Help desk
< June 18	<< May \| June \| Jul >>	June 20 >

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.

June 19

The Hues Corporation

Hello my name is Kenny James I was one of several lead vocalists of the recording group The Hues Corporation that had the 2 million selling song, Rock The Boat. While viewing the bio I realize that my name was not admitted as one of the members. I spoke to someone about a year ago who said they needed proof before anything could be edited.

Well I have several pieces of that and I would like to know what the next step for me should be to get the bio corrected.

Kenny James — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:8801:2B80:B00:CC5C:3837:5C7A:D2C8 (talk) 00:00, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Since you have a conflict of interest (see WP:COI), you should not edit the article yourself. Instead, suggest the change in a new section on the article's talk page. and add the magic formula {{request edit}}. Make sure to provide links to reliable sources that verify the facts: see WP:RS. Links to reliable sources are the only acceptable form of proof. -Arch dude (talk) 00:53, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, that is not quite correct. Citations of reliable sources are the only acceptable form of proof. Sources do not need to be online, although it is helpful if they are. @Arch dude:. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 00:41, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. Sorry, I oversimplified. The details are in WP:RS. The sources must be verifiable by members of the public without having to ask Mr. James for them. This distinction is usually applied to things like books in libraries, and usually in support of historical facts from the pre-Internet era. I simply assumed that membership in a band could be verified somewhere on the Internet. -Arch dude (talk) 02:32, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Deleted Wikipedia article.

Hello! Yesterday, I created a Wikipedia article for Filipino singer 'Steven Paysu' but someone redirected it to 'Tawag ng Tanghalan (season 2)' Wikipedia article. Can I ask how to recreate a wikipedia article about Steven Paysu without redirecting it to its related Wikipedia article? Thank you.

HitroMilanese changed Steven Paysu to a redirect with the comment "not notable enough as per WP:BAND or WP:GNG". To have an article, the subject must be notable (WP:N). We have developed some specific guidelines about what constitutes notability for many types of article. In that editor's opinion, your subject does not meet the criteria in either WP:BAND or WP:GNG, so a standalone article is not appropriate. Please read those guidelines. If you disagree with the editor, amass some reliable sources (WP:RS) to make your case, and then work with that editor in the editor's talk page. If the two of you cannot reach consensus, come back here and we can provide additional guidance. Please start by assuming that both you and the other editor are trying to make Wikipedia better (WP:AGF). Failure to do this will almost certainly work against you. -Arch dude (talk) 01:29, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

What local language is English wikipeadia

I'm just wondering as sometimes I need to choose to use center ot centre and other wordls that change depending on what local version of english you use. Especially for template and pother pages that aren't releated to a region. — Preceding unsigned comment added by BrandonALF (talk • contribs) 01:25, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Please see WP:ENGVAR. Basically, each new article starts in the variant of English chosen by the article's creator. Other editors are expected to continue to use that variant in that article, with very few exceptions. It's expected that a new article's creator will use the appropriate variant when an article is about a subject that is strongly associated with that variant. -Arch dude (talk) 01:33, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
- Though I suspect we come up against what is simply ignorance in some cases. I recently felt the need to revert what were probably good faith edits that changed the spelling of some words in an article from Australian English to American English. The article? Australian English. HiLo48 (talk) 00:00, 21 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Viewing diffs of all changes since last visit on watchlist

Is there a one-click way to view changes to pages on my watchlist since I last viewed them? The closest method I know of is to use the expanded watchlist, but I still want to view only the most recent change on my watchlist – what I'm looking for is a way to maintain this compact watchlist while still being able to view the cumulative changes (if there have been multiple edits) to articles on my watchlist as opposed to only the most recent diff. Mélencron (talk) 01:47, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Mélencron You may want to try the beta feature "New filters for edit review". In Wikipedia, click on "Preferences", then click on "Beta features", and look for ""New filters for edit review". When you get it, you can select the filters you want and I am guessing one of the filters will get you the feature you want. Let me know how it goes. Thinker78 (talk) 23:53, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Popups are a nuisance

Wikipedia is the best web site ever. However, the popup upgrade while scrolling over anything in blue is an annoying nuisance. Kindly revert back.

Thanks and keep up the good work — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.70.51.202 (talk) 02:49, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

If you create a login, you can disable this feature. The developers make the decision for the behaviour for users who are not logged in. -Arch dude (talk) 04:06, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Unregistered users can disable it on a cogwheel in the popup. Registered users can also disable it at Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-rendering. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:20, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Notification for user link

Hi, Is there a way to get a notification if someone links to my user page? The same way you do if some links to a page you have created. Yesterday someone left some vulgar remarks about myself on a page and while it was removed, I only found out about it by accident as I happened to edit that particular page and I would like to avoid this in the future. Thanks Murchison-Eye (talk) 05:12, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Murchison-Eye: Hi. You will get a web notification when someone links to your user page if the “Mention” option is enabled in your preferences. I’m fairly certain this is enabled by default, but if it’s disabled for you, you can enable it by either tick box (or both of them). Ticking the “Web” box causes you to receive a notification on the Wikipedia website whenever somebody links to your userpage on any page or in an edit summary or mentions you using the Reply to template (aliases: {{ping}}, {{re}}, {{replyto}}, {{reply}}, and {{yo}}). If you tick the “Email” box, the email address connected to your Wikipedia account will get an email message whenever somebody links to your user page or mentions you.

You can read more about mentions and notifications on the Wikipedia:Notifications page. Interqwark ^{talk contribs} 05:19, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Hi @Interqwark:, Thanks for your fast reposnse. That page does have the information I was after, however as per "if the mention is not on a completely new line with a new signature, no notification will be sent." It looks like if someone vandalises a page and links to your profile you will not get a notification because there will not be a "signature". Thanks for your help. Murchison-Eye (talk) 05:26, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, unfortunately, there is no way to get a notification if somebody links to your user page without inserting their signature in the same revision, as far as I’m aware. Interqwark ^{talk contribs} 05:27, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Signature

I remeber there was a page where ask questions with a typical signature system. In the editing page you was not able to save before have signed. Am I right? I do not remeber where it is.Pierpao (talk) 14:41, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know of any such page. Or perhaps I have not understood your question. Perhaps you could tell us why you're looking for the page and we could understand your query better. Warmly, Lourdes 16:58, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Pierpao: Wikipedia:Teahouse had a feature like that when you posted Wikipedia:Teahouse/Questions/Archive 713#Module programming. PrimeHunter (talk) 21:09, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

To the best of my knowledge, Pierpao, neither the Teahouse nor any other page on en.Wikipedia forces a signature. There is a script or "bot" User:SineBot, which signs on behalf of editors who omit a signature in many cases. This page and the Teahouse are among those that it covers. However, it does not catch all unsigned comments. There is an individual editing preference, at Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-editing which prompts a user not to omit an edit summary, but I don't know of a similar gadget to prompt for a signaure. DES ^(talk)_{DESiegel Contribs} 00:37, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The Teahouse feature was made by 'Enable the Teahouse "Ask a question" feature' at Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets, but it has been disabled.[1] When users clicked a special link on the page to ask a question, it used code in MediaWiki:Gadget-teahouse/content.js to make a simple input box for the question and not allow saving without a signature. PrimeHunter (talk) 01:00, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Male mallard ducks

Some male mallards are changing their plumage to brown like the female mallards, are they changing from male to female? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.151.65.253 (talk) 15:28, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

No, it's called "eclipse plumage", and is common to all ducks, not just Mallards. DuncanHill (talk) 15:40, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

weird section and formatting previews

When I am editing now in a box suddenly there is an increase in font size around section titles proportionate to the number of =s I surround it with (which become a blue color) and if I italic or bold the apostrophes also become blue while the text within becomes italic or bold as appropriate.

Admittedly this is pretty neat and I could get used to it, but I don't remember changing any settings and would like to know if it is possible to remove this feature somehow in case I can't get used to it. Did I possibly misclick somewhere or was this enabled as a new default? It appears tildes (~s) also go blue... ScratchMarshall (talk) 17:25, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@ScratchMarshall: To toggle this feature off, click the pencil icon to the left of "Advanced" in the toolbar above the edit area. (Apologies to PrimeHunter for copy/pasting from their earlier post – I activated this feature myself before it became default, and I just went crazy looking all over Preferences because I couldn't remember where this setting was located.

) –FlyingAce^✈hello 20:55, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@FlyingAce: thanks! "Syntax highlighting" eh? Clicking this fixed it and made it go away, I must've clicked it by accident and hadn't noticed the button highlighted. It is a pretty cool feature, I never even knew about it until this happened. Might actually keep it on, kind of enjoying these purple-texted templates. Guess it could pay to experiment with more buttons to gain awareness. ScratchMarshall (talk) 12:43, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia has several syntax highlighting features but this one is new outside the Beta features and was enabled by default a week ago. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:26, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Unable to change map at Glenborrodale

Hi I'm unable to change the map on the is article. I can't why it is not changing. Any ideas? It should be Scotland Argyll and Bute, but for some staying as Highland. Take a look at this Bruan. It should be a smaller like that. I have been adding references, images and other stuff to List of places in Highland, including updating the maps, and all of them no problem. Thanks. scope_creep (talk) 19:26, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Figured it out. Thanks. scope_creep (talk) 20:01, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Derogatory words

Looking at Kevin kilbanes footballer Wikipedia I noticed a derogatory edit to describe his daughter. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.29.250.133 (talk) 20:04, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, IP user. It looks like GermanJoe has already removed the vandalism from Kevin Kilbane. Thank you for the heads up! –FlyingAce^✈hello 20:21, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

There were several bits of vandalism as well as that noted above. Theye've been fixed. Eagleash (talk) 20:22, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

(ec) Thank you for pointing this out - I have reverted this hurtful edit. Of course you can also remove such blatant issues immediately yourself, when you notice them. We also have a specialized forum at WP:BLPN for such issues and an IRC channel, if you would like to report similar future issues in a non-public venue. GermanJoe (talk) 20:23, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Question on copy right.

Would it be in any way violation of copy right policy, if I use a book (of 800 pages) and create an article that could be seen as an extended summury of that book?Τζερόνυμο (talk) 20:46, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

First, before you create any Wikipedia article, the subject of the article must be notable. See WP:N. I assume that your article is about the same subject as the book, and not about the book. If the article is intended to be about the book, then an extended summary is not appropriate. Next, if your article is about the subject of the book, then you need reliable sources WP:RS about that subject to establish notability. If the book is itself a reliable source (say, a college textbook from a major university press) then you may use to as a reference for facts in the article up to and including all of the facts in the article, although I doubt this would result in a very good article. Now for copyright: facts in the book are not subject to copyright. Copyright covers "creative elements", and you must not copy these. These include word choices and sentence structure, but they also include other structures such as the way the topics are ordered and divided into chapters. Structure is "creative" unless it is the only reasonable way to subdivide the subject, or if it is a broadly accepted way to organize the material (e.g., chronologically.) -Arch dude (talk) 21:45, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I forgot to answer your specific question. I discussed copyright law, not policy. Wikipedia's policy is to adhere to copyright law. If you add material to Wikipedia that violates copyright law, the material will be removed, and if you do this repeatedly, you will be blocked. -Arch dude (talk) 22:03, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Arch dude, your answer is really informative. Τζερόνυμο (talk) 10:12, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Glad you liked it. One interesting point: a copyrighted work can contain creative elements that are in the public domain because the author used public-domain works instead of copying them. If you re-use these elements, you are not infringing the author's copyright on that later work. If you do this you should attribute the original work instead of the copyrighted work. An extreme example: textbooks are copyrighted. Almost all plane geometry high-school textbooks published up to at least 1970 use the same structure. That structure is in the public domain because it was used in Euclid's Elements. -Arch dude (talk) 17:13, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

sync Android Saved articles to a laptop browser

Hi. On my Android I have many saved articles. I would like to read them from a browser on my laptop. Is this possible please? Thanks. Richard — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rallen444 (talk • contribs) 21:12, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The saved pages are probably located as HTML files somewhere on your phone. Use the File manager to locate where they are and transfer them via USB as you would movies or music. I doubt very much there's any sort of cloud-based system for it. Ian.thomson (talk) 21:35, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Rallen444: I guess your question is about a feature of the Wikipedia App for Android. There may not be a way to do what you want. See mw:Wikimedia Apps/Android FAQ#Synced reading lists. PrimeHunter (talk) 00:14, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Great Western Railway (train operation company) issues

Hello

The GWR page has issues with the main picture being constantly changed, It calmed down for a while but now it has been changed again, I reverted it, and then got abuse for user Davey2010. Is it possible to put tighter controls on this page to stop the constant editing, and false information being put on it.194.75.22.91 (talk) 23:29, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Seek consensus on the talkpage for your changes otherwise you could find yourself blocked. –Davey2010^Talk 23:39, 19 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I must say I am quite disappointed by Davey2010's behavior, in particular this diff whose edit summary was not called for. This being said, your own behavior is not much better, complaining here about abuse and false information (without substantiating either, and I do not see that in the edit summaries) and calling for editing restrictions. Could neither of you bring up the image question on the talk page? See our dispute resolution process. Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 16:02, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I do agree that certainly could've been worded better but the point still stands - Images shouldn't be replaced with worser ones - Ofcourse "worse" is subjective but either way my edit was to restore the long standing image - I'm not trying to be awkward but as per BRD the onus is on those changing the image to seek consensus, As I said my change was simply reinstating a long standing image, Thanks, –Davey2010^Talk 16:31, 20 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

A long standing image which in turn had only been on for a short period, compared to the one which I reverted back to which had been on longer than the image you changed it to. Overall, your not helping the situation, I was actually doing the right thing by reverting back to the previous imagine, and also please note Davey2010, it was NOT me that uploaded the awful image, so stop saying it was or giving hints towards it.194.75.22.91 (talk) 18:41, 30 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]