Can I insert the copyright image of a dam and that image has been requested also. thanksSushant gupta 10:44, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

A copyright image can only be used if a valid claim of "fair use" can be made. Copyright does not stop applying just because it is inconvenient! A great many subjects can never be illustrated for this reason. Perhaps in this case there is a justificable claim, however; it would need a fair use expert. Please tell us the source of the photo in as much detail as you can, including where and how it was published or whether an original is held. Notinasnaid 10:59, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

adding categories to articles

When adding a category to an article, it's just a simple internal link right? Like [[Category:category name]]

However, i see people adding a "|something" into category links on a lot of articles. So things like [[Category:category name|something else]]

Exactly what is the purpose of the "|something else" bit? Does it actually do something?

Or is it just the result of people not realizing that the "|something else" bit will not show up. --`/aksha 12:14, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's a sort key; the articles are sorted in the category according to what comes after the bar. (The page name is used by default.) For instance, this method is used to sort categories containing people by the family name rather than whatever name is given first in the name of the article. --ais523 12:17, 26 October 2006 (U T C)

For a detailed explanation, see "Using Categories" on meta. Also, the Categorization FAQ may be of interest to you. — QuantumEleven 13:02, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

ahh, thanks. I was wondering why so many people where doing that if it didn't serve any purpose. --`/aksha 13:16, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Quotes and references

I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions please.

If you are quoting from a document that is in the public domain, should you still use quotation marks and a citation? My inclination would be to do this, but I have noticed that some people don't.

Secondly, if a quotation contains a reference, how should you treat the reference? I am thinking of something like: "Mortality is relatively low, onset is often at a younger age, and most of the indirect costs are derived from lost or reduced productivity at the workplace, school, and home (Rupp et al., 1998)." Should you add the details of Rupp to references even if you have never read it (which would seem to go against Wiki guidelines? Staug73 13:37, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

See WP:CITE. Regardless of the source (public domain or not), you should place a citation in the document when you make a claim that isn't common knowledge, is a held opinion by some people, or is very specific information like a numeric statistic.

As far as referencing style goes there are a number of different styles. See Citation styles. Use whatever you're most comfortable with or, for the sake of article consistency, whatever the article has already started to use. —Mitaphane _talk 17:51, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. So - if you lift a paragraph from a public domain document word for word, you should put it in quotation marks?Staug73 12:26, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, always in cases like that. Also, keep in mind if you lift big portions of text from a copyright work, it might be a violation of that copyright. —Mitaphane _talk 18:48, 28 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

editing the entry name

I created a bio page on Don Schlesinger, the Blackjack expert and author and by mistake, failed to capitalise the first letter of his last name. I have tried to edit it but the entry title seems to be uneditable. Can you fix this please or tell me how to do it? <emailaddressgobyebye>

You have to be logged in (as you also have to be to create an article in the first place). Click the "move" link at the top of the article. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 15:42, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Biographies

Need some information on Sir William Wallace-Braveheart.

You might look on Google, as we don't seem to have a page for him. In the future, please use the reference desk. --Wooty Woot? | contribs 15:50, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

See the article William Wallace. NielsF 15:55, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

There is a page -- leave out the "Sir." 71.192.45.207 01:28, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Making a wiki similar to Wikipedia

I am an employee of a large company who works in the documentation department of one of their products. I have always heavily used wikipedia because I find it to be very reliable and due to it's success I'm working on a proposal that our documentation should be done in a similar way with an emphasis on how secure it is and how it's so easy to edit and capture suggestions from customers viewing the documentation. Would somebody be able to post a very high level description of how Wikipedia works including everything involved (ie: security, storage, access, etc.)

You can see http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki -- Lost^(talk) 17:01, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

New article procedure

Hi!

Sorry to disturb you, but one major question remains after I've read the various tutorials.

I finally saw the "new article" title box in the FAQ area, but I still don't see how I'm initially to get to that (other then while in the FAQ).

It seems like there should be a "New Article" button or item on the main opening Wiki screen (I start out on the English Main_Page screen), but I see no such thing.

How exactly does one begin the new-article process (so that the "title" box appears along with the button to begin editing)?

Thank you!

Bruce Limber

(Please feel free to email me the answer to my registered email address.)

Is this in reference to the big yellow box on this page? To start a new article and bypass this page, you may simply type it in on the search bar on the left. If the page doesn't exist (and it shouldn't since you're the first to make it), you'll seeNo page with that title exists, then, You can create this page or request it. Simply click create this page there and you will be presented with the editing box at last! Hyenaste ^(tell) 20:20, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

An important note: After you type the name in the search box, don't press "enter", but rather click the "go" button. Otherwise a text search will be performed. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 17:34, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Monobook burned?

Did something happen to the Monobook format of Wikipedia? I come here, and all of a sudden, the page tabs, the margin, and the correct fonts and spacing are missing. Is this temporary, a glitch, or someone hacking into my computer? - The Lake Effect 20:44, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Is it still affecting you? A cursory search of Wikipedia:Village pump (technical) doesn't reveal any other similar incidents. Hyenaste ^(tell) 00:30, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

There was a recent change to Monobook diff but it should not affect anything like that. I have had similar glitches with Monobook, after affecting underlining, and learned that it was sometimes due to the CSS code not loading fully in the browser. The fix is to do a page reload a few times, a "super-reload", quit/restart browser, logout/login to Wikipedia, or as a last resort, restart your computer. --MCB 01:05, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Whatever problem it was, it seems to have been corrected. I did try the reloading, and the "super-reload", but the the stripped down and stretched out Monobook kept popping up. Thankfully it's been rectified, because all that scrolling was driving me nuts. -The Lake Effect 22:36, 27 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

INMATE RELEASE

I'M LOOKING FOR THE THINGS FCI INMATES CAN HAVE ONCE THEY GO TO A HALFWAY HOUSE. IN PORTLAND OREGON

Hi, this an online encyclopedia. This is the help desk, a place for asking questions on how to use the wikipedia. Try your question( MINUS THE CAPITAL LETTERS), over at this reference desk. —Mitaphane _talk 21:44, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

psychological sympton

I NEED TO WRITE A OUTLINE ABOUT BRAIN TUMORS,I GOT PART OF IT BUT WHAT I NEED HELP WITH IS THE INTRODUCTION AND WITH THE CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY,PLUS HELP WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOM I NEED TO DO THIS BY TOMMORROW,TOMMOROW IS THE DUE DATE

This is a place to ask questions related to the Wikipedia itself; for other things, you want the Wikipedia:Reference_desk. No one will do your homework for you here, though. If I'm reading what you're saying correctly, you'll probably want to read the brain tumor article for details on the symptoms and such. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 22:51, 26 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]