DDO wiki:Administrators' noticeboard/Archives/2016

Alerts?

 * There are too many alerts. I no longer see them (like web page advertisements). GregJ (Contributions • User talk:GregJ) 09:40, January 1, 2016 (EDT)


 * You must have gotten autoconfirmed or promoted to - there are no ads for anyone except anon/new users. DDOstream (Contribs • Message • Email ) 09:21, July 12, 2016 (EDT)

DDO Forum avatars!
DDOwiki editors who are interested now have some DDO forum avatars that you can use to indicate your wiki editing -- https://www.ddo.com/forums/profile.php?do=editavatar&categoryid=30 ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 21:10, January 15, 2016 (EST)
 * Please integrate this information into {{subst:Welcome}}. Thanks. DDOstream (Contribs • Message • Email ) 09:21, July 12, 2016 (EDT)

Discuss renaming wiki processes...
After a recent incident with a page renaming, I can see that new editors might be confused with the use some of the words used for certain processes on the wiki such as move, delete, and maybe refresh. I can complete the changes (I had changed delete to recycle a long time ago (as recycle indicated it worked like a recycle bin where stuff isn't actually deleted), but that was lost in an update to the system), if there is consensus to do so. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 11:00, February 13, 2016 (EST)

"Move" to ...
Technically, it is moving the content of the page from one database entry to another, but I don't think it would be harmful to call it a rename process as that is what most non-editors/new editors would see it as. Thoughts? Comments? ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 11:00, February 13, 2016 (EST)
 * Renaming it to "rename" (heh) makes a lot of sense. You're not really moving anything, you're just changing the name. LrdSlvrhnd (Contribs • Message • Email ) 01:14, February 14, 2016 (EST)

"Delete" to ...
Technically, it is hiding the content of the page by applying a flag to the entry that hides it from view. I think people get the wrong idea when things are "deleted" thinking they are actually gone and I think that if we used the word "hide" (and "oversight", which adds a second flags that says even administrators can't see it), it would be much less confusing to some. We don't get a lot of requests for deletion, but when we do, many of them seem to be under the impression that it will "free disk space" which isn't true at all (it actually adds a couple extra bytes to the entry). Thoughts? Comments? ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 11:00, February 13, 2016 (EST)
 * I support this as well. Though I'm not sure about "hide"; I'll have to try to think of a different word.  Looking at synonyms for ideas, I kinda like "tuck away" lol LrdSlvrhnd (Contribs • Message • Email ) 01:14, February 14, 2016 (EST)
 * I did have it as "Recycle" at one time, like a "recycle bin". Just one option, open to others. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 19:42, February 14, 2016 (EST)
 * Most wiki peeps don't realize that "deleted" edits and pages don't actually get deleted, so I don't think that a change is super necessary here. Deleting a page just hides it and since the general user base can't delete a page anyways it seems like a moot point. Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR) 12:04, May 6, 2016 (EDT)
 * They can't directly delete them, but there will be a "delete" or "hide" option for them that allows them to have some control by tagging them for deletion by an administrator. Since nothing is ever really "deleted", I think that is a misleading term and it should be changed to hide/hidden or suppress (which has it's own meaning that only stewards can see it) or something that indicates its true status. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 16:07, May 6, 2016 (EDT)

"Refresh" to ...
This is what is internally called the "purge" process, which is inconsistent with the term "refresh" in the drop-down menu. I don't remember what we call it in DDO:BYPASS, but what new users see should be consistent. Thoughts? Comments? ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 11:00, February 13, 2016 (EST)
 * ...I actually have no idea what this is supposed to do, so I have nothing to say about this. LrdSlvrhnd (Contribs • Message • Email ) 01:14, February 14, 2016 (EST)
 * I think keeping it as Refresh is good. Purge has a ring about it that seems like something is being removed (and I know that the cache is being cleaned for that page), but I think Refresh is ample. Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR) 12:07, May 6, 2016 (EDT)

DeSpammer gadget.
Good day fellow administrators! I want to announce a new administrative gadget I wrote a week or two ago that will block a spam only account and delete/rollback all contributions automatically right from the recent changes "new account log" line. I'll be adding it do the test phase gadgets by Friday night so you can try it out. There's a couple things I'm debating changing, but it should be fully functional. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 09:48, February 18, 2016 (EST)
 * Spam. How to combat it? Any ideas? Reading this, not understanding much. -- Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email ) 13:47, May 28, 2016 (EDT)
 * ShoeMaker is working on getting Extension:TitleBlacklist (MediaWiki:Titleblacklist) working and Extension:SpamBlacklist installed. I'm hoping to put them to good use once available. —&thinsp; Zav &thinsp; (T·C) 14:07, May 28, 2016 (EDT)
 * Yes, and I've also been working on some improvements to the deSpammer gadget itself based on the most recent wave of bots. Away for the weekend, but will work on it more when I get home. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 17:41, May 28, 2016 (EDT)


 * Can I get some info about what information to hide from logs for spam? Ideally add it directly to the "Delete/undelete revisions" page so that I know what to click. -- Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email ) 02:13, May 31, 2016 (EDT)
 * It's kind of `undefined` at the moment. Use your best judgement.  Personally, I've started removing user creation logs since that day when there were almost 100 spambots in one day.  Just because it keeps the user creation log cleaner and those accounts don't need to be listed as creation since they are only spambots and they are listed in the block log anyway.  I'll get back to working on deSpammer soon (the new changes were almost done last week, just haven't had time to finish it yet), and it will all be done by that script. :) ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 07:46, May 31, 2016 (EDT)
 * For the deletion log: Usually hiding target and parameters is all that is needed. If you delete a spam page outside of DeSpammer, forget to erase the automatically populated other/additional reason, and that text is spam, then hide the edit summary too. The editor doesn't need to be hidden here since it is the admin that deleted the page. —&thinsp; Zav &thinsp; (T·C) 23:07, May 31, 2016 (EDT)

Calling all graphic artists!!!
So, I decided that I wanted to have the wiki host a contest for a new primary graphic for the home page and social media sites (,, DDOwiki Discord chat , etc. The first question that I got on the forum post -  - was if we would consider an animated image for the home page main image.  I responded that I'd have to get input on the topic from the other wiki administrators and possibly .  I have some personal feelings on the topic, but I'm going to withhold them at this time to get some untainted feedback from you all first. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 23:48, May 3, 2016 (EDT)
 * Starting public polls on the topic as well. Check out @DDOwiki's Tweet: https://twitter.com/DDOwiki/status/727823830505394177?s=09 is the Twitter one to get a feel of the community's opinion. Final decision will still be admins. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 12:39, May 4, 2016 (EDT)
 * Twitter poll: https://twitter.com/DDOwiki/status/727823830505394177?s=09
 * Facebook poll: https://www.facebook.com/DDOwiki/posts/1801552656733287
 * Forum poll: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/475082
 * My personal take on this is that I don't believe that most wiki users come here are going to care one way or another what (if any) logo is present. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the current logo.  It is simple and doesn't detract from the purpose of the wiki.  I think an animated logo would not do much more than a static logo would.  Players come here for game information and not so much to see flashy graphics that doesn't directly correlate to what they are wanting to learn about the game.  I'm a firm believer of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", and there really isn't anything wrong with the current logo.  As for the splash image on the center of the front page, why couldn't that just be a screen capture of whatever the current pack is?  On ddo.com, there are typically professionally done images for the most recent couple packs on there.  Just my 2cp. Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR) 12:46, May 5, 2016 (EDT)
 * Guess I need to clarify here. Not looking for a logo, just a home page center piece/Social media header/banner. I'll reserve my comments on animation until, , , and any other active administrator has had a chance to comment. I'll note that there are about 3 days left on the existing community polls. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 20:17, May 5, 2016 (EDT)
 * An animated gif could be okay. I think it would need to be judged on a case by case basis. Blinking, flashing, etc. are a definite no. For performance and/or compatibility it might not be a good idea. Overall, I don't think animation is necessary. This is to be featured on Home; how much time does one spend there? —&thinsp; Zav &thinsp; (T·C) 00:08, May 6, 2016 (EDT)
 * I never read Home, unless I want to check if news are displayed correctly. I don't have any preference about the picture(s). I guess once there's a list of proposals, I might have an opinion whether I like any or not. For example, I liked the tome-reading pic I saw on the forums. I guess some kind of library or reading books would be a good fit. -- Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email ) 02:09, May 6, 2016 (EDT)


 * Featured on home, as a banner,  as a header, and any other social media sites we might create a wiki account/page on.  I'm guessing some of those might prohibit .gif images.  So, I'm not sure it's worth allowing bothering at all.  I suppose we could allow it for place that do and tell them they have to pick a solid frame for sites that don't allow it? ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 02:13, May 6, 2016 (EDT)
 * I do think that it would be a good idea to have set dimensions for the image. 16:9 is probably the most portable dimensions and will easily fit or be cropped into all of those social media sites that you mentioned.  Keeping the main focal image in a 4:3 portion of the image would be best in the event that cropping would need to occur.  I say 16:9 because having experience with those sites that's the best option.  The image would also need to be large enough to have to never need to scale it larger (and loose quality) and can easily be scaled down to fit where needed.  Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR) 11:59, May 6, 2016 (EDT)
 * In the forum post I specified 1500x500px which was what one of the sites it will be on specified as an "optimal" banner size. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 16:05, May 6, 2016 (EDT)
 * All of the To allow animated or not to allow animated polls have closed, and I've consolidated the which will probably be locked by  this afternoon at some point once U31 stuff is done.  Looks like Twitter people are mostly in favor of allowing (while being split on whether or not blinking should be allowed) and the forum/Facebook polls lean in the direction of no animation.  I'll let y'all comment and hopefully I'll be able to post my thoughts by the end of this weekend. :) ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email ) 09:22, May 10, 2016 (EDT)

Proposed answer to the question of if animations will be allowed

 * I'll lead in here I guess in order to get this moving and have an answer for the OP. I propose that we say that animated entries will be allowed under the condition that they are more of a "slide show" type animation with a slow progression rate and that stills for each frame are available/submitted as well so we can pick a single frame instead of the animation if we like. ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message<span class="emailLink emailTechnical_13"> • Email ) 09:00, May 14, 2016 (EDT)
 * That sounds good to me. —&thinsp; Zav &thinsp; (T·C) 23:09, May 14, 2016 (EDT)
 * A slide show is a decent compromise Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR)

Template Changes
Hey all, if anyone makes any major changes to a template, please notify me immediately of the change. The newest page that I'm working on for YourDDO parses the templates very heavily for item effects and if there are major changes, it will break the system. I don't care if you change them, just please let me know you changed them so i can adjust accordingly in my scripts... Ague (Talk · Contribs &thinsp;•&thinsp;Email · B&thinsp;•&thinsp;D&thinsp;•&thinsp;I · P&thinsp;•&thinsp;PM&thinsp;•&thinsp;PP · UM&thinsp;•&thinsp;UR) 02:53, June 17, 2016 (EDT)
 * It'd be a lot easier on you and us if you simply watchlist the templates that affect what YourDDO parses and then have the wiki send you an email if one of those pages changes. Let me know if you need help setting it up. :) ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message<span class="emailLink emailTechnical_13"> • Email ) 09:17, June 17, 2016 (EDT)
 * I did a bunch of template changes to support new obscure U32 bonuses, I hope this won't break your stuff :) -- Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email ) 04:28, June 29, 2016 (EDT)