Commons:Village pump

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Shortcut: COM:VP

↓ Skip to table of contents ↓       ↓ Skip to discussions ↓       ↓ Skip to the last discussion ↓
Welcome to the Village pump

This page is used for discussions of the operations, technical issues, and policies of Wikimedia Commons. Recent sections with no replies for 7 days and sections tagged with {{Section resolved|1=--~~~~}} may be archived; for old discussions, see the archives; the latest archive is Commons:Village pump/Archive/2024/12.

Please note:


  1. If you want to ask why unfree/non-commercial material is not allowed at Wikimedia Commons or if you want to suggest that allowing it would be a good thing, please do not comment here. It is probably pointless. One of Wikimedia Commons’ core principles is: "Only free content is allowed." This is a basic rule of the place, as inherent as the NPOV requirement on all Wikipedias.
  2. Have you read our FAQ?
  3. For changing the name of a file, see Commons:File renaming.
  4. Any answers you receive here are not legal advice and the responder cannot be held liable for them. If you have legal questions, we can try to help but our answers cannot replace those of a qualified professional (i.e. a lawyer).
  5. Your question will be answered here; please check back regularly. Please do not leave your email address or other contact information, as this page is widely visible across the internet and you are liable to receive spam.

Purposes which do not meet the scope of this page:


Search archives:


   

# 💭 Title 💬 👥 🙋 Last editor 🕒 (UTC)
1 Long-term disputes on various wikis involving a cross-wiki IP author 19 3 MicBy67 2024-12-07 02:55
2 New calendar templates 3 3 SirlupinwatsonIII 2024-12-08 01:09
3 iOS Commons app is no more 14 6 Nylki 2024-12-08 19:24
4 Tmbox improvments 5 4 Acroterion 2024-12-08 14:52
5 A type of monument that needs a category 11 4 Donald Trung 2024-12-04 20:51
6 Brakes 12 6 Thgoiter 2024-12-02 20:14
7 Search for image orientation and similar parameters 1 1 Grin 2024-12-02 16:22
8 RIP JarrahTree 4 4 Abzeronow 2024-12-03 18:03
9 Clarification Regarding the Appearance of the "Infobox" Template 3 3 Mike Peel 2024-12-04 08:17
10 Cooked food in supermarkets 8 6 RoyZuo 2024-12-08 11:20
11 Similar images with very different licences 5 2 Chipmunkdavis 2024-12-04 15:06
12 Commons:What is this? (Get help with file categorization) 9 4 Prototyperspective 2024-12-05 11:52
13 Minor changes coming to UploadWizard 1 1 Sannita (WMF) 2024-12-04 11:38
14 Conflicting info on sculptures 4 3 ReneeWrites 2024-12-05 15:05
15 Temporary Accounts - introduction to the project 1 1 SGrabarczuk (WMF) 2024-12-05 02:10
16 Admin as supervoter 12 5 Multichill 2024-12-08 10:49
17 to flip or not to flip 4 3 Jmabel 2024-12-06 17:57
18 Unneeded bloated category tree 13 5 Triplec85 2024-12-09 07:03
19 Appeals of decisions in Commons:Categories for discussion 15 6 Laurel Lodged 2024-12-09 14:14
20 Opinion on mass request for deletion 8 5 Slevinski 2024-12-07 22:12
21 Peak editor activity 7 4 Jeff G. 2024-12-08 16:33
22 Copyright? 3 3 Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) 2024-12-09 19:30
23 Combo cats 15 8 RoyZuo 2024-12-09 13:24
24 Template:Places by decade/main/doc 2 2 Jmabel 2024-12-08 18:58
25 OCR of a pdf 1 1 Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) 2024-12-09 19:32
Legend
  • In the last hour
  • In the last day
  • In the last week
  • In the last month
  • More than one month
Manual settings
When exceptions occur,
please check the setting first.
Village pump in Rzeszów, Poland [add]
Centralized discussion
See also: Village pump/Proposals   ■ Archive

Template: View   ■ Discuss    ■ Edit   ■ Watch
SpBot archives all sections tagged with {{Section resolved|1=~~~~}} after 1 day and sections whose most recent comment is older than 7 days.

November 13

Long-term disputes on various wikis involving a cross-wiki IP author

There are numerous disputes involving an IP user indulging in cross-wiki spam, particularly articles on West Germanic varieties. I am hounded for a while.

The probable IP adresses indlude:

2003:de:3717:716f:e95b:e6c7:5bb:48f5
2003:DE:370C:38E4:4448:5249:EA82:E5FA
2003:DE:3717:718E:65C8:BEBB:58D6:1D36
2003:DE:3717:716F:5DCE:8967:6BA9:C376
2003:DE:3700:A013:B8D1:4127:BE29:FBC6



https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/2003:DE:370C:38E4:4448:5249:EA82:E5FA has a current block. This probably is the same person. A particular hobby of this user is to revert me on wiktionary, if I write that Hollandic isn't part of Low German. What shoukl — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sarcelles (talk • contribs) 17:46, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

From what I can see, he's a user who upload much about mapping and cartography, for which is great, but to engage in further conversation with German Low, or etztes with or without a s, Low Saxon with Low German to Low German only, for me all this and the on-going conversation, does not contribute to anything positive. Germanic lang have much variation, as well as French or Latin, especially from those area. You could simply add a variant, or suggest that it might be spelled with a different phonetic sounds. I did review quite a few contribution he made, and this could be solve quickly. In my opinion he is contributing for which is great, if you are trying to bring post back from 2003... It seems like he is using the same account, and he will keep using it since he's in love with the appreciation of contribution... I suggest to close this topic for now and simply add a watch alert.

00:59, 8 December 2024 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by SirlupinwatsonIII (talk • contribs) 00:59, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Sarcelles: Is this some sort of request for administrative action? If so, it belongs on the appropriate Administrators' noticeboard, not on the Village pump. Conversely, if it is something you are just bringing up for general discussion, I don't know what you want discussed. - Jmabel ! talk 18:37, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
None of these accounts have edited in recent weeks, some not in as long as half a year, so it is hard to imagine what anyone can do about this at this point. - Jmabel ! talk 18:40, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
2A01:599:30A:8340:4A39:F118:FF32:1257 is a recently used reincarnation. Sarcelles (talk) 18:45, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/2003:DE:371A:22A6:78F9:E411:9550:9ED4
the block log says:
8.11.2024, 21:12:36: Surjection blocked 2003:DE:0:0:0:0:0:0/32 (block log), expiring 8.12.2024, 21:12:36 (Abusing multiple accounts/block evasion: 2003:DE:371A:22A9:319A:E2C4:1B5A:C283)
5.11.2024, 06:03:47: Surjection blocked 2003:DE:3710:0:0:0:0:0/44 (block log), expiring 18.11.2024, 21:40:20 (Disruptive edits: xwiki povpushing: see w:Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Naramaru) Sarcelles (talk) 20:25, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/2003:DE:371A:22A9:319A:E2C4:1B5A:C283
8.11.2024, 21:12:36: Surjection blocked 2003:DE:0:0:0:0:0:0/32 (block log), expiring 8.12.2024, 21:12:36 (Abusing multiple accounts/block evasion: 2003:DE:371A:22A9:319A:E2C4:1B5A:C283)
5.11.2024, 06:03:47: Surjection blocked 2003:DE:3710:0:0:0:0:0/44 (block log), expiring 18.11.2024, 21:40:20 (Disruptive edits: xwiki povpushing: see w:Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Naramaru) Sarcelles (talk) 20:49, 13 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ADeutsche_Mundarten.png&diff=948595578&oldid=946447257 was a removal of the deletion message, probably by the same IP. Sarcelles (talk) 20:22, 14 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Whatta bunch of nonsense … -- MicBy67 (talk) 00:14, 17 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
File:Niederfränkisch.png is a file of this kind. It attempts to picture Low Franconian varieties in Europe. It has the following threefold-division:
  • A minor transitional area to Low Saxon, in the Netherlands
  • East Bergish running from near the city centre of Essen to Westphalia, also quite small#
  • A somehow larger area cutting through all of the following: an arrondissement bordering to Brussels, Antwerp province, Dutch Limburg, Belgian Limburg, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, German-speaking Belgium and French-speaking Belgium.
Sarcelles (talk) 19:17, 21 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I missed the part covering most of the area. Sarcelles (talk) 11:36, 22 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
This is called Nordniederfränkisch (North Low Franconian) and running from France to Holland, Friesland province, Brussels and Westphalia. Sarcelles (talk) 11:45, 22 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nederfrankisch.png is a typical example. It includes the concept of South Guelderish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:South_Guelderish casts major doubt on the feasability of the concept. I have started to link this section on Wikipedia talk pages, the most recent example being https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Limburgish. Sarcelles (talk) 16:13, 28 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I have mentioned this issue on https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overleg:Limburgs as well today. Sarcelles (talk) 12:08, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Dialects of Dutch and German
This is a typical German map of some of the dialects from Italy to Denmark. The author is MicBy67, User:Postmann Michael (The discussion creator's blatant and deliberate lie has been corrected! The map creator was not the Commons accounts mentioned, but the account User:Et Mikkel~commonswiki! Let's stick to the truth for once! --MicBy67 (talk) 02:34, 7 December 2024 (UTC)). There should be a further discussion of this issue. Sarcelles (talk) 20:07, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Yawn!
Cook up a fresh idea! ;)
Hey, did you happen to catch the latest post on the discussion page? Just checking!
I'm a bit shocked your mentor hasn't swooped in to save the day yet… -- MicBy67 (talk) 01:03, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@MicBy67: consider yourself formally warned that the wording of your posts here has been unnecessarily uncivil, and continuing in this vein will probably result in me (or someone else) blocking you. - Jmabel ! talk 17:53, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Jmabel: I take note of that. And I'm aware that the discussion creator (or his mentor) will bring up the old story again with the original account (Postmann Michael) was blocked on the German-speaking Wikipedia because of POV from dubious sources, trivialization of National Socialism. Harmful to Wikipedia on the one hand, and with the successor account (Et Mikkel) was permanently blocked on the German-speaking Wikipedia as a way to circumvent the blocking on the other hand.
Nobody really cares about the past two decades anymore!
What is striking, however, is the fact that the discussion creator is trying to construct a connection between the IP's and me. And is cross-wiki hounding actually allowed on Wikimedia Commons? I am asking now for an interested friend … --MicBy67 (talk) 02:55, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

November 26

New calendar templates

I made 2 new templates Template:Monthly archive table Template:Monthly calendar which can be customised to automatically make calendar-like tables of contents. Monthly archive table is partly inspired by https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Village_pump_archives&oldid=908053133 .

I hope these templates are more mobile friendly than text based TOC, which often is not auto adjusted to page width. The TOC should also be new on top and old on bottom, since more recent archives are more relevant for current users.

You can see their effect on com:motd (as long as the new design is kept).--RoyZuo (talk) 17:22, 26 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Nice work ! Thank you for doing this. —TheDJ (talkcontribs) 12:32, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Agree, nice work! SirlupinwatsonIII (talk) 01:09, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

November 28

iOS Commons app is no more

Dear ALL it seems that since few days ago (independent) iOS Commons app Wiki Uploader is no more (has not been maintained since a while, but now gone from Apple's App Store).

As F/L/OSS advocate I am always favoring open hardware/software/services/standards (understand communal preference to focus on Android as platform), but this is second time that we do not have any mobile app for iPhone (in the time when iPhone is literary celebrated by professionals for its lens quality and software).

Is there a way to do something about cross-plaform portability of the Commons App code so that iOS can have at least basic app supported by WMF or establish a minimal support for indy developers to have one maintained in sustainable way?

--Zblace (talk) 16:52, 28 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is a current wish at m:Community Wishlist/Wishes/IOS Commons App that you could support. Commander Keane (talk) 21:26, 29 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Commander Keane how exactly can I support it? It does not look like and active process. Zblace (talk) 15:45, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
As a former app developer (and one of the developers working on the first versions of mobile Wikipedia)... Cross platform development is not really a golden ticket. Or rather.. that is what the web is for.
If you want a cross platform app, there are some solutions, but it should not be underestimated how much time you will still have to spend working on very platform specific things, that now have to fit into a multiplatform straightjacket.
What you are seeing here is the cost of quality. Development (esp mobile) is expensive. And the few very good floss mobile apps you see, are essentially built on the backs of a lot of available time and dedication by singular very skilled developers. These are the exceptions, most apps lack either the time, the skill or the interest of people. The point here being, that i would not focus on the technology too much. The right people tend to be a bigger differentiator here (or money, but that isn't going to happen). —TheDJ (talkcontribs) 12:28, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@TheDJ not sure I understand your arguments. We had several unofficial but non-terrible iOS apps for Commons photo uploads, but it seems none were given any support in any way. Zblace (talk) 15:48, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The best solution might be to make file uploading an add-on for the official Wikipedia app. GPSLeo (talk) 17:22, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Zblace I will reply down here if you don't mind. Regarding supporting the wish, I would recommend adding a {{Support}} to the talk page and a comment on why you think it is important. I am pretty sure the WMF looks at activity on the wishlist. Commander Keane (talk) 21:53, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Commander Keane really? Is there an example of wishlist item being taken on based on this (sorry if I sound cynical but historically it was not the case AFAIK) Zblace (talk) 11:00, 1 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@GPSLeo easy to agree to extend Wikipedia app with photo upload, but I kind of doubt that will be done unless there is huge preassure from contributing and developer communities to extend the app in that direction. Zblace (talk) 10:58, 1 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Zblace, perhaps adding {{Support}} for the wish was a bit misleading (WMF employees don't want that action for some unknown reason) but still I think the wishlist is the main way to get attention for an iOS app, with adding a love token on Phabricator and directly approaching WMF board members the only other ways I can think of. Anecdotally I have noticed a WMF product manager participating, hence my assumption that the WMF is watching the wishlist. Take a look at the status column at m:Community Wishlist Survey 2022/Results to see examples of wishes from a previous year that were taken on. Dark mode would be another example of something implemented. Having said all that I am also cynical about the situation, but you can only try and stranger things have happened. Commander Keane (talk) 05:30, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]


Agree with what you said Keane. As for adding things to the Wikipedia app (which has an iOS version) I don't know if it's feasible to make the WP app extendable – one could install a plugin for iOS Commons features or even Commons to the much better known more popular iOS-compatible Wikipedia app (but it would require a lot of development to match the Commons app functionality so I think it's probably easier to convert the app to iOS which may be readily possible with some effort despite that it's not been developed with some cross-platform framework with which it would have been very easy.) Prototyperspective (talk) 11:45, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Heya, I cannot answering your question about cross-platform portability of the Android App. But regarding the topic of an iOS Commons App in general, I am currently developing a new native iOS app for Commons, to make uploads and search/explore images and categories. It will be open source and licensed under A FOSS license. There is currently no public test version though, but I plan to have a first semi-public test version around March, 2025. Nylki (talk) 15:30, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
That sounds great! Would be good to get let people at Commons:Mobile app know then so any interested devs if there are any can help out with it as soon as possible when the code is public. Prototyperspective (talk) 18:36, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Already done :) Nylki (talk) 19:24, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

November 29

Tmbox improvments

Hello, so I wanted to share some proposed changes to Tmbox that would harmonise it with mbox. This would be useful when we decide to migrate Mbox to Module:Message box. Due to the unfortunate way templatestlyes works, I can't show changes side-by-side, but here's the changes with old Tmbox and my version. With the old version, there is quite a bad contrast with mbox since one has an inline border but one doesn't, which is especially noticed on talk pages, but my version fixes that. Also, it synchronises the colours with mbox with design tokens. —Matrix(!) ping onewhen replying {user - talk? - uselesscontributions} 19:17, 29 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

For me this looks fine but with this I would also change all colors to use the codex colors. GPSLeo (talk) 10:52, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I did, however some of the border colours can't be codex since codex doesn't have a good equivalent. See Module:Message box/sandbox/tmbox.css. —Matrix(!) ping onewhen replying {user - talk? - uselesscontributions} 12:04, 30 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Acroterion: Why did you unarchive this section?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 06:21, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I must have misclicked. Acroterion (talk) 14:52, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 02

A type of monument that needs a category

All of the above are examples of a type of monument very common in Washington State, and which I'm sure also exists elsewhere: a cross-section of a large tree, covered by a shed. They are variously monuments to loggers who died in work accidents, monuments to the logging industry in general, or even just science/history-oriented displays of the trees themselves. We should have a category for these, but I don't know what to call it. I suspect there is no standard term, but if there is then I'd love to get it right. - Jmabel ! talk 02:16, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

waymarking.com (Internet Archive's Wayback Machine) defines them as "Tree ring displays" "Tree Growth Ring Displays", but this category also includes tree rings without sheds. --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 05:20, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Donald Trung: that would apply to the last one (File:Mt Rainier Nat'l Park — Douglas Fir Historical Timeline (2021-09-04), 01.jpg) because it labels dates on the growth rings, but I think not to the others. - Jmabel ! talk 19:00, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Jmabel: , according to the Tyrolean website www.Kaiserhotels.com (Internet Archive's Wayback Machine) uses the term "Wooden fountain", though I'm not sure if they're talking about the display or an actual fountain made of wood, the Tyrolean hotel's wooden fountain is apparently the largest in the world, but searching for the term I only find actual fountains made of wood... According to the American website m.Wikipedia.org the one on display here is called a "cross section on exhibit", so following this website's model we could use the category title "Cross sections on exhibit", but that would also include tree cross sections not covered by a shed, so it's still more ambiguous than what you intend to categorise, but it should be a sub-category of that ("Category:Cross sections on exhibit"). You could make the broader category provisionally and then move it to the more narrowly defined category after you've discovered the correct term.
For context, I use Google Lens in Google Photos to search, I just take the image and look for similar images, if I find a term used in Google Photos I then Ecosia it for similar results, unfortunately, no name has been consistent. I can't find a name that has been repeated a lot with this specific type of image, if I can find something better using Google Lens I'll write about it here. --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 19:31, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The "wooden fountain" is a fountain, that's why it is called like that. Doesn't help in our case. --тнояsтеn 20:10, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I asked Google Gemini to define the structure, this is all the robot told me. "The structure in the image is a cross-section of a redwood tree. - A cross-section is a slice through an object that reveals its internal structure. In this case, the cross-section shows the tree's rings, which can be used to determine its age." - Google Gemini. --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 19:40, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I also asked Google Gemini to describe the first image for me, it said: "The image shows a large cross-section of a tree trunk displayed under a wooden shelter. - The structure is likely a tree stump display or tree stump exhibit." All these terms are a lot more ambiguous as they can include displays without the wooden shed, for example inside of a museum or on a sort of pedestal or podium. --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 19:42, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I'll add Category:Cross sections of trees on exhibit so we at least have a place to gather these, even if not ideally named. We do already have Category:Cross sections of trees. - Jmabel ! talk 19:44, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I feel like that name would invite some confusion with tree cross sections which are on display in other contexts, like in natural history museums - the "monuments" you're describing in Washington State are something a bit different, and I feel like it does make sense to keep them separate for the moment. Perhaps Category:Logging monuments in Washington State? Omphalographer (talk) 20:00, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Omphalographer: I gave it subcats. Have a look. - Jmabel ! talk 20:20, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I also stated that, but this type of monument is not unique to the State of Washington and none of us know what the exact name of this monument is, I even asked a robot 🤖 and it kept giving me differing answers. "Category:Cross sections of trees on exhibit as monuments and memorials" is a good category that explains what these are, but it's not the exact name for this kind of monument, it's essentially the "good enough" until an expert (as in someone with the knowledge) can name these things. Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 20:51, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Brakes

I must be using the wrong search word, as I cant find find a category for brakes. Also File:Brakes Valve1.jpg has no category.Smiley.toerist (talk) 10:09, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

See Category:Brakes Wouter (talk) 10:16, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
thanks, Smiley.toerist (talk) 11:30, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect File:Brakes Valve1.jpg is in the Category:Brake master cylinders.Smiley.toerist (talk) 11:30, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It's inappropriate to ask about this at villagepump, even more so when the category is just called "Brakes" like the section title and basically the first thing one would look for, and further even more so to remove the issue is solved template despite it obviously being solved. I suggest categories you find interesting are promoted elsewhere, if no place for that exists you could create such a category. Prototyperspective (talk) 12:00, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
disagree. I find Smiley.toerist's questions frequently interesting. Users who don't like them can read some other stuff.
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 16:28, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There is lots of stuff on villagepump, maybe it would be good to have a separate page about casual talk. I was not talking about Smiley.toerist's questions. I was talking about this question. Lots of people watch VP. Prototyperspective (talk) 16:31, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
How to categorize, where was a picture taken, what does it represent are useful questions.
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 16:33, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Like I said 1. if the solution is pretty self-explanatory and in the section title it's not a good thread to begin with 2. it's pretty niche and doesn't need this much attention etc when there are lots of problems to solve etc 3. again, if it was a valid thread that doesn't mean it does to bloat this long page more by inappropriately removing the thread solved template when the thread is solved.
Moreover, maybe it would be a good idea to put these kinds of questions onto a separate page so this here is more focused on e.g. project-wide subjects and only get the question if it remains unsolved where it was asked earlier. Prototyperspective (talk) 16:39, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Re the image, I don't think that the depicted part is a brake, it looks much more like a "PZB-Fahrzeugmagnet" to me - the device over which the vehicle's train protection system communicates with the infrastructure (via electromagnetic induction). See the second image on de:Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung (or en:Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung) Looks like Category:Intermittent train control systems is a better fit. ~TheImaCow (talk) 18:09, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

May be best to ask about what this is (different question than what has been asked here) at en:Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains or in this case with this info at en:Talk:Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung. Prototyperspective (talk) 18:20, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
You are right. It is an "Indusi" not a brake. For a magnetic track brake also the mounting would be too weak (and badly positioned outside the bogey). --тнояsтеn 20:14, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Search for image orientation and similar parameters

I've got an interesting question: "How can I search for a specific topic and only images which have portrait orientation?"

Seems normal search is not very smart, it can at least use semantic data somewhat, but not complex parameters, including image size, aspect ratio and orientation. Is there any way to search based on media technical data as well? --grin 16:22, 2 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 03

RIP JarrahTree

I'm sad to announce the passing of JarrahTree, an admin and regular contributor here. There's an English Wikipedia obituary of him and someone here might want to create one on Commons too. Graham87 (talk) 10:05, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm still in shock, even though I received the news a couple of hours ago. I have added JarrahTree to Commons:Deceased contributors. He will be dearly missed and my condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues. Bidgee (talk) 10:34, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
rest in peace. my condolonces to his family. modern_primat ඞඞඞ ----TALK 11:30, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for notifying us, Graham. My brief interactions with him were pleasant. Condolences to family and friends. Abzeronow (talk) 18:03, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Clarification Regarding the Appearance of the "Infobox" Template

When the site is displayed in the Arabic language, the "Infobox" template is shown by default on the right side of the page. However, there may be a need to adjust this layout to appear on the left side, either to suit specific design preferences or to ensure consistency with content in other languages.-- Mohammed Qays  🗣 19:48, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Mike Peel: This would be a good idea for languages that read right to left. Abzeronow (talk) 20:25, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Is there a stylesheet entry for this? The infobox already uses "mw-content-<ltr/rtl>" as appropriate, is that not also doing this? (In general it's best to post such questions at Template talk:Wikidata Infobox, BTW). Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 08:17, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Cooked food in supermarkets

Category:Cooked food in supermarkets is now used for a concept in Chinese supermarkets. I'm not sure how applicable this is for other countries.

The concept is, food that is sold like those sold in food shops/restaurants. They are ready for consumption. They can be consumed on site; or within a few days, usually not more than a week. Factory-packaged cooked food like canned food, frozen pizzas, frozen nuggets, biscuits, chips, tiramisu, ice cream etc. is not the scope of this category. For cooked food for sale similar to this concept but in other countries, I've only seen "siu mei" and roast chicken sold in Singapore NTUC fairprice, and sushi and baked goods sold in German supermarkets. In very rare cases I saw a German supermarket with a few food shops inside selling sandwiches, pastry and drinks.

There's the potential ambiguity of the current cat title (which can refer to all packaged non-raw food). What's your suggestion? Should we keep this title, or do you have an alternative proposal? RoyZuo (talk) 22:52, 3 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

PS: these counters are behind the cashiers, like raw meat/seafood/cheese counters commonly found in western supermarkets. Not the shops that share the same building with the supermarket but outside its cashiers.--RoyZuo (talk) 11:20, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
A lot of US supermarkets have onsite delis with cooked food like this. Actual seating is more rare, but I recall seeing it. Complicating it some is places like Walmart and Target often have Subways or McDonalds or Pizza Huts or Starbucks inside them.--Prosfilaes (talk) — Preceding undated comment was added at 00:04, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Onsite seating is more common in co-op markets than the big U.S. chains, but not that unusual. I think pretty much every Whole Foods has it.
Prepared food is pretty standard in any larger UK supermarket as well. - Jmabel ! talk 06:52, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
In Germany this concept is called Mittagstisch as it is mostly used for lunch. If in other regions this is also primarily for lunch and not for dinner „Lunch in supermarkets“ could be a good and not that ambiguous category name. GPSLeo (talk) 07:09, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I don't see any connection in the delis I've been familiar with. I'm sure there's a lot of lunch, but there's some breakfast foods in the morning, and they sell a lot of rotisserie chicken for dinners. When I worked the job 20 years ago, we sold a decent amount of dinner food.--Prosfilaes (talk) 20:36, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Prosfilaes: I have seen US supermarkets with seating, hot rotisserie chickens (available in preparation for dinnertime, with the remains resold the next day cold and packaged at a discount), and a hot chicken wing bar (available around lunchtime) that doesn't just serve wings (again, with the remains resold the next day cold and packaged at a discount). The ready-to-eat food is very popular with employees who have very short breaks.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 13:04, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Commonly used terms for this in US supermarkets are "ready-to-eat" or "grab and go". Sometimes also "prepared meals", although that's ambiguous with packaged items that need to be heated before consumption. Omphalographer (talk) 03:59, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 04

Similar images with very different licences

Hello, recently File:Emblem of the Korean National Youth Association.svg was uploaded as a PD-geometric shape. If this is true, there is a larger flag version on en.wiki at en:File:KoreanNationalYouthAssociation.jpeg. Would the PD also apply to that, and if so should that be imported here too? Pink Mrmw and NorthTension. Best, CMD (talk) 03:37, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It's in PD because the party was founded 77 years ago, and Korean copyright law dictates "70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)". Whoever uploaded that other file originally never checked this. NorthTension (talk) 03:39, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks! I will see about getting the flag to Commons too then. CMD (talk) 05:33, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I set the copyright status of both files to the South Korean PD but I'm not sure if I did it correctly, would it be fine if you took a look at that? NorthTension (talk) 12:36, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Looks correct to me. CMD (talk) 15:06, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Commons:What is this? (Get help with file categorization)

This is a new page intended to become a place where users can ask about what is shown in an image/video so that fitting categories can be added or for people knowledgable about a subject to add requested fitting categories:

Commons:Expert identification or categorization requests

I created it due to recurring posts on this page asking about what individual pictures show where having a separate page could make this page here more focused on project-wide issues and all of the remaining discussions. It could become more overseeable (shorter) as well as to enable users (only or especially) interested in such requests to have a separate dedicated page they can watch.

Requests that for some time remain unsolved there could be asked about here in a brief post that bundles several requests. These could look like the photo challenge results posts.

If you're interested in these kinds of requests, please watch that page. It probably won't work well early on for some time but that may change over time. If you have any media files where you think a category is missing and you'd like to know which, just create a new section on that page. There also probably is a better name for that page, I'll try to think of a better one and if you have any suggestions please name them. Prototyperspective (talk) 09:59, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

What problem are you trying to solve?
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 10:54, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
1 The lack of such a place. 2 This place being overcrowded. 3 Insufficient resources for the large backlog & open VP issues/discussions. 4 Files missing categories and missing categories for files. Prototyperspective (talk) 10:57, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Seems to me the main effect of this is that it is less likely that someone with expertise is likely to see the requests. - Jmabel ! talk 19:57, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Nor is Village pump really "overcrowded".
The main problem of Village Pump, as I see it is that Proto closes threads they don't seem to fully understand while hiding in edit summaries that they are closing such threads and then complain when knowledgeable people reopen them, bloating these threads with meta discussions about the threads.
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 08:23, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Than if one was to post here. Yes, that is obviously true and also clarified in my post above as well as on the page. Moreover, imagine if everybody who had put a file into Category:Unidentified subjects had posted about it on VillagePump. Prototyperspective (talk) 11:40, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
If there was so much interest in that, the category would probably be empty.
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 11:50, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't create this page because there is so much interest of people to find fitting categories. And I also never said there was "so much interest". Prototyperspective (talk) 11:52, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • I like the idea, but it needs to be properly advertised. Perhaps the MediaWiki Upload Wizard could include a line like "If you don't know what categories you should use you can ask experienced users" or something like that. The main issue is that a lot of power users don't even know where things are, for example I know a good map maker who didn't know about the Maps Workshop. Another example is how the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) "hides" are their projects and places by not putting it in a highly visible navigational template. For this page to be successful, it should be advertised in the help desk, community navigational templates, and the MediaWiki Upload Wizard. --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 21:04, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Minor changes coming to UploadWizard

Hi all! This week we will release some minor improvements to UploadWizard, mostly concerning the “not own work” option in the “release right” step.

More specifically, we will:

  • improve slightly information about CC licenses (phab:T375494)
  • add a “I don’t know” option (phab:T375790)
  • fix the style of the warnings (phab:T374165)
  • remove the question about “personal use” for auto-confirmed users (phab:T370104)
  • remove the checkbox about media not including copyrighted material (phab:T370105)

We will also do some more revision of the texts of the “own” and “not own work” section, to give more information to the user about the options they are choosing (phab:T370103), and to match the new “describe” step style (phab:T361055). Plus, we are improving the options to choose a custom license/PD-tag (phab:T371050), and fixing some minor bugs (phab:T373567, phab:T373568 and phab:T380922).

If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to reply here or on our project’s talk page. Thanks in advance! Sannita (WMF) (talk) 11:38, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Conflicting info on sculptures

I uploaded two pictures of sculptures, you can find the images here and here. The relevant article on the Dutch Wiki states that the figure on the right is Hannibal Barkas, and the figure on the left is Philip II of Macedon, however a small number of files in the category for these sculptures (Category:Bearers of memorial tomb of Engelbert II of Nassau) are named/categorized the other way around. Can someone help me figure out which is accurate? ReneeWrites (talk) 22:15, 4 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe the references in the Dutch article can help?
 ∞∞ Enhancing999 (talk) 08:43, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Hi Renee. It appears that the identity of these two figures is uncertain; there's no way to know for sure who they represent, much less which one is "Hannibal" and which one is "Philip". The figures of Caesar and Regulus on the other side of the tomb are identified by inscriptions, but the inscriptions for the two in your photographs are lost, and the tradition that they represent Hannibal and Philip, although frequently repeated, does not seem to have any contemporary (i.e, 16th-century) evidence to support it. See, e.g., E. M. Kavaler, Actors Carved and Cast: Netherlandish Sculpture of the Sixteenth Century, p. 84. This is the reason for the confusion in your sources: no one really knows who these guys are, and they may not be Hannibal and Philip at all. A quick Google Books search turned up several different suggested identifications in 19th- and 20th-century sources: Hannibal and Alexander the Great, Hannibal and Scipio (which Scipio is not stated, but presumably Africanus), Achilles and Ulysses, or simply "two Grecian heroes". Like the traditional attribution to Michelangelo, which was common in the 19th century but is unanimously rejected today, this is just a story that has become attached to the tomb: maybe it's true, maybe it's not, but without more evidence, you're never going to be able to put definitive names to your photos. – Cheers, Crawdad Blues (talk) 14:09, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
This is a fantastic answer, thank you so much for taking the time to find all of this out, and even providing a source. ReneeWrites (talk) 15:05, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 05

Temporary Accounts - introduction to the project

A temporary account notification after publishing the first edit

The Wikimedia Foundation is in the process of rolling out temporary accounts for unregistered (logged-out) editors on multiple wikis. The pilot communities have the chance to test and share comments to improve the feature before it is deployed on all wikis in mid-2025.

Temporary accounts will be used to attribute new edits made by logged-out users instead of the IP addresses. It will not be an exact replacement, though. First, temporary users will have access to some functionalities currently inaccessible for logged-out editors (like notifications). Secondly, the Wikimedia projects will continue to use IP addresses of logged-out editors behind the scenes, and experienced community members will be able to access them when necessary. This change is especially relevant to the logged-out editors and anyone who uses IP addresses when blocking users and keeping the wikis safe. Older IP addresses that were recorded before the introduction of temporary accounts on a wiki will not be modified.

We would like to invite you to read the first of a series of posts dedicated to temporary accounts. It gives an overview of the basics of the project, impact on different groups of users, and the plan for introducing the change on all wikis.

We will do our best to inform everyone impacted ahead of time. Information about temporary accounts will be available on Tech News, Diff, other blogs, different wikipages, banners, and other forms. At conferences, we or our colleagues on our behalf are inviting attendees to talk about this project. In addition, we are contacting affiliates running community support programs.

Subscribe to our new newsletter to stay close in touch. To learn more about the project, check out the FAQ and look at the latest updates. Talk to us on our project page or off-wiki. See you! NKohli (WMF) and SGrabarczuk (WMF) (talk) 02:10, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Admin as supervoter


to flip or not to flip

usually selfies are mirrored images, e.g. File:Grossglockner 2021 Signor Vespa.jpg (compare the lake with File:20190624.Kaiser-Franz-Joseph-Höhe, Grossglockner.-011.jpg to be sure). They show the backround mirrored. Shall we flip them or not? Shall the image be marked with {{Flopped}}, shall this be done in the root category for selfies? best --Herzi Pinki (talk) 23:25, 5 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

For most photos that are flipped at the source (ex. File:Mystic river drawbridge no. 7.jpg), I think it's best to flip to the correct orientation and note that in the file description. For selfies, given how common flipping is (and how difficult it can be to tell lacking a telltale background clue), I'm not sure. I'd certainly welcome a discussion.
The specific image you linked was self-promotion by a non-contributor; I've deleted it as such. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 00:07, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
thanks for speedy. --Herzi Pinki (talk) 08:31, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It can be really tricky to decide which version is preferable when it was a mirror image in the first place. You can always upload the "corrected" version as a separate file. - Jmabel ! talk 17:57, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 06

Unneeded bloated category tree

We have a nice category:Forests by country category tree, but one person also created this horrible category tree for only one city - Berlin (category:Forests by city). I propose to delete this entire category structure. MBH 11:59, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

  •  Support I don't know why, but from what I've seen there's some pretty obtuse category trees on here having to do with Germany. Way more so then with other countries for some reason. This category structure being an especially horrible example of the wider problem. So I say delete it. --Adamant1 (talk) 12:10, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Unfortunately this happens not only for forests, but for any object that may be categorized by several variables. For example, in football matches we have at least something like this for only THREE variables (one of which is a "children" (club of country) of another, so closer to 2.5). It is even worse in reality, as e.g. cities or stadiums aren't counted here.

    Matches by year by country
    Matches by country by year
    Matches by year by club
    Matches by club by year
    Matches by club by country
    Matches in N [year]
    Matches in N [year] by country
    Matches in N [year] by club
    Matches in N [year] by date ("shallow" category — i.e. one that is used to view all of recursive items of a category)
    Matches in N [country]
    Matches in N [country] by year
    Matches in N [country] by club
    Matches in N [country] by date ("shallow")
    Matches in N [country] in N [year]
    Matches in N [country] in N [year] by club
    Matches in N [country] in N [year] by date ("shallow")
    Matches of N club
    Matches of N club by year
    Matches of N club by date ("shallow")
    Matches of N club in N year
    Matches of N club in N year by date ("shallow")

    (Another user more experienced at Commons, though, told me that here shallow categories aren't used to be used — but in my opinion that is also problematic because make it significantly harder, for example, to list all football matches in Ukraine in 2015 — here I solved it by making that same category shallow, but that results in requiring to place a file simultaneously in a category and its parent — e.g. FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs Fenerbahçe S.K.Matches of FC Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015Association football matches in Ukraine in 2015.) Well very well (talk) 12:12, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
That's largely due to the whole "Double meta categories" thing. Although like everything on here there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it. This being an example of the wrong way. but ultimately "Double meta categories" should just be axed if people don't want weird category trees like these ones to be created in the first place. --Adamant1 (talk) 12:15, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Do you mean by the "double meta categories" the first 5 categories from this list? 16 remain though. Well very well (talk) 12:18, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Category:Double meta categories or "three subject categories" I guess. If I'm correct all the categories you listed would be double meta cats. The same goes for something like Category:Forests by city by season and it's subcats. Forests=subject 1, city=subject 2, season=subject 3. Or one main category and 2 meta cats? I don't know but I'm sure you get it. Either way cross sectional categories should only have two subjects at most. Really, even that can be over kill sometimes. --Adamant1 (talk) 12:24, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
So, do you think it should ideally be closer to something like this?

Matches by year by country
Matches by country by year
Matches by year by club
Matches by club by year
Matches by club by country
Matches in N [year] (functioning as both normal category and shallow)
Matches in N [year] by country
Matches in N [year] by club
Matches in N [country] (normal & shallow)
Matches in N [country] by year
Matches in N [country] by club
Matches in N [country] in N [year] (normal & shallow)
Matches of N club (normal & shallow)
Matches of N club by year
Matches of N club in N year (normal & shallow)

Well very well (talk) 12:34, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know. It depends on the category, but if it were me I'd probably just axe them outright. There isn't enough sub-categorise to justify these types of categories in a lot of instances anyway. There's just a weird obsession on here with making every category only contain a single sub-category no matter how pedantic the whole thing is. Ergo things like Category:Association football matches by club by country ---> Category:Association football matches by club in Hungary ---> Category:Matches of association football clubs in Hungary in 2016 ----> Category:Matches of association football clubs in Hungary in 2016 ---> Then ending with Category:Beitar Jerusalem FC vs. MTK Budapest FC 2016-06-18 before someone can find an image. There's no reason most or all of the intermediate categories need to exist though. Let alone Category:Association football matches by club by country. Categories aren't Russian nesting dolls. --Adamant1 (talk) 12:49, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Myself I don't really see a difference between "Association football matches by club" and "Matches of association football clubs" so I'd remove the second in favor of the first (and the unification). I agree though that there is no need of a category when there is just one item and categorization by club is in most cases an example of this. So maybe something like this?

Matches by year by country
Matches by country by year
Matches by year by club
Matches by club by year
Matches by club by country
Matches in N [year] (functioning as both normal category and shallow)
Matches in N [year] by country
Matches in N [year] by club
Matches in N [country] (normal & shallow)
Matches in N [country] by year
Matches in N [country] by club
Matches in N [country] in N [year] (normal & shallow)
Matches of N club

I think that I could theoretically justify use for all of these remaining categories. Well very well (talk) 13:04, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
And some of the responsible users are:
@AnRo0002 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Forests_in_Berlin_in_autumn&action=history
@Well-Informed Optimist https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Forests_in_Berlin_in_winter&action=history
@Triplec85 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Forests_in_Germany_in_autumn_by_city&action=history . RoyZuo (talk) 11:32, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
They created 17 Matryoshka dolls https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=create_timestamp_desc&search=deepcategory%3A%22Forests_by_city%22&ns14=1
for 9 files https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=create_timestamp_desc&search=deepcategory%3A%22Forests_by_city%22&ns6=1 . ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ RoyZuo (talk) 11:37, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Looks like Triplec85 is the only villain here, almost entire this category tree was created by him. MBH 02:33, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@MBH: The category-tree Foresty by season "by city" (few entries so far) can be deleted. I am fine with that. Keep just "by country" (common). Greets -- Triple C 85 | User talk | 07:03, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Appeals of decisions in Commons:Categories for discussion

What is the process to follow if one wishes to appeal the outcome of category discussions? Laurel Lodged (talk) 17:47, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We don't have a formal process, but here's how I see it. First, communicate with the closing admin. If that doesn't yield satisfaction, bring it here. (In some cases it may be appropriate to start another CfD, but that's a judgement call.) And, please, if there was a strong consensus that you just don't like, let go. - Jmabel ! talk 18:03, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Jmabel: Would COM:UDR be more appropriate than here or starting another CfD?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 20:26, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Not in this case, I think. The categories in question have not been deleted. It was a discussion about renaming categories. The closing admin concluded to not rename the categories. Nakonana (talk) 21:52, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, I'll follow the process that you've outlined. I really don't hold out much hope of obtaining a different decision though. Do Admins often self-revert their decisions after such an intervention? I doubt it. But I'll give it a whirl. And no, I don't think that I'm guilty of failing to drop the stick; I think that I have reasonable grounds for requesting an investigation into, and the overturning of, a bad decision. It would be remiss of me not to do so. Laurel Lodged (talk) 14:39, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It looks like gaming with system. No one user support your request but you disagree with this desicion. It may be discussed if 50/50 opinions but here is 100% oppose, so there may not be other decision.--Anatoliy 🇺🇦 (talk) 14:50, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Well you would say that, wouldn't you? Laurel Lodged (talk) 16:44, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Given the above comment by the closing Admin @Ahonc: , may I take it that the first part of the process ("communicate with the closing admin") has failed and proceed to the second part of the process (bringing it back to the pump)? Laurel Lodged (talk) 16:46, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Laurel Lodged: Yes. When you do that, please include links to relevant discussions, including a permalink to this one, which I hope is now concluded. - Jmabel ! talk 18:05, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

FYI, I've created a disambigation page for the various entities that share the name of "Ivano-Frankivsk": Category:Ivano-Frankivsk (disambiguation). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Laurel Lodged (talk • contribs)

@Laurel Lodged: that is a lot more complicated than we normally make a disambiguation page. In particular, it has an awful lot of links (apparently into en-wiki) esides the links to the categories someone might have meant, which distracts from the purpose of a disambiguation page. - Jmabel ! talk 06:38, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Jmabel, @Laurel Lodged: I have formatted that disambiguation category. I removed it from the subcategory, because the subcat was actually one of the dab entries. -- Auntof6 (talk) 07:55, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Why are things like Category:Church of Virgin Mary, Ivano-Frankivsk or Category:National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ivano-Frankivsk on that disambiguation page? Neither of those entities has "Ivano-Frankivsk" in its name. What are they being disambiguated from? Nakonana (talk) 08:49, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
In wiki, their names begin with I-F Laurel Lodged (talk) 08:24, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
They are just located in the city. The city name serves as a disambiguator here because there are several churches of Virgin Mary in Ukraine (and other countries). The church belongs in Category:Virgin Mary churches, but not on the I-F disambiguation page, I'd say. Nakonana (talk) 13:05, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
OK Laurel Lodged (talk) 14:14, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Opinion on mass request for deletion

I created a mass deletion request but I haven't submitted it yet. I feel bad for the author and their efforts. I'd appreciate any feedback. -Slevinski (talk) 19:21, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Slevinski: You intend to nominate 37,423 files? @PantheraLeo1359531: FYI.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 20:23, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. It's a large number, but I don't see the benefit and I see actual harm. In the least, the facial diacritic section needs fixed for characters U+1DA00 to U+1DA6C. I provided feedback on one of the facial diacritic images talk page. Either include the head anchor character U+1D9FF, or include the dotted head placeholder in the image. The Noto SignWriting font is still in development and not production ready. The images in the category are not final, but a work in progress that will need to be updated later or left in a unfinished state. The shaping reports from GitHub shows 50% for Noto SignWriting. Why use static images of a development snapshot?
A specific example is U+1D9C7 for certain fills and rotations. See Noto SignWriting project issue #9. Rather than document a development release, you can use an online tool to view the Noto SignWriting glyphs for a character string. The Noto SignWriting font did a good job on the facial diacritics section. Consider this example of a facial diacritic without a foundational U+1D9FF character. Notice the head placeholder as a dotted line.
If you wanted to document the International SignWriting Alphabet 2010 with static files, I would understand. These glyphs and their arrangement are approved of by Valerie Sutton. These SVG are final and their development is complete. -Slevinski (talk) 05:40, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Slevinski: I'm not sure I follow your reasoning. Are you simply saying that this isn't a good enough font, and we shouldn't document it? Or that these files do not accurately document the font? Or something else? - Jmabel ! talk 22:17, 6 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I am saying that the Noto SignWriting font isn't good enough to accurately document the official Unicode standard for SignWriting in Unicode 8 (uni8) character strings. It will be a large job to update these files as the Noto SignWriting font improves. It is a job that may never get done.. I'm also saying that the naming of the file in the diacritic range is not accurately reflected in the svg file images. Consider the facial diacritic U+1DA00. Without U+1D9FF you should see the dotted line for the head placeholder. With U+1D9FF, you should see the appropriate glyph found in the International SignWriting Alphabet 2010.-Slevinski (talk) 06:01, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Jeff for pinging. I see notability in the following two reasons: 1. The Noto font family is a widely used one created by Google. It is notable because of the huge amount of glyphs and the goal to provide a glyph for every Unicode character. 2. The Sign Writing language is one of the main communication techniques, especially in the non-verbal purposes. The SVG file makes it freely scalable and the extraction easier to only get the desired sign. I wonder if the glyphs are that wrong in total. In case the glyphs here get outdated, we either have the option to import the newer ones and delete the old ones or move the old ones in a cat for deprecated glyphs. But I think at least the fact it is part of the Noto font family which has its own Wikipedia article should be relevant. If we have really big problems in accuracy or other issues, then this could be put in a broader discussion. Generally I try to cover fonts that are significant enough to have its own article or illustrate a special art of style like ornamented fonts, isometric fonts or 3D style fonts to illustrate the possible amount of variants that can be put into the styling. Greetings --PantheraLeo1359531 😺 (talk) 10:38, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Slevinski - this is an issue you should raise with the developers of the font. Deleting these files on Commons isn't going to improve the font. Omphalographer (talk) 20:51, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the responses. I won't submit the deletion request. -Slevinski (talk) 22:12, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 08

Peak editor activity

I noticed these last days a substantial editor activity on my watchlist (26,186 entries). Maybe it the dark season where many people are at home and closing the year with to do list. Are there any statistics of editor activity?Smiley.toerist (talk) 10:35, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

https://stats.wikimedia.org/wikispecial/EN/ReportCardTopWikis.htm#lang_commons --тнояsтеn 11:05, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
These are not current statistics. They all stop at 2018 or 2019, none up to 2024.Smiley.toerist (talk) 11:16, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
But it gives an impression of editor activity over the course of a year. --тнояsтеn 11:37, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It could be different from 5 years ago (these trends can move fast) and it would be interesting to know what happened during the coronayears? Smiley.toerist (talk) 11:54, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/commons.wikimedia.org/contributing/active-editors/normal%7Cline%7C2019-01-01~2025-01-01%7Cpage_type~content*non-content%7Cmonthly . RoyZuo (talk) 12:01, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Smiley.toerist and @RoyZuo: The ten-year trend is consistent with what I've been hearing anecdotally: "Everything's online now." Not everyone, though; some older folks eschew computers, smartphones, even "dumb" flip-phones. One couple didn't even have a touch-tone landline phone. However, pretending not to have a touch-tone phone can in some cases get one around an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system (the key being "don't touch anything").   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 16:33, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Copyright?

I wanted to load the work on the left side of this page. It dates to the 10th to 11th centuries A.D., and I would tag it PD-Art|PD-old-100. However, the Vatican Library has stamped it with a copyright watermark.

My two questions are:

Does the addition of the watermark change it to a copyrighted status?
Does the watermark make it undesirable for Wikipedia. It is an image used in books about musicology and useful in discussing history of early harps in Europe, but not indispensable.

At this point, I haven't hit the final upload. What do you think? Jacqke (talk) 16:03, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Jacqke: Please see COM:WATERMARK.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 16:19, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • I hate when archives add obtrusive watermarks, at least when Google scans the watermarks are unobtrusive. This is an example of copyfraud, where you stamp everything as copyrighted, the New York Times does the same thing. --RAN (talk) 19:30, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Combo cats

Or as commons users usually call them, intersection cats.

As I was checking some users' contributions, it seems to me that in recent years some users are creating more complicated cat trees. In the past if a photo of a tree is uploaded, it would go straight into the tree species cat and a few rather generic cats like "trees in london", "december 2011 in london".

But now it would be thrown into things like "Category:Trees in autumn 2023 in Berlin", which is then nested under many layers of parent cats.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=create_timestamp_desc&search=deepcategory%3A%22Nature_by_month_by_country%22&ns14=1

Then here're photos showing any bit of clouds https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:MediaSearch&search=deepcategory%3A%22Clouds_in_Germany_in_May_by_city%22&type=image

Category:24 men with 9 other adult humans

Category:Blue, brown, green, orange, red, white, yellow flags

...

just... why?

Will users probably start applying things like "photos of 3 cisgender women with 2 adolescent girls in munich on a sunny morning in summer 2022" soon?

Just sharing an observation from today. RoyZuo (talk) 17:54, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The cause for this is that we do not have an integrated tool to search for the intersection of two or more categories. Then one person generates one for a case with many photos and later someone else comes and is scared of the category having so much files in it. So they start splitting the category even more. Then there is a scheme for a category which was useful for one case and is then used to place all photos from the parent categories in the subcategories created in these scheme which creates many categories with only one file. GPSLeo (talk) 18:14, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There could actually be another way.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=incategory:%22Self-published+work%22+deepcategory:%22CC-BY-SA-4.0%22
this is a search checking for intersection of 2 of the Special:MostLinkedCategories, but results come in fast.
so instead of building things like "Trees in autumn 2023 in Berlin", a file could have just been in 4 cats: trees, autumn, 2023-11-11, berlin, and then do a search "incategory:trees incategory:autumn deepcategory:2023 incategory:berlin".
actually, even "autumn" is not needed, because users could go with "incategory:trees insource:/2023\-[01][01289]/ incategory:berlin". this is a bit complicated, but tools can be made to simplify setting a duration range, which is a rather common and essential feature on other image sites like flickr. RoyZuo (talk) 10:27, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
example https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=incategory:Self-published_work+deepcategory:CC-BY-SA-4.0+deepcategory:Trees_in_Thailand+insource:2023 . results are fast even with 2 deepcategory and 1 insource filters, and 2 categories searched contain 30-40 million files each. RoyZuo (talk) 10:40, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I also think this would probably be the best option for many of these cases (except for cats where many are looking for exactly that intersection etc or when sorting could be used instead). However,
  • it doesn't work if the category trees are many layers deep and cat-trees trees and autumn may be that long. (Maybe there is a phab issue about increasing the limit for many cases or in some way or even overall.)
  • manually intersecting categories like that using deepcategory and incategory (or alternatively petscan) is not intuitive and not accessible to users including users new to the site. It would need to be made more accessible, e.g. via some button "Combine/intersect with other categories" on category pages.
  • There are many categories that contain miscategorizations somewhere so include lots of false results. The problem also exists for Wikipedia. This is really really needed: Proposal for a way to see the cat-path why a file is in cat.
Prototyperspective (talk) 10:41, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There is a constant battle here between lumpers and splitters. I'm a lumper, myself. It might be a bias because of that, but I think the field is tilted toward the splitters. Why? Because anyone can come along and split up a category without consulting anyone else, but to put them back together and get rid of the more specific intersection category generally requires a CfD or even a Village pump discussion. - Jmabel ! talk 18:55, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Not to mention the outcomes of CfDs or Village Pump discussions can always just be ignored since people are usually to busy policing minor non-issues instead of stuff that actually matters. but it's impossible to follow and deal with the creation of new categories anyway. Like with categories for "historical images." There was a CfD a year ago with a clear consensus to delete the categories, yet people are still creating them at a much faster rate then they are being deleted. And at least in my experience anyone who's told not to create the categories anymore will just ignore the message outright or obfuscate and continue doing it.
There's really nothing that can be done about it outside of admitting that CfDs are totally worthless and no one cares about enforcing any kind of standards on here. It's way more important to pander to the whims of a bunch neurotics so they aren't discouraged from contributing to the project then it is to have a system that actually allows people to find images. Screw that I have to click through 25 increasingly obtuse empty categories just to find a single image of a car. The more important thing is that the person who categorized the image that way isn't turned off from contributing to the project by someone asking them to use some standards. Adamant1 (talk) 02:30, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
To try to steer this to a more productive direction: I think part of what you're complaining about here could be summed up as "categories which focus on trivial properties of images like what colors, words, or letters appear in them, what objects incidentally appear in them, the number of those objects they contain, etc". I'm inclined to agree. Category systems like Category:Categories by quantity provide little value relative to the effort that's put into them, and frequently devolve into absurdities like Category:1 bridge in Australia (there are no categories for other numbers of bridges in Australia) or Category:Text with 34 letters (containing exactly one category for a phrase which appears in a single image). Extensive branches of these systems get created by individual users with no discussion, but removing them takes much more effort and tends to be a bureaucratic hassle. I don't know how to fix this, but something needs to change. Omphalographer (talk) 06:54, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
That reminds me of an investigation i did: Commons:Village_pump/Archive/2023/07#c-RoyZuo-20230708082400-Ymblanter-20230706095200.
Users were quick to raise questions over a new cat tree.
But before anything could be done (cfd takes yearssssss), the tree has grown to thousands, or hundreds of thousands. RoyZuo (talk) 11:12, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Hundreds of thousands may still be an underestimate. There are 41k subcategories of Category:Photographs by day alone; many of the recent dates have 50+ subcategories for specific countries or cities. Omphalographer (talk) 11:52, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
How much do you want to bet the dates for a lot of those photographs aren't accurate anyway? Like is anyone seriously going to argue that most of the dates for photographs taken in the 1800s are actually correct? Maybe years or months, but I find it extremely hard to believe exact days would be. --Adamant1 (talk) 12:15, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I dont understand these people's mindsets. Isnt it beautiful to see a collage of photos of a place in a month/year together? But instead they are broken down into date categories, which often contain only a handful of photos. Then how do they have an overview of everything???
But I dont give a fuck about that, coz after all, i seem to be the 1st user inventing MediaWiki:Gadget-DeepcatSearch.js Template:DeepcatSearch my own magic wands to make my own day easier. RoyZuo (talk) 13:24, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
That's quite fine. The worst thing I have ever seen at Commons are subcats of Australian demographics, look at subcats here, "Demographic maps of 65-74 year old males with a personal weekly income in the range $600-$799 in Inner Sydney" or "Demographic maps of males who arrived in Australia before 1996 who speak another language and speak English not well or not at all in Queensland", these are just insane. — Draceane talkcontrib. 08:57, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Jesus. The top parent category is pretty hilarious. --Adamant1 (talk) 09:14, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Pinging @99of9 as creator of that category via bot, 10.5 years ago. See also Commons:Categories for discussion/2020/02/Category:Demographic maps of Australia.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 09:43, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, This doesn't seem to be used anywhere, but Template:Places by decade is used. And there is also Template:Places by decade/faq. Do we need to keep this doc and this faq? Yann (talk) 18:02, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm out the door right now, so no time to check, but I would guess Template:Places by decade/main/doc provides the documentation when you look at the page Template:Places by decade. - Jmabel ! talk 18:58, 8 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

December 09

OCR of a pdf

I need to run ocr on this: File:Doctored Records In Graft Case Bare Mysterious $3,500.pdf. Google Cloud Vision OCR cannot handle a multi-page pdf, any suggestions? I want to avoid converting the file into two jpgs. If no other option, I will convert. RAN (talk) 19:32, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

https://ocr.wmcloud.org/?image=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F2%2F27%2FDoctored_Records_In_Graft_Case_Bare_Mysterious_%25243%252C500.pdf%2Fpage1-885px-Doctored_Records_In_Graft_Case_Bare_Mysterious_%25243%252C500.pdf.jpg&engine=google&psm=3&line_id=null
https://ocr.wmcloud.org/?image=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F2%2F27%2FDoctored_Records_In_Graft_Case_Bare_Mysterious_%25243%252C500.pdf%2Fpage2-6502px-Doctored_Records_In_Graft_Case_Bare_Mysterious_%25243%252C500.pdf.jpg&engine=google&psm=3&line_id=null
trick is, copy the link to the preview jpg and feed it to wmcloud ocr. RoyZuo (talk) 20:06, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Thanks! The OCR from Google is amazing, I have been rerunning older news articles that had so many errors, I could not migrate them to Wikisource. It even works well on handwritten cursive, I have been uploading wills from the 1800s of people recently. --RAN (talk) 20:54, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]