Wikipedia talk:Signatures

This is not the page to ask for help with using Wikipedia or other random questions.

SQL report of accounts violating guidelines

-- 2> /dev/null; date; echo '
/* User signature conformance checker
 * Checks nickname and fancysig fields in a users preferences.  Accounts matching
 * any banned code can be notified by bot or manually.  More sphonisticate checks,
 * like a text length limit, can be done with REGEXP.
 *
 * Run time: 15 min <SLOW_OK>
 */
SELECT
  user_name AS "User name",
  user_editcount AS "Edit count",
  EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recentchanges WHERE rc_user_text=user_name AND rc_namespace%2=1 LIMIT 1) AS "Active",
  EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM ipblocks WHERE ipb_user=user_id AND ipb_expiry="infinity") AS "Blocked",
  nick.up_value AS "Signature"
FROM USER
JOIN user_properties AS fncy ON fncy.up_user=user_id AND fncy.up_property="fancysig"
JOIN user_properties AS nick ON nick.up_user=user_id AND nick.up_property="nickname"
WHERE /* Use CAST(...) for case-insensitive searches */
   nick.up_value LIKE "%[[Image:%"
OR nick.up_value LIKE "%[[File:%"
OR (nick.up_value LIKE "%{{%" AND CAST(nick.up_value AS CHAR CHARACTER SET utf8)
    COLLATE utf8_general_ci NOT LIKE "%{{subst:%")
HAVING Active=1 AND Blocked=0
-- OR nick.up_value LIKE "%<br%"
-- OR nick.up_value LIKE "%<font%" /* <font> is gone in HTML5 */
;-- ' | sql -r enwiki_p; date;

232 users use an images or an unsubstituted template in their signature and 26 of them made an edit in the past 30 days. — Dispenser 17:24, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

Which ones? --Jayron32 17:31, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

Active image based signatures

Aaron Walden (talk · contribs)	2028	Aaron Walden
Adrruiz (talk · contribs)	52	adrruiz \\(talk)
Sobreira (talk · contribs)	2974	Sobreira (parlez)
Yorkshire Phoenix (talk · contribs)	2009	Yorkshire Phoenix
Superzohar (talk · contribs)	4631	Superzohar Talk
Philg88 (talk · contribs)	11432	â–º Philg88 â—„ talk
Plinio Cayo Cilesio (talk · contribs)	102	Pliniochaaaaaaaaaaan!!! (Discussion)
Riemogerz (talk · contribs)	2	riemogerz talk

You may wish to also request a database report for this. — Dispenser 06:09, 24 September 2011 (UTC)

Signature template transclusion

I understand that, per WP:SIG#NT, it is forbidden to transclude templates into a users signature. However, today, I thought about it, and thought that this code might be acceptable:

{{User:LikeLakers2/sig}} <span style="display:none;">[[User:LikeLakers2|LikeLakers2]] ([[User talk:LikeLakers2|talk]])</span>

Assuming that my signature template in my userspace includes a link to my userpage and/or user talk page (and/or contributions page), wouls this kind of signature be allowed? This would allow for SineBot to still recognise my signature as being there, even though the links are not actually visible.

Another idea is this:

{{subst:User:LikeLakers2/sig}} <span style="display:none;">[[User:LikeLakers2|LikeLakers2]] ([[User talk:LikeLakers2|talk]])</span>

or

{{subst:User:LikeLakers2/sig}}

Still assuming that I still include the nessecary links, this could allow for perhaps some use of parsers, while not draining the (almost limitless, if we even cared about server resource usage on Wikipedia) server resources to change every "transclusion" of it when I change User:LikeLakers2/sig.

Again, just something I thought up, and I was wondering if it would be allowed, and if so, how. LikeLakers2 (talk | Sign my guestbook!) 20:11, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

Every action at Wikipedia should be aimed at building the encyclopedia or at building the community that builds the encyclopedia. Including text that does not display merely to satisfy Sinebot does not seem helpful. Johnuniq (talk) 21:35, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

Substitution of signature templates is allowed, as far as I know. Regarding transclusion, if a user signed with a template often enough, vandalising the signature template would stealthily vandalise thousands of pages with one edit, and both the vandal edit and revert would cause unnecessary strain on the servers. →Στc. 22:56, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

Quite right. Transclusion is technically allowed everywhere but signatures should be developed in the user preferences. From there, they will be automatically applied. nevertheless, it is strongly recommended that signatures follow the policies and guidelines.The main reasons are: readability, signatures that accurately reflect the username, signatures that are pronouncable and can be consigned to memory, signatures that are available from most standard keyboards, and signatures that do not generate loads of code. --Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 03:00, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

Source listings on talk pages

Hi, it might be necessary to alter the wording at Wikipedia:SIG#When_signatures_should_and_should_not_be_used. I have never seen items in source listings being signed when they figure in list form ( not embedded as a part of a distinct post ) and I think that this makes good sense. The current wording doesn't capture that usage ( and seems to explicitly disallow not signing such additions ), and has resulted in a recent ANI thread here. un☯mi 23:21, 13 December 2011 (UTC)

It seems like a minor issue which isn't worth changing the policy for.   Will Beback  talk  23:55, 13 December 2011 (UTC)

Fair enough, will you be back to support me next time? ;) un☯mi 02:15, 14 December 2011 (UTC)

No, we're not changing the guideline because of a single argument that wouldn't have happened if either party had a lick of sense or grace. --erachima talk 00:22, 16 December 2011 (UTC)

Accessibility of sigs

I've started to draft a page of advice for editors who wish to make sure their sigs are accessible. Please feel free to contribute to its development. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 11:03, 15 December 2011 (UTC)