User talk:Luccagenes/Sandbox/TestPage37

There are three different "discussion" boxes shown here. They all open the same "edit section" function. I presume this is a backroom engineering function that I do not know how to access. The resulting input page is slightly different than editing an existing section in an article as it also provides an input box to add the section heading (type #2) as well as a text input box. Editing existing sections displays an input box which shows the wikitext coding which can then be edited (may show the RichEditor box if selected in preferences) and we will have to wait and see how VisualEditor handles it (if these templates even work in new version?).

Recommendations: Since this is a "forms" type input (beginners only have to type it in) there should be two changes to the backroom functionality of the page that is created by clicking these boxes.
 * First of all, the contributors name ( ~ ) and time stamp should be added automatically. There is no such thing as anonymous since the name can be found in the history anyway.  It is often forgotten to add the tildes (myself included) so add it automatically.
 * Secondly, the addition of the word "response" and an associated link to a slightly different "edit section" display (or possibly the same one) should be placed below the newly created section.
 * If the editor had the knowledge (and remembered) they could add a subsection header (===responses===) to create an editable section but this would not indent to follow a typical "thread" format (as is recommended for clarity by the wiki when responding to a comment) Plus it is something the original editor or a new editor would need to have prior knowledge of which then goes beyond "just typing".

This way a true "thread" could be created with each additional entry having a "response" button. Conversation could then develop naturally and deviate where necessary. All the internal formatting would be handled automatically so the user only needs to know how to type.

The editing using the "response" button would not add a new section title but it would indent one level from the point that the "response" was made from. This would maintain a readable thread format (often lacking on talk pages) from which the user could respond to any portion of the conversation by clicking the appropriate "response" button. It would make this operation completely user friendly as not knowledge of formatting what-so-ever is needed by a beginner.

'''Note: I asked Warren about this at the Tech meeting (29 Jan 2015) as I did not know where the "edit page" was coming from. He said he would pass the question along to find an answer.'''


 * Have since found out that it is a page generated by the MediaWiki software using the command "action=edit" along with the addition "action=edit&section=new" for a new section to be added at the end of the talk page. See http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Edit action=edit.  Have not found anything yet to create the "thread-like" indented format so it may not be an option.  Still looking.


 * Lists of parameters for "action=edit" (add additional commands using "&")
 * Test these out to see how they work or if they are useful
 * appendtext ? (can an indented header "response" be added at end of comment? + signature?)
 * watchlist=1 (1=watch ?)
 * starttimestamp ?
 * sectiontitle (Does it have to be specified after MW1.19 ? defaults to “summary” later?)
 * section (section=0 is top, can section=1 always be used to add “near” the top?)

BELOW ARE THE THREE "BOX" OPTIONS I COULD CURRENTLY FIND

this is a test
testing testing

test again
testing

test 3
test

test 4
should be above lower box?

test 5
still at bottom?

This is a test
Test test test

response

 * testing testing testing