Project:Support desk/old

Trackback spam
I got hit by trackback spam of a huge proportion. I turned off trackbacks but they won't go away. How do I get them off my site? Can I clear the table to make all the spam like trackbacks go away? The trackbacks table is empty. They seem to autoregenerate when I delete them. --PurplePopple 12:36, 30 August 2007 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki doesn't have tracebacks. Disable whichever extension you have that adds them. Emufarmers 03:18, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

editing Pages
how can i add new articles using just MySQL... i mean without using my web site.. please answer me at : makievski@gmail.com

Makievskij Anton

—77.122.191.47 10:06, 28 August 2007 (UTC)


 * See the information about Exporting and Importing articles. --Dr DBW 23:03, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * I would very strongly advise attempting manual database manipulation, due to the plethora of changes actually involved in creating a new page or updating an existing one, including altering the page record, creating a new revision, creating an appropriate text record and setting text flags, updating the link tables, recent changes table, etc. - and that's before you run into any of the classic gotchas such as character sets.


 * Your best bet might be to adapt a maintenance script such as maintenance/importTextFile.php, using MediaWiki as a library to a PHP script which does the job. robchurch | talk 01:37, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

PCRE missing UTF-8 Support?
I am trying to install MediaWiki 1.10.1 on a Debian Etch box, with PHP 5.2.0. I'm using the standard Debian Etch package for PHP and for PCRE (libpcre3).

I got the wiki installed, and it comes up, but on every page, toward the top and overwriting the header, are PHP errors:

Warning: preg_replace_callback [function.preg-replace-callback]: Compilation failed: this version of PCRE is not compiled with PCRE_UTF8 support at offset 0 in /home/ss1/www/multi/dev/includes/MagicWord.php on line 284

Warning: preg_replace_callback [function.preg-replace-callback]: Compilation failed: this version of PCRE is not compiled with PCRE_UTF8 support at offset 0 in /home/ss1/www/multi/dev/includes/MagicWord.php on line 284

Warning: preg_match [function.preg-match]: Compilation failed: this version of PCRE is not compiled with PCRE_UTF8 support at offset 0 in /home/ss1/www/multi/dev/includes/MagicWord.php on line 236

Warning: preg_replace_callback [function.preg-replace-callback]: Compilation failed: this version of PCRE is not compiled with PCRE_UTF8 support at offset 0 in /home/ss1/www/multi/dev/includes/MagicWord.php on line 284

...etc. Some pages have more than others. I tried fixing this by compiling my own version of libpcre configured with the --enable-utf8 flag, but I couldn't seem to get PHP to actually *use* it. (I don't know if that was because pcre was linked into PHP statically, or if it was because the Debian package pcre was libpcre.so.3, and my compiled version was libpcre.so.0.) Anybody know how I can fix these errors?

Part of the headache is that a TON of Debian packages depend upon libpcre3, so I'd feel really nervous about replacing it with a different version.

—198.51.119.157 15:14, 28 August 2007 (UTC)


 * http://uk2.php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php suggests using --with-pcre-regex=  to direct the PHP configuration script towards the right libraries. You might also be able to convince it to use a shared module. robchurch | talk 01:35, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Admin's confirmation for new accounts
How should I set up MediaWiki, if I want every new user account to be not activated before administrator's confirmation's? —83.237.226.11 21:01, 28 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Explain activated. If you mean that you want to make it so that only "activated" users can edit or read pages, see extension:Require Editor Privilege.  If you just mean just "edit", that may require a bit more instruction, post here if that's what you mean. :-)  Cbrown1023  talk  01:43, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

MediaWiki does not have a concept of account "in limbo". Thre are basically two solutions: HTH -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 22:14, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * 1) prohibit account creation by anons and users. So people have to ask you to create an account for them
 * 2) allow account creation to all (default), but take away the right to edit from normale users (and the "autoconfirmed" and "emailconfirmed" groups). Users would only be able to edit if they are assigend to a group which has the edit privilege.


 * You might also take a look at the ConfirmAccount extension, which is under development. It's marked as stable, although it is quite new, so take that with a pinch of salt... robchurch | talk 01:33, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Using MediaWiki for online encyclopedias with NON-user-created content?
If one wanted to create a for-profit online encyclopedia (in no way related to Wikipedia) where content was NOT user-created but rather supplied to the user, would MediaWiki still be the choice software? —75.51.70.95 23:01, 28 August 2007 (UTC)
 * If it is a large site yes. But be sure to restrict account creation properly. Aaron 00:57, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Wait... you're asking for a non-wiki? or are you asking about something like Citizendium (which uses MediaWiki)?  Cbrown1023  talk  20:37, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

It depends on what exactly you want. But http://lexikon.meyers.de/ (online version of one of the best known german encyclopedias) is based on MediaWiki. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 22:11, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki is a wiki engine. Everybody's got a slightly different idea of what a wiki is, but the basic definition that's agreed upon is a web site which is open for contribution by a wide number of users, and usually, public contribution. If your needs are radically different, then MediaWiki may not be the ideal solution for you.


 * It's worth noting that many companies, including Novell, and several high-profile organisations, such as the Mozilla Foundation, make regular use of MediaWiki for slightly different purposes, and many other organisations, educational institutions, etc. often deploy it as a convenient base for a collaborative knowledge base. robchurch | talk 01:32, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Using MSSQL instead of MySQL
Hi there,

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to use mediawiki using MSSQL instead of MySQL? —81.175.86.30 07:31, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * No, it's not possible. Implementing support for MSSQL would be doable, but quite some work. Postgres is supported though, and I think partial/experimental support for Oracle also exists. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 22:08, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Note that there was some recent work in this area (see http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=9767), but I'm not quite sure what the status of that is at the moment. There's no official roadmap for inclusion of support for other DBMS; support for, e.g. PostgreSQL has become available thanks to a dedicated maintainer with a strong interest in making this happen. From our point of view, there's no benefit in supporting DBMS which we don't use in production.


 * The Oracle support was, at one point, removed from the software, and was re-added, but has once again slipped into an unmaintained state. robchurch | talk 01:30, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Help! Need to secure the MediaWiki.
Hello, I need some help in securing a MediaWiki. I want to make it impossible to view anything until a user logs in, and the creation of new user accounts to be allowed only from a couple of IP addresses. Can this be done? How? Any useful links? Thank you very much

—85.186.56.13 07:55, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Please read Rob's disclaimer first. Then, you could do Manual:Preventing access (there should be everything you need in there about only allowing read/edit for people with accounts and for disabling account creation unless you are a user).  Not sure how to allow it only from a few IP addresses.  Cbrown1023  talk  14:35, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Edit links for sections sometimes disappear
Edit section link are invisible for the same authorized accounts at different PC. Is this a bug or a known issue? —Salmira 12:45, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * MediaWiki 1.10.1 with security settings in LocalSettings.php
 * $wgDefaultUserOptions ['editsection'] = false;
 * $wgGroupPermissions['*']['read'] = false;
 * $wgGroupPermissions['*']['edit'] = false;
 * $wgGroupPermissions['*']['createaccount'] = false;
 * Browsers: IE6 sp2, Maxthon 1.5.9.(b80)
 * OS
 * Works correct at MS Windows 2003 Server
 * Sometimes disappears at MS Windows XP Pro SP2

Upload File from URL
I'm been searching all over for an extension that will allow you to upload a file from a URL instead of from a resource on your local machine. Does anyone know if something like this exists? Thanks much.

—Blckdmnd99 17:13, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I know of one that has to do with uploading from Flickr that is used widely on Wikia, but there may be some others listed in Category:Media handling extensions.  Cbrown1023  talk  20:32, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

It's built in. From DefaultSettings.php: /** Allow for upload to be copied from an URL. Requires Special:Upload?source=web */ $wgAllowCopyUploads = false; -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 22:05, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I wanted to use language links, how can I enable it?
I wanted to have the language links like this page : http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Template:Languages

I copy and paste 2 templates related to this template (Template:Languages and Template:Languages/Lang ) but when I browse Template:Languages page I saw the functions like "ifexist" hasn't been executed. how can I solve the problem? —80.191.15.10 17:26, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * You need Extension:ParserFunctions -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 22:03, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

login and password maintenance under https?
Is there a setting, extension, or code example that allows someone to place just the login page and preferences pag under https protocol while the rest of the site runs under http? I've searched, but haven't found one. Thanks. --Vjg 18:36, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Hide from Certain User
Is there a way to hide a certain part of a page from a specific user or admin? How would I do this? Thanks. Smaug 22:36, 29 August 2007 (UTC)


 * no. you can hide entire pages from users not belonging to a special group (using an appropriate extension), but you cannot hide parts of pages. This would mess with caching, among other things. Note that hiding things in mediawiki isn't 100% air-tight anyway, mediawiki is not designed for this. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 10:13, 30 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks for answering. Smaug  13:36, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Wiki onto Google
How can I get my wiki onto Google? The URL is http://www.iaskmd.com. —24.7.119.253 01:44, 30 August 2007 (UTC)


 * be patient. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 10:11, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

pgsql.so
Where do i get pgsql.so? I have php_pdo_pgsql.dll but MediaWiki refuses to take it. —83.86.35.112 17:12, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Display/Access Files from Various Servers
Greetings all,

I have searched for and tried extensions including FileProtocolLinks and FileLinkExtension (neither of which could I make work-I must have something wrong. If someone has one of these running could you PLEASE give me all the particulars of exactly HOW you made it work??). I've also tried things like the "standard" file:// etc. No Joy. I don't think what I need to do is that far off the curve but...

Here's the situation; I have a copy of MediaWiki (1.10.x) running. I have current versions of MySQL and Apache also installed. In general, I am not having any problems with this core structure.

What I need is the ability to provide access to various files through the Wiki. These files are located on various Linux servers (some have Samba, some not-Might be a windows machine or 2 also. If not Samba the machine might have ftp enabled)and are of the "standard" configuration (that is \\server\subdir1\subdir2\filexx.pdf or something like that. Each server has Apache (among others) running.

I am looking for "something" (I assume an extension) that will let me code some kind of file reference (maybe file://server/home/mydir/data/file01.txt or \\server\home\mydir\data\file01.pdf or something; I'm not picky here-Just some text I can put in a page and that presents the user with some kind of file list).

If they click an item (like the :..\filexx.pdf) it fires up the browsers support for pdf files and presents it to them in a new browser window.(or, it could use the native file support; it doesn't HAVE to use the browser-For instance, Windows might be configured in Windows Explorer to attach .pdf files to the local copy of Acrobat on the particular PC).

Like I say; I am not picky as to the actual "wiki code" I need to put in the page but I do need it to present the user with some kind of interface that might not be Windows (or KDE or...) but that is understandable and allows them to access files on other servers (none of which will have been uploaded to the Wiki server) via the appropriate browser plugins or browser native support or OS native support.

Any help will be greatly appreciated (along with much detail...)

Thanks in advance,

Pete —216.68.13.36 17:49, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Sidebar Help
I need some help please. I cannot seem to edit/customize the sidebar. Here is my setup.


 * Windows Server 2003
 * PHP 5.2.3
 * MediaWiki 1.10.0
 * Mysql 5.2.3790
 * Monobook skin.
 * IIS 6
 * Running on an intranet, so no domain in url. just one word Take2Wiki.

I'm logged in as admin

After reading the helps and various tutorials, I'm pretty sure I just need to be editing my MediaWiki:Sidebar by going to this url.

http://Take2Wiki/MediaWiki:Sidebar

where http://Take2Wiki is the root of my Wiki site. However, it's returning an HTTP 404 error (Cannot find). I've also tried

http://Take2Wiki/index.php/MediaWiki:Sidebar

but to no avail. Am I missing something? Or could it possibly be my setup, or maybe the fact that I don't have a fully qualified domain name??

Any help is most appreciated.

bill —64.182.114.1 18:44, 30 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Go to your wiki main page, then replace  in the URL with  . --Dr DBW 00:09, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

SQL Server 2005 Express
Can I install MediaWiki to work with "SQLServer 2005 Express" or "SQLServer 2000" Put your question here—BEFORE the signature! And, again, DELETE THIS COMMENT! --> —203.24.1.57 23:14, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Short Name issue
I am hosting on hostgator and having problems getting mod_rewrite to work properly.

http://www.thevbcoders.com/codi/index.php/Main_Page

I have tried all rewrite rules from the article on this site but still nothing. I don't have root access which I can't use the root portion. Any ideas on the problem?

Thanks Steve —76.4.188.64 01:28, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

locking pages for users and groups
How can I lock pages for other users or how can I say that "page xyz" is just readable for "group abc"? —213.214.18.64 07:23, 31 August 2007 (UTC)


 * See a couple of questions on this page, Project:Support_desk, Project:Support_desk --Dr DBW 07:25, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Undefined offset: 0 in Namespace.php on line 96
Recently upgraded to Mediawiki 1.10.1 from 1.9.3 and now the above error has appeared. Did the normal upgrading process, back up of files and database, copied new version over the top of the old, ran the updating script, then that was it. Any ideas on the cause of it? I didn't change anything to do with the LocalSettings.php file either. The contents of line 96 in Namespace.php is below --Dr DBW 07:24, 31 August 2007 (UTC) return $wgCanonicalNamespaceNames[$index];

Another Question
I want to link words within a page to a master definitions list. How do I create a Master page that different words in different pages can link to. —67.161.224.23 14:54, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

—69.146.160.203 15:27, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Creating links from words to a master definitions or references page
I am creating a procedures wiki and I need to link individual words or phrases to master pages that will contain multiple definitions, references etc. I wish to create these master lists so that in the future, updating references, definitions are done on one page and not multiple procedures

trhixon —Trhixon 15:45, 31 August 2007 (UTC)


 * The Glossary extension might do what you are looking for. --Dr DBW 00:16, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

Adding Content in Sidebar
Hey,

I'm working with an organization at ASU that is using this Wiki software. I'm not familiar with it, so I am having difficulty getting some things accomplished...

Particularly, where (line #s, files, etc) do I go so that I can add content into the sidebar? We are wanting to add some images/logos at the end of the sidebar (underneath the toolbox). I'd like to just be able to go into a file and add the simple HTML code; but I haven't found the appropriate files/etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Andrew

—149.169.101.176 18:21, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * You may not need to touch the filesystem file structure of MediaWiki, try altering the article MediaWiki:Sidebar on your wiki (have to be a Sysop), however this adds content above the toolbox. See Manual:Interface/Sidebar for documentation details --Zven 20:09, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Images cannot be added into MediaWiki:Sidebar so it looks like you are going to have to find and alter the code. Have you already altered the logo? --Zven 20:36, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Blocking anonymous users from certain namespaces
I would like to block users that are not logged in (or not of a certain permission atleast) from viewing various namespaces. In other words, I don't want them to even be able to view the source.

In particular:
 * Mediawiki:*
 * Template:*

How can I do this?

—71.146.38.183 21:40, 31 August 2007 (UTC)


 * See Manual:Preventing_access --Dr DBW 23:33, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Special Statistics error and problems creating subdirectories
Hi, my Special:Statistics returns a figure of 18,446,744,073,709,551,615  articles. It would have been good if it were really true but the fact is that I have just started. Also, what is the command for counting the number of articles in a subdirectory.

I don't seem to be able to add any directory after 103.
 * $wgExtraNamespaces = array(100 => "Portal", 101 => "Perbincangan_Portal");
 * $wgExtraNamespaces = array(102 => "Istilah", 103 => "Perbincangan_Istilah");

I have tried other numbers such as 110 and 201 but it doesn't seem to work either. Also, 100 and 101 does not work either. Only 102 and 103. Is there a conflict somewhere?

(P/S: My version is 1.10.1. I just downloaded the patch, mediawiki-1.10.1.patch(3).sig. Which directory should I download it to?) -- PM Poon 05:13, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * About the statistics: There was a problem with the counting, and it went to the largest possible value.
 * About the counting of the pages in namespace (not "subdirectory"): Add the following code to LocalSettings.php (after the place you added the extra namespaces):

$wgAllowSlowParserFunctions = true;
 * Then use the magic word "PAGESINNS", e.g. . You can remove the line in LocalSettings.php if you don't want to use this magic word any more.
 * About the extra namespaces: You use wrong PHP commands. The later command overrides the earlier one. You should use only one command, for example:

$wgExtraNamespaces = array(100 => "Portal", 101 => "Perbincangan_Portal", 102 => "Istilah", 103 => "Perbincangan_Istilah", 104 => "...", 105 => "...");
 * Alternatively, you can use:

$wgExtraNamespaces[100] = "Portal"; $wgExtraNamespaces[101] = "Perbincangan_Portal"; $wgExtraNamespaces[102] = "Istilah"; $wgExtraNamespaces[103] = "Perbincangan_Istilah"; $wgExtraNamespaces[104] = "..."; $wgExtraNamespaces[105] = "...";
 * – rotemliss – Talk 15:51, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

Centering a table VERTICALLY on the page
Hi guys Is there a way to center a table VERTICALLY on a page? I can center horizontally no problems, but vertically, with the valign tag, it doesnt want to play ball. —58.175.34.241 05:56, 1 September 2007 (UTC)


 * http://www.w3schools.com/css/pr_pos_vertical-align.asp —Eep² 08:31, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

php error
I'm trying to install MediaWiki 1.11.0 on php 4.4.7. In the main page you have this

* Download MediaWiki (current stable version is 1.10.1) * Web Server such as Apache or IIS * PHP version 5.0 or later (5.1.x recommended) * Database Server o MySQL 4.0 or later o or PostgreSQL 8.1 or later (also requires plpgsql and tsearch2) o or Ingres 2006 or later (SVN-Download)

when i install, appear this error: "PHP 5.0.0 or higher is required. ABORTING." what can i do to solve this? thanks, and sorry for my bad english :|

Coding Error from server not meeting all requirements?
What I mean is, the PHP Version, for example is actually 4.4.6 (I have a 1.9 in use for the wiki software). Could this be an interfearence in some codes not working right? (Example would be the hidden varible one, I CANNOT seem to get it to work)--TheSisko


 * Upgrade PHP to version 5, or use MediaWiki version 1.6.10. Emufarmers 03:18, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

How to Remove Top Links on the right - MyTalk, Preferences, MyWatchlist, My Contributions, but no Log in
Hi Guys, ive been struggling with this. I want to remove the: Top Links - MyTalk, Preferences, MyWatchlist, My Contributions, but KEEP the Log in/Log out link. Ive tried to do the following in Monobook.php, but it removes also the Login/Log out link. $wikidata[personaltools_header] $wikidata[personaltools_content] Any help appreciated. --203.5.136.234

Installation: Requested to Choose Application
I have uploaded MediaWiki (1.6.10) to my web host and MySql database is up, but when I direct browser to directory, the browser tells me I have chosen to open a file, and asks me to chose an application:



This happens in Mozilla Firefox, Netscape Navigator, and MS Internet Explorer. What I am doing wrong? —James R MacLean 09:40, 2 September 2007 (UTC)


 * As said on Bugzilla (11153), it's not our problem, it's a problem with your host's PHP. -- Sayuri 12:38, 2 September 2007 (UTC)


 * The problem is now solved. What happened was that, initially, I had installed release MW 1.10.1, but my web host only supported PHP4.4, not PHP5 (which is a requirement of release 1.10.1).  So I used the SSH client to delete the /wiki directory and replaced it with a new one containing release 1.6.10.  This time, I got the same error.  That's when I posted here the first time.


 * A tech guy at my webhost kindly noticed that it worked for him, so perhaps it was necessary for me to flush my DNS resolver cache. It worked, and I'm in business.  Thanks to everyone for listening and diagnosing.

Optional linking
I have a question. That's why I'm here, you see. My question is this: I'm creating a bunch of templates on a Wiki of mine, and I was wondering if there was a line of code I could use that would link to a certain article if that article existed, but if it didn't, would link to another, default one.

Thanks. (And sorry if this is the wrong place to ask...) ~ ТģØ(Đ {ŧª∫Қ ↑¤ Мә} 14:01, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Faulty system clock has lead to strange wiki behaviour
My company's wiki server has recently had trouble maintaining the correct time (which was an OS/hardware problem, nothing to do with the wiki software). It's been fixed now, but as a result of the problem we have a wiki in which some articles have been time-stamped with a date in the future. This leads to problems displaying the most recently-edited version of an article.

Is there any 'official' way to correct this? I've considered possibilities such as hacking the database to set all versions to an arbitrary date (say 01-01-2007) but I suspect that such ignorant tinkering could well lead to further problems. Any advice will be much appreciated - thanks in advance. —WombatDeath 15:23, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

CategoryTree in SideBar Problem
Hi guys hope you can help. Ive got the CategoryTree working in the SideBar but there is a problem. It works fine when expanding out the tree on the Main Page. I can click on a child on the Main page and it goes to the right location. However, when Im at the new location other than the Main Page, I get a similar problem to what has already been discussed under "Clicking the [+] has no effect / gives JavaScript error".

The thing is: 1) On the new page, I can click on the root of the category tree, and it takes me to the right location. 2) On the new page, I can click on the root and goes to that root fine, but I cannot expand that roots children out. I CAN expand the CategoryTree out successfully on the Main Page only, but no other page.

The error code Im getting on pages other than the Main Page when using the CategoryTree from the sidebar is: Line 671 Char33 Error:Object Expected Code:0 URL:  I have checked all is correct with the notes on "Clicking the [+] has no effect / gives JavaScript error".

SUMMARY:

On the Main Page: I can expand the category tree successfully, and click on children successfully. On Pages other than the Main: [+]Category (If I click this, it goes to this page) [+]Category (If I click this, it goes to this page) [+]Category (If I click this, it goes to this page) eg. [+]VBScript (If I click on VBSScript, it goes to http://localhost/mediawiki/index.php/Category:VBScript When I hover over the [+] next to VBScript, the path is looking at http://localhost/mediawiki/index.php/Category:VBScript# Questions. This error Im getting. What file is the error coming from, and how to correct? Thank you. —58.175.32.33 19:49, 2 September 2007 (UTC)
 * 1) I can click on the root of each category and go to that page:
 * 1) If I try and click on the [+] sign next to the Category Name, eg. the [+] next to VBScript, I get the error message.