User talk:Jerry69420

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Hi Jerry69420! I noticed your contributions and wanted to welcome you to the Wikipedia community. I hope you like it here and decide to stay.

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Happy editing! DB1729 (talk) 20:47, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Categories

Hello. I noticed you have been having a tough time with category pages. For newer editors, it's understandably a counter-intuitive system.

In Wikipedia, we do not add pages to a category by editing the category page, we add them by editing the individual articles' pages and linking the category from there. So to categorize a page, go to the page you wish to categorize and add the category at the bottom of the page with the other categories.

Please read Help:Category#Putting pages into categories and Wikipedia:FAQ/Categorization#How do I add an article to a category? for more information and clarification.

Let me know if you need assistance or have any questions. Thank you and have a great day!--DB1729 (talk) 20:48, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion but isn’t the page I’m trying to edit a list ? Jerry69420 (talk) 20:53, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

No, it is not a list. Category pages are distinctly different. With a list, elements can be added to the page and the list directly. With category pages, they cannot. They work differently as described above. --DB1729 (talk) 21:00, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

Alright thanks for clarifying. I’ll get to editing this. Hopefully it won’t be tricky . Thanks for the help . Jerry69420 (talk) 21:02, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

You're welcome. If you need help, I will keep an eye this talk page for a while. If it's several days or more in the future, it will best if you post to my talk page instead. --DB1729 (talk) 21:09, 20 May 2021 (UTC)

To add a page to a category, include " Category:Category name . Hey to add a page into a category , all I need to do is the above right ? Jerry69420 (talk) 11:01, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Note you should first verify that the page does indeed belong to the category. Also check the to see if there are subcategories where the article might be better categorized to (and where it might already be). But yes, it's actually quite easy. Click here for an example I did last week. Don't worry about adding the vertical bar and any sorting key with it. We can take care of that later if it's needed at all. --DB1729 (talk) 12:09, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Hey ,the wikitext is the code thing in the editing section, right? Jerry69420 (talk) 12:20, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II . This is how i wrote the code . Is it correct? Jerry69420 (talk) 12:24, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Yes Wikitext generally refers to the syntax you see in the edit window.

Yes that's correct! You can tell it worked because your talk page was categorized to Regiments of the British Army in World War II. --DB1729 (talk) 12:28, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Yes ! I added it to both the ww1 and 2 pages . Thank you so much . Couldn’t have done it without you . Jerry69420 (talk) 12:30, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

That's great! Except you added it at the bottom of a section. It is standard practice to add the category declarations all the way at the very bottom of the entire page. --DB1729 (talk) 12:38, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I’m sorta confused on this . Should I stick the code at the bottom of wiki text ? Jerry69420 (talk) 12:40, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

You need be editing in the correct edit window in the first place. You can click edit source at the very top of the page, or you could click the edit button at the bottom most section. The idea is to get the bottom of the page by scrolling all the way down. You will know you're adding it the right place when you see the other categories that are already there. --DB1729 (talk) 12:46, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

And yes, it should go at the bottom of the wikitext in the edit window. To fix it just remove what you added and re-add it at the very bottom of the page along with the other categories. --DB1729 (talk) 12:56, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

But isn't the bottom endless? Jerry69420 (talk) 13:05, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

No, not what I've seen. What are you using? I guess you're on a mobile or something?

Also someone else has already fixed it. --DB1729 (talk) 13:10, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Yes ,im on mobile. Jerry69420 (talk) 13:33, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I see now from a post with another editor that you are likely using Wikipedia:VisualEditor. If so, I'm sorry and was not aware until now. I have absolutely no experience with that tool. From what I gather it was not designed for complex or advanced actions and has many limitations in general (and maybe still a lot of bugs).

Looking back on all this, it probably would have better better if we had used a sandbox to tinker with, instead trying to walk you through it on a live page. Please understand I've only been registered for about a year and a half. This is the first time I had ever really walked a new editor through a task. I've tried before, but they were unresponsive. There are several options available for new editors to get assistance, likely from someone who has more experience in working with new people than I do. See Category:Wikipedians looking for help for example.

If you need help with VisualEditor, I suggest you request help at either the Wikipedia:Teahouse or at Wikipedia talk:VisualEditor. Either place should be able to help out or direct you to where you can get it. --DB1729 (talk) 13:56, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

No problem. You still helped out a lot . So , what i was doing before wasnt wrong . Jerry69420 (talk) 13:57, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Wait. I was using visual editor first but then i used the source editor because thats how you add stuff to categories. Jerry69420 (talk) 13:59, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

What you did initially, yesterday, here and here was clearly wrong.

What you did today, well it worked, but it wasn't really correct either for a couple minor reasons. The category declarations were in the wrong location as already pointed out. Also the extra spaces at the beginning, the end, and around the colon are unneeded and are all ignored by the software. (This is very minor as it has no effect on function or the displayed output).

On a more damaging note: Whenever you link a category on a talk page, always precede the text with a colon. It should look like this in markup:

[[:Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II]]

with the output like this:

Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II

That colon in front disables the function. Without the colon, the software assumes you want to categorize the page on which it appears. That is why your talk page was categorized in 'Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II' for several minutes until I fixed it. --DB1729 (talk) 14:30, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Ok . I be adding another unit . Please tell if it's correct. Also as I'm on phone, i dont have to do the bottom thing right ? Jerry69420 (talk) 14:34, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

You still need to place it at the bottom with the other categories. Just scroll down until you see them and place your category under the bottom most category already there. --DB1729 (talk) 14:45, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

But the scroll is infinite on mobile. Should i use another device like ipad or laptop? Jerry69420 (talk) 14:51, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I'm a little confused by how scrolling could be infinite. And even if it is, you should still eventually get to the categories. Have you tried on a smaller page?.

Yes a different device like a laptop would be best and probably a lot easier, imo.

Also I think you misunderstood my statement about visualeditor. I merely meant I can be of no help with any specific issues with visualeditor and how it may be affecting your ability to properly execute these tasks. This is because I have no experience or knowledge of the tool and how it behaves.

The end result of your edits still need to be correct regardless of the hardware and software you are using, mobile or not.--DB1729 (talk) 14:59, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Alright , I'll use a laptop. Jerry69420 (talk) 15:02, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

I have to start getting ready for a graduation ceremony. I might check back before I leave but I may not have much time at hand. Good luck! --DB1729 (talk) 15:32, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Alright and thanks. Jerry69420 (talk) 15:51, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Turns out I have a little time before I leave. I was reading over what you said about the scroll being "infinite" on a mobile phone. On my phone, when you are on any very long page, you can hold your finger on right edge of the screen, on the scroll marker, and slide it down. It may take a couple tries if you've never done it before. This allows you to scroll down the entire page in a single movement, regardless of how long it is. I assume all phones have the same or similar feature. If you were simply trying to repeatedly swipe-scroll the screen to advance, I can see how that would seem as if the page is "infinite" and would take forever + a day.

Anyway, a laptop is still more suitable to do what you want.

Ok, now I'm off. --DB1729 (talk) 17:35, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Thanks for the suggestion. Jerry69420 (talk) 18:04, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

It is obvious you are still struggling with the concept of placing a category at the bottom of the editable page. Again it appears you have edited an article section instead of the whole page. There are edit buttons for each section of an article. Only the very top (the VERY TOP), main edit button allows access to where the categories go at the very bottom of the page. The main edit source button is located at the top of the page in the tabs where is says "Read" "Edit source" "View history". Click on the middle tab "Edit source" there. The only section edit button that could also work is the last, and bottom most section, in this case the 'External links' section.

Categories need to go at the very bottom of the edit page, by using the very top main edit button.

Categories need to go at the very bottom of the edit page; the section edit buttons will not take you there unless it is the bottom most one.

I'm repeating this because failure to do this will likely result in your edits being reverted, and because it seems to be a concept you are not getting.

Categories need to go at the very bottom of the edit page, by using the very top main edit button.

Categories need to go at the very bottom of the edit page; the section edit buttons will not take you there unless it is the bottom most one.

I hope this is clear. I'm beginning to have concerns that categorization on WP is more than what you are ready for at this time.

If the above is not absolutely clear and there is any uncertainty on your part, I ask that you please, do not attempt any further categorization edits on a live, mainspace page until further notice. Some of your edits were mistaken for vandalism by another editor and your edits are causing disruption. This is partly my fault and I'm doing my best to remedy the situation. Making mistakes is part of learning. This is not me being angry with you. I am not at all angry with you, but because your latest edits were damaging and disruptive, I think it's best that you stop, at least for now anyway if you are not sure what you are doing.

I can do a couple things for you. Tell me what change you wish to make, I will look it over, and if it's an acceptable change, I will make the edit in your behalf. Maybe if you just see it done, it will help you.

I can also load a copied practice page into either your sandbox or mine where you can practice making your desired change there. Once you have demonstrated you can do that correctly, then you may attempt to categorize a live page. Is that clear?

To create your sandbox simply click on this red link your sandbox and make any edit to it. This sandbox will be a place where you can make test edits and practice.

Do you understand all of this? --DB1729 (talk) 04:07, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Yes i do . I just wasn't in a good state when making the edits. I'll use that sandbox . If you can edit for me , i was trying to add a unit, the Cambridgeshire Regiment to the regiments of ww2 page . Jerry69420 (talk) 06:05, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

So I'm on a laptop now , and at the very end i can see the categories. Should i add here ? Jerry69420 (talk) 08:45, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

So I've published the change. If you see this , just confirm its right. Also , I've not done this with my account. Jerry69420 (talk) 08:52, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Phew, yes, that was absolutely correct. Link to to your change is here for future reference. Well done! I was afraid I was completely failing in my effort to help you.

Just remember to log in to your account in the future. This just helps out everyone including yourself. Say a year from now you wish to refer to a change you made, for whatever reason, you can more easily find that edit by doing criteria searches on your contribution history. It would be difficult find something done from an IP address that may have changed several times since then. Also I've found leaving an edit summary has been very helpful later on when searching through my own contributions, by using the 'Edit summary search' at the bottom of the user contributions page. It also helps everyone else for a number of reasons. Just a helpful tip. --DB1729 (talk) 13:13, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Alright, I'll be sure to do that. Jerry69420 (talk) 13:17, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Btw, is there any way to contact Wikipedia about the whole source code not appearing on mobile and tablets. Jerry69420 (talk) 13:18, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

I was assuming that was because you were editing from a section edit window, but it appears I was likely wrong about that. (I was a little intoxicated when I made that long post last night)

You can raise your issue at Wikipedia:Teahouse and they can direct you to the proper forum, that is if someone can't resolve your concern there. --DB1729 (talk) 13:41, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Alright, I'll get to that . Jerry69420 (talk) 13:42, 22 May 2021 (UTC)