Project:Support desk/Archive 13

Feature suggestion
For some time at WP, there has been a debate about whether to use British English or USAmerican. I think that if MediaWiki automatically adjusted those spellings based on IP address (US spellings for US IPs, British spellings for British and International IPs) with a small piece of code, the debate would be ended, and the eternal war will end. 24.80.89.208 02:38, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

Remove exposed personal Information...
I have talked to someone in MSN, this game hacker I found out, is it right for them to post private information (a MSN chat log), on his wiki site without my permission? —67.159.41.122 05:02, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * That's not a MediaWiki related topic, you'd need to read the MSN privacy policy and the details of their registration agreement. --Nad 07:44, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

Inserting Page Content into Another Page
I am sure I read it somewhere that you can do it, but for the life of me can't find the information again. So, is it possible to, or how do you, insert the content of a page into another page, not using a template? Is the only way using the preload feature? -- Dr DBW |  talk  05:59, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * What exactly do you want to do that makes templates inappropriate? aside from templates and preloading, there is also subst which expands the template at save time rather than whenever viewed. --Nad 06:34, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Have a one off where have an existing page with text that want to insert into another page. Could go via the path of transferring that over to a template, then inserting that template into both pages, but I thought I had read about another way of doing it. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  22:12, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I still don't get what you're wanting to do exactly, could you give an exact use-case? --Nad 22:40, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Was just looking for a technique to take the content of an existing page and insert it into another page at some point. Thought I had read you could do that somewhere, without having to go to the existing page, editing, copying the contents, then inserting it into the other page.  Sounds like I was mistaken, which is more than likely as come across a lot of stuff here and end up forgetting most ;-)  -- Dr DBW  |  talk  23:02, 6 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I thought you could use any regular page like a template, just by putting brackets around it, if that`s what you mean.--Brian 00:14, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Issue with LDAP connectivity
Good morning,

I have win2003 Server running IIS, MySQL and PHP 5.2.3. I've followed the documentation to configure LDAP authentication. I am however getting an error at the foot of my media wiki site which is "Error in my_thread_global_end: 1 threads didn't exit PHP Warning: Module 'ldap' already loaded in Unknown on line 0"

Any ideas where I'm going wrong?

—Oscartrashcan 10:05, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

HTTP Edit Call via POST
Hello,

I've been here a couple times before ;) one of those times was . The Perl script, unfortunately, did not get the job done as I had expected.  It required entirely too much modification, to the point that it just wasn't worth doing.  I abandoned the idea for a while, simply because I was too busy; well, now I'm back again ;)

I'm trying to do the job in PHP. I would use the pecl_http library, but I just can't get it to build in the server's shell - so I'm doing it with raw fsockopen-based calls; doesn't make it that much more complicated. Anyway, I had it to the point that it was submitting - but the server was returning an error page, stating that the edit failed due to a loss of session data. Makes sense, since I wasn't sending it the session cookies. So I added the cookies - and now it seems to just hang; it even locks up the httpd master process, and I have to restart the daemon. Here's the code:

// $this->wpStarttime is set to date('YmdHis') at the beginning of the script. // $imported, $updated, $updatedNum, and $unchanged are all set as parameters to the method call. $n = "\r\n"; $data = 'wpSection=&wpStarttime='. $this->wpStarttime. '&wpEdittime='. date('YmdHis'). '&wpScrolltop=&wpSummary='. urlencode($imported . ' new spells; ' . $updated . ' updated spells ('. $updatedNum. ' total changes); ' . $unchanged . ' unchanged spells'). '&wpSave=Save+page&wpTextbox1='. urlencode($this->changes_str); if(!$s = fsockopen('localhost', '80', $errno, $errstr, 15)) { $r .= 'ERROR: '. $errno. ' - ' . $errstr; } else { stream_set_timeout($s, 10); fwrite($s,		'POST /wiki/index.php?title=Patch:SpellChangesByDate/' . substr($this->wpStarttime, 0, 8) . '&action=submit HTTP/1.1' . $n .		'Host: eq.knowledgepit.org' . $n .		'Cookie: kp_eq__session=' . urlencode($_COOKIE['kp_eq__session']) . '; kp_eq_Token=' . urlencode($_COOKIE['kp_eq_Token']) .			'; kp_eq_UserName=' . urlencode($_COOKIE['kp_eq_UserName']) . '; kp_eq_UserID=' . urlencode($_COOKIE['kp_eq_UserID']).			$n .		'Connection: Close' . $n .		'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' . $n .		'Content-Length: ' . strlen($data) . $n . $n .		$data	); while(!feof($s)) { $r .= fread($s, 256); } } fclose($s); return $r;

Like I said, it works like a charm (well, sort of, it of course does not actually save the data) when I remove the cookies. Do I need to remove one of the cookies? Or add another?

Thanks for your time,

68.80.149.10 14:37, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm assuming this script is not running from within the MediaWiki environment (otherwise you'd just be calling the Article::Edit method), so in that case how has $_COOKIE been set with the correct values? I'd recommend using PERL which can achieve a form submit in a few lines and handles cookies etc for you. --Nad 21:33, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually it is running from within MediaWiki (in the script of a special page, specifically) - I didn't take notice of Article::Edit method, the last time I was here I was only pointed toward those Perl scripts ;) I figured there had to be something along the lines of Article::Edit, but just couldn't find it. Always helpful, thank you ;) 68.80.149.10 01:28, 6 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Just wanted to drop back in and say it worked like a charm. Thanks again ;) 68.80.149.10 02:56, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

Page creation and redirection in PHP?
Is there a way to automate the creation of one or more pages, ending in the opening of a specific page? For example, I'd like to have a script that's called with two arguments, title and id: ....idtopage.php?title=TITLE&id=ID When this script is executed, I want it to check for the existence of the page ID in the wiki, and if present to display it; if not, it should create the page with title TITLE, then create the page with title ID as a simple (protected) redirect to the page TITLE, and then display the page TITLE (which will be a page creation page, if TITLE doesn't exist). Any suggestions or pointers on how to do this are appreciated! —Aldaron 04:29, 6 November 2007 (UTC)
 * If you're wanting to do this from an external script, see Project:Support desk/Archive 11 for info on some solutions. However if this code is to be done from MediaWiki, then you'll need to call the Article::Edit method for updating or creating pages. See MediaWiki code snippets for some related example code. --Nad 21:39, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

How can I delete "Edit"
Hi,

Sorry, i'm french.

How to remove "edit" at the right of each section? If i have 3 sections, a TOC appears and "edit" for each section.

Thanks. Yves
 * If you want to remove the edit links on a per-page basis, add to the article content. To remove them from all pages add .editsection { display: none } to your MediaWiki:Common.css article. --Nad 21:33, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

Search results
Hi,

I just installed mediawiki on my website, but there is only one thing that I can't found how to change.

When I do a search in wikimedia, in the result I have : Title and Relevance.

But with my version I have a lot of other informations that I don't want.

Do somebody know how I can change this?

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

—Calipanpan 13:01, 6 November 2007 (UTC) —71.80.132.242 01:21, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Database hosed after move
hello. i recently had to move from one vps server in a host's site to another vps server on the same host's site. i decompressed a tar file of the entire mysql folder for the wiki's database into the corresponding folder on the new server as well as tranferred the http folder structure over. now, when users connect, we get this error:

A database error has occurred Query: SELECT user_name,user_password,user_newpassword,user_email,user_email_authenticated,user_real_name,user_options,user_touched,user_token,user_registration FROM `media_wiki_user` WHERE user_id = '2' LIMIT 1 Function: User::loadFromDatabase Error: 1016 Can't open file: 'media_wiki_user.ibd' (errno: 1) (localhost)

Backtrace:

GlobalFunctions.php line 602 calls wfBacktrace Database.php line 473 calls wfDebugDieBacktrace Database.php line 419 calls DatabaseMysql::reportQueryError Database.php line 806 calls DatabaseMysql::query Database.php line 825 calls DatabaseMysql::select User.php line 720 calls DatabaseMysql::selectRow User.php line 667 calls User::loadFromDatabase Setup.php line 229 calls User::loadFromSession index.php line 80 calls require_once

any ideas? —71.80.132.242 01:21, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * You may have to check or repair tables. In future you should do a mysqldump to backup your database in SQL, copying the files is risky and unportable as a slight configuration or version difference on the target server can cause problems. --Nad 07:08, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Novel/Book Formatting help needed
I need the ability on my MediaWiki for users to paste text versions of rather long stories and have them appear on a wiki page and preserve the simple book formatting. So, each paragraph has two spaces as indentations on the first line and the text is displayed with fixed width which auto-breaks and does not run off the page. I do not want users to have to edit their entire document inserting special breaks or anything. I want the ability to paste the text as-is and then maybe just have them wrap the whole thing in some tags or encapsulate it in some table or something so it displays like a book. Here are my attempts and why they don't work:

'Attempt 0: If I paste the text as-is, the two spaces at the beginning of each paragraph causes wiki to indent the whole paragraph and doesn't auto-line-break... it just runs off the page:'

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

'Attempt 1: If i use the 'pre' tag it doesn't auto-linebreak the text to the window width. Also, the two spaces at the beginning of the paragraph causes wiki to indent the whole thing:'

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Attempt 2: Putting it in a table of fixed width doesn't do the trick either:

Attempt 3: If i use the 'nowiki' tag it doesn't recognize linebreaks and runs everything together:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

—76.25.250.72 03:22, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * If its just indenting and spacing you're wanting to adjust, then you'd be best adding CSS rules to MediaWiki:Common.css. You can make rules work on a particular class so the users can surround blocks with div tags for example &lt;div class="foo"&gt; then have a matching CSS rule eg .foo { color: red; }. --Nad 07:14, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

thanks, i got my common.css file working and tested it fine. but, could you perhaps provide me with the styles i need so that when a user pastes paragraphs into this div, the paragraphs keep their first-line-indentation and the paragraphs don't run off the page and paragraphs aren't concatenated together? i'm trying to figure it out but no luck so far. thanks.--66.213.209.24 16:47, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

External Image Links doesn't work
I set $wgAllowExternalImages=true; in LocalSettings.php but mediawiki didn't render the external link.I saw it didn't work in http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:%24wgAllowExternalImages too. how can I enable this feature? —Tofighi 06:27, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Editting articles with templates won't show the used templates
When I edit an article that includes some templeates it won't show the templates used in that article. Is that customized through the LocalSettings file? I don't find any parameter to set that. Jose Manuel Perez --JMPerez 11:03, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Do you mean display the actual text within the template itself? To see that, there is a list of links to the templates at the bottom of the page, click the appropriate one, takes you to the template page, where you can edit away.  To see what effect that has on the page, use the preview function -- Dr DBW  |  talk  00:04, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Problem with MW 1.11 and Beagle skin. Are they compatible?
I'm creating a new wiki with MW1.11, PHP 5.1, and MySQL 4.1. Is the Beagle skin compatible with this setup? When I try the Beagle skin preview in my preferences I get this error message:

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach in /var/www/vhosts/httpdocs/skins/Beagle.php on line 48

What does this mean and what can I do about it? (I'm a beginner!) Thanks in advance! —Skakagrall 11:08, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Automatic uploaded file updating?
We use MediaWiki at work for internal documentation. It provides a great way to archive our procedures, daily events and other business related activity. However, we also use other methods of data storage such as network drives which hold documents related to customers. Unfortunately, we haven't quite figured out how to integrate several of these technologies into one cohesive unit.

While looking at a new page recently added to our wiki I realized that our disparate systems are introducing more convolution than benefit. The page in question discusses a new hardware implementation we are building here at work. It utilizes diagrams and policies laid out in non-wiki documents. These documents are housed on one of our network mounts. The reason they aren't uploaded to the wiki is the need to manually upload new versions as they are released. As a result, instead of being able to simply download a file directly from our wiki, we have to navigate to a network mount to get the latest version.

This leads to my question: has there been developed a way which will automatically update files uploaded to the wiki based on say, date created, which will allow us to integrate documents into our wiki without worrying about manually updating it every time a document is revised? —216.12.128.136 12:24, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi,

when i want to edit a page bigger than 62kb and preview it, i get a empty page. any ideas? —212.28.41.114 13:39, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't think there's an extension for that, but I've needed to do this before too and I did it by uploading the file like usual and then replacing the uplaoded file with a symlink to the corresponding item in the mount point. Another way to try could be to turn off the hashed upload paths and symlink your entire upload directory into the network mount point. --Nad 22:05, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Import Difficulties
Okay, so I ditched the idea of copying the files over as my ISP suggested. Instead, I recreated the database and tried to import from SQL dumps. However, I am now getting this error:

A database query syntax error has occurred. This may indicate a bug in the software. The last attempted database query was: (SQL query hidden) from within function "Revision::insertOn". MySQL returned error "1048: Column 'old_id' cannot be null (localhost)". Retrieved from "http://shortscale.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page"

This happens whenever you try to edit anything.

—71.80.132.242 18:58, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * You need to check the logs or turn on db error reporting in localsettings so you can see what the problem with the SQL syntax was. Also I notice you're using mediawiki 1.6.0 - that's a very old version and I'd strongly recommend upgrading to the latest (if you're using 1.6 for some specific reason, then at least upgrade to 1.6.10). Upgrading the database will likely fix whatever the db problem is. --Nad 22:15, 7 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I tried upgrading to 1.7.1, and everything appeared to be okay. However, I am still getting the same error message.

-71.80.132.242 01:55, 8 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Why upgrade to 1.7 which is still so old it's barely even supported - upgrade to the latest version, 1.11 --Nad 02:55, 8 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Upgraded to 1.11 and was getting "cannot be null" errors. Googled that, and found a resource with a script for changing that.  Editing problems solved.  Now I have to install ImageMagick on this server since it didn't come with it.  Thanks for your help!
 * That's good news, was it a script in the maintenance dir or a third party one? --Nad 09:28, 8 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I also need that script! I am having the same problems!

--87.49.210.183 16:00, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Error AFTER Installation
I tried to install MediaWiki 1.11.0 on my website. Here is the display from the installation:

* PHP 5.2.4 installed * Found database drivers for: MySQL * PHP server API is cgi; using ugly URLs (index.php?title=Page_Title) * Have XML / Latin1-UTF-8 conversion support. * Warning: A value for session.save_path has not been set in PHP.ini. If the default value causes problems with saving session data, set it to a valid path which is read/write/execute for the user your web server is running under. * PHP's memory_limit is 32M. * Couldn't find Turck MMCache, eAccelerator, APC or XCache; cannot use these for object caching. Warning: shell_exec has been disabled for security reasons in /home/crimson2/public_html/wiki/config/index.php on line 1798 Warning: shell_exec has been disabled for security reasons in /home/crimson2/public_html/wiki/config/index.php on line 1798 * GNU diff3 not found. * Found ImageMagick: /usr/bin/convert; image thumbnailing will be enabled if you enable uploads. * Found GD graphics library built-in. * Installation directory: /home/crimson2/public_html/wiki * Script URI path: /wiki * Installing MediaWiki with php file extensions * Environment checked. You can install MediaWiki. *Generating configuration file... * Database type: MySQL * Loading class: DatabaseMysql * Attempting to connect to database server as crimson2...success. * Connected to 4.1.22-standard * Database crimson2_wikidb exists * Creating tables... done. * Initializing data...   * User crimson2 exists. Skipping grants. * Created sysop account Ankiseth. * Creating LocalSettings.php...

Installation successful! Move the config/LocalSettings.php file to the parent directory, then follow this link to your wiki.

I click on the link and it gives me this:

Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@xxx.com and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

Any ideas what is going wrong? I've checked using phpMyAdmin and the Database is there and full, all the tables and information are populated. The user I use is a superuser, so permissions are not an issue. I have copied the LocalSettings.php into the root file, but I am still getting this error. Any ideas? —207.228.33.208 19:17, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Check the logs to see exactly what the internal server error was, that should give some indication of the problem... --Nad 22:10, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

BoardVote
How would I get this to work with PHP voting software?? --82.42.237.84 20:49, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
 * And what is "BoardVote"? Can't find any reference to it here on MediaWiki. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  00:09, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Lock out user after 3 failed password attempts
Is there anyway to loac a user out after 3 failed password attempts. If Mediawiki does not have this ability is there a 3rd party software package that can handle security issues? —129.6.59.171 13:26, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Creating User Groups
Can I create various user groups, name them as I like and assign different roles for different group? —79.125.147.181 16:04, 8 November 2007 (UTC)
 * The groups available in Special:Userrights are defined in $wgGroupPermissions --Nad 18:30, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Don't recommend an apt-get dist-upgrade when installing MediaWiki on Ubuntu!
Section 1.3.1 of Manual:Running MediaWiki on Ubuntu recommends doing a dist-upgrade. This is a surprising step to see when installing an application, as it does a complete distribution upgrade (e.g. from Ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10), which can have significant ramifications - in rare cases a dist-upgrade can leave a system unbootable, or some applications unusable. I recommend you take out this step now, and only include it with some warnings that the user should assess the benefits and drawbacks of doing a dist-upgrade - particularly on a remote server, which could become inaccessible without console access, or on a desktop, where hardware dependencies are greater perhaps.

—87.86.252.131 16:07, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Unknown sysop account when leaving main page.
I'm using media wiki 1.11.0, php 5.2.4 and mysql 5.0.45

The problem I am having is that whenever I leave the main page, I am no longer logged on as the sysop. When I try to log back on, I says that my sysop account is not even there. When I try to log in with the default sysop account (WikiSysop) it says I have got the wrong password. I changed the sysop account name, so that should even exist either....

This is the fourth time I've tried to install this software. Perhaps I didn't uninstall it correctly? I don't know for sure, but I have tried to find a page on uninstalling mediawiki and try and reinstalling it again, but alas, I cannot find one.

Any idea what's going on? —76.87.240.47 03:10, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

How do I redirect to other pages?
I'm experiencing some troubles with redirecting one page to another. I'm running the site from a company server and when I edit pages, neither do I find the redirect button in the toolbox, nor does the #REDIRECT operator work. Am I doing anything wrong? Many thanks in advance. —SupervladiTM 08:00, 9 November 2007 (UTC)
 * So, what happens when you put  -- Dr DBW  |  talk  00:27, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Nevermind, it works now, thanks :) SupervladiTM 12:18, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

showhide with mediawiki 1.6.10
Hi, I have installed the media wiki version 1.6.10, because I'm on PHP 4 and mysql 4. I was wondering if there is a show/hide text box in the formatting possibilities ? do I have to install an extension ? I tried some but it seems that the version of my media wiki was too old ? Thanks a lot !

—84.101.142.242 10:08, 8 November 2007 (UTC)
 * See W:Wikipedia:Collapsible tables --Nad 18:26, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the answer, but i already saw this page on "wikipedia" (that isn't the same mediawiki as mine), it is not working and I don't know why, do you have an idea ? or another way to make this work ? —148.87.1.170 20:12, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Inputbox search is not working
Hi there, I´m new to this and i am having a hard time understanding it. I´m not a programmer, not even related to this but have a fair understanding of the technology involved so please bear with me.

I am using your wiki at wwww.cabralcrafts.com, and have downloaded and installed InputBox to make article creation easier. I have tried to include search codes in my pages and always receive the same error. So, when I tried to put this (I commented it so it will show):

I got this:

Fatal error: Call to undefined method SpecialPage::gettitlefor in components/com_mambowiki/extensions/inputbox/inputbox.php on line 75

Now, line 75 of that file reads: $search = SpecialPage::getTitleFor( 'search' )->escapeLocalUrl;

So I am not sure if there is a mistake in that line (it certainly doesn´t look like to me) or if it´s another line this file.

Can anybody help please?

Thank you,

Alejandro alejandro@cabralcrafts.com —148.87.1.170 20:18, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Moderating the creation of new pages in mediawiki.
I installed a mediawiki software of version 1.10.1. I am trying to use it as a FAQ like system, and I would like to moderate the new pages created. The pages are created in a particular name space, say FAQ. So, all new pages in that name space should be displayed after my approval. Once, the page is created, the successive changes to it should not be moderated.

Is there any extension or kind of tweaking that I can do in mediawiki 1.10.1 software. A detailed help is appreciated. —203.197.151.138 11:21, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Open Website in Mediawiki?
For example: On the left create a Menu box and have url's to another web. ie. open http://www.microsoft.com in the main window. This is like a framed website.

—Adamson67 20:48, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Can I install a Wiki and restrict users to view/edit pages?
I wanted to have a wiki and allow only some users that I add, can read/ edit all the content,in our organization there are some sections and I want only the people in that section can view/edit their wikis, Before asking this question, I search a lot of hours but I understand mediawiki is poor in protection, and I can't be sure a namespace is only viewed by some users, Now I wanted to install multiple wiki instances for my organization, Then is it possible in mediawiki All the wiki will be accessible only for some users (reading(viewing)/editing)? —Tofighi 00:41, 11 November 2007 (UTC)


 * If you want just a few users you choose to edit/read the pages, add this to your LocalSettings.php:

$wgGroupPermissions['*']['edit']=false; $wgGroupPermissions['*']['read']=false; $wgWhitelistRead = array( "Special:Userlogin" ); $wgGroupPermissions['*']['createaccount']=false; $wgGroupPermissions['*']['sysop']=false; $wgGroupPermissions['*']['bureaucrat']=true; You then need to be bureaucrat to create accounts via Special:Userlogin. See more in Manual:Preventing access. --84.139.82.196 15:59, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Manual:Running MediaWiki on Ubuntu is incomplete, lacks the LAMP packets for a non LAMP ubuntu server installation
Manual:Running MediaWiki on Ubuntu is very good, but it's just meant to Ubuntu Server. Why not include the chapter "4.1 - Suporting" of Manual:Running MediaWiki on Ubuntu GNU/Linux, marked for deletion. With that chapter, every one, even with the ubuntu desktop, can install mediawiki.

Thanks Tiago Silva —89.181.81.77 17:03, 11 November 2007 (UTC)

Special:Newpages help
How do you modify Special:Newpages so you can view new pages over a longer period of time? On my wiki, it goes back only about 60 days. —96.231.82.75 22:16, 11 November 2007 (UTC) (Hangfromthefloor on en.wikipedia)
 * Set $wgRCMaxAge = 500 * 24 * 3600; (for 500 days). -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 00:37, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * That doesn't seem to affect Special:Newpages, or any other special pages that are listed in the Manual. How do I fix it? -71.178.128.211 03:38, 22 November 2007 (UTC) (wikipedia: Hangfromthefloor)

I want to have the same support desk Like this one in my site
How Can I create a Project:Support desk like this one in my site, with archives and all things I see here? —213.233.160.25 02:42, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Of course, this is just a normal article like any other, just add it to your sidebar, and manually chop the article into archive articles whenever it gets too big --Nad 22:14, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks Nad, but if you see there is a plus (+) near project page and I saw this plus in discussuon pages only :) is there any way to add such + into our Article pages? --213.233.160.18 16:53, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Can there be more than one administrator on my site?
Is there any possibility of modifying any files (perhaps defaultsettings or localsettings) in order to have multiple administrators for the site? Thanks again. -SupervladiTM 12:24, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Go to Special:Userrights and add other users to the sysop group --Nad 22:13, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Go to Special:Userrights on my site? Or where? -SupervladiTM 19:48, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes on your sites Special:Userrights, however you must be a Bureaucrat to obtain the functality to add other Sysops --Zven 21:14, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * OK, so I promoted myself to bureaucrat on that page and when I go afterwards to Special:Userrights I receive a permission error telling me the requested action is reserved to Bureaucrat users only and I cannot add other admins to the site. Did I do anything wrong? -SupervladiTM 06:58, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Looks like you removed your bureaucrat permission. On the left site you see the group you are member of, when you click one and save, it'll be removed. To be able to set bureaucrat permission again, you have to set $wgGroupPermissions['*']['userrights']=true; temporarily in your LocalSettings.php --84.139.82.196 16:05, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Moving to new server and failing
On moving mediawiki to a new production server, I had the situation where i simply get a blank screen. This got resolved, and php started then rendering the php pages, however whenever it gets to a require_once in the code anywhere that has relative path starting with a "." eg require_once('./includes/Webstart.php;); it fails to find this file with the error:

Warning: require_once(./includes/WebStart.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in W:\XXXX\XXXX\index.php on line 38 Fatal error: require_once [function.require]: Failed opening required 'WebStart.php' (include_path='.;C:\php5\pear') in W:\XXXX\XXXX\includes\Index.php on line 38

If i remove the leading "./" from the include, this then goes through no problems, also if i add in 'dirname(__FILE__). "/includes/WebStart.php"' it also works, however i understand this as a possible workaroun, but do not want to have to do this.

This is using MediaWiki version 1.11.0 PHP version 5.2.5 and MySQL. Like i say, the Wiki works no problems on 2 other machines. One being IIS with the same version of everything (MySQL hosted on a remote server), and the other machine it works on being linux based.

Also, putting at the top of the "index.php" file "echo getcwd;", i get the output of the last folder that was used by the server, not the directory that the scripts reside in. eg it shows C:\windows\system32\inetsrv instead of W:\XXXX\XXXX\ where on the server that this works on, it shows the correct folder for where the scripts are located.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Steve —194.150.252.229 14:52, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Do i need Templates?
Hi, i have installed Mediawiki and it works great. I have now a small question about templates and hope you can help me. I want to make a new Page with some Informations about for example one Car. When i add new Informations about another car, then i want to take my old page as template. I don't want to do this like Copy and Paste. Is there an extension or any other possibility to make a Template for this? The best idea is, to have a template with variables, so that you now here is something to change.... I want to have all Pages in the same structure and i think templates or something are the best solution. I have tried it with templates, but i am not in the position to change the text.

Sorry my english is bad, i hope you can understand what i mean... —87.154.175.136 19:06, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Can you give an example of the problem or a link to the site? --Nad 20:29, 12 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I am sorry but the Wiki is just in our LAN available.
 * I will try it to explain. I have one site where i have some Informations and the page looks like
 * Michael_Schumacher. And now i want to make a template, that every Page looks like thie website
 * Means on the right the Foto and then Informations of each Year.
 * I know i can make a template and include the template, but i just want the same style of each site but not the same text.
 * I hope you have understand what i mean? The next side coul be another Driver but with the same site only another text.


 * Very easy to do. Just look at examples such as the one you see there, which uses the template at w:de:Vorlage:Infobox_Formel-1-Fahrer or read the details on how templates work at Help:Templates -- Dr DBW  |  talk  05:39, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

SQL Database
Can Media Wiki work with SQL2000 rather than mysql —213.249.162.132 11:08, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Limiting Users to Edit User Pages
Is there any way to only let users to edit their user page? I mean the other users will not be able to edit other user pages... I don't like to use extensions that has this type of message above them: ''If you need per-page or partial page access restrictions, you are advised to install an appropriate content management package. MediaWiki was not written to provide per-page access restrictions, and almost all hacks or patches promising to add them will likely have flaws somewhere, which could lead to exposure of confidential data. We will not be held responsible should a password or bank details be leaked, leading to loss of funds or one's job.'' —213.233.160.18 15:00, 13 November 2007 (UTC)


 * That will be the only extensions you can find, all extensions dealing with controlling editing of pages have that warning. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  05:35, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Who wrote MediaWiki?
who made mediawiki?
 * Developers -- Dr DBW |  talk  05:36, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Save Page button won't stop loading
Out of no where, whenever I click on "Save Page" when editing on my site it starts loading and the status bar tells me it's waiting to connect to the site. It never connects however, and never times-out either. The rest of the site loads and works fine. Even if i click "Preview" it loads no problem but as soon as I click "Save Page" it seems stuck, perpetually loading. Any ideas?

-64.132.54.212 15:21, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

How Restrict user pages to the owner of page?
How can I ban other users for editing the other user pages and every user can only have permission to edit his own user page? —213.233.160.18 16:56, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Add the following code to your localsettings file --Nad 21:22, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Read-only main-NS for anonymous users
Is it possible to restrict anonymous users such that they only can read the main name space pages, and nothing else. Logged in users have access to all ns's and can edit those. 128.186.38.92 23:14, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Add the following to your localsettings file --Nad 01:00, 14 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks! 128.186.38.92 21:20, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Inputbox doesn't search correct namespace
I have installed the inputbox extension and the inputbox shows up but does not search the correct namespace. Example: here. I have tried following the instructions listed on the talk page here: Extension talk:Inputbox but they did not work. Is any one else more familiar with it? Regards 60.50.165.89 00:59, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Best option is asking on the talk page and / or contacting the developer of the extension. -- Dr DBW |  talk  05:32, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

OpenLDAP group and MediaWiki group conectivity
We have a OpenLDAP directory working for some applications and now we want to implement LDAP with mediawiki as well. We managed to have a connection with ldap with the LDAP plugin module but all LDAP users get user permissions. We want users that are in certain OpenLDAP groups go in certain mediawiki group.

Our Configurations is as follow (LocalSettings.php):

What can be wrong with the configuration. Now the user can not log in.

error log —Andrejb 08:49, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

PHP5
HI,

I am trying to install MediaWiki onto my server, but it requires a HTACCESS file to tell it to run in PHP 5 mode.

I have no problem adding the file, but do not know the code that i should include in it.

Thanks

—62.171.194.6 09:17, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

How do I replace MediaWiki's Authentication with the web server's mechanisms?
I have a MediaWiki running on a webserver in a part of the URL namespace that is not publicly available, users need to authenticate against the webserver to login (with some proprietary one time password method). But since the Wiki is configured to keep track of changes and not to allow anonymous write access, the users need to authenticate again, which is also a security problem if they access from an insecure machine (e.g. internet cafe).

Is there any way or plugin to have MediaWiki ommit it's own authentication, to accept the authentication from the web server, take the user name given by environment (and maybe use a translation table, e.g. from jdoe to "John Doe") ?

—Hadmut 10:17, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Problem having ExtraNamespaces rearranged
I have added extranamespaces in the Localsettings.php, later i have added some Pages with Namespace:PageName. Later i found that the First Tab which is having preivious namespace not the actual one. where can i change the Namespace Tab. how i can correct this? Please any one help me. —Saravanakumar 11:38, 14 November 2007 (UTC) --- Hi Saravanakumar, you may have not have entered your namespace correctly in your Localsettings.php. Did you use, for example: $wgExtraNamespaces[100] = "Portal"; $wgExtraNamespaces[101] = "Portal_talk";

&mdash; PM Poon 06:41, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

special:newpages - how to show all namespaces?
1.5.5, PHP: 4.3.10-16 , MySQL: 5.0.19 I'm still using MediaWiki 1.5.5. Is there any workaround to show all newpages in all namespaces, not only main, with special:newpages??? I work with a few ExtraNamespaces. —Kermit 13:18, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I use MW 1.9.3, and am also interested in how to do this. 71.178.128.211 17:36, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

Mime info error
Hi,

I'm having problem with upload file in mediawiki.

The upload part is doing well but there's an issue in the mime type select.

When I upload an image file (jpg or gif) it say always the MIME type is audio/x-mod

Here is an output of the Image:Windows_vista_002-ig.jpg page : Windows_vista_002-ig.jpg‎ Taille du fichier : 24 ko, type MIME : audio/x-mod

I try to add some conf into the LocalSettings.php file : $wgMimeInfoFile = "includes/mime.info"; $wgMimeTypeFile = "includes/mime.types";

But this doesn't change at all.

Did I miss something ? —193.168.50.8 16:02, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * If you can't fix the problem, you turn off the mime checking completely by setting $wgVerifyMimeType to false --Nad 23:17, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

I am having the same problem when image names have special characters. What I do was to remove the hyphen whenever I encounter them, eg. Image:Windows_vista_002-ig.jpg becomes Image:Windows_vista_002ig.jpg, for example. &mdash; PM Poon 06:44, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

wikitables - no show/hide buttons
I want to copy the following Wikipedia page to my own wiki in order to experiment with show/hide wikitables:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Hidden

Everything seems to be working, but there are no [show] or [hide] buttons at the right. Here is what I have done:

1) From MediaWiki:Common.js, copy the section that starts with the comments:

/** Collapsible tables *********************************************************

* * Description: Allows tables to be collapsed, showing only the header. See *              Wikipedia:NavFrame. * Maintainers: User:R. Koot */

2) From MediaWiki:Common.css, copy the section that starts with the comments:

/* wikitable/prettytable class for skinning normal tables */

3) Copy the following templates:

Hidden Rh

—OldGrantonian 16:12, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

ONE page THREE TOC's?
I'd like to have pages with three columns that reside next to each other and are editable independently from each other (like here). I think I will do this with tables or divs. The Problem is that for each of the columns I want to have it's own Table of contents on top of the column. Is this possible? Thanks for your time. - Torsten-peh 16:33, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

What does IMPORT PAGES do?
The special page for admins? --Bentendo 21:53, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * It imports a set of articles that have been exported with Special:Export --Nad 23:12, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Changing the Main Page
Hello, I'm trying to change the "Main Page" heading of the Main Page to another heading. I've read the FAQ and know which code to edit. However, I'm having trouble finding which php file holds that piece of code. Of course, I can see the code when looking directly at the main page but I don't know how to save it. Thanks.
 * It's not code, set it in the MediaWiki:Mainpage article --Nad 23:14, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Problem completing configuration!
Hello! I've just installed and configured Mediawiki on my website. I followed all the instructions at this site (great instructions, by the way - have been very helpful!) However, just at the end of the config instructions, where it says to move the LocalSettings file into the parent directory, then delete the config folder, then reset the LocalSettings with stringent settings (I did all three things), it then says that the site should at this point appear at the corresponding web address. The problem is, it doesn't! When I enter this web address in my browser, I just get a blank white page. This may be a dumb question, but do I need to wait a few hours or a day before my server displays it? Or is there anything I might have done wrong or missed? Thanks in advance! Simon 78.16.74.41 03:29, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Next day, and the page still appears as blank. I suspect something has gone wrong. Any tips? The page is at http://www.seewhatisthere.com/wiki/ 78.16.74.41 15:16, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * you must go to www.seewhatisthere.com/wiki/index Try that... DJ Davies 19:20, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the suggestion. I tried going to www.seewhatisthere.com/wiki/index or even www.seewhatisthere.com/wiki/index.html but in both cases it says "page not found." What would you suggest next? 78.16.74.41 21:55, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Today I also contacted my host and they couldn't suggest anything. However, they did point me to an error log, but I'm not sure whether it's relevant or not: It contains variations of the following repeated multiple times: "PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}' in /home/simon/public_html/wiki/includes/Exception.php on line 160. PHP Fatal error:  Call to undefined function:  headers_list in /home/simon/public_html/wiki/includes/OutputHandler.php on line 71." 78.16.74.41 21:59, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I was able to connect via http://www.seewhatisthere.com/wiki/index.php5?title=Main_Page try that. but /wiki/index.php5 works too. Dj Davies 23:20, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thank you, that works!! It's quite a cumbersome title, but I guess I can shorten it to make it simpler. I found a mediawiki page explaining how to do that, so I'll attempt that. Thanks again. 78.16.74.41 15:05, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

Admin Center
Can you please tell me how too go to the admin center or HQ? Like where i change my logo and upload info and such please?

techwikiforums.info/wiki/index

Thanks, Kyle —24.19.190.158 04:04, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Couple of places to look, depending on what you are looking to do. First one is the LocalSettings.php file, next is the Special:Specialpages page, and final is Special:Allmessages page. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  23:47, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Ok thank you very much doctor. 71.227.199.30

Bureaucrats and admins
Hi again. I seem to experience a small problem concerning the bureaucrat and admin rights to my site. More precisely, I, as administrator of my site, wanted to promote myself as a bureaucrat in order to be able to grant a few other people admin rights. So I went to Special:Userrights, added my username as a bureaucrat and afterwards when I wanted to promote the others as admins on the same page, I received a message saying I need to be part of the bureaucrat group (on which I had already promoted myself to). Am I doing anything wrong? Thanks in advance. -SupervladiTM 08:49, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * You actually just removed yourself from the Bureaucrat group (whoops!). Is there another Bureaucrat account that can promote you back? If not you need to directly edit your wiki's database. Prodego 01:38, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately I was the only one. How exactly do I edit it from the database? I kind of copy pasted the commands inside Help:Setting user rights in MediaWiki and I receive a syntax error. Is there a page which could guide me through? _SupervladiTM 13:43, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

How to test Javascript?
Is it possible to test my Javascript before I give it to my system administrator to insert in MediaWiki:Common.js?

If so, what wiki markup do I need? —OldGrantonian 11:38, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Pretty sure that you can put it in a subpage off your own user page and test it out there. Though I have never really understood how the javascripting stuff works.  Have noticed on wikis though that is where people have the scripts that they use themselves on the wiki, it doesn't have to be installed or touched by the admin people. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:35, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

default thumbnail size
Logged-in users can set their own size preferences for thumbnails, but how can I change the default thumbnail size for the anonymous visitor?—141.76.45.35 15:25, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Different skins in different categories
Hello,

I am using MediaWiki v1.6.1, PHP5 and mySQL DB. I wonder if it is possible to use different skins in different categories. If it is, how can i accomplish that?

Thanks. —212.174.225.78 15:53, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

How to insert small banners in left colomn (after Toolbox) in all pages ?
How to insert small banners in left colomn (after Toolbox) in all pages ? —91.76.185.101 16:38, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Edit the template files for the skin that you are using. -- Dr DBW |  talk  23:48, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Hiding "logout" at museum kiosk
Is there a way of hiding the "Logout" for a given user? Currently we are using mediawiki for kiosk site in our museum's gallery. We have is we created a default User account for the kiosk in the gallery that is constantly logged in so people can edit pages. Problem people seem to like to logout at the kiosk disabling the ability to add/edit text. We would like to be able to hide the "Logout" text on the template only for the kiosk user account.

Any solutions or extensions? (unfortunately making the wiki editable to anonymous users is not an option at this time)

Thanks! Myotus 19:58, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Probably need to do it via editing the skin you are using. Sorry, can't help how to do that etc though.  Some help around here with editing skins though, so that might provide some guidance. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:33, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Change Logo
Can someone make me a logo code and tell me exactly where to put it? Or at least give me an example of what it looks like and where it goes? Mine is:

$wgLogo	= false; ///defaults to "http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1295/techwikiforumslogo3uk8.jpg"

on line 111

Thanks, Kyle Davies

Hi there,

just open the LocalSetting.php and change this code

put your logo in this directory Name_Of_Your_WIKI/skins/common/images/

$wgStylePath  = "/Name_Of_Your_WIKI/skins/"; $wgLogo       = "{$wgStylePath}/common/images/YOUR_LOGO.jpg";

good luck....

John Paul Basco —71.227.199.30 04:19, 16 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Waited 24 hours... still nothing?  any ideas?


 * See Manual:$wgLogo, look at the talk page there and the link down the bottom. -- Dr DBW |  talk  01:23, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

How do disable the 'Leading Spaces' formatting feature of mediawiki?
There is a feature in MediaWiki where if you put 'leading spaces' in front of a line, MediaWiki formats the text in a special way. I want to completely disable this behavior for my MediaWiki installation on my website. If there isn't a flag for it, then I want to go into the code and comment it out or something! If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is the 'leading spaces' thing explained: w:en:Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page —76.25.250.72 05:00, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

Part word searches
Hi, How do we configure media wiki to do part word searches. For example, if I search on burn I would like to get burning in my results.

MediaWiki: 1.8.4 PHP: 5.2.4-pl2-gentoo (apache2handler) MySQL: 5.0.44-log visited from 192.168.11.91 Retrieved from "http://ncswiki01/index.php/Special:Version"

Many thanks! Russ! —Rusdamus 06:59, 16 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Don't think that is handled by the default search engine with MW yet. There are some extensions I recall seeing that use different engines and can handle stuff like this. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:25, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Search result
Hi,

I just installed mediawiki on my website, but there is only one thing that I can't found how to change.

When I do a search in wikimedia, in the result I have : Title and Relevance.

But with my version I have a lot of other informations that I don't want (content of the article, etc...)

Do somebody know how I can change this?

Thanks in advance.

Regards. —213.31.11.80 11:29, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

ini_set, debug_backtrace, array_slice warnings
I installed my wiki correctly but three warnings are shown:

Warning: ini_set has been disabled for security reasons in .../i-tek_wiki/includes/AutoLoader.php on line 5 Warning: debug_backtrace has been disabled for security reasons in .../i-tek_wiki/includes/GlobalFunctions.php on line 731 Warning: array_slice [function.array-slice]: The first argument should be an array in .../i-tek_wiki/includes/GlobalFunctions.php on line 731

Please tell me how to fix these warnings.

Thanks -80.171.126.238 16:30, 16 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Will someone please show me step-by-step on how to edit the navigation? I'm logged in as the administrator, but can't find where you would do this?
 * —156.99.55.125 22:39, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

How notify mediawiki developers about External Link bug in mediawiki?
I asked before in this forum about external image link that doesn't work in mediawiki, no body answered and I think it is a bug, how can notify developers about this bug?you can read more here —Tofighi 12:10, 17 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Follow the link in the developement menu, Bug tracker -- Dr DBW |  talk  01:26, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

How Restrict user pages to the owner of page? (Section 2)
Thanks user:Nad for replying section 1 of question, it was very useful, but as you know in user pages people put some images from themselves, how can I ban other users from changing the images that one user upload for himself/herself? (can I define a new namespace with name of ProfileImages and people upload their pictures into it and restrict other people as you did in previous section?) —Tofighi 12:49, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

Java Script
How can I add JS scripts to main page of wiki? ~Bruce

Sysop doesn't have sysop rights?
Hey, I searched around and couldn't find the answer. I created a wiki and set up a few sysop account. Even though my database says the users are sysops and bureocrats I cannot access the page to change the navigation, delete pages, etc. What could be wrong? Is there something I am missing to get these rights? Thanks in advance —67.109.212.20 18:08, 17 November 2007 (UTC)Jon

Automatic inclusion of templates
How can I automatically include a template on all pages in a given namespace? For example, I'd like a box at the top of every talk page telling new users where they can get help on wiki syntax. I don't want to manually edit every talk page and include the template! And I'd like the template to be there, automatically, when new talk pages are created. Many thanks, ID.

—81.108.186.119 12:35, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Can't help you with the first part, but with content being added when a new page created, see the boiler plate extension. Though no need for that if you can find a solution to your first question. -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:28, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Multi Language Pages
Ok, I have the main page, but I am unsure of how to have 2 versions of it. 1 in English and 1 in Deutsch. I know I can add /de to change some of it, but the other content I don't know how. I can't seem to find information on how to do this. Thanks.

—204.116.221.210 02:43, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * The /de suffix generally only works automatically for system messages (that is, inside the MediaWiki namespace), unless you use Extension:Polyglot. Generally, you would simply make separate pages for the different languages, and link them manually, or using some template (as is done on mediawiki.org). Also have a look at Category:Internationalization_extensions -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 10:03, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Include sub-part of another page
Is it posible to include part of other page into page ?

example: PmWiki uses "include" tag to do it : (:include Main.MyPage#startAnchor#EndAnchor:) and it will include part of page "MyPage" between anchors(startAnchor,EndAnchor) not whole page "MyPage"

Why I need it: We plan to maintain user documentation as Wiki page articles. And we must be able to assembly whole documentation from necessary articles to print User guide.

slavomir.dvorsky@asseco.sk

—195.28.83.30 12:33, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Easiest way at the moment is to use Help:Templates -- Dr DBW |  talk  01:30, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Need Latest installation Guid
Please provide the installation procedure for Redhat Enterprise Linux 5.0 with Latest Mediawiki package.—12.110.209.151 17:02, 19 November 2007 (UTC)


 * If you are after how to install MediaWiki, then simply follow the instructions on the Download page. If you are after instructions on how to install Redhat Linux, then you need to go to the redhat site -- Dr DBW  |  talk  01:32, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Unable to show the contents of a page in a box.
Please see the below code,

Here I am trying to include the contents on /Intro into a box, with box-header and box-footer as header and footer of the box. But the contents are shown below the box only. Please help me in resolving the issue.

Note: Sub page activation is done in Local settings.php page. —202.80.57.2 06:07, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

Setting user rights directly from the database
Hello all. I have a small problem if anyone's willing to cope with it. A few days ago I went to Special:Userrights in order to make myself a bureaucrat so I could promote others to sysops. What I didn't know was that as the creator of my site, I was already a bureaucrat and apparently I downgraded myself from this status as I added my username to the list of bureacurats. Now I understand the only way I can upgrade myself again is to do it directly from the database as there are no other bureaucrats. Could anyone please tell me exactly how to do that? Because I copy pasted the following commands written in Help:Setting user rights in MediaWiki : > mysql -u root -p

mysql> use wikidb;

mysql> UPDATE user SET user_rights='bureaucrat,sysop' WHERE user_name='The Username';

(Obviously I replaced 'The Username' with my username.) Now the problem is I received the following syntax error: ERROR 1049 (42000): Unknown database 'wikidb'

Am I doing anything wrong?

SupervladiTM 07:17, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

If you do this quickly you can avoid anyone else taking advantage of your reduced security:

Here is what you can do: Edit your DefaultSettings.php (found in \wiki\includes) with this line of code $wgGroupPermissions['user']['userrights'] = true; and then go back into your Special:Userrights page and make your changes. Then quickly go back into DefaultSettings.php and remove that line of code. -68.12.0.191 08:28, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Neat-o! Thanks a lot! SupervladiTM 13:36, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

I want to create 2 Wiki's in one MySQL database with different table prefixes. Is it possible to share the USER table - i.e. if the user registered in one wiki - he is automatically registered in another one? —128.248.174.139 18:37, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

using a subdomain to change skins
I have a mediawiki install at my primary www.mywikisite.com. I want to create the subdomain m.mywikisite.com for mobile devices. I need the skin on the mobile site to be very minimalistic.

Wikipedia does somehting similar for its languages. en.wikipedia.org does english content, es.wikipedia.org does spanish content.

I figure I will need to copy my install to my subdomain directory and change my LocalSettings.php to default to my minimalistic skin. My question is: Is this the most appropriate way to achieve what I want?

Thanks, ~Mike

—206.63.192.21 18:55, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Just set $wgDefaultSkin in your localsettings based on the value of $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'] --Nad 20:19, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Mediawiki 1.6.10 and PHP5.2 -> Loop
Hi, I'm using MW 1.6.10 with PHP 4.4.7. This works fine but I'd like to upgrade first to PHP5.2 and later to latest mediawiki. Wenn I switch to PHP5.2 with MW 1.6.10 then I cannot access the wiki anymore. There seems to be an endless redirect until the browser breaks that an displays an error. Do you know that problem? How can I solve that? Thanks in advance for any help. Manuel 87.181.2.149 19:44, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
 * MW1.6.x doesn't work with php5, you'd be best upgrading to the latest version sooner rather than later now that you've migrated to php5 --Nad 20:13, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually I may be wrong there, it's that MW1.6.x is the last version to support php4, but I'm not sure if any versions have a problem with php5 - I'd still recommend the MW upgrade though since you were planning it anyway. --Nad 20:16, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

MediaWiki Administrator
I'm attempting to contact an administrator in reference to a MediaWiki created page that contains personal attacks. —67.191.207.226 03:45, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Go to the Special:Listusers page on the wiki that contains the problematic content, then select sysops or bureaucrats to list the administrators responsible for that wiki. --Nad 20:11, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Adding code below or to the right of the TOC (table of contents).
How can I edit the way the TOC is displayed on pages that contain it. Specifically, I'd like to add a few lines of code right below the box that contains the TOC or in the white space to the right of it for the purpose of displaying ads. If I could place it right below the showTocToggle script it would be great. Thanks in advance —Scott —68.12.0.191 07:38, 21 November 2007 (UTC) OK - I'm to the point that I'm willing to pay someone to develop the code for this. Does anyone know where I can hire this done such as a web site where coders hang out waiting for work like this?

68.12.0.191 04:26, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Extension: EditWarning problem
Is there another Extension which can handle editing conflicts like: A is editing a page B is editing a page A saves the page B saves the page

I get this error with EditWarning: Fatal error: Cannot redeclare fneditwarning (previously declared in ...\extensions\EditWarning\EditWarning.php:42) in ...\extensions\EditWarning\EditWarning.php on line 50

HELP PAGES
Hello, how can I download/use the German Help Pages or User Guide (XML or SQL)? I am in an seperated Intranet and have no access to Internet. Thanks Peter

—80.122.246.102 13:43, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Uploading File Error - Table './wikidb/searchindex' is marked as crashed
Hi guys hope you can help. Ive been using MW 1.10 now for a long time with no problems...until now. No configuration changes or anything, but just today and from this point on, getting the following error when uploading a file. A database query syntax error has occurred. This may indicate a bug in the software.

The last attempted database query was: (SQL query hidden) from within function "SearchMySQL4::update".

MySQL returned error "145: Table './wikidb/searchindex' is marked as crashed and should be repaired (localhost)". Even though this occurs, the file still uploads fine. Any help appreciated thank you.

—58.175.32.115 13:49, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * See http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/3300511 or if you're using PhpMyAdmin, How To Quickie: Repair MySQL Tables --Nad 20:05, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Training
Dear MediaWiki,

I´m from a German Company. We want to introduce MediaWiki in our Company. Do you held trainings for editors/ administrators? If yes, when and where and how can i register for such a training?

—194.39.218.10 15:51, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Adding new system messages?
How do I add new system messages? I assumed it was enough to add a new page the the MediaWiki namespace, and that seems to work for some purposes, but such additions don't show up in Special:Allmessages and are ignored in MediaWiki:Sidebar. Do I have to edit Messages.php; and if so, where is it? —Aldaron 20:28, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * You probably haven't set $wgUseDatabaseMessages to true, it's off by default for performance reasons --Nad 19:59, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * That's not it. It was the first thing I checked: it's true. Any thoughts on what else it could be? Aldaron 22:13, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Custom pages and other associations for custom user groups?
The user groups Sysop and Bureaucrat have their own special pages automatically associated with them, as well as some magic pluralization and capitalization that happens in the user rights management and user listing pages. Is there a way to get these things to happen for custom groups? I'm creating my groups en passant, using, for example $wgGroupPermissions[NEWGROUPNAME]['edit'] = true; in LocalSettings.php. Is that even the right way to create custom groups, or is there something else (or additional) I should be doing to get the missing associations I'm looking for.? —Aldaron 21:30, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Require "real name"; disallow "nickname"?
Sorry for the repeat, but this one's important and I can't find any info on a straightforward way to do this: Is there a way to remove the option to create a "nickname" and to require (it's "optional" by default) a "real name" in user preferences? —Aldaron 21:51, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * You'll need to hook into Manual:Hooks/UserCreateForm and maybe also Manual:Hooks/AbortNewAccount --Nad 19:56, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Replacing left-hand menu column from main page
Is there any chance I could replace the default menus from the left-hand side column (main page, contents, current events, recent changes, help and so on) with links to different pages and categories created inside the site? SupervladiTM 09:55, 22 November 2007 (UTC)


 * MediaWiki:Sidebar Aldaron 17:16, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

SVG ?
Hello,

I have left a question here, but seeing it is not answered there, I try here. I have a problem allowing svg files on my wiki. I tried the manual, I tried the FAQ, but I must have missed something, it won't work for now. Here it is : I have allowed the upload of the SVG files so now I can upload such files, no problem with this part. But I don't understand the 'part 2' : "Second, set $wgSVGConverter to the renderer you want to use" : I imagine that it isn't enough just to say "I want to use rsvg or magick", but that you have to install it on the server. I don't know how to do that, can anyone help me ? by advance, thanks —Malta 13:48, 22 November 2007 (UTC)


 * On Debian, just apt-get install librsvg2-bin. Dunno how it works on windows systems.
 * Kaspera 12:41, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Well actually I work with Windows... Anybody else have any idea ? thanks, Malta 20:11, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Copying images from one wiki to another
Our office created a wiki to demonstrate that it would work for our needs. It has and now we have been approved to create a real and organized wiki in a different location. Now that we have our fresh install designed and organized how we like it, we want to copy over the data from the old wiki. Is there any way to easily copy the images from the old wiki to the new wiki and have the new wiki know they exist? That way I can just copy over the text and from the old wiki and have the images show up on the new wiki without saving and uploading all the images individually. Many, many thanks.

—205.189.10.20 16:07, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
 * If you export your source database as sql and then import the db into the target installation you can just copy the images directory over as the db includes all the image references. --Nad 19:49, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Removing all page, edit and delete history
I'm looking at using MediaWiki as a delivery mechanism for project documentation. Once the library is complete and ready for handover, I would like to remove all the history of edits, deletes, etc so the articles appear pristine and to ensure that old or inaccurate docs cannot be restored or even implied once I leave the client and move on. I've used the extension "SpecialDeleteOldRevisions.php" to remove old versions but the recent changes and deletion logs are not cleared and need to be to solve the problem. Can you recommend a solution? Thanks in advance. Cheers, James —81.110.255.57 18:43, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Just create a new install and export the pages you need from the main one without history (using the export specialpage) and then import into the new wiki. --Nad 19:46, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

How to create a sandbox ?
Please, how do I create a sandbox in my Wiki (which content in not saved in the database )

Thank a lot for help! —86.207.124.16 19:33, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
 * A sandbox is just a normal page but is automatically cleared on a regular basis, see W:Wikipedia:Sandbox --Nad 19:44, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Using Existing Database?
Is it possible to use Mediawiki as a front-end to an existing database? I'm hoping to have each wiki page, as it loads, pull information from particular tables and tuples in the database. If a user makes changes, the new information would be written to the appropriate table/tuple. Basically, I want the information to be stored in a database format rather than just in a big string in the text table, as Mediawiki appears to do by default. Is this doable or feasible? Thanks for any responses. —Chrismith 05:42, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
 * You could create a new database access class but it would be quite a major undertaking --Nad 19:41, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

ParserAfterTidy pops up in footer...
I am trying to use the ParserAfterTidy hook, but I get duplicate output: the first one is correct, placed at the top of the page, but the second one pops up in the footer (with Privacy Policy links etc. and the mediawiki logo).

I just tried the example given at

What's going wrong? function wfShowCategoryIcons( &$parser, &$text ){

global $wgTitle; $categories = $wgTitle->getParentCategories; $text = "The mighty oracle gives forth this proclamation: ". $text; return true; }

Kaspera 12:38, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

how to go back
Its terrible i want to go back to my desktop but there is no exit or back option. —195.99.138.2 18:25, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Click the minimise of close buttons at the top right of the window. --Nad 19:36, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

The Mediawiki Namespace variables
After lots of searching in vain...is there an article dedicated to defining the special variables of the Mediawiki Namespace (e.g. $1, $2)? —79.179.190.96 02:13, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * They're just the placeholders for parameters which will be replaced by content when the message is displayed (similar to a triple brace parameter in a template definition). See Help:System message. --Nad 19:35, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * When I use, etc., I know what will come out. When I use $1, it means nothing to me. Where do I learn what does $1, $2, etc. stand for? -79.179.190.96 00:04, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * They are tokens which will be replaced with the parameters supplied by the context which displays them. In exactly the same way as triple-brace arguments in template definitions are replaced by the parameters you supply when transcluding the template. You cannot use the $1, $2 etc from wikitext the articles in the MediaWiki namepsace are system messages. You use templates to achieve the equivalent functionality with wikitext and wiki content. --Nad 09:55, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * What will happen when I go to Mediawiki:something if that "something" has the line "what will be here: $2 ? What will be if I do the same thing via preloading Mediawiki:something?" -79.179.190.96 14:58, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

How to install several mediawiki instances on the same server ?
I would run several different instances of mediawiki, used by different people, but on the same machine....

I didn't find anything about it in the doc. may be I badly read.... —81.220.163.152 10:41, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * The simplest way is to simply have a separate directory structure for each wiki in web-accessible locations pand set up as usual. If you're wanting to use a single code-base across several wiki's or you want to be able to setup additional wikis very quickly, then that's more difficult and is descibed in Manual:Wiki family. --Nad 19:29, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Changing font size in text area
Hi, I would like the text in the reading area to be of size 14 point. How should I go about doing that? &mdash; PM Poon 13:22, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Add the new rule, eg. textarea { font-size:14pt } to MediaWiki:Common.css --Nad 19:24, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

- Hi Nad, thanks for your answer as always but this time, it doesn't seem to work. I tried to put a dot before textarea and it didn't work either. Did I miss anything? &mdash; PM Poon 22:43, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * It should not have a dot before it - did you refresh the page to reload the css? also what version is the wiki, if its older you may need to use the MediaWiki:Monobook.css instead --Nad 20:20, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi Nad, I am using version 1.10.0. You are right. I did not refresh my page to reload css. But I guess I used the wrong term. What I meant by text area is not the text in the edit box but the text that is displayed after editing. What do you call it? The main text area or the body of the page?

I tried to use body { font-size:14pt } but it looked awful. The characters in the tabs and the left panel also changed to 14 pt. I just want the reading area to be bigger so as to be easier to read without having to use the browser function. &mdash; PM Poon 23:50, 26 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Use #bodyContent for the whole main content area, or p to isolate just paragraph text --Nad 00:53, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

Wiki Access of Groups
Hi, i am searching for an extension or something to work better with Group Access.

I have 3 Groups which should be able to read and write in seperate areas. My first Idea was, to install 3 Mediawikis and combine the Databases for read access. So each Group has write access on his Database but only read Access on the other Database. But i think this is impossible, or not? My second idea is, to make it with namespace, but i don't know if this works and how it works.

The best for me is, when i can make the Access like in the table ( Group 3 could be an Administrator which can see and write everywhere in every Group)

Has someone an Idea how to make this Possible? —87.154.166.123 17:37, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Create New Admin and Sysop
I just created a wiki for a intranet, so I disabled regestration except by sysop. How do I create another admin or Sysop?

—KevinTraver 19:20, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Go to Special:Userrights and add the users to the sysop group. --Nad 19:22, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, --KevinTraver 00:03, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Removing the preformatted text wikicode
I run an intranet company wiki and would like to disable the preformatted text wikicode (added a space before some text to automatically create a  section). How would I go about doing this? Thanks.

—Ebakunin 22:36, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I think you can only change that functionality by hacking the code (somewhere in the internalParse method of the Parser class in includes/Parser.php. --Nad 09:58, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Yo, i had the same question a while back (no one answered me though!) and so i tried hacking it myself. I ended up adding the following code to includes/Parser.php at the end of the 'parse' function around line 400 (just before the setText call:       $text = str_replace('pre', , $text);        $text = str_replace('/pre', , $text);        $text = str_replace(chr(10).chr(32), '  ', $text);        //$text = str_replace(chr(10), ' ', $text);

Except in the example above, you need to add the brackets around 'pre' cuz this wiki was messin up when i tried posting it as is (ironic). Basically removing all pre tags and then replacing return+space with html-break+two spaces (though i did this because i wanted people to be able to add indentation for their paragraphs like in a book). play around. good luck. --66.213.209.24 21:15, 28 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I finally had a chance to implement your code, and it works great! Thanks for the help. --Ebakunin 18:26, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Tell me about the workings of MediaWinki please?
I have never heard about MediaWinki before, and do not know how it works, could you please inlighten me? It sounds very interesting, but I don't understand. Thank you; Herb Eichner at >heichner@telus.net< or Ph. #780-433-5521 —142.59.131.96 03:00, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * MediaWiki was designed specifically for Wikipedia, so their MediaWiki article is a good start --Nad 05:38, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Also see the intro series on this site,starting with How does MediaWiki work?--Brian 05:43, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Error on CREATE TABLE `objectcache`
When I attempt to install MediaWiki 1.11.0, the following error appears: Does anyone have a solution to this problem? Thanks,

—75.83.218.35 03:10, 25 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Nevermind, I've already managed to correct this... 75.83.218.35 04:29, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

index.php does not work (only .php5)
HELP! I have a fresh installation of MediaWiki and can only view the pages with suffix .php5. The page is blank if I visit index.php. Changing $wgScriptExtension to "php" does not help. What settings must I adjust?
 * You'll need to adjust your webserver configuration --Nad 20:32, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Recent Changes shows nothing
I'm using mediawiki on two machines.

On the first one, i386, MediaWiki: 1.11.0 PHP: 5.2.4 (apache2handler) # MySQL: 5.0.45, recent changes shows changes.

On the second, ppc64, # MediaWiki: 1.11.0 PHP: 5.2.0 (apache) #  MySQL: 5.0.45-log, recent changes shows nothing, related changes shows related changes, and history shows history. Any idees what's wrong

—82.174.145.195 21:22, 25 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Do you have any extensions that may affect changes? --Nad 20:31, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

-- Tue Nov 27 19:52:14 CET 2007
 * In fact on the PPC64, I have 3 wikis (3 differents directory tree) with prefixed tables in one MySql DB.
 * 1) without any extention, I just see today that my two last update are diplayed, previous others not.
 * 2) with Password Reset (version 1.1), shows nothing
 * 3) with Newest Pages,Password Reset (version 1.1),anysite extension,News, shows nothing
 * wikis were created in that order.

thx in advance Nad
 * If you make an edit on one of the wikis does its Special:Recentchanges still show nothing? --Zven 19:57, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
 * 1) Shows update after 25 Nov, 2) Shows nothing, 3) Shows nothing --Wed Nov 28 13:02:06 CET 2007

Reference template
Hi, what is wrong with the following template?

{| width=100%
 * style="padding-top:10px;" |


 * style="padding: 0px 20px; line-height:11px; font-size:9px;" |
 * --Nad 20:53, 1 December 2007 (UTC)
 * That's perfect, thank you! —211.192.92.14 02:46, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
 * That's perfect, thank you! —211.192.92.14 02:46, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

Only sandbox for anonymous user edit
Hi, I have disabled editing for anonymous users. How do I allow anonymous users to access my Sandbox (and if possible, also to leave messages in my personal user talk page)? &mdash; PM Poon
 * I'm don't think you can do that with the standard security, you could add the following hack to achieve it:


 * --Nad 19:51, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi Nad, it works when I added Press to edit as I removed all the tabs. Is there anyway where I can bring back the tabs for this page only? &mdash; PM Poon 05:07, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure what you mean, could you explain more specifically please --Nad 20:54, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Hi Nad, sorry for being ambiguous. At the top of the page, there is normally a row that contains a series of horizontal tabs, ie. article, discussion, edit, history, move, watch. I have removed that for anonymous users, but would like to bring it back for pages that permit anonymous users to edit, eg. sandbox page and "visitors' book", say. &mdash; PM Poon 08:53, 2 December 2007 (UTC)


 * ugh... the wfAllowSandboxEdit is an ugly hack, it would have been nicer to use a userCan hook :) anyway... I assume you have removed the tabs by taking the p-cactions block out of the monobook skin (that would be the correct way, anyway). To make them available for editable pages, use this:


 * hth -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:11, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

using IFrame...
hello is it possible to embed php file and display it on my wiki? for example <iframe src="http://url./" name="youframe" width="160" height="600" scrolling="No" frameborder="0" class="grov" id="youframe">.

is it possible?

Thanks in advance

John Paul Basco

—222.126.27.66 07:45, 29 November 2007 (UTC)


 * You can use Extension:HTMLets to include HTML snippets. If you want to execute PHP code, you would want to write your own extension - see Manual:Extensions -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:05, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Blank Page After Upgrading from 1.10.1 to 1.11.0
I've had this problem before when trying to upgrade from 1.10.1 to 1.11.0 and reverted back to the working version, but I really need to figure this out. My wiki pages are blank. When I put the debugging code in LocalSettings.php I get the error msg:

Fatal error: Call to undefined method Title::isCssOrJsPage in /usr/local/apache2/htdocs/mediawiki-1.11.0/includes/Article.php on line 706

anyone know how to fix this? —137.229.72.56 08:33, 29 November 2007 (UTC)


 * it sounds like you didn't update completely, and so you had an inconsistent version running. try a fresh install of 1.11 in a blank directory. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:13, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

curios character problem
dear mediawiki-friends,

i have a problem with my wiki and german umlauts like Ö Ü Ä. six months ago i installed mediawiki on my debian server from stable-repo and create a wiki. everything works fine with all entries, all characters are are correct including german umlauts.

some days ago (caused by maintenance including system-update) i have moved my wiki-database to a different server partition on the same server. the new partition have the same partition-type. Now, after restarting mysql-server, no wiki-entries with umlauts in here name will displayed and many entries with umlauts in my articles look like � this for the place of the umlaut. i dont know whats wrong and other databases on the same server dont have this issues.

is there anybody out there who can help me ? —194.76.232.207 09:53, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

The solution (or better: cause) is described in this link: Manual:Backing up a wiki

My server have the latin1 server character-set and to avoid conversion problems i must use mysqldump with the character-set option described below ... Now Iam create a new wiki on teh same server and move the articles to the new database - everything works fine.

--194.76.232.148 10:51, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

The specified CGI application misbehaved by not returning a complete set of HTTP headers
After successful installation of WIKI using IIS, MySql and PHP on my computer, I could not run http://localhost/wiki. I have moved the config file (localsettings.php)to the root directory and removed the 'config' folder. The following is the error report I encountered while I try to run the wiki.

CGI Error The specified CGI application misbehaved by not returning a complete set of HTTP headers. The headers it did return are:

Would you help me in resolving this problem please?

Thank you! Abiyot B. —213.55.88.89 11:35, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Remove buttons
Hello, I need remove math and media buttons from my encyclopedia editing toolbar. How I can do that? Thank you. --88.222.212.231 14:27, 29 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Anyone can help? I think it's not so hard to disable these buttons :( --88.222.212.231 13:29, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

The buttons are defined in JavaSCript by two arrays, mwEditButtons</tt> and mwCustomEditButtons</tt>. It's simple enough to add stuff there, removing it is not so nice. but if you know a bit of javascript, you can probably figure it out. The right place to do it would probably be the page MediaWiki:common.js -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:16, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
 * It`s problem - I don`t know CSS --88.222.212.231 15:36, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Generate Alternate Article Title At Runtime
Is it possible to access parameters or even hooks that allow you to alter the title of an article to be displayed?

I want to add Icons in front of the article title, depending on the categories the page resides. My custom extension works fine if I use "ArticleAfterFetchContent" (it does generate Icons, depending on category, if the image exists), but it generates the icons in the text, just below the title, not in front of the title...

Is there *any* way I can achieve this?
 * You can use the OutputPageBeforeHTML hook and then $out->setPageTitle($icon.$pagetitle); $out->setHTMLTitle($pagetitle); --Nad 19:27, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

problems editing after update
Hi, I just updated from MW 1.6.10 / PHP 4.4.7 to the latest MW version with PHP 5.2.

When I try to edit a page and submit the form all the text is lost. I get an empty preview.

Do you have any idea how to fix that issue?

Thanks in advance

Manuel —87.181.36.140 21:18, 29 November 2007 (UTC)


 * first of all, enable error reporting: see how to debug. -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:18, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Image Thumbnail/Background
Hello,

I get an error on all images me or someone else uploads. It Happens when viewing a thumb nail. "Error creating thumbnail: /usr/bin/convert: Unrecognized option (-thumbnail)." The full size view works but the thumbnail does not. Any ideas?

Secondly, how do i change the background image for the entire wiki? what is the code and where do i put it?

Thanks —71.227.199.30 03:48, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Check your version of ImageMagick (/usr/bin/convert -version) it may be an old version which doesn't support that switch, it's up to version 6.2 now. --Nad 06:10, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

How do i get to /usr/bin/convert -version? 71.227.199.30 01:35, 1 December 2007 (UTC)
 * If you don't have access to your server's shell, then you'll need to ask your host what version they're running --Nad 20:48, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Changing page headings
Nad has taught me how to remove the main page heading. Having done that, I now wish to remove ALL my page headings. I tried:

body.page h1.firstHeading { display: none; }

but it didn't work. How should I modify it?

Also, this there anyway to remove the blank space left behind when the page heading is removed? &mdash; PM Poon 05:28, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
 * To remove all of them unconditionally you'd just use h1.firstHeading { display: none; }</tt>. There shouldn't be any gap if it's not displayed, the gap must be from something else such as site-notice. If you use firefox you can install the firebug plugin and then right-click on the blank space and select "inspect element" to see which elements it's composed of. --Nad 06:21, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Installation and Konfiguration of Easy TimeLine. I want to install EasyTimeline on my private PC but I found no correct Help. I want to write the syntax on the site and when I save it, i want to see a Timeline. I've tried the following Tutorials EasyTimeline and m:Help:EasyTimeline activation (here is the problem that I cab´t save the file). So both Tutorials doesn't work. I want to Know what software I must download, where i installed it and what Lines I must configure. Best is an example of the configured files.

I hope everyone can understand my problem. Many thanks.

—62.153.230.90 06:45, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Installation and Konfiguration of Easy TimeLine.
I want to install EasyTimeline on my private PC but I found no correct Help. I want to write the syntax on the site and when I save it, i want to see a Timeline. I've tried the following Tutorials EasyTimeline and m:Help:EasyTimeline activation (here is the problem that I cab´t save the file). So both Tutorials doesn't work. I want to Know what software I must download, where i installed it and what Lines I must configure. Best is an example of the configured files.

I hope everyone can understand my problem. Many thanks.

—217.7.99.186 06:46, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Interactive frame
Hello,

I would know if it is possible to create on interactive frame. In my mind, I want a special wiki page. When I arrive on this page, the user can make a choice between some box or list. When the choices are done, a new wiki page should be created. The content of this page will depend of the parameters previously chose and one frame.

First question, is there already a function which done this kind of thing

Second, how it is possible to do this kind of thing

Tanks for your Help

Gae

MediaWiki on my server will not send email. How do I troubleshoot email probles related to watch items and new additions. —71.49.124.75 15:57, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Problems with "+" in URL
Hello, I've got a problem with the plus sign in URLs. At the German Wikipedia, I can open an article by using the URL http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/D+S_Europe

At my own local installation of mediawiki the URL http://localhost/dewiki/index.php/D+S_Europe throws an error saying "The page doesn't exist" (in German), continued by "Suche nach „D S Europe“ in anderen Artikeln." As you can see the "+" sign is missing in the second error message.

I also tried to use "%2B" instead of the "+" sign in the URL but the result on my own mediawiki is the same while http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%2BS_Europe

works without any problems. It seems to be a configuration problem but I didn't find out where/how to change the configuration so that my mediawiki works fine.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Mazi

—82.83.238.53 16:57, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Notice that the de wikipedia URL is different than yours, they're using short URL's which allow special characters which normally are reserved for query-string use. --Nad 21:10, 30 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I somehow thought that the URLs are different. Is there a possibility of using special characters in the URLs of my own mediawiki? I also wonder why the URL with the replaced plus sign ("%2B" instead of "+") doesn't work. Do you have any idea how to solve this problem without switching to short URLs?
 * Thanks for your help. Mazi


 * With the help of Nad's link (Thanks again!) I was able to change my configuration so that URLs with the "+" sign link to the article correctly. For everyone with the same problem: this link shows what changes have to be made to the configuration:
 * Manual:Short URL/Allowing for escaped characters in URI
 * Please report if this solution was helpful for you or when you have questions. Mazi

English language variants
Hi!

I'm looking to make my pages available in US English and British English. The aim is to allow users to select the US or British variants for the whole MediaWiki site I am developing.

Examples are: "elevator" on the US English site should appear as "lift" on the British English.

Reading the documentation, I find templates might be the best way. So source like would appear as "lift" on the British variant site. How do I write the "elevator" template? How can users switch between the two languages? What if I want to add Australian and Canadian Englishes?

The site I am building uses a lot of technical language and spellings which differ in the different variants of English.

Thanks! —Renderer 00:07, 1 December 2007 (UTC) Here's a way you can make a template which sets content according to language. You need the Parser Functions extension installed for this, and you'd need to create a new "uk" language setting (which would also allow you to specifically set the interface words for uk english too) --Nad 20:43, 1 December 2007 (UTC)


 * The above does not work - it switches by contentlanguage, which is constant for the site, so the switch is pointless. YOu would need something that allows different output based on userlanguage (i.e. interface language). See Category:Internationalization_extensions, speciafically the (confusingly homonymous) Extension:Multilang or Extension:Multilanguage -- Duesentrieb ⇌ 09:26, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

sound on Tuxpaint
Hello I have Tuxpaint on my PC for my grandchildren. I think it is marvelous and so do they.however I cannot get sound on it. I have tried the following. Click on:- Tux Paint Configure Video and sound Tick enable sound effects. It worked for a while with only the sounds of the animals. Now there is no sound at all from Tux Paint. hope you can help

Kind Regards Rose Newby--78.148.65.173 15:37, 1 December 2007 (UTC)
 * This support desk is specifically for the MediaWiki software, try the TuxPaint docs or contacting someone from their site. --Nad 20:34, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Bureaucrat and Sysop Disappeared?
For some odd reason, my account on a Wiki I run no longer has Bureaucrat nor Sysop rights. There was one other Sysop, and he no longer has the rights either. My Wiki no longer has any administrators. How did this happen? —68.82.139.31 20:05, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Upload bug on Windows server
Hi, Im using WAMP, I can upload "normal name" image files on my mediawiki(english characters and numbers), but I cannt upload special characters like Chinese. It shows like "Could not rename file "D:\...\Temp\*.tmp" to special characters.jpg". Some times the upload succeed, but the system could not find the upload image, the image name has been changed to another strange filename. Ive been searched google, it seems like Chinese Windows system uses GBK to name files, not utf-8, is that so? How to fix it up? Werran 12:06, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Special:Preferences
What extension would I need to add Number of edits to the Special:Preferences? Eloc Jcg 03:03, 2 December 2007 (UTC)


 * This feature has been added in MediaWiki version 1.11. You could upgrade to it if you want. — color probe — <strong style="color: rgb(130,130,30);">Talk  — Contribs 17:11, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Obtaining Revision Date for Templated Items
I've been trying to get a bunch of templates that have some time-sensitive information in them show up on a single page. Think of something like a list of Fortune 500 companies that also has information transcluded to a bunch of articles about each company... but you want to provide a common place to be able to edit the information in both places to keep the information accurate. The purpose of the templates is to provide something akin to a database in wiki form.

As a method of trying to help alert wiki participants in keeping the information up to date, I'm trying to have the date that the information was last updated listed together with the time sensitive data. People reading the page will be more interested in trying to update the information that is quite old than trying to update something that was edited yesterday or even today, so I'm trying to list the date of the page edit for that information.

I'm using the following little squib to show when the template containing this information was last edited:

 -- 

which results in the following sort of statistic:

--

Here is my dilemma: When I throw this bit of wiki code into template, what is returned from the parser is not the date that the template was updated, but rather the date that the page using the template was last updated.

Is there any way using current MediaWiki syntax to return the revision date of the template (or revision ID if you are testing this out) instead of the revision date of the page itself?

One solution that has been proposed is to use a five tilda datestamp on the information, but I'm trying to automate the datestamping without requiring the contributor to do too much typing other than changing the time sensitive information (such as the name of the CEO, or yesterday's market closing price).

—Robert Horning 04:12, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Removing h1 level from Table of Contents
Hi Nad, it's so amazing how your short one-line code could do wonders in removing the automatically-generated page headings! I have replaced the page heading with a customized H1 heading and would like to remove the entry from the Table of Contents. I was searching for it in the search box but could not find it, probably because I couldn't get the keywords right.

Also, please see Only sandbox for anonymous user edit. Thought you would have missed that when I added further queries but you didn;t! Thanking you very much for your perpetually kind assistance. &mdash; PM Poon 09:01, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
 * The TOC uses a class attribute called 'toclevel-1'' for the top-level, so .toclevel-1 { display:none }</tt> would hide it. You can find the CSS classes and id's to use by viewing the html source of the page. --Nad 20:50, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

-- Hi Nad, I tried to put .toclevel-1 { display:none }</tt> in Common.css but the ToC table refused to display all levels as in here. I know this is not what you meant but I do not know how to view the html source for the page.

I think it would give me greater control if I can code articles in html but my rawhtml has been disabled. I once read that you can actually configure Mediawiki to allow certain html codes to be used when rawhtml is disabled. Is it true? &mdash; PM Poon 08:39, 3 December 2007 (UTC)


 * The part of the table of contents that is "below" the h1 heading is actually inside the HTML list element with class toclevel-1. So if that would be hidden, everything inside it will be hidden too. Adding a line with .toclevel-1 a { display: none }</tt> should get what you want. — color probe — <strong style="color: rgb(130,130,30);">Talk  — Contribs 16:24, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah using .toclevel-1 a should do it, what I meant about viewing the html source is to go "view page source" in your browser to see what the classes and id's used in the page are. If you use firefox, you can install firebug which gives you very precise information on any item in the page and what its css rules are - you just right click on things and select "inspect element" --Nad 20:22, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Thank you Color probe and Nad. I added .toclevel-1 a { display: none }</tt> to MediaWiki:Common.css but unfortunately it didn't work. I wrote it together with .toclimit-2 .toclevel-2 {display:none;}</tt> and the likes. Did I do the right thing?

As for viewing the html source, it sounds so complicated for me at this stage. &mdash; PM Poon 12:53, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

RfC regarding MediaWiki:Sidebar
I would like an RfC regarding MediaWiki:Sidebar it is too long. Does Mediawiki have RfCs? —Odessaukrain 21:29, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
 * No, this wiki has a lot less formal "process" than English Wikipedia. Try starting a discussion at MediaWiki talk:Sidebar, since this page is only for questions about the MediaWiki software.--Brian 02:39, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

"500 Internal Server Error"
Hi,

just tried to install MediaWiki 1.11.0, but got this error:. —84.139.82.196 15:55, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Check the PHP error log to see exactly what the error is, the other errors in the environment check-list are due to your host having locked the system down for security reasons so some wiki functionality will be inhibited. --Nad 20:19, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Link for Local Files in Intranet
Hello,

I have an linux mediawiki instalation available only for the Intranet. In this intranet we have some windows share (SAMBA) which is locally configured in the desktops as G:, H: or //samba_share_name.

I really need to make links between the wiki and this shares. But everytime I do //samba_share_name/folder/file or g:/folder/file it doesn´t the way I expect. I tried.

Something like this [] will solve my problems How can I solve this? Please Help!

Thanks in Advance,

Peanuts —Peanuts 18:14, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * See M:MediaWiki FAQ for info about this. --Nad 20:15, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Dumping Wiki Contents for Legal Discovery
Is there a way to dump the contents of a Wiki to text or html files? The lawyers need it for discovery. Using 1.09 —67.171.160.184 18:26, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Just a standard SQL database dump (mysqldump) will give you the entire wiki in a searchable format --Nad 20:10, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Soome HTML in sidebar
Hello, I need add few ads in my sidebar, but html doesn`t works. How I can add some images and <a hrefs in new sidebar (example "Friends")? Thank you.
 * See Manual:Interface/Sidebar --Nad 20:07, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

accessing my wiki
Hi there, I have a wiki on my website www.comptonhistory.com that I can no longer access, I presume because of spam, could you tell me how I can remove the problem Main Page Thanks Dan —81.154.142.90 22:11, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Hi, I have reverted your main page which was full of spam created by this offending user - suggest blocking the user and locking down your main page.You could also upgrade your version of MediaWiki to 1.11.0 (requires php5) and check out Manual:Combating_spam, Extension:ConfirmEdit so you can install extensions that make it more difficult for bots etc--Zven 23:00, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
 * What was happening was the amount of content in the Main Page article was so large that your available resource did not have enough memory to view the current versions of pages. I got round this by requesting the articles history and then reverting to a previous revision which was not full of crap. For example the main page is index.php?title=Main_Page&action=history. Note that differencing any large revisions will probably fail computationally aswell --Zven 23:09, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Bot that didn't login writing on all User Talk pages
Dear Sirs, please examine User talk:Jidanni. It has been appended to by a misconfigured bot that forgot to login, and maybe related to User:BrianOregon. —Jidanni 03:18, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
 * I don`t know the cause, but just to clarify, I don`t operate any bots. I have used welcome template once, manually.--Brian 08:11, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh, I see why you thought I might be related- that was the user I welcomed before this issue. --Brian 08:14, 4 December 2007 (UTC)