Topic on VisualEditor/Feedback

Automatic cite localization request

4
AppleRingo777 (talkcontribs)

Hi all,


I don't know if this is a place to request for localizing one of functions. If not, please let me know where I can request it.


When the automatic cite function is used to add a reference, it does not automatically include its original date of publication.


It will also include the language tag automatically when the source is written in the language of the local Wikipedia. E.g. a Japanese reference in jawiki does not need to display that it is written in Japanese.


Apparently, those would irritate old-time users, and newbies have been criticized for them. I thought that the Visual Editors is for encouraging newbies to participate in editing Wikipedia articles and it would defeat the purpose when they are criticized for utilizing one of its functions.


Are there ways to add the original date of publication when the automatic cite function is used? Also, are there ways to exclude a language tag when the source is written in the language of the local Wikipedia?


Thanks,

Whatamidoing (WMF) (talkcontribs)

Hello, RottenApple777. The automatic cite function is called Citoid.

It includes the original date of publication if the source's website correctly labels it. Sometimes, the "correct" date (e.g., according to a librarian – I do not think that all Wikipedians agree with the librarians!) is not the original date. The citoid service only provides one date. All other information can be added (or changed) by hand.

It includes the language because this makes the translators happy. However, the WP:CS1 volunteers at the English Wikipedia also don't like it to display that it is written in the local language. They changed the citation template to not display the language if it is in English. This keeps the information in wikitext, but does not show it to readers. Because the language information is still in wikitext, it is available to anyone who translates articles from your local wiki to another language. I'm sure it would be easy to update their version to show English but hide Japanese, if you had their up-to-date code for the popular citation templates.

AppleRingo777 (talkcontribs)

Hi Whatamidoing (WMF). Thank you for your reply.

About the language tag, that makes sense. Just because someone is reading my local language version of Wikipedia, it does not mean that the person understands the local language. Still, changing the citation template is beyond me (hello, I'm a newbie, and that's why I've been using the VE, right?), but I can explain that to my local folks.


As for the original date of publication (ODOP), I read our local version of guidelines one more time and found out that including the ODOP is a recommendation, not a requirement (!). So why is it a big deal? I don't know. If we cannot agree with the "correct" date, how can we mandate such information to be included in the reference? LOL!


Thank you for the explanation.


Since I got you, may I ask you one more question? On the right side bar, it states that "this is the only feedback page actively monitored by WMF staff." Jawiki has its own VE feedback page, ja:Wikipedia:ビジュアルエディター/フィードバック. Is it safe to assume that the page is not monitored by by WMF staff; and that we should post our feedback here at MediaWiki instead?


I really appreciate your kind assistance.

Whatamidoing (WMF) (talkcontribs)

Yes, you should assume that I don't follow any pages about the visual editor except this one, and also that I don't check this one very often. However, if you see a problem anywhere (any page, any wiki) that you think is particularly important or urgent, you can ping me (just link my username, or use a "reply-to" template). That helps me find out about problems that I might not see. I am always grateful to people who help me discover problems.

Reply to "Automatic cite localization request"