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Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2012 June 19

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June 19

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Two different pages for Core War, or not?

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  • Core War lists 4 bulleted variants under ==Variants==
  • Core war lists 3 bulleted variants under ==Variants==

The difference in URL is War vs war (lowercase w). What is going on and why isn't there simply 1 page? I would think Wikipedia should not be case sensitive in this case. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.73.58.182 (talk) 00:19, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Core war is a redirect to Core War. The top of Core war says "(Redirected from Core war)". Unregistered users sometimes see an old page version for cache reasons, especially when they access a page via a redirect. Purge the page to see the current version, or click the "Article" tab to jump to the non-redirect version. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:32, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Amber Alert first usage?

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Wikipedia question of correction? > The Andy Griffith Show: 1963 – Character Ernest T. Bass wants to join the army and is angry and wants to break all the windows in town because he was rejected by the Army. He was going to break all the windows in Mayberry and Barney (Don Knotts) told the Sergeant, that he and Andy Griffith were going to do an “Amber Alert”, when asked what it was, Knotts said it was staying up 24 hours to catch Bass at his breaking glass.

> Question: When was the “Amber Alert” first used?

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, states that President Bill Clinton signed it into law in October 1996. > > While it may have not been for the search of children by Law Enforcement, it appears, it was used by Law Enforcement for searching for a possible criminal. [details removed] > — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.49.156.215 (talk) 02:06, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I deleted the duplicate question. Clearly the two articles are referring to two different things, so there is no error to correct. RudolfRed (talk) 02:11, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

deleting pages

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To whom it may concern:

How do I delete pages off of wikipedia that I created? If few others have contributed to it, is there a way to quickly delete it? Also, once deleted, will it still prompt up on google as an empty page with the title? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.176.41.47 (talk) 03:46, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Did you create the pages with an account so that you can point us to the page in question? If you are the only contributor to the page you can place {{db-self}}, but you must be logged into your account to do so. Otherwise you should take it to Wikipedia:Articles for Deletion. Using the Wikipedia:Proposed Deletion process could work too. Ryan Vesey Review me! 03:49, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
It should be removed from Google's search index when they revisit the page and discover it's deleted. If a Wikipedia mirror has copied the page before it was deleted then their copy may remain. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:59, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

ETEKOSOFT

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The branch of Etekosoft is in Pakistan. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Drzik (talkcontribs) 03:52, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

If you spot an error in one of our articles, please be bold and fix it. I'm not sure which article you might be concerned about, but we don't have an article on Etekosoft. RudolfRed (talk) 04:39, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
A Wikipedia search of Etekosoft gives no results on any page. PrimeHunter (talk) 10:56, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

HOW DO I CORRECT WRONG INFO ON THE INFAMOUS COLWICK MURDFERS?

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The boy who witnessed those murders was playing hookey from school and was up a tree looking for birds eggs. Your item goes on to say that the bodies of the murder victims were discovered three days later. Not true. His parenst started to search for him when he didn't come home and it was the searchers who found the bodies whilst looking for this lad who was still in the tree, absolutely terrified. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.13.30.103 (talk) 06:13, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It is greatly preferable if you provide a reliable sources for that, as it is potentially controversial. You need to provide a source for that information. Thanks CyanGardevoir (used EDIT!) 06:53, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Circulating article contents by e-mail

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Dear sirs, after reading your explanations about copying from your different sites, I still do not understand, whether I may add meanings of the contents of articles, without copying them, to a circulatory e-mail I intend to prepare. I would appreciate an explanation. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.64.0.248 (talk) 06:19, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Theoretically you would need to comply with the terms of WP:REUSE if you intend to circulate your e-mails to a large mailing list.--ukexpat (talk) 12:54, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Another template question

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At User:Toshio Yamaguchi/Template:NFCC issue note 3 I specified category = Articles with problems regarding the non-free content criteria and all = All articles with problems regarding the non-free content criteria. Yet when I test for example here, my sandbox isn't added to any category, there's not even a redlink or anything? Why? Does that only work in mainspace or did I miss something? -- Toshio Yamaguchi (tlkctb) 07:18, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It works for other namespaces too, but yes the problem you're running into is that you've encountered a limitation imposed by the "Category handler" template which is used by the ambox template. This blocks the addition of ambox template categories to userspace. See here for more info. -Thibbs (talk) 12:41, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you. -- Toshio Yamaguchi (tlkctb) 14:30, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

All Cap

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Is there any script or something by which I can correct all cap errors very quickly (eg. Gopaldas_Neeraj#Writings_that_appear_in_movies)

I also know about word processor change case! --Tito Dutta 07:34, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know if there is one, but I had time to kill so I just corrected them myself :) AndieM (Am I behaving?) 11:47, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

TWITTER Names

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Would it be possible to add the official Twitter name or Facebook page of celebrities on the wiki page? In order for fans to follow them? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.38.152.4 (talk) 11:06, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see why not, but only if you can include a reliable source.--Shantavira|feed me 12:17, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
See Template:Twitter.Edinburgh Wanderer 22:22, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, per our guidance on external links, there is no reason to add these links to articles, and they generally should be removed from existing articles, since they add no encyclopedic content to Wikipedia. "In order for fans to follow them" is not a valid reason for putting links into Wikipedia. --Orange Mike | Talk 18:57, 20 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

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I know I've been asking questions an awful lot these days, but there is a navigation box here that I want to add to my userpage to aid in frequently-visited links and I can't seem to get all the links I want displayed. Thank you! AndieM (Am I behaving?) 11:39, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

You must write [[:Category:...]] with colon in front if you want a link to the category instead of placing the page in the category. PrimeHunter (talk) 11:51, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Did this edit produce more or less what you want? Deor (talk) 11:53, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, that's great, but it would be better if the links were set to normal (left) rather than centered. AndieM (Am I behaving?) 13:32, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Have taken this to AndieM's talk page. Deor (talk) 01:45, 20 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Month's top editor (count)!

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Is there (most probably there is) a page which keeps record of a month's top editors! Can someone give me link of that page please? --Tito Dutta 13:17, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

What does "top editor" mean? If it is purely by number of edits then there are a bunch of bots that do routine maintenace which would always head the list. Roger (talk) 14:20, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Can I find the list somewhere in Wikipedia? --Tito Dutta 14:22, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

You can find a list of editors by all-time edit counts here. As for monthly tallies and similar, several older lists are maintained for historical reasons (e.g. July 2003, 2004, and 2004-2010), but I don't think that these stats are currently tallied anywhere. If they are then I don't know where. Hope this helps a little. -Thibbs (talk) 14:32, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Instructions on how to create a list like this are given here. -Thibbs (talk) 14:35, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I too knew it! In some editors' talk page you'll notice message "You are one of XY most active editors of this month" I am searching that list (if there is any)! --Tito Dutta 14:38, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Can you post an example of such a userbox? Or alternately you could maybe ask one of these editors how they are getting the info. -Thibbs (talk) 18:15, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Duplicate ref button?

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I only just now noticed some stuff in the toolbar between the edit window and the header box. There are two 'Reference' buttons. I don't know since when it looks that way (I might just have missed the introduction of this feature). What is the purpose of having two buttons? I note that the first button simply inserts ref tags with some text, while the second triggers the appearance of an 'Insert reference' window. Still the end effect seems to be the same. Is there some deeper purpose behind this which I am missing? -- Toshio Yamaguchi (tlkctb) 14:44, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Hmm, I rarely use either of them because the RefToolbar using the cite button is much better. I assume that the one that triggers the Insert reference window was created afterwards and they didn't remove the first. Ryan Vesey Review me! 14:51, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, actually I also prefer to type the tags by hand. It's just that I do not see the purpose of this change. But you might be correct that one of them just hasn't been removed yet. -- Toshio Yamaguchi (tlkctb) 15:00, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Hollywood's Top Ten

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Your information on the Hollywood's Top Ten listing is incorrect. The ONLY host the show EVER had was Lynda Halligan. Richard Roeper appeared on a few episodes as a guest CO-host, along with Lynda Halligan. Henry Dittman, etc. were comedians solely providing commentary on some of the movies on the countdown. Also, the top ten list was NEVER put together by the host/s of the show. It began as a list put together by the producer and executive producer of the show based on extensive research, box office results, etc. A few months after its debut, the show's viewers started voting online and had complete control of the outcome of the lists. In addition, Lynda Halligan was not only the show's sole host, she was also the writer and producer. New episodes aired nationally five days a week from March of 2010 through December of 2011. Re-runs continued airing on ReelzChannel for a few months after that. Episodes of Hollywood's Top Ten continue to air all around the world and you can still catch snippets of the show at McDonald's restaurants. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.41.82.182 (talk) 15:56, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

You should raise this issue on the article's talk page. RudolfRed (talk) 17:51, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia on my mobile(cell) phone.

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Something has changed recently and Wikipedia does not load correctly on my mobile phone.Please revert back.

Which phone do you have? Are you using the mobile site or an app? Regards, - Jarry1250 [Deliberation needed] 16:03, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

locking a book

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Is there a way to lock a book I made so others can view it without making changes.I want to be the only one with access to make ammendments to the book.

Thanks, Gabriel — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gpenfield1871 (talkcontribs) 16:53, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Is this a physical book made from trees or an e-book?--Aspro (talk) 18:03, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I suspect the OP is referring to one of these. – ukexpat (talk) 18:09, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I think you mean WP:Books. - Purplewowies (talk) (How's my driving?) 20:37, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Dang, yes I did.--ukexpat (talk) 20:46, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Article error?

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Kurt Cobain died in April 7, 1994. Not April 5th! -_- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.201.87.233 (talk) 16:55, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I added a section header to your question. If you see an error in an article, you can fix it yourself, if you have a reliable source. Or you can raise the issue on the article's talk page. RudolfRed (talk) 17:50, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
His body was discovered on the morning of Friday, April 8 1994. Multiple sources confirm that he "lay dead for three days before his body was found" (Rocky Mountain News - Apr 15, 1994) (it was based on the Coroner's estimation in his report). So, the fifth, not the seventh. See here for it stated in black and white.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:16, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Quick question about the appropriate name for an article

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I originally moved an article called Center for Retirement Research to Boston Center for Retirement Research (the article was only about the center in Boston). The person who made the article originally then made a new article called Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (and deleted the old one). What should it be called, one of these two or something else? Cliff12345 (talk) 18:08, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The quick answer (per WP:UCN) is that it should have the title that it is most commonly referred to in the reliable sources. In cases where the "common name" is split more or less evenly between two or more terms, then it becomes a matter of editorial discretion with the best name proving the most meaningful in relation to the article's scope or the clearest in relation to related articles. -Thibbs (talk) 18:13, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks I think that means it'll be Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Cliff12345 (talk) 18:16, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

antique books

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How much would the 51 volume books by Harvard CLaaics/ Colier on charles Darwin copyright 1909 be worth today? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.125.51.139 (talk) 18:53, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Have you tried the miscellaneous section of Wikipedia's Reference Desk? They specialize in answering knowledge questions there; this help desk is only for questions about using Wikipedia. For your convenience, here is the link to post a question there: click here. I hope this helps.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:02, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

CAN I PRINT A WIKIPEDIA REFERENCE

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HI

I AM WORKING ON AN ART PROJECT AT A AN ARTS UNIVERSITY IN LONDON, AM I ABLE TO HAVE "THE MEANING OF ART" PRINTED ONTO VINYL WHICH WE THEN WANT TO PUT UP ON GLASS PANELS IN THE UNIVERSITY AS YOU WALK IN, BUT IM NOT SURE FOR LEGAL REASONS IF I AM ABLE TO USE??

I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE

MANY THANKS — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.24.224.253 (talk) 19:24, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Hello. Uh, is there some reason you are SHOUTING AT US? Anyway, there is no article on Wikipedia I can find called "The Meaning of Art", so if this is about printing something from a work that is cited in one of our articles, you will need to determine copyright compliance for yourself as we cannot give legal advice. Please see the legal disclaimer. If it is about quoting a Wikipedia article itself, on the other hand, we can tell you how to comply with our standards for reuse of material under our copyright licenses. Thanks for understanding.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 19:51, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Can you be more specific about what "THE MEANING OF ART" is? KrSCP (talk) 20:54, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
If think he/she means if the phrase itself is trademarked or copyrighted.Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:57, 20 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

How do I add a "see also" to a wiki entry in another language?

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Hi, See subject header.

Thanks

Shlishke (talk) 22:39, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The See also section should only contain links to existing English Wikipedia articles, see WP:SEEALSO. To add interlanguage links to articles about the same subject in other languages, see Help:Interlanguage links.--ukexpat (talk) 23:27, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Strange Mix of Capitals and lowercase Letters in Names of Languages in the 'Languages' Section of English Wikipedia.

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Hello,

Few days ago I noticed that English pages on Wikipedia started to display many language names in lowercase letters, without capitalising the first letter (e.g. "dansk" instead of "Dansk"). Still, the names of other languages remain capitalised (e.g. "Deutsch"). I am wondering what the reasons for this change might be. I think this change is to the worse, is unnecessary and unwarranted, takes away from the usability and ergonomic qualities of pages, aside from producing a sense of inconsistency and sloppiness, which, in turn, takes away from Wikipedia's image.

I recommend reverting to the old style of listing all the names of the languages starting with a capital (e.g. Suomi instead of suomi). Existing ergonomic and usability studies, my experience as an industrial engineer and mere common sense indicate that reverting to capitalising names of languages will make it find their language of interest faster, decrease confusion and generally make it easier for users to navigate through the list of languages, thus improving their overall satisfaction with Wikipedia and its content. Although small and seemingly insignificant on their own, things like these are what constitutes the most part in producing a visual appeal and impression on the users. Making things like that make sense and fixing them timely is only benefiting us all as the users, contributors and editors of Wikipedia, as well as any other source on the web.

I hope the present recommendation will be noted, taken into due consideration and acted upon.

Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.209.52.184 (talk)

It's a known issue, see Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)#MediaWiki 1.20wmf5 deployment complete.--ukexpat (talk) 23:24, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]
The idea is to write the language name like it's normally written in that language. That makes sense in some places but I don't like the resulting mix of capitalisation in the list of interlanguage links. Others have suggested to only use upper case first letter there. See bugzilla:37705. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:27, 19 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]