User talk:Nicjansma/Archive

Infoboxes and Templates

• Ok, I'm really only learning that things I think I know aren't really so. I'm trying to figure out infoboxes (think they qualify as templates), but every time I copy code from MediaWiki or Wikipedia's Help, the box is not...boxed and on the right. I'm pretty much at an impasse. If you have any hints on this, then I can start moving forward again. I'll keep looking, but any help you provide would be much appreciated. Revanche 14:26, 18 September 2006 (CDT)
  • Nic, have you learned anything regarding info boxes? I've got a few more nights of working that would be good for this kind of leg work. Revanche 23:30, 23 September 2006 (CDT)
    • I was talking with the guys over at MechWikia, and it sounds like the Info boxes automagically go to the right and in a box once there's enough content on the page. Haven't tested this out. Nicjansma 10:16, 24 September 2006 (CDT)
      • That doesn't make sense to me. I can see the code involved with each box I've come across om Wikipedia. It refers to a template (hope I'm not using that term wrong) for a specifically-crafted box. Maybe what they mean is, when you insert the code on a given page and fill in the fields for that article (ex: insert code for a weapons box, and insert the data for the small laser), it only shows those fields you filled in. Meh...the help stuff at wiki and mediawiki haven't been to clear for a novice editor. Revanche 22:47, 24 September 2006 (CDT)
        • Whoo-hoo...figured it out for myself, thanks to the use of one at MechWikia. Check this out! Also, I've taken my lessons and I don't wanta forget 'em, so I'm starting a series of Quick Article 'templates,' where editors can grab the code for specific types of articles (forming communities) and not have to worry about actually inserting templates. That's now my big project. I'll build each quick article and four examples. Hopefully, the souls will pick up from there. Revanche 05:42, 26 September 2006 (CDT)
      • As for MechWikia, how's it going? Are they open to setting up shop here? Revanche 22:47, 24 September 2006 (CDT) Edit: I started poking around again on MechWikia and I saw your post there regarding joining forces. As they didn't respond there, and you don't have a registration on their page, I was wondering if you had gotten a response from them. Looking around on their site, they have a lot of work done on 'mechs, which would be a huge resource for this site. Likewise, you have tons of information I feel they just could not easily replicate on their site. As sheer data goes, I imagine you have hundreds of more pages [looks like over 2,600 to his 65] and it'd be easier - right now - to port their articles over here. If you'd like, I'd be glad to speak with them also, but I wanted to make sure it was okay to represent Sarna. Revanche 00:33, 25 September 2006 (CDT)
        • I've spoken with Kevin (Some_Guy) over at MechWikia via email, and he seems fairly receptive towards combining projects -- it sounds like he's willing to bring his resources over to Sarna.net. We're still chatting, but things are proceeding smoothly! Let's hope he's going to come help out! Nicjansma 04:49, 25 September 2006 (CDT)
          • Excellent! He welcomed me on my talk page over there and I expressed my interest in the merger, in response. Revanche 20:51, 25 September 2006 (CDT)

Policies

• Nic, how do you feel about me working on some SarnaWiki policies? For example, the three-revert rule, community consensus decision-making process, vote calls and vote processes. If you're interested, I'll start looking to see how wikipedia does it and bring some starter ideas over here. (Reason I ask is because of the discussion I started with Rantamplan over his 'My neveron history' article. Having a policy of voting would be helpful, especially in these early days (unless you want it to be by admins' fiat, until the article submission process is firmly established).) Revanche 20:57, 25 September 2006 (CDT)
  • Sounds great! I dont' have a lot of experience in those areas, and you're doing well. Keep it up! Nicjansma 02:38, 29 September 2006 (CDT)

Special Pages: Active Users

• Nic, do you have the option of adding the 'Active User List' page to 'Special Pages for all users?' Its valuable in that it reduces the users list to only those that have made changes or created pages. I've seen it at MechWikia.Revanche 02:33, 26 September 2006 (CDT)
  • I don't see it in my list at all. Is it an addon downloadable from somewhere? Nicjansma 02:42, 29 September 2006 (CDT)

Copywrite Policy

• Nic, I've been observing entries over at MechWikia and I see that they have a standard policy regarding copywrited material, and one editor in particular is pretty adament about it? What are your views? Back in the day, FASA didn't really appear to be too strict on that and I know Sarna didn't really appear to enforce it either. Myself, I'm not really much of a stickler about that, so I wouldn't be a neo-police officer/editor on the matter, but if you're outright opposed to it, I want to be sure I don't violate it myself. Any elaboration on this would be helpful. Thanks. Revanche 01:00, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
  • I'd prefer to keep our content original, copyright-free. That being said, I'm not going to be a nazi checking every post to make sure, I don't think we have the time to do that. Nicjansma 02:42, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
    • I definitely agree with that. What about our policy in regards to when we (as editors) come across non-original material? Deletion of material, a tag requesting the plagerism to be re-written? Revanche 02:55, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
      • I believe a tag requesting the plagerism to be re-written would be more friendly, and probably get a better response. Nicjansma 02:17, 4 October 2006 (CDT)
        • Rgr. I'll put that in my to-do list. --Revanche 11:16, 4 October 2006 (CDT)

Featured Article

• One aspect I really like with some wikia projects (and wikipedia) is the Featured Article of the Day. Since you're in talks with Some_Guy about BattleTechWiki's (BTW) in regards to the Main Page, can you please look at reserving some space for a similar setup for us? I've got a few ideas (leading mostly to an award program) that would benefit from having Featured Articles on the main page. The main benefit to the first-time Reader is that they see an article that interests them (I'm thinking mainly of well-edited 'Mech entries by CJKey right now) and click on it, and end up exploring the links associated with it. Admins could control the length of the Feature time, etc. etc., but installing such a aspect on the main page is - I think - important. Revanche 01:00, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
  • I like that idea a lot! Check the Main_Page_Test page out, and we can work on a prototype. Nicjansma
    • Maybe I'm acting too eager, but I'm not seeing anything there. --Revanche 02:57, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
      • I think the one thing missing from the front page right now is still the Featured Article. Maybe as we develop some more articles we can start to fill it out? Nicjansma 02:18, 4 October 2006 (CDT)
        • Definitely, but I've been searching for any information on /how/ to build a main page featured article. Media Wiki would seem to be the best source, but nada (that I can find). Revanche 11:19, 4 October 2006 (CDT)

Awards

• Nic, how do you feel about an awards system here? I'm thinking along the line of the Wiki ribbons, rather than their barnstars and I've already created a few custom ribbons. I'm going to try and load a few, to make sure I understand the process of loading and awarding, so please take a look at Policy:Awards (not yet public) and tell me what you think. --Revanche 06:02, 29 September 2006 (CDT)
  • I hadn't really heard about it until you mentioned it. I like the idea, but it may take a bit more for BTW to develop (i.e. more people) to get a good system going. Nicjansma 02:19, 4 October 2006 (CDT)
    • Concur. There are more important items for me to spend my time on, in order to get people to stay. But, I'd like to work on it once the templates are done. --Revanche 11:13, 4 October 2006 (CDT)

500 Internal Server Error

• Nic, I've tried it from two different comps. Edit and save any article; I'm getting the error. The save is made (as you'll see when you return to the article), but it fails every time. Its been this way for several hours. --Revanche (admin) 22:58, 23 October 2006 (CDT)
  • Doh! I've fixed this. Happened when I upgraded from mediawiki 1.7.x to 1.8.2. Nicjansma 23:38, 23 October 2006 (CDT)
    • Glad it was an easy fix. What new features do we get with the upgrade? --Revanche (admin) 00:23, 24 October 2006 (CDT)
    • Can you double-check for me regarding uploading files? I can't seem to do it and not sure if it is the software or my source files. --Revanche (admin) 08:10, 24 October 2006 (CDT)
      • I think they should be fixed now too. Nicjansma 11:34, 24 October 2006 (CDT)
        • Works great. Thanks. --Revanche (admin) 11:57, 24 October 2006 (CDT)

BattleMech Portal

• Nic, CJKeys & I are trying to develop a BattleMech 'portal,' where a user can click on a Portal link (following the Canon & Custom links) and see a 'main page' (of sorts) for all things BattleMech on BTW. What I'm starting off with is a copy of the BTW Main Page and will be replacing the directory template with one that displays all the CBT factions. The intent is when someone clicks on faction link within that directory, say the FWL, they'll eb directed to an all FWL category page list FWL BattleMechs. Now, I see this directory list being quite long, once all the factions get added. I could do it with tables, but that means every time a new faction is added, the table has to be adjusted. I'd like the list to automatically divide all the factions into two columns and display it in that one left-side panel. Do you know of any code that would take the list and make it columnar [right word?]? --Revanche (admin) 18:25, 29 October 2006 (CST)
  • Any guidance, Nic? --Revanche (admin) 16:19, 11 November 2006 (CST)
    • Sorry, must have missed this the first time. I do not know of anything, but I haven't looked into expanding the MediaWiki software yet. Maybe it will be decently easy? I'll take a look. Nicjansma 20:09, 11 November 2006 (CST)
      • Thanks. Also, if you could tell me how to shade the background for tables. BattleMech Portal looks a little odd with the white table on grey. The help pages at MW are a bit bare on the subject. --Revanche (admin) 20:52, 11 November 2006 (CST)
        • It's part of the style="background: #ABCDEFG" part on the first line of the text, such as this: Nicjansma 18:37, 12 November 2006 (CST)

{| style="width: 100%; margin-top: +.7em; background-color: #DCDCDC; border: 2px solid #000000"

• • • • • • That's simply...sniff...beautiful, man. Works perfectly. Thanks! --Revanche (admin) 18:42, 12 November 2006 (CST)

CSS suggestion from Xoid

• Nic, pls take a look on my talk page to see a suggestion Xoid has about indentions and CSS. --Revanche (admin) 20:48, 17 November 2006 (CST)
  • No problemo, I've added this to our css sheet.

Posting to Downloads

Nic,

I'm new to Sarna, although I've hung out at Mordel's Bar & Grill for several years. I have a cardstock model of a Leopard I designed. I'd like to post it in the downloads section. It's a .zip file, with instructions (no photos yet). How can I post it?

Storm

buck_hedges@yahoo.com

Feel free to contact me at [nic at nicj dot net]. Just email me the zip and I'll post it up :) Nicjansma 23:36, 17 January 2007 (CST)

Neveron article template

Nic, ask a favor? Since you're familiar with your forums, could you ask someone on the Neveron side of the house to pop into my talkpage and suggest what an article on each Neveron faction should have? I'm thinking InfoBox type stuff (name, origination date, size, alliances, membership #, location, etc.) and then main article stuff (founder, history, significant events, external pages). In other words, other than what I just listed, what would a neveron player expect to see if he pulled up his faction's article on BTW? --Revanche 23:09, 29 September 2006 (CDT)

Some sort of template would be very helpful. I have tried to develop an interesting template for my own faction (Kommando Korps), including topics that would be neat for players outside the faction to comment on (enemies, friends, etc). Feel free to take a look at it if you'd like. Superjuke 14:02, 14 October 2006 (CDT)

You're breaking new ground here! Feel free to develop it however you want. Looking great so far! Nicjansma 21:19, 21 November 2006 (CST)

Kudos & Thanks

I'm very impressed with the level of improvement being made to the Sarna wiki almost daily. It's a very large project, but it is getting done and that deserves plenty of kudos. Katrar 15:52, 14 October 2006 (CDT)

Thanks! I'm excited you're contributing. We're still all getting the ball rolling in a wiki form, but I have lots of ideas for things to expand upon. Very glad you're here! Nicjansma 23:40, 14 October 2006 (CDT)

Fiction in Templates

Nic, why do you think that the four fiction stories are showing up in the Templates category? --Revanche (admin) 22:39, 13 November 2006 (CST)

I added the <noinclude>[[Category:Templates]]</noinclude> around the category on the Template:NoEdit page. That means that pages that include the NoEdit template won't include the Category part of the template, so they themselves won't be in the templates category. Nicjansma 01:31, 14 November 2006 (CST)

Got it...thanks. Lesson learned. --Revanche (admin) 01:37, 14 November 2006 (CST)

New Help

Nic, as discussed, I've advertised the site on my own forums. At least two have joined in and started some editing. Jimmy has already posted a story, made a few corrections and joined Project: BattleMechs. I think he's quite pumped. Bowtie Bob, another one of my forum admins, has also dropped by and made a few 'starter' edits. We'll see if we can pique his interest, as he wanders about. I'm anticipating the famous Medron Pryde to pop in and grace us with a number of excellent fan fiction. --Revanche (admin) 01:37, 14 November 2006 (CST)

This is great Revanche, thanks a ton for spearheading this. The new users are making some great contributions and it's all wonderful that they're willing to help out. Let's get the ball rolling! Nicjansma 21:19, 21 November 2006 (CST)

Images

I notice that I can't upload them here. Could you please enable them? There are so many decent SVGs from Wikipedia that are under some form 'copyleft' that we could use. --Xoid 18:00, 29 November 2006 (CST)

Sure, is that just a matter of enabling uploads of *.svg? If so, done! Nicjansma 21:49, 29 November 2006 (CST)

I think that'll be the case. Lets see if the disambig image I wanted to upload works. --Xoid 22:12, 29 November 2006 (CST)

Nope, seems you're missing something. If you want, I can research it later today. --Xoid 22:15, 29 November 2006 (CST)

OK, I think it's fixed now. I had to change the MIME detection logic. Nicjansma 23:13, 29 November 2006 (CST)

Excellent. Thank you very much; I'll get to work on uploading what I think will be some commonly used SVGs, as well as some for basic "prettification" of templates. --Xoid 03:46, 30 November 2006 (CST)

Sorry to bother you again, but just something I thought I'd bring up. Wikipedia has their MIME type for SVGs as "image/svg+xml", theirs display correctly. The source of our first SVG also contains that MIME type. --Xoid 05:38, 30 November 2006 (CST)

I've been getting a lot of messages like this one here: The file is corrupt or has an incorrect extension. Please check the file and upload again. for PNGs, despite the fact that the images work elsewhere. Could you please look into fixing the MIME types.

SVGs still don't work properly, and you'll likely need to use Meta's information on how to get that fixed. --Xoid 06:15, 5 December 2006 (CST)

OK, strange. I've disabled MIME verification completely ($wgVerifyMimeType=false). The other two verifiers I used (built-in and file -bi both seemed to not like certain types). Nicjansma 23:55, 7 December 2006 (CST)

Which leads to that problem. This is something I've come to expect from new MediaWiki installations. A right royal pain. --Xoid 02:44, 8 December 2006 (CST)

Any suggestions for how to fix? Nicjansma 02:51, 8 December 2006 (CST)

No idea. Honestly, while I've seen the problems it causes I've never been into the guts of the MIME detection stuff before. I could do some research on it or I could ask the owners the UD and NW wiki how they dealt with it, but I honestly think that'd it be easier to ask at the Wikipedia help desk — it's highly likely that fixing this is going to be something convoluted that we'll need to be walked through and I know they [owners, now Wikipedia's help desk] wouldn't have the time. --Xoid 03:10, 8 December 2006 (CST)

I think I've fixed this by editiing /etc/http/conf/magic so Apache knows the mime type for PNG. You'll have to re-upload previously broken PNG uploads to fix. Are all other image types working? Nicjansma 17:45, 20 December 2006 (CST)

SVGs still look screwier than hell. Apparently, Wikipedia doesn't use ImageMagic, but something else entirely. Obstensibly, this was due to the poor quality of the images after it had been through with them. I'm officially giving up on them… they've delayed me long enough. Just gonna stick with the use of PNGs instead. --Xoid 05:19, 21 December 2006 (CST)

New namespace

Could you make a custom namespace called 'Policy'? Make sure any pages that are currently named 'Policy:' are renamed to something else before you do, or else they might be permanently destroyed. (General mentioned something about that happening when they did that on the Scroll Wars wiki, I'd take his word on it.) --Xoid 20:37, 1 December 2006 (CST)

All set! Nicjansma 23:59, 7 December 2006 (CST)

While pages weren't obliterated, seems we have yet another problem. Though this one's 'strange' more than problematic. Whatlinks here for 2Policy:Awards. Most curious. Methinks I'll be asking the gurus at meta about this… oddity. --Xoid 15:13, 8 December 2006 (CST)

Yeah, to solve the move problem I moved all of the Policy: pages to "2Policy:..." first, then moved them to the policy namespace. So there are probably some weird redirects floating around. Nicjansma 23:29, 8 December 2006 (CST)

Not my forte

• 201.213.4.41 has been modifying some articles on planets. They're no my forte, so I can't tell whether its vandalism. His contributions do look suspicious though. --Xoid 13:46, 14 December 2006 (CST)

Yeah, Nic: I was going to step up and the changes, but I'm not certain I'd be judging fairly (looking at some of the entries he made). --Revanche (admin) 11:14, 17 December 2006 (CST)

I rolled back one of the edits that removed all of the Nearby links. For the other planets, I think he is technically correct, so I've left them. Thanks for the heads up. Nicjansma 15:08, 17 December 2006 (CST)

I reverted the rest when I noticed you reverted one. I just thought you missed the rest. OK, I reverted my reverts just now. --Xoid 05:03, 21 December 2006 (CST)

Requesting Cite Extension

Reasoning

It would make adding footnotes and citations a breeze, and facilitate in the importation of at least some (possibly many) articles from Wikipedia.

More information can be found at Wikimedia's page on it. You may wish to bear in mind the concerns that Wikipedia itself has about the use of the cite extension. --Xoid 02:09, 24 January 2007 (CST)

I really support this, Nic. The more I've gotten educated at Wikipedia, the more relevant this seems to have here. BTW has the opportunity to be the database for even the FanPro factcheckers, but to do so, we need to be able to adequately reference the wealth of material. --Revanche (admin) 11:41, 27 January 2007 (CST)

Cool guys, I've added this extension. Please let me know if you find any issues with it. Nicjansma 01:26, 29 January 2007 (CST)

Wow. That was quick. Thanks! --Xoid 01:39, 29 January 2007 (CST)