Project:Support desk/Sections/Formatting

__NEWSECTIONLINK__ = Formatting Support =

Need help on adjusting the portlets to the top on monobook template
-- Dr DBW |  talk  23:19, 18 February 2009 (UTC)* MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version: 5.2.5
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51
 * URL: on localhost so no url

Im using the monobook template and i want to customize it a little. What ive done in first place is to change the logo. My new logo is only 60px in height. Ive changed the logo img entry and the logo href entry in the main.css and adjusted the height there from 155px (default) to 60px. I expected that the portlets will come up a bit then, nearer to the top of the page. But nothing happens. The portlets are not moving to the top. Ive searched the css then for a option that may be necessary to change, but ive found nothing.

So my question: What should i do if i want the first portlet in my list to begin e.g. 20 px below the logo image?

Thanks in advance,

Martin —217.5.181.251 15:15, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Templates, Where are files located and what do contents look like, e.g. language used?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.5 (cgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.45
 * URL: http://www.jefferson-wiki.com/wiki/

I am trying to customize an installation of MediaWiki and have run into problems. I can not find where I should place template files and what the contents of template files are to create custom pages. Essentially, I want to create a scaffold to help avoid the problems that can happen when there are blank pages. I want to give users a format for the material I want them to enter. For example, I want them to enter their topic, a brief summary of the topic, have a large edit box for them to enter their article text, have the ability to enter a list of examples, enter a list of related topics and finally to enter references or links to further reading. How can I create a template to do this and where does it go in the directory structure? What language do I use for the template text? Any examples would be very helpful!

Thank you, Steve —Duffsb 15:44, 16 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Hm. Seems that you have found the template namespace and you are using it with templates, so this may have been resolved meanwhile? Best regards -- JörgM 84.156.163.108 08:27, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

How Do I change the link on successful login to another page other than main?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67-community-nt
 * URL: private wiki on a usb key

I've installed the Mowes mediawiki package to test/learn and play with it.

What I want to be able to do is have a main page and after successful login instead of the link pointing back to the main page have it point to another page. I understand that Special pages are not editable like the rest.

Thanks Alan —Dragos 21:28, 17 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Probably it's the system message MediaWiki:Returnto which you have to customize, accessible also via Special:AllMessages. It does not pointing back to the main page, but to the last page you have seen before logging in. Be careful, I don't know, if this message is just used after login. In doubt don't replace the link variable, just add the page you want to have a link to. -- JörgM 84.156.191.245 18:06, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Can I force every user to use the same template when creating a new page?
Can I force every user to use the same template when "creating a new page"? The Template I want is very simple, with no parameters involved. I hope this template can be applied automatically without manually typing –  by users. Thank you!
 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version: 5.2.6
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67
 * URL: N/A

—Coulomb 23:29, 27 December 2008 (UTC)Coulomb


 * I guess you are looking for something like the mechanism we use on this page, cf. this URL, which adds an "editintro" and preloads one template. Well, there are some neat extensions at Category:Page creation extensions, namely Extension:InputBox. I don't know about any really forcing solution offhand, though (users are still able to create pages through "normal" …&action=edit URLs, or by manually removing template code from edit pages before saving). -- :bdk: 02:38, 28 December 2008 (UTC)


 * I think the mechanism used in this page is what I want! Could you tell me how to achieve this effect? Thank you!
 * —Coulomb 10:35, 29 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, on this support desk page we only use preloaded text for adding new sections to an already existing page; but we have an extra manual page for page creations, and that is what you want, I guess: Manual:Creating pages with preloaded text; it's linked from Extension:InputBox :-)
 * I hope this helps. -- :bdk: 14:02, 29 December 2008 (UTC)
 * I tried a extension called NewArticleTemplate. It works just like you mentioned about preload page. My problem now is that the format I created in preload page is totally lost, because I use FCKeditor, a WYSIWYG one, as a default editor. For example, the double equal sign "== text ==" in wikitext is considered "normal equal sign" in FCKEditor. Do you have experience in this sort of stuff? —Coulomb 11:46, 30 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Sorry for the late reply. Hmm, I don't know Extension:NewArticleTemplates in detail. Your question sounds as if you have to find your way through the "template jungle" first ;-) Do you still have problems with getting started? If yes, it would be best to describe how your preloaded template should look like (is it an infobox or such?). -- :bdk: 16:13, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

Creating optional parameters in templates?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14alpha (r44990)
 * PHP version: 5.1.6 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.22-log
 * URL: http://www.twcenter.net/wiki/Main_Page

I am trying to make an infobox template for a local wiki about PC game modifications, where people can enter several parameters such as Screenshot and Leader, but if they don't, then those fields should not appear in the infobox at all. My code at the moment is:

However, at present, the infobox still shows empty parameters; I want it to skip those altogether. The template is at http://www.twcenter.net/wiki/Template:Mod. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It Is Me Here  t / c 14:54, 31 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Hm. Haven't tried to program templates yet, but the following code


 * gives the following result:


 * -- JörgM 84.156.191.245 18:44, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Oops. Does not work this way. I am testing a little bit on your wiki. -- JörgM 84.156.191.245 19:03, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hm, okay, forget the code above :-). The following code


 * gives the following result:


 * I have changed it on your wiki and added those templates Template:! and Template:!- to your wiki. Seems to work, but test it. I also changed the word "Platform" in your guide to lowercase "platform", because you programmed the template with lowercase (so uppercase did not work). Perhaps have a look on the pages where the template is used if the usage is correctly done with lowercase. -- JörgM 84.156.191.245 21:14, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Existing pages with table code doesn't work in mediawiki 1.13.2

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version: 5.2.6
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a
 * URL: localhost

I have upgraded mediawiki version 1.10.0 with 1.13.2. I have executed update.php and refreshLinks.php. But the pages which have table code has broken. The data is in text table. All the pages are working good with 1.10.0 version. But doesn't work with 1.13.2.

So, I have edited the page which was not working on 1.13.2 and copied the data from other system where it is working with 1.10.0 and saved the changes. but the page is not saving properly and it is removing the '|' and also placing some extra characters to the data.

Even the table format is good also the page is not getting displayed in tabular form.

It works good when i create a new page with table format.

Please help me that what's wrong with version 1.13.2 that doesn't support existing page table code? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 208.88.84.10 (talk • contribs) 20:49, 31 December 2008. Please sign your posts with ~ !


 * I really need your help in finding this problem. Actually, it looks like there is some encoding problem some where with mediawiki version 1.13.2. This is corrupting the page display. If you are already aware of the problem then please let me know what could be the solution? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 208.88.85.100 (talk • contribs) 18:21, 13 January 2009. Please sign your posts with ~ !

Mediawiki FCKEditor overwrites my headers with
header== wiki markup ==

MediaWiki 1.13.2 PHP 5.2.6 (apache2handler) MySQL 5.0.51b-log I am using the FCKEditor extension.


 * URL: Intranet only so not shareable

I have pages that have table headers with HTML \<\h\2\> markup, for example:

Welcome to WIKI

When I edit this page, the FCKEditor shows up, allowing me to edit in WYSIWYG mode or swict to Wikitext mode.

If I switch the page to Wikitext mode, all my \<\h\2\> headers like the above get REPLACED with wiki table header markup (the equals signs), so the above header becomes the following:

== Welcome to WIKI ==

This is really messing up my pages. Please can you advise if I can keep my \<\h\2\> and prevent this automagical overwriting with "==" wiki markup as soon as I switch to wikitext mode?

Many thanks

—195.167.195.200 10:14, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

(RESOLVED) Defining a custom edit section
Is there any way (possibly with an extension) to define custom edit sections in an article? I mean, getting the same functionality you get automatically when you place a header; an edit link that lets you edit a specific section of the wiki text, without showing the rest. In particular, I'm interested in getting an edit link for a a single table row (where the edit link would be in the final cell of the row. Is something like this possible? Thanks. 82.215.27.77 09:06, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

—161.12.7.4 10:02, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't know of a way to force an edit link without using a header. However, on our wiki, we had a similar need for row-by-row edit links and were able to use the exisitng header functionality to do so (see the example below).  Keep in mind however, that since these are actual headers, we usucually used the  since the table of contents would include the content of the first sell of each table row.  Hope that helps.  63.192.83.15 00:05, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

{| border=1

row1 header
row1col1 row1col2

row1 header
row2col1 row2col2
 * }

Thanks for the suggestion. That does solve the problem, but by now, we've switched to a different solution. I doubt I can get people to start using tables again. 82.215.27.77 08:50, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

External File Links

 * MediaWiki version: 1.11.0
 * PHP version: WampServer 2.0c
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a
 * URL: Internal

I am adding links to our internal media wiki site. The links are to documents stored on non local SAN storage accessed via a shared area. These files i do not want to upload to the Media Wiki site our old HTML site we would just use  WhereAbouts We have many files that use this form. The problem is i can not get mediawiki to display them nicely. I van only get it to show the whole link. I would like it to just show say WhereAbouts.XLS as a blue link which ou click and it then opens the file into excel or IE/excel.

—161.12.7.4 10:07, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Add the "file://" protocol to the $wgUrlProtocols. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.156.6.164 (talk • contribs) 06:45, 7 May 2009. Please sign your posts with ~ !

couple of problems

 * MediaWiki version: 1.11.2
 * PHP version: 5.1.6
 * MySQL version: 5.0.26-standard-log
 * URL: Internal

Hello,

I am actually having a couple of problems. The first problem is when I compare our mediawiki to another, for templates, when building a new page, I am not able to select the template button and then click manual for a list of templates.

The second problem is style sheets are getting messed up by the FCK Editor... whenever I go from the Wiki Editor to just plain text mode, the style tags dissapear. The only work around is to put in the style tag and save directly without previewing, but if somebody goes to edit, they dissapear again.

The FCK editor is version FCKeditor extension (version fckeditor/mw-extension $Rev$ 2007) by Meta

The other wiki I compare it with has more hooks then ours but most notably they are using version FCKeditor (version fckeditor/mw-extension $Rev$ 2008) by Wikia... is that the reason for both of our problems by chance?

—64.86.141.133 15:33, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

(RESOLVED) Pages do not show up at category page

 * MediaWiki version: 1.9.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.1 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.37-community-nt
 * URL: / (internal wiki)

Hello,

I have a problem with pages which do not show up on category page as expected.

I have created a template "Hinweis/Überarbeitung notwendig" (transl. Notice/Rework needed) which belongs to the category "Überarbeitung notwendig" (transl. Rework needed). This template is included in some pages which DO need rework. Now, I expect these pages to show up on the category page.

But only a few do.

The template looks like this: Hinweis: Diese Seite benötigt vermutlich eine Überarbeitung. Die Diskussion dazu sollten auf der Diskussions-Seite geführt werden. Ist die Überarbeitung erfolgt bzw. als unnötigt erachtet worden, sollte dieser Hinweis entfernt werden.

This works on page '/Maritime Transportlogistik':

But do not work on '/XYZ-Integration' and '/SimCorp':

Did I something wrong or do templates & categories not work this way?

Thank you very much and best regards

TG —82.83.156.25 20:36, 19 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Sounds like a cache issue. Did you try purging the pages in question? -- :bdk: 09:20, 22 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Thank you for this advise but it doesn't work. I have purged the page, the template and the category with no success. Strangly the page shows up on the category page after adding the category tag directly to the page and deleting it again. TG -- 87.193.172.106 16:57, 23 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Hello again, as I have said in my last post, it works after a tempory insert of the category. Also it works for new pages. So I think this was a parsing/caching problem. Maybe I have added the category to the template AFTER I have inserted the template into the pages. So I will mark this thread as RESOLVED. Thank you very much. TG, 87.193.172.106 14:58, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Changing the default skin without access to PHP files
I'm using MediaWiki on a wikifarm, EditThis.Info. I would like to change the default skin to something other than MonoBook, but I haven't got access to the PHP files and the administrator informs me that he can't edit the PHP files because all the wikis on the site use the same base files. Is there a way to change every user's default skin without access to the PHP files? I don't think there is.
 * MediaWiki: 1.5.5
 * PHP: 5.2.6 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL: 5.0.45-log
 * URL: http://editthis.info/ctss/


 * What about the CSS? -- Dr DBW |  talk  05:41, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Can someone help me figure out how to replicate the Classic skin or something like it in just CSS, so that I can add it to my Header file? Thanks. —72.171.0.147 21:22, 19 January 2009 (UTC)


 * You could try playing around with your MediaWiki:Monobook.css and with current MediaWiki's wikistandard.css. Dunno how effectively you could imitate Classic on a MW 1.5 wiki this way, though. -- :bdk: 09:29, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Extra quote marks appearing
Using MediaWiki for our intranet everything was absolutely fine but after a recent Windows update and reboot any page containing quote marks has gone wrong. There are literally tens of quote marks where there should just be single ones so viewing pages look terrible. We have made no changes to any configuration files, php or Apache and approximately 500 pages are affected. Is there a quick way to remedy this so that the quotes are handled correctly?
 * MediaWiki version: 1.12.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.5 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51b-community-nt
 * URL:

—212.140.240.2 12:59, 20 January 2009 (UTC)Trev Warner

formatting PHP/CSS code

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13
 * PHP version: latest
 * MySQL version: latest
 * URL: http://www.bandwiki.net/

I want to edit my wiki's code so that I can place a banner down the right side of the page. I am not PHP proficient, and can't seem to figure out which mediawiki document to edit.

What I image in either I need to place a table with a fixed with (allowing for the size of the banner to its right) on the page, or modifying the div's so that the content of each page would only have a width of x00px.

Also wondering, if there would be anyway for me to use our main sites (ASP/SQL) banner rotation script to run within the mediawiki page. This probably can be down using inline-frames; right?

—64.91.123.139 15:34, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Haven't tried this yet, but how about a try with Extension:DynamicSkin, for example? If I understand it's usage right, you could add templates and scripts to your site without changing code, just by using standard wiki markup on a standard wiki page. But of course you would have to play with it to find the right way. -- JörgM 84.156.161.134 08:52, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

nowiki tags appear

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.5
 * MySQL version: 5
 * URL:

Hi all,

I have a certain issue which makes  appear on the results of an mssql query below are the source



Fixed Issues
The table below lists all issues fixed since the last release.

Open Issues
The table below lists all issues still needing to be fixed.

Every item in the table has the nowiki tags without the space. I believe it should be invisible.

—121.97.80.194 03:44, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Delete all templates or undo import

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.8 (cgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67-community
 * URL: http://adbandonados.info

Hi. I've tried to import a lot (a lot!) of templates of wikipedia.org. The thins went wrong (php timeout, etc) and I've imported serval times same templates. Now everything is a complete mess. Templates with loops all over arround. There is anyway to delete all templates at once, to start creating/importing it like it should be?

Thank you in adavance

—Luminoso 18:56, 21 January 2009 (UTC)


 * No site with this URL. Given it up? -- JörgM 84.156.161.134 08:54, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Changing default skin for all members
I try to change the default skin as written at Skin_configuration, but it won't work... Maybe I do something wrong. Can someone help me and describe step by step how to change the default skin for all users? Is there maybe an other way to do it? Thanks in advance

—84.27.51.65 03:50, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Did you mean Manual:Skin configuration? Which ways have you tried? -- Dr DBW |  talk  05:39, 22 January 2009 (UTC)


 * "...like to change a large number of existing user's skin settings, they can use the script in the maintenance folder called userOptions.php. The syntax to use would be: $ php userOptions.php skin --old --new ". But I think I did it wrong, I don't understand it. -84.27.51.65 14:23, 22 January 2009 (UTC)


 * You really need to be more specific. You did what?  Where did you do it?  What was the exact command line?  What output did you get, including error messages?  What don't you understand?  Remember, we have no idea what you have done, you level of knowledge etc. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  23:19, 22 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Well... I don't even know how to do that, do I have to put that line somewhere in the file named useroptions.php? And where do I add that line into that file? Do I have to open that file on line after saving? What do I have to do? Thanks... :-$ -77.165.129.87 02:23, 25 January 2009 (UTC)


 * As it says on the page reference above, you have to run the script on the command line. Therefore, you have to be logged onto the server, using something like ssh, then enter the command and execute it.  If you don't have that access, your provider may be able to do it for you, you will just have to ask.  By the sound of it though, doing this is a bit above your skill level on this sort of thing. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:59, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

include a path and transfer a excel table

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version: 5.2.0-8+etch13 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.32-Debian_7etch8-log
 * URL:

Hello I'm trying to include the path on the top of a site (example wiki>help>diskussions>). Are there a command? I'm looking for a tool to transfer excel tabel in a wiki table? Thanks for help

Intra-wiki link anchors don't work in tables

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.6
 * MySQL version: 4.1.22
 * URL: http://aiblog.nl/index.php?title=Competences

Intra-wiki links using an #-anchor will normally link you to the indicated site AND to the specific location within the site where the #-anchor is located. However, if I make such intra-wiki #-anchor links within TABLES, the link only leads to the appropriate page, BUT NOT to the #-anchor location.

For example: in the table on I want every cell to refer to its correlating cell in the table on  (and vice versa). However, I always end up at the TOP OF THE PAGE, and not at the specific anchor-location.

It would be nice if you could fix this, since it would make Mediawiki even more usable than it already is!

Best regards, —Wouter Beek, me@wouterbeek.com


 * Tables do not automatically generate anchors the way headers do. Use divs:   —Emufarmers(T 00:14, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

where is manual re subheadings navigation box
I'm trying to find the template or php code that automatically generates those handy navigation boxes from subheadings. It has to be somewhere, right? :-) I found the sidebar code, but I simply can't figure out how to search for this item.  All help will be much appreciated! —Quixote7 21:50, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * MediaWiki version: 1.9.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.8
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67
 * URL: molvray.com/govwiki


 * Are you looking for the   magic word? —Emufarmers(T 00:20, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

I think so! That looks like the right general idea, which is more than I can say for anything I found earlier. Thanks! Quixote7 02:29, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

How do I move the "table of contents" box to the RIGHT

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.8
 * MySQL version: 5.0
 * URL:

How do I move the "table of contents" box to the RIGHT side, as seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents/Editing_Wikipedia, when it is normally on the left as here: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Tables
 * I am looking for how this is done by default.. I know I can embed this into one particular page with

—Jwelcher 06:10, 28 January 2009 (UTC)


 * TOC above starts in source code with

.

Thank you,

Marco van Beek

—83.136.69.10 16:44, 6 February 2009 (UTC)


 * I think there is a setting for this. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Wikademia (talk • contribs) 16:58, 26 April 2009. Please sign your posts with ~ !

Subsection edit

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.0-8+etch11 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.32-Debian_7etch6-log
 * URL:

Hi, i wanna create two subsections side by side, is this possible ? and if yes how can i manage this ??

For example == H2 == defined space length == H2 ==

thanks for ur Help

—84.179.142.87 10:39, 8 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Probably just with a table. The following code

{| cellpadding="20"
 * width="350px" |
 * width="350px" |

Headline
A lot of text ...
 * width="350px" |

Headline
A lot of text ...
 * }
 * gives the following result:

{| cellpadding="20"
 * width="350px" |
 * width="350px" |

Headline
A lot of text ...
 * width="350px" |

Headline
A lot of text ...
 * }
 * -- JörgM 84.156.161.134 09:38, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Linking to social network sites

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.5 (apache)
 * MySQL version: MySQL 	5.0.45-log
 * URL:

I am thinking of linking to some social networks sites like Digg.com (but some Swedish alternatives instead).

I am making a link like "Digg" this"

I want to know, how I trhough PHP can replace "CURRENT URL OF MY PAGE" with the current page of the site and also the same with the title. I suppose it would be something like  or something.

Could anyone please help me out?

—Kristofer2 21:01, 8 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Create a tag extension or parser function. —Emufarmers(T 06:31, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Questions about hide/show functions for Navboxes at bottom of articles

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15alpha
 * PHP version: 5.2.4-2ubuntu5wm1 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 4.0.40-wikimedia-log
 * URL:

Hi there. I have a question about the hide/show and collapse/expand functions in the navboxes that are generally located at the bottom of articles. I am the admin on the Manx wikipedia and we there have been trying for a long time now to enable those functions, but so far to no avail (although we have had help from colleagues on other language projects). I was wondering if someone, if they have some time, would be able to have a look at the .css and .js on our site and see if there is something wrong that is stopping us from having those functions.

We would be very grateful for any assistance that could be given on this.

--MacTire02 14:31, 11 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Has this probably been solved meanwhile? Here it seems to work. -- JörgM 84.156.183.81 19:45, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

How to enable the Wiki to display XML

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.5
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a
 * URL: http://www.afrigis.co.za/wiki

How to enable the Wiki to display XML. we type our xml code but we think there is something we need to enable to diplay our code.

—196.213.41.186 08:33, 17 February 2009 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki version:
 * PHP version:
 * MySQL version:
 * URL:

Mediawiki has been placed on our intranet site. It is the most current version available. I am not sure about the PHP or MySQL version. We are having issues with the edit function. We have many clients interested in having the edit option appear in a table. At the moment this does not occur. Are there any extensions or templates that would force an edit (opposite of ) to occur? please e-mail at royalcub@hotmail.com --207.236.147.118 21:24, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

—207.236.147.118 21:24, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

(RESOLVED) Template inclusion with parameters and references doesn't work in this case

 * MediaWiki version: 1.10.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67-standard-log
 * URL: http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Main_Page

Are using templates in the follow format, which means can pass two parameters to it. The first is a date, second is a URL.

To use this template, use something like this:

That works fine, as the following gets displayed with the reference tag:

Now, if the URL is of the form  then it does not work, the URL is left off. I think it may be the question mark. If so, any ideas on how to get around that? I think will go and check out more on templates, see what the question mark does ... — Dr DBW |  talk  23:06, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Actually, now it seems that the equals sign is the issue. If I replace the equal sign with the HTML encoding for it, %3D, it works fine.

Sorry, that is incorrect, need to use the ASCII code for the symbols. Have also worked out that the plus sign + also causes issues. -- Dr DBW |  talk  04:52, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Changing Colors in links
I would like to change the colors pf the links in my wiki. Well, I could fix the 'usual' links, to existing pages, but not the red links to not (yet) existing pages. Where can I do that? —77.165.129.87 01:31, 19 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Have a look below at . -- JörgM 84.156.188.3 20:45, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

Language template does not work

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.4
 * PHP version: 2.11.7
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51b
 * URL:

I have set up mediawiki in our intranet, but when I use language template, I have typed the in the edit page ,but it does not working. After saving source, it just show Template:Languages link in the page. Could you help me solve this? After I click show preview button, I can see the " " button is working in this site.

but it failed on mys —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 167.230.38.118 (talk • contribs) 08:41, 23 February 2009. Please sign your posts with ~ !


 * Hm. Have you added a template named Template:Languages to your wiki? You have to do this first before using it. It's not delivered with MediaWiki. -- JörgM 84.156.188.3 20:45, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

Geshi Syntax problem

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13
 * PHP version: 5.2
 * MySQL version: 5.0
 * URL: localhost intranet

hi i downloaded a extension for my mediawiki page called geshi, this is for displaying tags, i use it for sql and plsql, now when i tag something like

crazy, here now it works without a problem the box stays, whyy does it dissapear on my wiki site?

any suggestions?

—84.253.46.121 10:00, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

How to change the Tabble of Contents so that it indents bullets not numbers
Hi
 * MediaWiki version:
 * PHP version:
 * MySQL version:
 * URL:

I've created a 'table of contents' which looks like this:

1. 1.1  1.2  1.3

2. 2.1  2.2

But I want it to like like this i.e. with indented bullets and not indented numbers:

1. •  •

2. •  •

I can't figure out how to do this - can anyone help?

Many thanks

—Jandal99 20:30, 23 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hm. When looking at the source code of the table of contents above, it looks like

 <li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Formatting_Support"> 1 Formatting Support </a>

<ul> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Need_help_on_adjusting_the_portlets_to_the_top_on_monobook_template"> 1.1 Need help on adjusting the portlets to the top on monobook template </a></li>


 * and so on. So I would try to change behaviour of classes like toclevel-2 and below at MediaWiki:Common.css with CSS like "list-style-type: disc/circle/square" (either one of those). -- JörgM 84.156.188.128 21:00, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

Special:ListUsers

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0

Hi, I have to link to group members in article, like Sysops :Special:ListUsers&group=sysop|Sysops

but the result page is Special:ListUsers%26group%3Dsysop

How can i do this correctly? Regards

—217.247.185.52 14:15, 24 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Link to Special:ListUsers/sysop. —Emufarmers(T 06:20, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

How can I activate "Allow wiki markup (PHP)" for MW 1.6.8?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.6.8
 * PHP version: 5.2.6-1+lenny2 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a-24
 * URL: within an Intranet ;-)

I would like to format the sidebar using WIKI syntax elements, as described at http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Navigation_bar#Allow_wiki_markup_.28PHP.29, but the instructions there refer to but not to the version which is provided to us here (1.6.8).
 * MediaWiki < 1.13.2 and to
 * MediaWiki 1.13.2,

I looked into the file skins/Monobook.php of our installation, hoping that it contains the same lines to replace as specified for MediaWiki 1.13.2, but they are not identical, the lines of the Monobook.php file of version MediaWiki 1.13.2 and our version 1.6.8 with regard to the configuration of the sidebar. So I do not dare to replace the sidebar lines in that file with the lines that are specified at http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Navigation_bar#Allow_wiki_markup_.28PHP.29 for version 1.13.2.

How can I activate "Allow wiki markup (PHP)" for MW 1.6.8?

—195.127.43.185 10:45, 5 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Upgrade MediaWiki. —Emufarmers(T 01:25, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

--195.127.43.185 09:06, 9 March 2009 (UTC) Thanks for the advice. Fortunately I just got informed that we were provided the required access rights to upgrade our wiki ...

Since MediaWiki 1.14 Templates dont look like before

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.9 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a-24
 * URL: de.narutopedia.eu

Hi, after I updated my MediaWiki, a few templates dont look like before. For example What is the difference between 1.13 and 1.14, I always thought there are only technical changes, but now some templates dont look like before. I hope you have some ideas and can help me. Thank You --91.67.156.126 13:31, 7 March 2009 (UTC)

Problem with Extension:DynamicPageList

 * MediaWiki version: 1.12.0 (r3238)
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51b-community-nt
 * URL: (intranet)

I am using a DPL to control some content on a page, providing a listing of other pages as follows:

<DPL> category=*Capture Originating Requirements category = Lessons Learned count= addpagecounter=true ordermethod=counter order=descending </DPL>

However, I recently discovered how to effectively use templates across this site that I'm building, so I converted this listing to the following so that I could use the listing to generate a list of pages on any of our main page categories: <DPL> category=* category = Lessons Learned count= addpagecounter=true ordermethod=counter order=descending </DPL>

However, when I did this, the more generic apporach does not pick up on sub-category pages. When I use the absolute reference, I get a listing with all sub-categories, but using this relative reference only yields items that are specifically tagged with that category, and fails to provide any sub-categories.

Is this a problem or a feature? Any work arounds?

—205.175.225.24 16:23, 10 March 2009 (UTC)rwjorgen@rockwellcollins.com

(RESOLVED) film script templates needed

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.1.26-rc-5.1.26rc
 * URL: http://kein-nichts.de/wiki/index.php5?title=Hauptseite

Hello there

Mr. Sven Hagge from the german Wikimedia Support Team referred to you. He said you could help. That would be awesome!

What we wanna do is using your Wiki for an Open Source film script. A project in pretty the same area like MediaWiki:)))

Therefore some templates in WYSIWYG-outfit would be extremely helpful for the script-like look and feel from scratch as well as for organizational reasons for the later workflow.

0. Basics: - Font: Courier New - basic margins: at 3,0 cm (both sides)

1. Scene Headers: - in CAPITAL letters; e.g.       4. HARRY JUMPS - numbered

2. Dialogue: - Tabstop at 4,0 cm - margin right side of 4,0 cm

3. Dialog description: - in brackets; e.g.              (loudly crying) - Tabstop at 4,5 cm - margin right side of 4,5cm

4. Name of protagonist: - Tabstop 5,5 cm - CAPITAL letters; e.g.        VIKTORIA 5. Scene fadings: - Tabstop at 16,0 cm - CAPITAL letters

That´s it! Would U support our project by delivering these templates? Would be great. ThanX, Stephan

—84.62.29.78 17:53, 11 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Hello, Stephan, I could try it, but without warranty. If you agree, I will create an account over there for further arrangement. -- JörgM 84.156.130.207 09:30, 15 March 2009 (UTC)

Hi Jörg, (I hope this is the correct procedure to respond...) ... Actually I do not know what you mean by creating an account over there but I agree to everything what helps us! So: yes for sure please do so and please let me know about the further procedure. Could you get in touch to me via Email: info@sponduun.tv ? Perhaps that simplifies it for me:) Thanx so much, BR Stephan

Text Boxes with scroll bars in wiki?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.77
 * URL: intranet, unfortunately

Hi everyone-

I'm using a intranet wiki as a research lab notebook, in an effort to simplify documentation and enhance collaboration. Our lab does computational genomics, and sending emails back-and-forth between researchers is getting old. I would like a way to put text boxes in my wiki, a la google sites (example I'd like to copy):

http://sites.google.com/site/howdoidowikitextboxes/

Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.

—152.132.10.2 17:32, 13 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Don't know how to arrange this just with wiki markup. But probably the whole will work similar to that page you mentioned if you enable raw HTML. (Be VERY careful before changing this setting to true.) Or try some of those extensions mentioned there. Any other suggestions? -- JörgM 84.156.179.240 22:28, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

TOC behaviour
(section headline added by 84.156.179.240 21:48, 17 March 2009 (UTC))


 * MediaWiki version:
 * PHP version:
 * MySQL version:
 * URL:

I have a page for documentation of an API. It is fairly large and the product owner doesn't want it broken up into multiple pages. The TOC is huge and causes formatting issues since it displays on the right side. Is there a way to force it to be located in a specific subsection and if not, have it initially minimized?

—206.28.72.1 17:56, 13 March 2009 (UTC)


 * 1) TOC usually is shown where you put the  magic word (see Help:Magic words).
 * 2) For registered users there is a way to suppress a TOC by changing a preference at user preferences, miscellaneous. Perhaps this will help a little bit, but I haven't tried this yet.
 * -- JörgM 84.156.179.240 22:15, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Revision IDs: Special usage in templates

 * MediaWiki version: 11.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.5
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51
 * URL: internal

Hello! In addition to my question in the system section I am looking for a solution for the following problem: Incorporated in a template, I want to give a certain link to make it possible for the users of the page to compare the actual version of the page with a certain old version. I thought of something like

 </tt>

The problem is the oldid parameter. For easy use in the template it would be great if this parameter could be added by MW itself. Of course, it could be used with a parameter like

 } </tt>

but the oldid would have still to be determined by the person who inserts the template into a page. As those persons are not very familiar with MediaWiki insides (and are not really interested in), something like

 </tt>

e.g.  </tt>

(where that last revisionid is determined by MW) would be somehow more convenient for them, as the date is given by a certain timeline of updating the whole contents of the site to the (internal) public. Any chance for that? -- JörgM 84.156.130.207 08:45, 15 March 2009 (UTC)

Parentheticals in

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15alpha
 * PHP version: 5.2.5 (apache)
 * MySQL version: 4.0.40-wikimedia-log
 * URL: http://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagina_prima

Is there any way to use but remove parentheticals? For example if a page's name is "Titanic (film)" is there a way I can use to produce only "Titanic" on a template? Thanks!

—Secundus Zephyrus 20:01, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

(RESOLVED) How can I get a discussion/talk report in home page?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.00
 * PHP version: 5.x
 * MySQL version: 4.x
 * URL: http://mamedev.emulab.it/undumped

As stated in the "how to report" comments on main page of the wiki, we would like to encourage the use of the discussion/talk to receive error feedbacks. I wanted to setup a part of the home page to report a list of the last, say, 10 active talks, summarizing the talk (eg, reporting the first 200 characters of the discussion or similar) I tried to google about hints on this, but seraching for "mediawiki talk report" or similar returns a huge amount of talk:report about something mediawiki pages all over the world, and no hint on how I can proceed. Can anybody please give me a hint on how to start to build this feature? Eg: a template to fit to my pages? A special page/extension to load? Thanks a lot for help, patience and assistance. s_bastian

—212.17.198.19 11:03, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Problem solved, I just had to use the transclude function on special:recentchanges. I leave my question here for future reference

(RESOLVED) How can I change the toolbox section on sidebar?

 * MediaWiki: 1.9.3
 * PHP: 5.2.5 (cgi)
 * MySQL: 4.1.22-standard-log

How can I change the toolbox section on the sidebar? The reason the I am looking for an answer is I am trying to change the destination page for Upload file page rather than using the default page. Thanks for the answer.

—Manco Capac 11:52, 18 March 2009 (UTC)


 * There's something said about changing the sidebar including toolbox at Manual:Interface/Sidebar. Perhaps that helps for some steps ahead? -- JörgM 84.156.188.128 20:45, 18 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the answer. I have checked but unfortunatyely that explanation is not so understandable if you are not familiar with programming. Therefore ı need more explanation in order to understand which file I have to edit? Thnaks in advance for the answer. --Manco Capac 20:22, 24 March 2009 (UTC)


 * According to that manual page the page to edit is your (!) MediaWiki:Common.js.
 * Copy the whole code which is shown on Manual:Interface/Sidebar in the section "code" to your MediaWiki:Common.js.
 * Change the following section of the code:


 * to something like the following:


 * Beware: You must have got admin rights to change your MediaWiki:Common.js! -- JörgM 84.156.192.48 21:53, 24 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks a lot. Great! Now It's working. Best regards, --Manco Capac 11:00, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Templates: On the articles using a template the noinclude includeonly tags work great but provide a white line.

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.5
 * MySQL version: 5.0.45
 * URL: http://wiki.sleepingfox.nl (Not editable for outsiders, sorry!)

This problem happens when using a predefined template on an article. The and  which are added on the used template generate a white line-space in it's place. How can i keep it from generating that white space in it's place? (Besides it generating a line-space, it works as it should.)

Example: http://sleepingfox.nl/wiki/index.php/Adamant_Warhammer (Directly under the colorized paragraph)

When using firebug (firefox), you can see the white space is a , and by messing around with the placement of I found out that this was causing it.

Thanks in advance for any help you might offer me.

—84.104.59.72 15:30, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Uploading multiple image files?

 * MediaWiki version: 1.6.8
 * PHP version: 5.0.4
 * MySQL version: 4.1.10a-nt
 * URL:

How do I upload multiple images to the wiki that I'm using for internal documentation such as an installation guide.

—207.134.68.154 15:06, 26 March 2009 (UTC)


 * There are for example the Extension:MultiUpload or the PHP script Manual:ImportImages.php. -- JörgM 84.156.135.245 22:06, 26 March 2009 (UTC)


 * OK. But what about on the Windows side? [updated]


 * http://code.google.com/p/wikimediacommonplace/


 * Sorry, haven't seen your question update, moved it to a place where it can be seen in a better way. Yep, there are external programs like User:Wikademia mentions above. I tried Commonist, but this worked on Wikimedia Commons and failed to work on my own Wiki, though settings seemed to be correct. Haven't tried any other yet. -- JörgM 84.156.183.81 19:53, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

How to achieve such effect: http://www.colbest.com/

 * MediaWiki version:
 * PHP version:
 * MySQL version:
 * URL:

This is a site powered by other wiki software: http://www.colbest.com/

I am wondering does this effect could be achieved by Mediawiki. Could I just use some CSS/HTML to do the same thing in Mediawiki?

—Code263 12:24, 11 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Which effect do you mean? All of those question marks which I get??? -- JörgM 84.156.139.76 15:42, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
 * It looks like they are using special software. It could probably be achieved through CSS/HTML, and maybe some PHP hacking. I doubt it would be too simple, but probably decently doable given enough desire/motivation.
 * Sorry for asking again, but which effect do you mean? I cannot see anything very special there, but I might be blind for it. -- JörgM 84.156.183.81 19:17, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Editing the Sidebar

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.6
 * MySQL version: 5.0.37
 * URL: prabhupadvision.com/info

I have tried reading the FAQ's but am still unsure of how to properly edit the sidebar. I want to remove the search and toolbox, leaving only the navigation section. I tried editing the Mediawiki:Sidebar page and removed everything except for


 * navigation
 * mainpage|mainpage-description

But the search and toolbox sections still remain. I am not sure what I need to do. I am guessing that there is a php or js file somewhere that I need to edit.

Can you please tell me where I can find that file or what I need to do to successfully remove the search and toolbox sections from the sidebar?

Thankyou

—121.245.117.115 06:14, 12 April 2009 (UTC)
 * This could be a bug, or else maybe there is some setting hidden away somewhere. I could not do that either.
 * I am afraid that this is not a bug, but a feature. Remember, MediaWiki is intended for Wikimedia projects where you usually need a search bar and the toolbox, so it probably it is not intended to remove both from the sidebar. (Sorry, this is just my personal opinion about, and I know this does not help to do removing. But MediaWiki programmers seem not to read the questions on the support desk ...) -- JörgM 84.156.183.81 19:29, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

TOC is not displayed for anonymous users

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version: 5.0.4 (apache)
 * MySQL version: 4.1.13
 * URL:

I have a problem because TOC is not displayed for anons. As soon as a user is logged in, the TOC is properly displayed. All articles are started with the magic word as first line. Do you guys may know if this is due to a configuration error or if there's a setting somewhere to explicitly enable TOC for anonymous users? After spending days with investigating the Manuals (for LocalSettings.php, Skins, User Preferences, etc), FAQs and even Google I run out of ideas on how to find a solution. Hope this posting will help to resolve this issue - any hint or help is thankfully appreciated.

—KlausDH 17:12, 22 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Hm. A table of contents is just shown, if there are more than 3 headlines on the page.  is just giving a place for the table of contents. To force a table of contents on the page, even if there are less than 4 headlines on it, use  (maybe with adding  on the place where you want to have your TOCs). But I don't know if this helps you, your description seems to show a more complex problem ... Any URL for having a look onto those pages if the text above does not give a solution? -- JörgM 84.156.139.76 17:08, 24 April 2009 (UTC)


 * First of all: Thanks a lot for your comment! Based on your hint I made a test with but got the same result. Am just thinking of a solution to grant access for you to the wiki as it is operated as an intranet solution. --KlausDH 06:42, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Many templates are not formatting properly

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.6
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67
 * URL: http://wikademia.org/Nagina_Group

@ Wikademia the template displays differently than at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagina_Group

Same with: http://wikademia.org/Sulphur_Springs_Municipal_Airport - The main template there should be smaller, have a border, and on the right side of the screen.

Many templates seem to not be working as they should. Why might this be?

—Wikademia 13:12, 26 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Concerning the template you first mentioned, there is missing at least the css class "infobox" in your MediaWiki:Common.css. As an alternative, you could put all those css code to the respective infobox templates. -- JörgM 84.156.183.81 19:14, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

YAML skin for MediaWiki

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14
 * PHP version: 5.1.2
 * MySQL version: 5.0.x
 * URL: localhost
 * YAML: 3.0.6

Hello,

i developed a skin for MediaWiki based on the YAML Framework.

How is it possible to get this checked (css id's and classes) by MediaWiki experts?

At the moment the 1st version is getting checked by some yaml experts, but still some verifying of MediaWiki experts' needed.

And how is it possible to deploy this as an official skin option into further MediaWiki branches??

Kind Regards

Guido Palacios

Related Links
YAML (HTML / CSS Framework)

—91.46.184.179 22:28, 29 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Ask on IRC or the mailing list. —Emufarmers(T 03:11, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

1)SVGs 2)Categorytree in sidebar 3)Autocollapse tables

 * MediaWiki version: 13.3
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (cgi-fcgi)
 * MySQL version: 5.2.6 (cgi-fcgi)
 * URL: www.peacecorpswiki.org

1) Occasionally I get "Error creating thumbnail: convert: Non-conforming drawing primitive definition `polygon'." with SVG files. Tried suggestion on: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Errors_and_Symptoms#Image_Thumbnails_not_working_and.2For_appearing Would you recommend changing to Batik as an alt SVG image render?

2)I would like to incorporate the category tree on my sidebar....with the Modern skin. The monobook skin displays the tree fine and the directions state it should run on with the modern skin: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:CategoryTree#Using_CategoryTree_in_the_Sidebar

3) I would like to auto collapse tables: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Collapsible_tables Implemented this code in the appropriate location and NO tables could be collapsed with the the exception of the default TOC

—Mappc 15:02, 1 May 2009 (UTC)


 * to 3) I tried the code on my 1.13.4 wiki, and it worked with simple tables (like shown on Manual:Collapsible tables) both in wiki markup and in html markup. So the code itself is working. -- JörgM 84.156.129.221 19:20, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

(RESOLVED) Link color

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.50sp1a-enterprise-gpl-log
 * URL: http://conduit.wikia.com/

How can I change the color of the links in my Wiki? I'm referring to the existing pages links, not the red links. As you can see, they're sky blue, but I want to make them a darker blue, so they don't blend in with white backgrounds. I would really appreciate your help.

—SilverBlade784 19:15, 1 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I just added

a {color: silver;}
 * to my MediaWiki:Common.css: most of the internal links were changed to silver (just the user navigation bar on the top not). External links have a separate class "external text", so you would have to add this class, too, if you want to change their colour. Internal links to non-existing pages (those red links) have the class "new", so they should not be touched by a change. -- JörgM 84.156.129.221 19:38, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, but is there a specific place in MediaWiki:Common.css to add that? I put it right at the botton of the code, and it hasn't changed the color of the links. —SilverBlade784 19:15, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Sorry, it seems this is caused by the Wikia wiki farm and it's usage of skins. If I am right you are using a skin named Monaco, and a dark variant of it. There's something about this at http://help.wikia.com/wiki/Help:Customizing_Monaco/Dark_skin, and I think you have to customize your page http://conduit.wikia.com/wiki/MediaWiki:Monaco.css instead of http://conduit.wikia.com/wiki/MediaWiki:Common.css. You should delete the color code for "a" on Common.css before adding it to Monaco.css. On the bottom of the page would be the best, but there are a lot of definitions for links on this page so you probably have to play a lot to find the right way. Maybe you better change just the existing color definitions for links. Color for internal links is A0E0FF, so check all the respective selectors where this colour is used.
 * By the way, "silver" was just the colour I used to check the behaviour on my wiki. Which colour is appropriate on your wiki pages you have to find out yourself. -- JörgM 84.156.128.106 20:09, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Thank you very much. It worked. I just added a new color to #wikia_page a { color:#5599ba; } I'll add "resolved" to the title of this post. --SilverBlade784 00:06, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

surely there is a way to download and install the Templates
Hi,
 * MediaWiki version: 1.14
 * PHP version: 5.2.6-2ubuntu4.2
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67
 * URL: intranet

I've copied some pages from wikipedia to the local mediawiki at our school, as examples of other schools' wiki pages for our students to ponder. But all of them use Templates, and those Templates in turn include other Templates... surely there is a way to download and install the Templates just as I downloaded and installed the mediawiki software itself? But I haven't been able to discover it. Can someone please point me to it? Thanks in advance.

—Jfmxl 05:03, 2 May 2009 (UTC)


 * No, templates are usually simple MediaWiki pages like any standard article at Wikipedia, so you usually can copy them like a simple page. There's a special namespace for them, in English "Template:", but it's also possible to embed almost any other MediaWiki page as a template with resp.  if it's a page from the main namespace (see Help:Templates for a first overview). But beware: Simple templates can be complete, but complex templates, as you mentioned in your question, refer also often to MediaWiki:Common.css for Cascading Style Sheets or need Extension:ParserFunctions or something like that. Best is: Try to find out who made or worked on the templates you need and ask him/her for help, because there is no easy standard procedure – unfortunately. -- JörgM 84.156.143.47 09:19, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Well... thanks I guess. No thanks I'm sure! It's just that this looks like a very messy job at this point as there are quite a few Templates involved. I hope that someone is looking into these 2nd generational problems with the wiki. Thanks again.

Jfmxl 14:25, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

"Split" main page

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13
 * PHP version: 5.2.6-1+lenny2
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a-24+lenny1-log
 * URL:

Hi,

I use MediaWiki as my personal homepage. Now I would like to "split" my main page the same way as in http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki. I do not know how to accomplish this.

How can I simply define these boxes and arrange them on the main page?

—212.183.54.101 10:47, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Basically it's a table with different cells. The cells are filled with other tables resp. templates containing tables. (That's an old HTML trick for columns and rows on a webpage, as far as HTML can't do it by default.) The frames are defined by css, probably at MediaWiki:Common.css, I think, but this can be done in the table's code as well, though it's blowing out the code. Below is a simple (but not elegant) example which at least works on one webpage (just all the text is omitted).


 * -- JörgM 84.156.131.135 12:21, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Thank you very much!
 * I just thought it would be something more sophisticated ;-)
 * --Niki 15:15, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Page is not displayed

 * MediaWiki version: 1.14.0
 * PHP version: 5.2.8
 * MySQL version: 5.0.67
 * URL: http://www.freeallegiance.org/FAW/index.php/Enforcement_FAQ (protected; this page is editable and also affected but you need an account to edit pages.)

The page is simply not rendered at all. But the problem is pretty weird.

Here's an outline of the page:


 * 1) What's new
 * 2) Pook's Rules of Conduct for Dummies
 * 3) Players' FAQ
 * 4) Boots
 * 5) Bans
 * 6) Issues management
 * 7) Commanders' FAQ
 * 8) Boot On Sight
 * 9) Acceptance of Players
 * 10) Newbie boot protection
 * 11) Lobby booting
 * 12) Commanders' rights
 * 13) Veteran Conduct
 * 14) Newbie Servers
 * 15) Veteran Players & New Accounts
 * 16) Directives to @Alleg
 * 17) Balanced teams and accepting newbies
 * 18) Misc

Sections 1 to 4.2 render just fine. Sections 1 to 4.3 give a blank page. Sections 4.1 to 6.2 render just fine, though! There are longer pages on the wiki, and pages with more templates. There currenly is some trouble with the database; however, this seems unrelated.

—Bp 10:31, 9 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Hm. Difficult. But there are three things that let me (! I may be wrong, very wrong!) think about database, not formatting:
 * All three pages "Enforcement FAQ", "Enforcement FAQ/Sanbox" and "Enforcement FAQ/Sandbox" are affected.
 * I can't see ANY revisions of "Enforcement FAQ", "Enforcement FAQ/Sanbox" and "Enforcement FAQ/Sandbox", not only the actual revisions.
 * Texts/codes of the actual revisions of "Enforcement FAQ" and "Enforcement FAQ/Sandbox" (the third I haven't tested) render fine when copying it to a page at my 1.13.4 wiki (except for the templates I don't have).
 * By the way, the headline "What's new" is missing in the actual source code of "Enforcement FAQ".
 * I don't know what to do, but I would at least try the following, if there are no better suggestions:
 * Saving the texts of all the three pages. (At least those parts of the text which you want to use for these FAQ.)
 * Deleting all three pages. (Best if they could be deleted from the database as well, but this needs command line access to the wiki for its maintenance tools, I think. Never have done this. Or use of Extension:SpecialDeleteOldRevisions2 or something like that. Or killing it directly in the database ;-).)
 * Building the page new, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph.
 * But of course, there may be better suggestions. And if it's a problem with the database, there might be more problems, perhaps not detected yet. As it's probably no formatting problem, you might also ask in another section of the support desk (system or database). -- JörgM 84.156.129.191 12:54, 9 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks. I'll try and take it there. --Bp 13:21, 9 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You have an unfinished upgrade; run the update script. —Emufarmers(T 13:23, 9 May 2009 (UTC)