Help desk
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February 14

Sockpuppet template

Am I allowed to use Template:Sockpuppet? or is the template reserved for admins/CU clerks? Fancy Refrigerator (talk) 00:50, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

As it says in the documentation, In general, this template should only be applied by Administrators or Clerks as part of the Sockpuppet investigations process. Not something an inexperienced editor should involve themselves in. AndyTheGrump (talk) 00:57, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Log in duration

When I log in for "up to a year" it only lasts a couple of weeks. A bug? R Alexandrov (talk) 01:08, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Are you deleting your history and cookies by any chance? Removing cookies means having to re-login to websites. Using an internet browser different to the one used to be kept logged into Wikipedia can also require you to login. -- StarryNightSky11 ☎ 01:58, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@R Alexandrov Wikipedia also doesn't use individual login sessions - if you log out of your account on any project on any device it will log you out everywhere. 163.1.15.238 (talk) 12:08, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Is there any way to get the old Wikipedia back?

I just find the version prior to recent changes more readable. Thanks 120.88.139.230 (talk) 09:33, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

You will need to create an account and set the "skin" to the old one in your account preferences. 331dot (talk) 09:50, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Your other options are to use a browser extension (as outlined here) or a bookmarklet (explained here). 199.208.172.35 (talk) 15:08, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Are you asking about a sudden change to Wikipedia's appearance? It is because the default skin has changed from the to the new Vector (2022) skin. If you would like to change back to the old one, you can, as a registered user, click on the

in the top-right corner and choose

Preferences. Once there, go to Preferences → Appearance → Skins →

Vector legacy (2010).
If you would like to leave feedback, you can do so at Wikipedia talk:Vector 2022. - David Biddulph (talk) 15:21, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Colonel James Churchward

How can I create the link to J.Churchward original page bio on Wikipedia.

Thanks — Preceding unsigned comment added by Luc Lad (talk • contribs) 16:02, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Are you asking for how to create a redirect from Colonel James Churchward to James Churchward? Instructions are at Help:Redirect. --Jayron 32 16:18, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Luc Lad You added the title "Colonel" to the article James Churchward today, with an edit summary "Confirmed by the military academy at Sandhurst". However, you did not add a valid citation for the assertion that he was ever a colonel and the article does not mention his attending Sandhurst. I have therefore reverted your addition. Please now follow WP:BRD and discuss the issue on the Talk Page of the article, supplying a reliable source. Mike Turnbull (talk) 18:10, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Visual editor is not available

Hi, Is the visual editor available as it doesn't appear next to the edit text. Patsar (talk) 17:32, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Check Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-editing. Under editing mode, does it say 'show me both tabs' or 'always give me visual editor if possible'? The visual editor might not be loading properly. Sungodtemple (talk • contribs) 17:34, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

There aren't these options in my editing preferences screen. See the screenshot

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u0n8P79dp6i_Ev6MDdx8weNOgIcgbkwO/view?usp=sharing Patsar (talk) 08:44, 15 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Patsar The options mentioned are in the drop down menu, the one that currently says "remember my last editor". What page were you trying to edit? The visual editor can only be used on articles and user pages, you can't use it on talk pages, templates, project pages etc. 163.1.15.238 (talk) 12:38, 15 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for your help. When I selected 'show me both tabs' it works! Unfortunately the option 'always give me visual editor if possible' doesn't make any difference. I checked both options to articles. Patsar (talk) 14:37, 15 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia:Deprecated sources

I just received a notice that my proposed article includes Deprecated Sources, but they were not flagged in red or indicated on my sand box, and I can't find which reference or source is the problem, only that they exist somewhere. Wikipedia:Depricated sources lists 47 such sources on its page, none of which I have used that I know of. Is there a filter or something I can use to show them on my sandbox?Johnsagent (talk) 18:32, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Where did you see a notice about deprecated sources? I can't see anything relevant on your user talk page nor on the sandbox draft. - David Biddulph (talk) 18:44, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@David Biddulph: They got a warning by edit filter 869 (filter log), though I haven't been able to find out which source it is due to restrictions of my mobile device. Victor Schmidt mobil (talk) 19:12, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The latest entry in the filter log seemed to be 6 days ago, and on a file which no longer exists. I thought that the OP was referring to a notice which they had just received, and which applied to their sandbox. - David Biddulph (talk) 19:36, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I've had notices disappear on me before, so I made a copy.

"An automated filter has detected that you are adding a link to a deprecated source, considered generally unreliable after discussion by the community. References to these sources are generally prohibited, especially when other more reliable sources exist. Please cite a more reliable source instead. If the only source you can find for the claims is one of these dep\recated sources then you should not add the content in question. Note: There are limited exceptions to this rule (such as when the source itself is the topic being discussed). If you have checked the policy on Wikipedia:Reliable sources and the deprecated source guidance (or checked at Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard) and verified that your edit is one of the limited exceptions, then you may resubmit it by clicking "Publish changes" again. Please do not do this unless you have first verified that this specific use of the deprecated source has broad support, especially for biographical articles: deprecated sources are liable to be removed on sight and persistent addition can lead to editing restrictions."Johnsagent (talk) 23:20, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Johnsagent Wow, that's a lot of sources! In the version I looked at references #521 and #1242 are from deprecated sources. I have a tool explained at User:Headbomb/unreliable set up on my account so that these sources appear in pink with underlining (see the liinked page for explanation). Mike Turnbull (talk) 15:17, 15 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

How to style a US senator or representative?

When mentioning a US (federal) senator or representative, does one prefix their name with "Senator" and "Representative" (or, maybe, "Rep")? Thanks Misha Wolf (talk) 19:06, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Depends on context. For example, if the article is about, say, Indiana Senator Mike Braun, you would not prefix his name with "Senator". However, if the article is about Indiana Dunes National Park, and mentions that, "Representative Pete Visclosky and Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun" sponsored the bill, then yes, you prefix their names with "Senator" and "Representative" in that context, at least on the first mention. ~ ONUnicorn^{(Talk|Contribs)}problem solving 19:26, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Misha Wolf (talk) 23:03, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

natural science

what are the 7 differents of the human — Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.114.166.240 (talk) 20:06, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I'm afraid that your question is not comprehensible, at least to me. In any case, this is not the right forum for it, because this page is for questions about editing Wikipedia. You might find a Wikipedia article which answers your question (eg human biology?) If not, you could try asking at the reference desk. But if you do, please give more information about what you are asking. ColinFine (talk) 20:12, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly a re-translated reference to Shakspeare's The seven ages of man? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.198.141.181 (talk) 20:58, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Wheelchair accessibility

How can I find out whether a historic site is wheelchair accessible? I’m going to Japan in a few weeks with a power wheelchair, but can climb a few stairs with assistance.l Aggroch (talk) 22:30, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

This is the Help Desk for Wikipedia, and we don't have any particular knowledge about this. We might well have an article about the site, and if we do, it will probably have a link to a website for the site, which might give you the information, or tell you how to obtain it. ColinFine (talk) 22:39, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Aggroch: this is the wrong venue for your question, but we do have a forum where you can ask it: try the WP:Reference desk. A better option might be our sister project, Wikivoyage. I would suggest starting over there by posing your question at the wikivoyage:Tourist office. If you want some general info about travelers with disabilities, try wikivoyage:Travellers with disabilities. Hope this helps. Mathglot (talk) 07:11, 15 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Unblocking by an Admin

Can an Administrator unblock an account or IP that they have blocked themselves or must it be left to another Administrator? StarryNightSky11 ☎ 23:24, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, StarryNightSky11. Yes, an administrator can unblock an editor they blocked, and will usually do so quickly if a mistake has been made. But normally, the blocking adminstrator will allow another adminstrator to review an unblock request, so that the process is more impartial. Cullen328 (talk) 23:29, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Cullen328 Thanks, I wasn't sure from reading through the guides to see as I was curious but thanks for your help. -- StarryNightSky11 ☎ 23:30, 14 February 2023 (UTC)[reply]