Project:Support desk/Sections/Formatting

__NEWSECTIONLINK__ Support on formatting was discontinued in 2008!'''

= Formatting Support =

How can I get my text to have a "right" alignment?
I can't figure out how to get text aligned to the right side of the page, despite searching the help pages for "alignment." Please help!

YOUR TEXT HERE Dr. Eme

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 ~ !

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.

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

html dont show on the page

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.6-1+lenny3 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.51a-24+lenny2
 * URL: http://elacd.carnet.hr/index.php/Glavna_stranica

Hello, I was upgrading my wiki to a new version. Everything goes ok except one thing. On this page on may wiki http://elacd.carnet.hr/index.php/E-learning_alati_i_tehnologije there is one photo that is made by GIMP Imagemap plugin. Before was working just fine but now my wiki cant recognize the html code. So i suppose that somewhere i need to eneble that but where? tnx

keyboard changer
Like [ml.wikipedia.org] how to add a option to switch from inscript keyboard to phonetic keyboard ?

TOC/Numbered List Formatting Bug

 * MediaWiki version: 1.12.0 and 1.15.1
 * PHP version: 5.1.6 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.27
 * URL: http://wiki.electronicvisions.com/index.php/Formatbug

There is a formatting bug when a left aligned TOC has a numbered list to its right. The indentations don't appear to occur and the numbers themselves are located within the TOC box.

I tried upgrading to 1.15.1 to see if it had been fixed but it looked the same. (I then went back to 1.12.0 because I was having trouble convincing 1.15.1 to allow page edits, but that's likely my issue)

If the source is not visible, a copy is available at http://www.svalli.com/FormatBug.txt in plain wikitext.

—216.199.48.59 15:52, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Remove the Logo Entirely

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

Product 	Version MediaWiki 	1.15.1 PHP 	5.2.9 (cgi-fcgi) MySQL 	5.0.81-community-log

I would like the remove the logo entirely and raise the left hand side.

The FAQ says:

"If you want to remove the logo completely, comment out the wgLogo variable. Then set the column-one padding to a small value, such as 21:


 * 1) column-one { padding-top: 21px; }

You don't have to go edit the css file directly. You can go to ?title=MediaWiki:Monobook.css. Hit edit and make your changes there. This has preference over the monobook main css."

However, when I go to that page, I am not able to edit at all. I just get:

"MediaWiki:Common.css From Wiki Jump to: navigation, search

Note - After saving, you may have to bypass your browser's cache to see the changes. Mozilla / Firefox / Safari: hold Shift while clicking Reload, or press either Ctrl-F5 or Ctrl-R (Command-R on a Macintosh); Konqueror: click Reload or press F5; Opera: clear the cache in Tools → Preferences; Internet Explorer: hold Ctrl while clicking Refresh, or press Ctrl-F5. "

I would upload a pic, but it won't let me... You can see it here:

http://www.thesolarforum.com/wiki/?title=MediaWiki:Monobook.css

I am logged in as admin and member of admin group...or so it says.

—173.117.129.203 06:32, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

Lifespan template

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.11 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.86-log
 * URL:

I need help making a template. I want to use this template to help standardize birth and death information, as well as prompt for desired information about individuals.

This template would go after a person's name on their page, such as: Jim Henson (born September 24th, 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi, died May 16th, 1990 in New York City at age 53)

This template collects the following variables:


 * birth year
 * birth month
 * birth day
 * birth location
 * death year
 * death month
 * death location

Desired outputs with random dates and numbers, include:


 * born January 1st, 2000 in San Francisco
 * born January 1st in San Francisco
 * born January in San Francisco
 * born 2000 in San Francisco
 * born January 2000 in San Francisco
 * born in San Fransisco
 * born January 1st, 2000
 * born January 1st
 * born January
 * born 2000
 * born January 2000


 * born January 1st, 2000 in San Francisco, 9
 * born January 1st in San Francisco, 9
 * born January in San Francisco, 9
 * born 2000 in San Francisco, 9
 * born January 2000 in San Francisco, 9
 * born in San Fransisco, 9
 * born January 1st, 2000, 9
 * born January 1st, 9
 * born January, 9
 * born 2000, 9
 * born January 2000, 9


 * born January 1st, 2000 in San Francisco, died December 31st, 2001 in New York City at age 1

and similar deviations

It should also automatically put the article into categories, such as:


 * Born in 2000
 * Died in 2001
 * Born January 1st
 * Died December 31st
 * Died at age 1
 * Born in San Francisco
 * Died in New York City
 * Born on January 1st, 2000
 * Died on December 31st, 2001
 * Capricorn

The variable input should be tolerant with possible including:

birth and death years:
 * 2000
 * 2001

birth and death months:
 * 1
 * 01
 * 12
 * January
 * December
 * Jan
 * Dec
 * JAN
 * DEC
 * JANUARY
 * DECEMBER
 * Jan.
 * Dec.
 * JAN.
 * DEC.

birth and death days:
 * 1
 * 1st
 * 01
 * 31
 * 31st

—Gpaper 15:40, 9 November 2009 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * URL: http://wiki.rockciclopedia.com

I've integrated MediaWiki with SMF, I've fixed almost all problems... the one that I can't fix is that the buttons above the content box aren't... above the box.. I've tried with position:absolute to move 'em and give 'em the proper position, but it changes from browser and browser and for every resolution is different!! Also, if you reduce the browser window they go out of the page! The CSS I used (wrong!!) is this:

position: absolute; top: 17.8em; left: 37em; margin: 0; white-space: nowrap; width: 76%; line-height: 1.1em; overflow: visible; background: none; border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 1em; list-style: none; font-size: 95%; }
 * 1) p-cactions {

...how can I have 'em in the proper position? Please, please help me!!!!

—Lorenzone92 18:37, 12 November 2009 (UTC)

Using parameters on another site

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

I have a problem, which I can't solve. I want to make a page or template with contact data, (name, address, telephone number, etc) and use some of that data on another page, for example only the telephone number. How do I define the parameters on the contact-page and how do I use them on another page? Thank you.P

Template re-use from Wikipedia
How can I use the Wikipedia Templates e.g. Template:Infobox in my wiki powered by mediawiki? —SamiIslam 13:03, 20 November 2009 (UTC)
 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * PHP version: 5.3.0
 * MySQL version: 5.1.37
 * URL:

page actins tabs got "unstuck"

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * PHP version:  	5.2.9 (apache)
 * MySQL version:  	5.0.67-log
 * URL: http://wiki.mirchar.ru

Hello,

I've been working on my wiki and all was fine, until I tried to install a counter on the pages. I've added the counter code to Monobook.php, cleared the cahe and suddenly thhere appeared an emty space between the page actions tabs and the main content field. As you can see, the tabs are not attached to the main body as they should, but are floating several pixels above it. Or, rather, it's the main body that moved down a bit.

I removed the counter code, but it did not help. I dowloaded a fresh Monobook.php from SVN, then a fresn main.css for monobook (I've been altering mine, I know it's not very good, but I'm so bad at css I couldn't figure out how to work with common.css), then commented out all the extensions from Localsettings.php. Yet, the tabs are still floating in space.

Please help me out, what could the problem be?

—Mirchar 08:05, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

toolbox in sidebar

 * MediaWiki version: 1.13.2
 * PHP version:5.2.0-8+etch15 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version:5.0.32-Debian_7etch11
 * URL:http://www.deutsch-in-japan.de/emu/index.php/Hauptseite

Hello everybody. I have been trying to put links such as "e-mail to user" and "what links here", into the sidebar of our wiki, but I failed. Could anybody please tell me what to do? I was not able to find these items in in mediawiki:sidebar in other wikis such as wikipedia, nevertheless they are shown on article and user pages.

—ペーター 07:27, 22 November 2009 (UTC)

Table of contents bookmark urls

 * MediaWiki version: 1.15.1
 * PHP version: 5.2.6-3ubuntu4.2 (apache2handler)
 * MySQL version: 5.0.75-0ubuntu10.2
 * URL: http://www.spacetimeresearch.com/wiki/

We have installed MediaWiki in a sub folder of our website /wiki. LocalSettings.php has been modified to ensure that /wiki is setup as the $wgScriptPath. All the links to different wiki entries etc are working as expected, however Table of Contents URLs are linking to /index.php#bookmarkname rather than /wikki/index.php?title=Page_Name.

Is there some setting that needs to be set to ensure that this is working correctly?

—202.124.118.98 01:37, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Show/Hide buttons
I am on a wiki which is local to my home island, Shetlopedia (http://www.shetlopedia.com). For a while I've tried to get the show/hide button links over but I haven't been able to figure out how to do it. Do I have to install an extention or is this simply a template one can make with code?

To be entirely precise, I mean the kind of show/hide that is at the very bottom of | this page


 * MediaWiki version: Unknown, not the owner of the site, presumably the most up-to-date.
 * PHP version: As above
 * MySQL version: As above
 * URL: http://www.shetlopedia.com

Thank you

—139.133.7.38 14:35, 27 November 2009 (UTC)