User talk:Thomas Lerman

For my sandbox, click here. If you would like to add something to my talk page, please add it as a new section ('+') and sign it with your signature (type ~ ). New comments should be added to the bottom of the appropriate section.

Soliciting your opinion
Hey Thomas, will you weigh in on "Local Histories" or "Histories" heading on county pages? I want to reach consensus on this quickly in order to get a big missionary team engaged in FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Linking to Books in the BYU Family History Archives. I'm asking for your opinion because you notice issues I overlook. Thanks in advance! Ritcheymt 13:46, 17 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Done, I think. I am a little brain dead today, so hope I did not disappoint you and miss any issue. ;-) Thomas Lerman 16:53, 17 May 2009 (UTC)

CompactTOC8
CompactTOC8 &amp; doc page

To check out / do:


 * Template:Intricate template, Template:CompactTOC7, Template:CompactTOC2
 * ca:Template:Índex, de:Vorlage:TOC, es:Plantilla:TOC, eo:Ŝablono:Indekso, id:Templat:CompactTOC8, ja:template:TOC, pt:Predefinição:Peqind, sl:Predloga:CompactTOC3, sv:Mall:Alfabetisk, nl:Sjabloon:CompactTOC8
 * Categories: TOC templates | List templates, Protected templates | Template documentation

!
! &amp; doc page

To check out / do:


 * Template:Ombox
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qif_conditionals
 * WP:SUBST
 * Template:!!, !-, -!, Broken bar, Tn, Pipe, Tlf
 * bg:Шаблон:!, bn:Template:!, cs:Šablona:!, de:Vorlage:!, es:Plantilla:!, fr:Modèle:!, it:Template:!, ja:Template:!, ka:თარგი:!, nl:Sjabloon:!, no:Mal:!, pap:Template:!, pl:Szablon:!, pt:Template:!, ru:Шаблон:!, sl:Template:!, sr:Шаблон:!, vi:Tiêu bản:!, zh:Template:!, zh-yue:Template:!, he:תבנית:!, hsb:Předłoha:!, uk:Шаблон:!, fi:Malline:!, sv:Mall:!, simple:Template:!
 * Categories: Protected templates | Template namespace templates | Wikipedia formatting and function templates, Template documentation
 * Template:Tlf, Template:Tn

Reflist
Reflist &amp; doc page

To check out / do:


 * MediaWiki:Common.css, browser information, Help:Skin
 * Template:Pre2, Template:=
 * Wikipedia:Footnotes#Separating reference lists and explanatory notes
 * Wikipedia:Citing sources, Wikipedia:Footnotes
 * Template:Footnotes
 * Template:Refbegin, Refend, Ref indent, Ref indent-end, Colbegin, Reflist-talk
 * Template:Cite web
 * ar:قالب:ثبت المراجع, be-x-old:Шаблён:Зноскі, ca:Plantilla:Referències, eo:Ŝablono:Referencoj, es:Plantilla:Listaref, fr:Modèle:Références, hi:Template:टिप्पणीसूची, hsb:Předłoha:Referency, hu:Reflist, ia:Patrono:Reflist, ja:Template:Reflist, ka:თარგი:სქოლიოს სია, ko:틀:주석, lv:Veidne:Reflist, ml:ഫലകം:Reflist, ms:Templat:Reflist, no:Mal:Reflist, pl:Szablon:Przypisy, pt:Predefinição:Reflist, ro:Format:Listănote, ru:Шаблон:Примечания, sr:Шаблон:Напомене, fi:Malline:Viitteet, zh:Template:Reflist
 * Category: Citation templates, Protected templates | Template documentation

Documentation
Documentation - IP PROGRESS then add documentation for the other templates I created.

To check out / do:


 * Wikipedia:Template documentation‎#Categories and interwiki links, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_policy
 * Mw:Manual:Creating_pages_with_preloaded_text
 * Template:Documentation/doc/see also, ar:قالب:توثيق, bg:Шаблон:Документация, ca:Plantilla:Ús de la plantilla, cs:Šablona:Dokumentace, da:Skabelon:Dokumentation, de:Vorlage:Dokumentation, dsb:Pśedłoga:Dokumentacija, et:Mall:Usage of template, es:Plantilla:Documentación de plantilla, eo:Ŝablono:Dok, fa:الگو:توضیحات, fr:Modèle:Documentation modèle, gl:Template:Uso de plantilla, hsb:Předłoha:Doc, hu:Sablon:Sablondokumentáció, ia:Patrono:Docpatrono, id:Templat:Dokumentasi, it:Template:Man, ja:Template:Documentation, ko:틀:틀 설명문서, no:mal:Dokumentasjon, nl:Sjabloon:Sjabdoc, pl:Szablon:Dokumentacja, pt:Predefinição:Instruções da predefinição, ro:Format:Documentaţie, ru:Шаблон:Doc, sl:Predloga:Dokumentacija, sr:Шаблон:Документација, sq:Stampa:Dokumentacion, sv:Mall:Dokumentation, tl:Template:Documantation, tpi:Template:Template doc, uk:Шаблон:Документація, zh:Template:Documentation
 * Categories: Template documentation | Wikipedia formatting and function templates | Protected templates

Hi, I did not realize you had not finished, which is why I added it to the template category and added the additional sub template for it. davide 00:32, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

No problem Thomas Lerman 00:54, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Other related templates include: Tlx, Mbox templates, Tl, Mbox, Documentation subpage, and each of their associated doc pages. At this point, I am trying to get an Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) image approved. Thomas Lerman 21:24, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Tlx - To check out / do:


 * Template:Interwikitmp-grp, Tlxw, Tlxm, Tlxc, =
 * W:pipe-trick, W:macro, W:brackets
 * http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Parameter#Parameters
 * Help:Substitution
 * Template:Para
 * de:Vorlage:Vorlage, hsb:Předłoha:Tlx, ko:틀:Tlx, ia:Patrono:Tlx, ja:Template:Tlx, no:Mal:Tlx, ro:Format:Tlx, ru:Template:Tlx, simple:Template:Tlx, th:แม่แบบ:Tlx, uk:Шаблон:Tlx
 * Categories: Protected templates | Typing-aid templates | Internal link templates | Interwiki link templates
 * Template:Template doc page viewed directly

Mbox templates - To check out / do:


 * Template:tmbox, imbox, cmbox, ombox, fmbox, dmbox
 * Template:mbox templates see also
 * dsb:Pśedłoga:Mbox pśedłogi, hsb:Předłoha:Mbox předłohi, dv:Template:Mbox templates/doc, no:mal:Mbox templates, ro:Format:Mbox templates, sr:Шаблон:Mbox шаблони
 * Category: Template namespace templates, Protected templates | Template documentation

Tl - To check out / do:


 * Template:High-risk, Template:Tl2
 * W:Macro_(computer_science)
 * M:Help:template
 * http://de.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vorlage:WP
 * Template:tlp, tlsp, lts, tlu, tlp, tn, evd, tlc, tld, tlf
 * Category:Internal link templates
 * ar:قالب:قا, az:Şablon:ŞK, be-x-old:Шаблён:Ш, bg:Шаблон:Ш, ca:Plantilla:Tl, cs:Šablona:Šablona, da:Skabelon:Vis, eo:Ŝablono:Ŝ, es:Plantilla:Template link, fa:الگو:الگوی, fi:Malline:Malline, fr:Modèle:M, got:Template:Tl, he:,תבנית:תב ia:Patrono:Tl, ja:Template:Tl, ka:თარგი:Tl, ko:틀:Tl, kw:Template:Viz, my:Template:Tl, or:Template:Tl, pa:ਨਮੂਨਾ:Tl, pih:Template:Tl, pl:Szablon:S, pt:Predefinição:Link para predefinição, ro:Format:F, ru:Шаблон:Tl, sl:Predloga:Tl, sv:Mall:Mall, th:แม่แบบ:Tl, tr:Şablon:Tl, uk:Шаблон:Tl, vi:Tiêu, bản:Tl, zh:Template:Tl, zh-yue:Template:Tl
 * Categories: Protected templates | Typing-aid templates | Internal link templates, Template documentation

Mbox - To check out / do:


 * Template:tmbox, imbox, cmbox, ombox, fmbox, dmbox
 * Template:namespace detect
 * Template:Mbox templates see also
 * hsb:Předłoha:Mbox, no:mal:mbox, ro:Format:Mbox, sr:Шаблон:Mbox, uk:Шаблон:Mbox
 * Categories: Protected templates | Wikipedia metatemplates | Exclude in print, Template documentation

Documentation subpage - To check out / do:


 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Userboxes
 * Template:userbox documentation subpage
 * Category:Template documentation, Category:User documentation
 * M:Help:Categories
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_documentation
 * Template:Documentation/doc/see also
 * ar:,قالب:صفحة توثيق فرعيةbg:Шаблон:Подстраница с документация, fa:الگو:Documentation subpage, es:Plantilla:Subpágina documentación de plantilla, id:Templat:Subhalaman dokumentasi, is:Snið:Skjalsíða, ja:template:Documentation subpage, mk:Шаблон:Документација потстрана, no:mal:Documentation subpage, pl:Szablon:Podstrona dokumentacji, sl:template:Dokumentacijska podstran, sq:Stampa:Documentation subpage, uk:Шаблон:Підсторінка документації
 * Categories: Protected templates | Template documentation | Template namespace templates
 * Template:Documentation/doc/see also


 * Thomas, It appears you have finished creating the Documentation template. Am I right? During the Community Meeting yesterday I noticed the WorldCat template page had the documentation transcluded from its documentation page. Help me understand the status of this template. If it has been completed, we need to celebrate!!! Thanks. Franjensen 15:58, 1 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I would say that it was actually mostly finished a little while back. I should enumerate here (or elsewhere on the Wiki) what has not been done yet. I cannot do that today though. Thomas Lerman 16:33, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

Other related templates: Documentation/docname from DavidE, Pp-meta from DavidE, &amp; Template:Pp-template from DiltsGD. Also, requested to be uploaded. Thomas Lerman 20:16, 14 July 2009 (UTC)

Access Codes
See Access Codes or its discussion page for new templates created on this subject. Please see the category Access code templates.

WorldCat
An example of current formatting may be found at: here.

WorldCat &amp; doc page

FHL
FHL &amp; doc page

Possible links to FHLC
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;titleno=232274&amp;disp=Tercentenary+history+of+Maryland%20%20&amp;columns=*,0,0

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;titleno=237813&amp;disp=Side%2Dlights+on+Maryland+history%20%20&amp;columns=*,0,0

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitysearch&amp;columns=*,0,0

Locality details
Need subject &amp; subject_disp, columns just hides the Help panel:

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitydetails&amp;subject=206267&amp;columns=*,0,0&amp;subject_disp=Utah, Utah, Provo

Film hit list
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&amp;columns=*,0,0&amp;filmno=1234567

Film details
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;titleno=31536&amp;disp=Endowment+index%2C+1846%2D1969%20%20&amp;columns=*,0,0

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;titleno=31536&amp;columns=*,0,0

Record Search suggestions
Currently, whoever creates Record Search articles, such as France, Protestant Church Records, must copy and paste information from a Word document to create certain portions of the article. The information below is an attempt to help streamline the process as well as make changes easier in the future. The following suggestions will help make the header and footer of these articles easier to enter, easier to update in the future as needed, and finally will not appear in the table of contents. I agree that most of the information will not need to be updated in the foreseeable future. However, as Record Search comes out of being a pilot product, the URL will very likely change (do not have "pilot" in the URL). Two other suggestions also follow (making a total of four): Links and Categories. Other Wiki users have started bringing up similar issues and have been discussed (somewhat) in some user group meetings.

Footer
To start off, instead of copying and pasting the information shown on the article's footer:

====== CID1582585 Please do not erase or change this information       ======

[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Collection_ID#CID123456_Please_do_not_erase_or_change_this_identification_number. What is this?]

One could do the same thing with this text to get the same results:

Produces:

Actually, the results of this template can even be made not visible. This would allow the Record Search to still find the article, but not have some cryptic text visible to the users. This all still would require what should be a simple change to Record Search when finding the link to the Wiki. If you think it would be helpful, I could change the name to whatever you like. . . for example, "RecordSearchFooter-DoNotEraseOrAlter" instead of "RecordSearchFooter". As I was typing up the other suggestions below, I realized that this section is not needed and may be eliminated. This would be my suggestions. . . please keep reading.

Header
Similarly, instead of copying and modifying for the header:

==== This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access this collection see France, Protestant Church Records, 1612-1906 ====

Those creating the articles would copy and modify something like:

producing:

As I think about it, using the above header, the footer may not be needed at all. If the Record Search looks for the " {{RecordSearchArticle|1582585| ", it will find the article without any trouble. This would be my recommendation and RecordSearchFooter would not even be needed.

Please see template talk page for discussion on other possibilities concerning this template. Thomas Lerman 15:26, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

Links to related articles within the Wiki
In some cases, it appears that those creating the Record Search articles, copy and paste the link to related articles within the Wiki. For example, they appear to find an article in another window and do one of the two methods:


 * 1) Method 1: It seems occasionally done this way
 * 2) Then type (or copy and paste): France Church Records and select this text
 * 3) Next, they hit the link button in the editor's toolbar and paste the URL: https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/France_Church_Records France Church Records
 * 4) This produces a link such as: France Church Records
 * 5) Method 2: The better and faster way of doing this
 * 6) Hit the same link button without having types or selected text
 * 7) Type (or copy and paste): France Church Records and hit okay
 * 8) This produces a link such as: France Church Records

Although these links look very similar and go to the same page, you will notice the little icon after the first link. I believe the second link will also work much better when the Research Wiki is in multiple languages.

Categories
I would recommend putting a default category with each article. This would involve either copy and paste something like the following into each article: OR a better way would for me to include that in the RecordSearchArticle Wiki template.

I like this idea as well. Sometimes the collection names listed at FS Record Search - Pilot are not the same as the wiki article that discusses them. If they were all pre-assigned via a template it would be much faster for me and others to then put them into a more specific sub-category. This may just be my preference, but right now I'm only adding the collection articles to the Category:FamilySearch Record Collection when they are 'live'. Articles written about collections not yet available I've not been adding to that collection although they have been getting location categories or others as needed. It's not a big deal I suppose, but I like the idea of the Category:FamilySearch Record Collection being for the 'live' collections. Laralee 19:21, 13 October 2009 (UTC)


 * I would prefer the category be added to the contributor's Word template and not to include it in the RecordSearchArticle template. If added to the wiki template it would reduce the flexibility to recategorise the article to an appropriate sub-category once the main category gets over crowded. --Steve 22:08, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I am really fine either way. I can see advantages and disadvantages either way. Thomas Lerman 22:31, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

Techie question
I can make a direct external link from the fswiki to the fhl using:

"http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;titleno=782195&amp;disp=Abergele+parish+registers%20%20&amp;columns=*,0,0"

I would like to make a similar direct link to a specific batch on the IGI. Is this possible??? For example:

"http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&amp;clear_form=true" and then specify "region=british isles" and "batch=C090161".

If it's possible could you give me the full syntax? bromaelor 11:57, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Well, it is possible to do what you have asked. However, I do not believe the intent was really to allow the search results to really be opened up one to link to. http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/customsearchresults.asp?region=2&amp;batch_number=C090161&amp;LDS=1 As you notice, it is missing the framework especially on the top and left sides. I would guess the FamilySearch folks would not like that. Thomas Lerman 12:39, 26 November 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks Thomas. I was hoping just to be able to send people to the full IGI search page with the Batch Number automatically inserted for them. bromaelor 13:55, 27 November 2008 (UTC)


 * No problem. If they are talked to, they may consider making a change. However, that does seem unlikely . . . As I think about it, this will all change in the future. Thomas Lerman 15:06, 27 November 2008 (UTC)

Etiquette and Conflict Resolution
Thomas --

I have placed a brief intro to the subject of etiquette and conflict resolution on my user talk page, right at the top. I would be interested in your comments about the three articles mentioned or anything else about the subject we've been assigned.

Jimmy


 * Thank you Jimmy. I will check out your User Talk article hopefully before the next meeting. Is this the subject that you were assigned and you tried to drag me into as well? Just kidding. I just know that I am crazy busy lately with working, serving, dating, and researching (not in any particular order). I was not quite giving my full attention at that time as I was doing more than one thing at the moment. Actually, I took a quick look at it. I would like to see similar things on the Forums, have talked to Michael about, and nothing has been done yet, BUT I know the forums are a much lower priority. How about putting the links to the actual Wikipedia articles in your talk page?

User Group Connections
Thomas, I'm trying to understand the difference between connecting by video connection versus audio connection. I call in each week through the phone bridge and my name is always displayed on the left of the Adobe Connect screen. How is it differenet if I go in by "video connection?"

Jbparker 23:01, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

When I connect through the video connection (Adobe Connect), it asks me if I would like to have the system call my telephone for the audio connection. I give it my telephone number and within a few seconds, my telephone rings. This shows me as one connection with a telephone to the right of my name. When I am speaking, Adobe Connect identifies me as the person speaking.

If I did not have Adobe Connect do this and called in myself, then it shows me actually twice. ..


 * 1) my video connection with my name
 * 2) my audio connection as an "unknown call in"

When I would be speaking in this scenario, Adobe Connect identifies me as an "unknown caller".

I have been trying to clarify this in the instructions, but may not be doing so well. Thomas Lerman 23:48, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, Thomas. I appreciate the clarification.

Jbparker 17:46, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Jimmy, how may I (or you can if you wish) improve the improve to make it clear for everyone. I would like to see everyone do it the same way where possible (only one connection). Thomas Lerman 17:50, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Thomas, let me try it tomorrow for the meeting and then I can maybe tell you things that may have made it clearer for me. The good thing is, if you can get it simple enough for ME to understand, any of the users should be able to understand! Jbparker 18:20, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Good point! ;-) On another subject, I will hopefully be sending you an e-mail soon for your review and comments. Thomas Lerman 18:22, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

We need your opinion
In order to help the community arrive at consensus on some issues impacting most of the pages on FamilySearch Wiki, I'd like to invite you to add your opinions to the following discussions:


 * FamilySearch Wiki talk:Format for Citing and Linking to Works in FHLC, Worldcat (OCLC)
 * FamilySearch Wiki talk:Consensus
 * FamilySearch Wiki talk:Source Citation Formats
 * FamilySearch Wiki talk:Disambiguation

Thanks! Ritcheymt 12:13, 8 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Done. I did not comment on all of the articles as it seems we have talked about them extensively and it looks like what we agreed upon. Some of the articles, my eyes glazed over a bit (lack of sleep). Sorry for the delay, I have been quite busy it seems. Thomas Lerman 14:32, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

Search and Replace
Thomas, we are currently using the ReplaceText extension for global search and replace. It's documentation can be found on the extension page: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Replace_Text. I don't believe it supports relative expressions, but I could be wrong. Currently only Sysops should be able to use this extension, and it should only be used with caution as mass replacements can use up all server threads and actually crash the server. Johnsonjc

Thank you Johnsonjc for checking into it, providing the link, &amp; your comments to the question about:

Thank you for researching the multiple source citation issue. I figured that it probably was not a bug since it works fine on Wikipedia, but did not have time to check it out. On another subject. . . I will be working on a couple of new templates and have a question for you: Within the Wiki global search &amp; replace, does it allow regular expression search &amp; replaces? If so, this would help change the things when the templates are complete. Thank you. Thomas Lerman 20:47, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

I actually knew that Search &amp; Replace is quite "dangerous" and Sysops could only do it. Anyway, I checked out the information on the extension and found: The search is case-sensitive, and does not currently allow regular expressions. Thomas Lerman 21:23, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Infobox
Thomas --

I added the Template:infobox US county page to Research Wiki with the intent of playing around to see if it would work. I should have done that in a sandbox. So that was my fault. I was going to try to copy what Wikipedia had done, with modifications to focus on genealogical content and facts, as suggested by Steve. But I realize I'm in wayyyy over my head, so I have just backed out and left the page empty. I do like the idea of an infobox for each county or city or other jurisdiction, but the content of those boxes should be discussed before implementing.Jbparker 19:35, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

Where should wikiproject contributors communicate?
People who work on writing projects on the wiki are asking for an online venue they can use to talk about...


 * how to organize projects,
 * how and where to recruit contributors
 * how to motivate project members
 * how to track progress on projects
 * Manual of Style issues that we need to settle to avoid rework
 * ...and other stuff.

Could you go to the wiki feedback forum and give your opinion as to what tool(s) we should choose to communicate? The thread where we will discuss this is Which tools for wikiproject contributors to communicate? Ritcheymt 16:24, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

What should the Manual of Style include and how should it look?
I have moved the discussion items from the Manual of Style page to the discussion page, and begun an outline for items to be covered in the MOS. It is kind of a dramatic (read: VERY "bold") change, and I would appreciate feedback, contributions, suggestions, discussion. Lise 14:27, 19 October 2009 (UTC)