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Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2018 April 1

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April 1

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Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text

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I am having a difficult time trying to figure out how to define my citations. I have read the instructions but I am still confused on how to do it. The article is Diet Strategies of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I keep receiving the error message about my citations being invoked but not defined.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Jtownsley15 (talkcontribs) 1 April 2018 01:32 (UTC)

@Jtownsley15: Hello, at the first use of a reference, you type <ref name=XXXX>{{reference content}}</ref>. Then at subsequent uses of the same ref. you can just type <ref name=XXXX/> (note the closing '/'). Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~).. Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 02:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@Jtownsley15: As an alternative, I usually use the visual editor for citations - I've found that it is much more intuitive. LittlePuppers (talk) 02:05, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@Jtownsley: I wouldn't necessarily recommend the vis ed in this case... it can be very useful where you have a URL and it can format a ref for you, but it can also have a 'mind of its own' and change things you don't want changed. If you use it, it often leads to the ref needing 're-editing' after saving, and checking of the page, but it can be a useful tool once you gain a little experience. I have formatted the refs for you. (Phew!) Please check that they are where you wanted them to be. If you have not already done so, please read WP:MEDRS, and WP:REFB is a basic guide to adding refs. Please return if you need more assistance. Eagleash (talk) 03:03, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@Eagleash: Sure, it certainly isn't perfect and often does make mistakes (I've found that it won't cite PDFs, and sometimes other web sources - and rarely things other than that, like ISBNs), however I've found that the interface for manually citing refs (in the case of non-web sources, and things it just doesn't like) and reusing citations usually works fairly well, and if it doesn't, then you just have to fix it (which, as we see above, can happen with the source editor as well ;) )LittlePuppers (talk) 03:34, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure that it would have handled the multi-refs in this instance very well at all especially with the multiple authors. As I say, it's useful once you gain a little experience but not great for a relatively new editor. Eagleash (talk) 08:48, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Am i or am i not logged in?

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Made a correction to article for KUNM. I was not given credit. So i tried to log in. Was told i entered wrong password. I entered the password that i have had for years. Then i was told i am already lugged in.  ????? — Preceding unsigned comment added by ‎1archie99 (talkcontribs) 05:04, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Here is a link for the article KUNM (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs). A rev/del may be in order. MarnetteD|Talk 05:09, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Made a correction to article for KUNM. I was not given credit. So i tried to log in. Was told i entered wrong password. I entered the password that i have had for years. Then i was told i am already lugged in.  ????? 1archie99 (talk)

You were logged in to the account User:1archie99 when you made two posts here. Somebody edited KUNM without being logged in so their IP address was credited for the edit. The edit cannot be reassigned to an account but the IP address can be hidden on request for privacy reasons. See Wikipedia:Requests for oversight. The desktop version of the site shows your username at top of pages when you are logged in. The mobile version shows a bell icon at the top right if you are logged in, and clicking the menu icon at the top left shows your username. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:37, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Didn't Do A Wrong Edit For Which i Was Blamed

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I Didn't Do A Wrong Edit For Which i Was Blamed And was Stopped from Editing more — Preceding unsigned comment added by DomicCopper2001 (talkcontribs) 07:17, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@DomicCopper2001: Can you be more specific? User talk:DomicCopper2001 shows several warnings about edits made by your account. Special:Contributions/DomicCopper2001 shows all edits by the account. I'm also unsure what you mean by "was Stopped from Editing more". You have been warned but not blocked from editing. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:22, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@PrimeHunter: I see they are blocked now (I have a script that strikes through the names of blocked editors, very handy)> Doug Weller talk 15:05, 2 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

star Inn at Drax

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My husband and myself were licensee at the star Inn from 1976 - 1989 when we left at the end of February You have got it totally wrong as the Drax sports and social club had already been open for several years and did not take the license from the star. The star continued as a pub for at least another 2 years run by managers for a private brewery. You have said that it closed in 1986 which it certainly did not as we were still there for 3 years after that and was still open as a pub for a couple of years after we left. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C1:80AD:E800:D855:66:FAC4:9C23 (talk) 09:59, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Could you tell us which article you are asking about. The Star Inn is obviously not the one to which you are referring. Dbfirs 10:21, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Presumably the lede at Drax, North Yorkshire. I have removed an unreferenced sentence. Rojomoke (talk) 11:23, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
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Good morning, I'm inquiring about the Stone Temple Pilots page under the category Discography. I added the Album 'High Rise' to the list but I am unsure how to connect that link with the High Rise page that is already in existence. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Schuhmann13 (talkcontribs) 13:56, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

  •  Fixed
@Schuhmann13: The page is High Rise (EP) I have added the link with this edit. Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~). Thank you. Eagleash (talk) 14:30, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Adding Dynamic Images?

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I have a simulation in Geogebra that would add a lot to the page Paden-Kahan subproblems. The old way of embedding it would probably be a Java applet, but I understand this method is deprecated. Does Wikipedia have a standard method for embedding dynamic images or simulations? Also, can anyone point me to any such simulations currently in use? Vannevarmorgan (talk) 16:28, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

You can upload videos. Ruslik_Zero 20:49, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Is that really the only option? Man, now I miss Encarta... Vannevarmorgan (talk) 05:15, 4 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Hm... What if I use screenshots for the figures (which I'm already doing) and then link to the applets like this? Would it be appropriate to cite them? To include a link in the captions or in the articles? Does that link even work? Vannevarmorgan (talk) 20:38, 4 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Subpages for personal use

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Hi, just wanted to ask, am I allowed to host subpages here for personal use? They are just for ease of reference for me when I need to get to things, for example this one User:Prospective_Med/Physiological Barriers which I've used basically as a pastebin for an essay I wrote. I'm not intending the public to see them, just friends or people I know that I link them to. Other than essays, I may also host subpages with pictures and other random unrelated things or whatever I want, but all under my username. Is this allowed? Thanks Prospective Med (talk) 18:56, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

If the pages are being used for the benefit of Wikipedia (e.g. wikipedia pages in development) then yes. It sounds, though, like what you are proposing would not be acceptable and would likely be deleted. There is more info at WP:USERPAGE and WP:NOTWEBHOST. Dorsetonian (talk) 19:03, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
See also WP:UPNOT. It would probably be best if you blanked the page as soon as you can and add {{Db-g7}} at the top of the page so as to request deletion without attracting the wrong sort of attention from Admin. Cheers. Eagleash (talk) 19:08, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Since you're talking about using as a pastebin, why don't you use the actual pastebin website? or there's google drive etc; no need to use wikipedia to host it, and indeed it isn't an appropriate use Galobtter (pingó mió) 19:41, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Stan Levenson's death date

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Trying to add a death date and age to Stan Levenson's profile. He died on January 8, 2016 in Toronto, age 77. His death can be verified using the Benjamin's website. Benjamin's is the funeral home in Toronto that administered Stan's funeral. Please correct when you have the chance. Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.54.128.109 (talk) 20:07, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Copying to article talk and I see an IP did this aleady. Legacypac (talk) 07:31, 2 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Help:Cite errors/Cite error ref no input I have added to her filmography and it is not updating.

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@Kodak59725: I appreciate your willingness to help here but please take a little time to learn about basic editing. The links I have posted on your talk page will help you find your way around: Noyster (talk), 23:10, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

How to use Rfa

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I know the purpose of the Rfa, but i dont know how to use it. can someadmin help me know how to use the Rfa? Thewinrat (talk) 22:37, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

With less than 600 edits, ignore RfA and help improve the encyclopedia. Ritchie333 (talk) (cont) 22:49, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

OLDEST LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD IS TAMIL

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Helo Sir / Madam

The article posted on the wikipedia is obviously wrong, the world most oldest language is tamil, before i jave used to check in wikipedia it were tamil, im not sure howlong it would have been, but now im so shocked that it turn to sanskrit, How could it be happen? Is wikipedia allows to make record whatever we narrate as our wish / editing pages just like what I have did just now..? So dissappointed, truth has to be truth, i have read a lot about tamil in the articles and it was the oldest language in the world.hope you may check with that.Thanks Jeffreyfernaz (talk) 22:38, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

  • Note: The above copied from the help desk talk page. Eagleash (talk) 22:58, 1 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
  • Hello. The article about Sanskrit, which is what I'm assuming you're talking about since you made two destructive edits to it, says that Sanskrit is "the oldest Indo-European language for which substantial written documentation exists" [emphasis mine]. It doesn't claim that Sanskrit is the oldest language in the world. And Tamil isn't Indo-European, it's a member of the Dravidian family.
However, the Tamil language article says Tamil "is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world" and "has the oldest extant literature among Dravidian languages" [emphasis mine]. It doesn't say Tamil is the oldest language in the world. Largoplazo (talk) 01:59, 2 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]