Template talk:GeoTemplate

GeoTemplate is of interest to WikiProject Geographical coordinates, which encourages the use of geographical coordinates in Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks.Geographical coordinatesWikipedia:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesTemplate:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesGeographical coordinates articles

Microformats

GeoTemplate is part of, or of interest to, WikiProject Microformats, which encourages the deployment of microformats in Wikipedia, and documents them in the article space. If you would like to participate, visit the project page.MicroformatsWikipedia:WikiProject MicroformatsTemplate:WikiProject MicroformatsMicroformats articles

Note: changes to this template may take several days to propagate to Toolforge.

This template is for use by the geohack.php tool, currently located at Toolforge. It is not for use directly within articles. Template:coord and associated templates create links to geohack.

The template has a sandbox for design work and testing. If changes are not immediately visible try purging the cache (Purge GeoTemplate). Other globes or bodies are located on subpages, such as Template:GeoTemplate/moon. Some of their talk pages redirect here. Do not delete these subpages even if they do not appear to be used! For test coordinates, see /test coordinates.

All subpages | GeoHack documentation | GeoHack.js

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Frequently asked questions

Q: Which World Geodetic System is used?

A: Wikipedia uses the WGS84 datum ellipsoid for all coordinates, which is also used for GPS. This model can vary as much as ±100 m when compared to the geoid, which represents mean sea level.

Q: How can I report an error?

A: Report it on this page, with this link.

Q: Why do I see two markers on Google Maps?

A: Google Maps has introduced a reverse-geocoding feature, which gives priority to the closest object in their database, instead of the desired coordinates. The closest object is shown with a bright red marker with the map centered on it, and the requested coordinates are given a green marker that often blends into the background or is outside the displayed area. It might be called the "you must have meant this" feature. Our use of the Google Maps KML generator for Google Earth links is also affected. That's not something that can be fixed here.

Q: What is "UTM"? Does it use the WGS84 geoid?

A: UTM stands for Universal Transverse Mercator which is a map projection. Maps using UTM are usually based on WGS84 but, notably, the Ordnance Survey grids for Great Britain and Ireland are based on slightly different geoids: OSGB36.

Q: How can I get to Google maps quicker?

A: A user script is available, but easiest is to use WikiMiniAtlas. Click on the

to the left of the coordinate link will open a frame with a map of the surrounding location populated with Wikipedia articles.

Other common questions? edit

Archives

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Archive 13	Archive 14	Archive 15

This page has archives. Sections older than 28 days may be automatically archived by when more than 3 sections are present.

Map fullscreen button[edit]

Add a button to the map to make it full screen, yes, even if just clicking on the Openstreetmaps button is better. Jidanni (talk) 08:09, 15 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Bad link to NASA WorldWind[edit]

worldwind://goto/world=Earth&lat=48.850782&lon=2.3574&view=0.001 I get an error in the Safari browser that this link is not valid. It was generated on this page. Robert.Allen (talk) 18:55, 16 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Splitting Global/Trans-national services[edit]

I've reverted an edit by Thinker78 - diff which split the Global/Trans-national services table into two, based on the editor's perception of which maps are proprietary and which are not. I did not find the change useful, and it seemed ideological in nature. As a user, I'm interested in selecting the Global/Trans-national map of my choice, and am not interested in the commercial status of the map provided. My preference is to see all maps in a specific domain listed in a single table. I note that no other tables in the template are spit based on commercial status. I have asked the user to gain consensus before remaking such a change; I do not expect that such consensus will materialise. --Tagishsimon (talk) 16:35, 17 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Tagishsimon ideological in nature. It is really perplexing that you object to separating proprietary maps from those not proprietary. I don't know if you have noticed but Wikipedia is a project with the principle of freely shareable and modifiable content. It is one of the Five Pillars of the project and being non-commercial is a main principle.

All editors freely license their work to the public, and no editor owns an article – any contributions can and may be mercilessly edited and redistributed. Respect copyright laws and never plagiarize from any sources. Borrowing non-free media is sometimes allowed as fair use, but editors should strive to find free alternatives first.

And mainly,

Wikimedia is a global movement whose mission is to bring free educational content to the world. Wikimedia strives to bring about a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.

Proprietary maps many times have legal conditions of use that restrict their sharing, use and modification. Therefore, I believe it is important to make a differentiation between proprietary services and non-proprietary services with proper commons licenses. This is the reason why I split the table to make such differentiation. I have to add that I sometimes also make maps that I upload to Commons and I use in Wikipedia's articles. Using non-proprietary maps is a must in order to do that. Sincerely, Thinker78 (talk) 23:03, 17 March 2024 (UTC) Edited 23:57, 17 March 2024 (UTC)|[reply]

Please do not repeat the change without consensus. See WP:BRD I am aware of wikipedia's principles. Equally, I have explained why I think it was a poor decision which ill serves users. Thank you for your confirmation that the change is ideological in nature. --Tagishsimon (talk) 08:38, 18 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Kindly read the relevant policies I shared with you. Wikipedia is a non-commercial, non-proprietary project based on the principles of using material freely shareable. The change I had made was to help editors find free alternatives first. Again, as I stated I sometimes make and upload maps to Commons and it is a requirement that said maps use material with a commons or similar license, not proprietary copyrighted material, which is what some of the services in the table are. Therefore, it is better to have the table of map services split according as to whether they are proprietary or not, or whether they are copyrighted or have a commons licenses or similar. Sincerely, Thinker78 (talk) 18:56, 18 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]