Help desk
< October 16	<< Sep \| October \| Nov >>	October 18 >

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.

October 17

BRAD PITT

How come the movie "Meet Joe Black" is not listed in his film history? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:101:8201:7CD0:D11A:2217:5F0C:4770 (talk) 00:55, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Brad_Pitt -- That film is mentioned in the article's 1998 section. RudolfRed (talk) 01:39, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

When did Wikipedia switch from Chicago to APA citation style?

I noticed this evening that Wikipedia reference lists seem to use APA now (date in parentheses). My question is why, and where's the consensus vote that showed this? Chicago Style is so much better.

There is no official reference style on Wikipedia, although a consistent style should be used within a given article. If you prefer the Chicago style, then feel free to use it in articles that you start. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 02:19, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Cullen328, Thanks, and I realize I can use any style I like, but what I mean is when using the RefToolbar, the style appears to be modeled on APA, but I'm wondering where that decision was made? Hope that makes sense. Doug Mehus (talk) 02:28, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I do not use the RefToolbar myself, but apparently it is a tool to format references using citation templates, so the talk pages of the various templates would be the best place to raise your concerns about how those templates display references. Wikipedia talk:Citation templates has archives going back to 2005. Start by browsing those archives. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 03:19, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The most common citation templates are the Citation Style 1 and Citation Style 2 templates. These templates do not follow APA, do not follow Chicago, do not follow Bluebook, do not follow any published style. cs1|2 templates were initially created independently from one another so each had it's own 'style'. During their development, cs1|2 templates were certainly influenced by the various published style guides. Over time, the various templates were merged first into {{citation/core}} and then into Module:Citation/CS1. cs1|2 is now its own style, organically created to suit most citation needs at the English Wikipedia and quite a few of the non-English Wikipedias. These templates were never purely Chicago nor any other style.

—Trappist the monk (talk) 12:16, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

To I or not to I, that is the question

There is an article that attempts to describe the layout of a building, its 'shape'. It charmingly says:

The two original wings were designed by John Kellum and were arranged in an I-shape.

This is less than useful, with text in articles these days using Sans-Serif fonts. Elsewhere in the article it says:

The fourth floor contains a similar T-shaped plan as the floors underneath it.

So you can see how the author wanted to use the shape of letters to demonstrate the building shapes.

What was obviously intended (and verified using Google satellite view) was:

The two original wings were designed by John Kellum and were arranged in an I-shape.

Immediately above I have used I to force a serifed capital I.

A previous helpdesk question got a grudging answer "well, okay, in that case use to style in conformance to the subject styling."

But the situation here is trying to match the intention to use a letter as a shape description, specifically a serifed capital letter. I can't find any other grudgingly approved method other than to do so.

(There is {{xt}} and friends, like so "I", but they are enjoined from use in mainspace.)

What to do or whither to go? Shenme (talk) 03:59, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Shenme: I looked at the I-beam article for inspiration. It uses a special-purpose template {{Ibeam}} to create an Ɪ. -- John of Reading (talk) 06:48, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

When writing about architecture on WP and describing building shapes, I have always used the {{smallcaps}} template – for example, "l-shaped", "t-shaped" etc. I tested it with "i" but unfortunately it doesn't work very well: "i-shaped". Hassocks5489 (Floreat Hova!) 12:05, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Shenme is anything at ɪ useful?Naraht (talk) 21:39, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Ooo, cool, I'd wondered if Unicode had anything specific. I went with using {{Ibeam}} as that seemed most direct and clearest. That is doing the equivalent of I and gets me an I with crossbars, e.g. "Ɪ". Thank you all for the several possibilities. Shenme (talk) 02:08, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Creating a new wikipage

Dear Sir,

I would like to start a new wikipage on the subject of East Asians in Soviet Intelligence. How do I begin and is there someone I need to contact?

Sincerely,

O.P. 04:59, 17 October 2019 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jonathan Pohl (talk • contribs)

Hello Jonathan Pohl and welcome to Wikipedia. Start by reading Help:Your first article and perhaps WP:No original research carefully. If part of your subject is about living people, WP:BLP is relevant. Perhaps you can find some inspiration in the articles at Category:Soviet intelligence agencies. Good luck! Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 07:25, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Botany Files

I tried downloading the pdf. of the article on "Alliaria petiolata" but my antivirus instructs me that it is infected with a virus. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.132.9.62 (talk) 11:08, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Which anti-virus software are you using? –– Handroid7 【talk】 11:49, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Is there anything like TEMPLATENAME variable? (for transcluded templates)

In WP:VAR, {{FULLPAGENAME}} and some other variables are listed.

However, is there any way to print the original name of a transcluded template? –– Handroid7 【talk】 11:48, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Handroid7: I am not entirely sure of what you ask. If you want code that makes the template name appear, {{tlx}} is a good option. Are you asking about code that resolves templates redirects (such as {{re}} → {{Reply_to}})? Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 14:36, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]
- @Tigraan: Sorry if it was unclear. I was seeking for a method for a template to show its own article name, no matter where it is transcluded, i.e. the same shown by {{FULLPAGENAME}} on the template's own page.
  - Ah OK. Well, I do not see why you would need anything more fancy than just hardcoding the template name in the template, but someone more competent with templates might have an idea. If you don't get an answer here, try WP:VPT next. Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 14:57, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

This is not possible without saving the actual name of the template on the template page in a way so it can be retrieved. Navigation templates often do this in order to get correct V T E links when they are transcluded. For example, {{Wikipedia technical help}} calls {{Navbox}} with the parameter | name = Wikipedia technical help. Without this, {{Navbox}} would have no way to make the V T E links point to the right page. The name parameter is sometimes wrong after a move or incorrect edit and causes a listing at Wikipedia:Database reports/Invalid Navbar links so it can be fixed like [1]. I have heard modules can retrieve the name of the original module but I don't think this can be used for templates. I don't know your use case but if you can get people to save {{SUBST:PAGENAME}} in the template page then this will hardcode the name. Template:Navbox#Usage displays example code with this. PrimeHunter (talk) 15:06, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

When will the page i created go live?

Hi,

i practiced writing in my sandbox for a few days. But yesterday i clicked on the "Publish changes" and was hoping my page would go live, but it hasent. could you guide me as to when i can expect RDX Sports to go live? — Preceding unsigned comment added by SharonLazarus (talk • contribs) 12:31, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

SharonLazarus In this context, "publish changes" is equivalent to "save changes"; it does not mean "puts your changes on Wikipedia". You must submit your draft using Articles for Creation; however, if you were to do so, it would be rejected, as it is just a promotional piece for the business. From your wording, I gather that you work for RDX Sports in some way; as such, you must review and comply with the conflict of interest and paid editing policies, the latter is a Wikipedia Terms of Use requirement and mandatory. 331dot (talk) 13:40, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Please understand that Wikipedia is not for merely telling about a company. Wikipedia summarizes what independent reliable sources state about article subjects that meet Wikipedia's special definition of notability(in this case, the definition of a notable company). Wikipedia is not interested in what a company wants to say about itself. Press releases, routine announcements, staff interviews, and other primary sources are not acceptable for establishing notability. Wikipedia is interested in what independent reliable sources state on their own about a subject; in order for you to be successful in writing about your company, you would need to forget everything you know about it and only write based on what independent sources say. Most in your position cannot do that. 331dot (talk) 13:45, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Contribute

I wanted to contribute but I don’t put my money on the Internet so if you can provide an address I will mail a check — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:587:4201:D220:D5B2:9965:969F:D403 (talk) 17:58, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

See donate:Ways to Give. --David Biddulph (talk) 18:04, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Help with Publishing

Hi~

I made a new page about photographer Lindsay McCrum and can't seem to figure out how to publish the page. I keep clicking publish and it still isn't working. Have refreshed the page multiple times and even waited a week to see if it just needed time to upload. Not sure what I am doing, any advice? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Marcodavid9410 (talk • contribs) 20:38, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Marcodavid9410 In this context "publish changes" is equivalent to "save changes". It does not mean "publish your changes to the encyclopedia" Note that you clicked "publish changes" to edit this page as well. This was recently changed for legal reasons(so people are legally aware their changes are public)

To submit your page for a review and feedback, please use Articles for Creation. 331dot (talk) 20:53, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Distinguish name for math function

Hi folks, What is the rule distinguising a maths function, if at all re:Relative likelihood and User talk:BetterMath scope_creep^Talk 21:34, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

How to make a User Box bigger

How do I make a User Box bigger ... meaning, more width and more height? Here is the "code" below that I am using.

{{userbox| | border-c = #000000 | border-s = 2 | id = {{nbsp}} | id-c = #ffeeff | id-w = 0 | info = My text is here. | info-c = #ffeeff }}

Which produces this:

My text is here.

So, what if, say, I want the Box to be twice as wide and twice as tall? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 21:45, 17 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I have not tested it out yet but adding |id-w = and |id-h = should change the width of the id box (left box) respectively. Their parameters are the number of pixels you want so, |id-w = 1000 would make a box with a width of 1000 OkayKenji ^{(talk page)} 00:21, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

However, I just noticed that may not work for chaining the width/height of the "info" side (the side that says "My text is here.", "won't work with userbox with just one full rectangle"). OkayKenji ^{(talk page)} 00:32, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

It's not possible to change the width, as the module always sets the total width to be 240 pixels. I think the height expands to fit the contents. -- John of Reading (talk) 03:37, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. The width is fixed to make userboxes line up in columns. If you really want a different width on your own userpage then you can use Special:ExpandTemplates to find code like width:236px and wrap the userbox in {{replace|...|width:236px|width:472px}}:

My text is here.

Don't do this on userboxes meant for transclusion by others, and generally don't use {{replace}} to manipulate template output outside your own userspace. It's an unstable method. For example, if border-s is changed then width:236px is also changed. The width is 240 − 2×border-s, but this could also change if the default infobox design is changed. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:49, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! How about the height? Can that be manually increased (i.e., while not being contingent on adapting the necessary height to "fit" any exetnded text itself) ... ? In other words, can the height be manually increased, independent of whatever text is necessary to accommodate? Thanks! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 15:53, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Template:Userbox#Usage shows id-h. The default height is doubled with | id-h = 90. PrimeHunter (talk) 19:13, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, all! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 21:10, 18 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Resolved