Community noticeboard

Revisiting Extension:PdfBook
...now that we're closing in on the MW 1.38 era, and talk of this utility hasn't been touched upon on Miraheze in ages.

This contributor deployed PdfBook in a test run on Saturday, May 21, replacing the promising but much-flawed Display Title in his site's lineup. On-and-off reports of its ineffectiveness elsewhere have diminished its long-term prospects; while preparing this post, rendering with ?action=pdfbook at the end of a wiki URL has led to an error message when trying to view the output. On Android devices with Google Docs (like mine), this reads:


 * Cannot display PDF (Title.pdf is of invalid format)

...thanks to which I'm dropping it for good right after this goes to press. (Alerting developers Aran Dunkley and Igor Absorto, and XPosting this message on the extension's talk page, later on; also paging for any additional word.)

At Phabricator last December, Universal Omega himself remarked on its fate:

"PdfBook is mostly unmaintained, and not on Wikimedia Gerrit, so I don't see any fix happening there. We should consider removal."

A real shame, as something like it would sure come in handy for my future books. Let's hope it actually gets fixed soon enough.... Routhwick (talk) 11:32, 29 May 2022 (UTC) ->  and then enable it as the default skin at   ->   ->. Agent Isai Talk to me! 06:24, 19 July 2022 (UTC)
 * As this is supposed to be a question from a technical aspect of your wiki, which doesn’t require Stewards assistance, I have procedurally moved the thread to here. Cheers, Matttest (talk | contribs) 06:33, 19 July 2022 (UTC)

Thank you, I managed to set it. I also have a few questions: can I enable tabber? It doesn't seem to be working. How can I make  to work on the Main Page (to make it into two columns like here)? Cornelia (talk) 15:45, 19 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Tabber can be enabled at Special:ManageWiki/extensions. The main page also uses  to make two columns. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 04:27, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

How to get a Skin?
I want to get the "Cosmos" skin, but it's not on my wiki. Can you tell me how to get the skin? Spanish Fan (talk) 11:57, 20 July 2022 (UTC)
 * I believe the thread above has already answered this question. LetraSeca (talk) 16:03, 20 July 2022 (UTC)
 * It can be enabled at Special:ManageWiki/extensions. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 04:28, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

Where do I announce my wiki for others to join?
Hi all, I created my work-in-progress wiki but I do not know where to post my announcement in this website as I want to attract users in joining and helping with my project of mine. Capybread (talk) 14:20, 23 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Hi, commenting here as a volunteer. There are 2 ways if you want to promote your wiki to users here on Meta. (i) ask users to contribute to your wiki, with brief descriptions about your wiki in here, the community noticeboard; (ii) this is an indirect method, but putting your wiki’s name and brief description into Gazetteer of wikis may also be a good method. This is the page which users who are interested in joining different wiki communities will usually check. Hope that helps. Cheers, Matttest (talk | contribs) 04:27, 24 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Capybread (talk) 14:41, 24 July 2022 (UTC)

Please delete a file on Scruffy Wiki
When I try to delete https://scruffy.miraheze.org/wiki/File:Foobar.svg (private wiki) I get Error deleting file: An unknown error occurred in storage backend "local-backend". Please could a sysop delete this file? Rob Kam (talk) 15:26, 23 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Now posted to T9578 Rob Kam (talk) 09:39, 25 July 2022 (UTC)

Problem with deleting a category
I can't edit nor delete this category on my wiki. When I try to delete it I get this: [c47366c47193b43e4362b5b6] 2022-07-23 17:14:55: Fatal exception of type "LogicException" Cornelia (talk) 17:18, 23 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Please report this on Phabricator, thanks. Agent Isai  Talk to me! 21:39, 24 July 2022 (UTC)

User group
Hello ! Why can't I check the following user groups: user checkers, bureaucrat, interwiki administrator, edit masker and stewards in the user rights management menu?TYURZ (talk) 14:14, 24 July 2022 (UTC)


 * In my wiki TYURZ (talk) 14:14, 24 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Please read User groups. "User checker" (CheckUser), "Edit masker" (Oversight) and Steward are restricted to only Stewards, users who were elected by the global communities to use those tools and do many other things. Interwiki administrator is granted to users only following a successful local election for it. Agent Isai  Talk to me! 14:48, 24 July 2022 (UTC)

Hey folks, is anyone interested in helping out my wiki?
https://athenaeumspaces.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page

Let me introduce my little project of mine! If you hadn't guessed, my wiki will be based on the concept of the backrooms while being similar to the backrooms fandom wiki. Although it is currently private as I am still working on it, I am in need of help finishing it. If you are interested, reply and comment to this post. I just need atleast three members to get this project going!

Moreover, I will wait for few days or so for this post to get more attraction. Depending on what day I will be active, you will get message and instructions from me, so don't forget about that to.

Have nice day everyone! Capybread (talk) 14:55, 24 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Anyone? 😭 Capybread (talk) 23:41, 25 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Frankly speaking, this isn't a good place to get attention for specialized creative writing projects. People who check Meta tend to have their own projects, have specific goals or otherwise aren't interested in long term commitments and tend to only raise a hand when there is a specific question/issue. You'll have better luck appealing to the communities that are already involved in the subject, without coming across as spam of course. --Raidarr (talk) 10:44, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Oh.. so uh, would it better to advertise my wiki in the discord or fandom? 🤔 Capybread (talk) 12:25, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * I doubt you will be appreciated advertising a wiki for a competing platform, but if there is an appropriate discord server and place within it to post, that could work. --Raidarr (talk) 23:34, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Oh, alright! Thanks for the advice!! Hope it works, haha 😅 Capybread (talk) 01:35, 27 July 2022 (UTC)

How often does Miraheze review new wiki requests?
How often does Miraheze review new wiki requests?

I remember a year or two ago, as long as a request was made, it would be answered within a few hours and all issues resolved.

However, Miraheze is now conducting centralized reviews on a 24-hour cycle, but each review does not resolve all issues - and it is those new requests (rather than old requests that may require further action) that cannot be reviewed at once, Just have to wait until the next day.

Is there something wrong with Miraheze recently, or is it just me being delusional? Creeper19472 (talk) 11:18, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * You are not crazy. I see on the wiki request list, someone has been waiting six days for their request to be processed. When I submitted my request to create my wiki, it was taken care of in a few hours. Darkrai18 (talk) 17:00, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * RequestWikiQueue is misleading. The date shown on there is the date of when the request was originally submitted. If a request is declined and later resubmitted, it'll still show the date of the original request, not the date that it was resubmitted so requests that were declined a year ago but resubmitted an hour ago will show up on the top as having been requested last year despite having been resubmitted just an hour ago. Agent Isai  Talk to me! 00:03, 27 July 2022 (UTC)
 * It depends on who is reviewing and when. It could take within a few hours or the latter part of the mentioned '24 hour cycle', sometimes more since most wiki creators are not on daily and those who are still have days they don't look. It does take more thought to parse wiki requests than in the past as we are more stringent in some areas than even a year ago and it's possible we're in a slower spell for volunteers available to review right now, but aside from a couple instances lately I haven't seen an intolerable backlog.
 * I would imagine the 'waiting for six days' person was not a request that was literally waiting 6 days without response, I would want to know which request if so. The numbers can be misleading since sometimes a back and forth is required and it can take multiple passes for someone to make an acceptable request and some users find it hard to provide adequate detail for what they want. But that seems to be a different matter to what the OP is discussing. --Raidarr (talk) 23:50, 26 July 2022 (UTC)
 * It was the  request that had been first started over 6 days ago but just recently got edited and resubmitted. RequestWikiQueue shows the original date of when the request was first submitted, not when it was last edited and resubmitted which may be misleading.  Agent Isai  Talk to me! 23:56, 26 July 2022 (UTC)

July 2022 Directors Meeting
Hello all, please see the latest agenda for the July 2022 Board of Director's meeting for Miraheze Limited. Any additional points people would like to raise, please let me know. Thank you, Owen (talk) 19:52, 27 July 2022 (UTC)

Speed
Is it just me or does miraheze wikis is little slower than fandom wikis when loading to another page? Capybread (talk) 01:11, 29 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Fandom, being a multimillion dollar company, has thousands of servers ready to serve users so you probably don't see too much lag with them. Miraheze however relies on donations and has a smaller set of servers as we're not so big so during times of peak demand, services may slow down a tiny bit. With the addition of new servers soon, we hope that may alleviate the issues we're seeing. Agent Isai  Talk to me! 01:17, 29 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Oh, I see. By the way, when do you think will we have the same speed as the wikis from fandom? Capybread (talk) 23:08, 1 August 2022 (UTC)

Wiki appearance problem
Good afternoon I currently have two wikis https://departmentofstarfleet.miraheze.org/wiki/Federation Department of Starfleet and this new one https://tennislibrary.miraheze.org/wiki/Main Page when I requested the last one I asked if it could be the same appearence as the starfleet wiki. When I edit on both they appear the same, but when I log out and look at the tennis wiki the layout is incorrect and is causing tables Ive created to bunch up. Can you take a look at both to see where Im coming from rectify the problem, much appreciated. Admiral Marcus (talk) 06:59, 29 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Have managed to correct it myself.Admiral Marcus (talk) 07:23, 29 July 2022 (UTC)

Requests Interwiki administrators to change Interwiki
Wiki url [//nmfwiki.miraheze.org]

We need change some Interwiki's URL: Thanks. -- 坑触可 (talk) 10:08, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * 1) (bbsw) https://mcbbs-wiki.cn/wiki/$1 -> https://mcbbs.wiki/wiki/$1
 * 2) (mcwiki) https://minecraft-zh.gamepedia.com/$1 -> https://minecraft.fandom.com/zh/wiki/$1


 * Shouldn't this be handled at the stewards' noticeboard? ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 23:48, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * ZeusDeeGoose, no, stewards' noticeboard is for notifying Stewards of local interwiki administrator election requests. I can look into these if they've been handled, though. Dmehus (talk) 23:50, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Ah, my bad. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 23:53, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * ZeusDeeGoose, not a problem at all. :) Dmehus (talk) 23:57, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * 坑触可, thank you for your perfectly formatted interwiki request. This has all the needed information. This is has now been ✅ (#1 and #2). Dmehus (talk) 23:57, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks a lot. -- 坑触可 (talk) 01:23, 1 August 2022 (UTC)
 * No problem. :) Dmehus (talk) 01:53, 1 August 2022 (UTC)

Importing templates
Hello, I have a wiki, Citypedia And I want the cite web template to work. But it doesn't work, I can't import it from the English Wikipedia. I want to import other templates, but I can't import them either. But why? What exactly do I need to do? Thanks :) Lois (talk) 12:10, 31 July 2022 (UTC)


 * Did you enable Cite in extensions? ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 14:54, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * I just looked, and yes, it is enabled. Lois (talk) 15:13, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Go to Special:Import, scroll down to the bottom. Click Source wiki and select Wikipedia. Enter Template:Cite web and submit. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 16:15, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Okay, but now it says: "Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". What am I doing wrong? :( Lois (talk) 16:31, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Try including all templates. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 18:42, 31 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Okay, that works. Thank you so much. Lois (talk) 04:25, 1 August 2022 (UTC)
 * No problem! ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 18:28, 1 August 2022 (UTC)

Miraheze wiki doesn't appear why?
My wiki doesn't appear, I do not understand why, maybe is because it has passed more than 60 days without any change, I'm the owner of the wiki, how can I get it back? Panthervz99 (talk) 14:05, 1 August 2022 (UTC)
 * What is your wiki's subdomain? Looking here, I see no approved wikis for you. Did you request your wiki with another user account? Thanks. Dmehus (talk) 14:08, 1 August 2022 (UTC)
 * My wiki's name is "World Song Contest", I don't remember if i started this wiki in this account or the other I have Panthervz99 (talk) 23:27, 4 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Maybe it was deleted for being dormant. Did you save the wiki domain? — Pixial  [Talk] 02:07, 11 August 2022 (UTC)

Lua error
Hi, What does this mean?: Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1 at line 1392: bad argument #1 to 'pairs' (table expected, got nil). And this: Script error: No such module "Settlement short description". I'd like to understand the codes, but it's a bit much for me that my wiki doesn't work well. Thanks :) Lois (talk) 14:19, 1 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Could you explain what you're trying to do? ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 23:14, 1 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I have imported some templates. And I must have imported them wrong. Or do I need to rewrite something in the MediaWiki.css file to make the templates work? I ask someone who knows how to do it to patiently explain it to me. Thank you so much. Lois (talk) 05:08, 2 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I think I can partially help in this issue. For the second error you mentioned, it means the module “Settlement short description” is required for the template to work, but it doesn’t exist in your wiki. Please try to import the module here to resolve the error. Cheers, Matttest (talk | contribs) 09:02, 2 August 2022 (UTC)
 * @Matttest Thanks, this is good, it works. However, now in the Reference section it says: Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Date_validation at line 946: attempt to index field 'inv_local_long' (a nil value).
 * I don't understand. All templates are already imported. What could be the error? Thanks :) Lois (talk) 12:52, 2 August 2022 (UTC)

Language bug ??
On all wiki across Meta, some wikis and user setting's language is Foreign Language, but they turns English including system messages and special page positions. For system messages, the most obvious changes is. Also, the HTML language is foreign language, but it always shows with English; For skins, it will be change to the new vector if the skin is default and/or it was imported by ManageWiki. What's the the matter with that? (Note: Sometimes, the Language and Skin change are not only partial but also the full-site. )


 * Hi, this is a bug recently discovered, as shown in this Phabricator task. Please follow the linked phabricator task for more details. Cheers, Matttest (talk | contribs) 08:58, 2 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Due to email typo problems (string '89@' inserted as '99@', i.e. the email cannot be confirmed), I can't reply there (my account is 'macbookproo'). However, this bug has been partially fixed in most of Miraheze wikis including Meta.

Private wiki question
How do I add people to my private wiki? Capybread (talk) 22:32, 4 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Add the member right to a user. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 23:17, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

Remove the colored background from my wiki?
Hello, someone could tell me how to remove the grey background from my wiki: https://fiction.miraheze.org/wiki/ I deleted my entire MediaWiki:Common.css code, without success. Thanks in advance. Darkrai18 (talk) 16:00, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * You may have to wait a while as it takes a bit of time to update. If it still persists, clear the cache of your browser. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 16:32, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I did it several times, and I changed the code twenty minutes ago. Darkrai18 (talk) 16:44, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Try purging the cache. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 16:53, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I just told you I've done it several times. Darkrai18 (talk) 16:55, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I meant on the wiki. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 16:59, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Well yes, on the wiki. Darkrai18 (talk) 17:35, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I didn't see anything incorrect on the wiki, I believe it has been resolved. — Pixial  [Talk] 02:06, 11 August 2022 (UTC)

Drawn Feet Wiki: possible block evasion
To and, I have ample reason to believe that  is a block-evading sockpuppet of , as the former is continuing the latter's uploading of images with no feet showing. I have no choice but to take this here, as I am blocked on the wiki and cannot edit my own talk page. ThisWas (talk) 20:21, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I took care of that, and for an extra bonus, I deleted more of his pictures because he is apparently Mew according to CherryFeet. - DeltaRuneFan2001 (talk) 02:26, 8 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Could you gather some evidence? DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 20:30, 7 August 2022 (UTC)

Unable to edit permissions/settings/extensions
On the extensions, core settings, and permission pages I am unable to edit any of them even though I'm the owner.

They are all grayed-out buttons and whenever a user or visitor goes onto any of the wiki pages (aside from Main Page), it just shows this:

'''You do not have permission to read this page, for the following reason: The action you have requested is limited to users in one of the groups: Bureaucrats, Members, Administrators.'''

I need this fixed ASAP. Thanks. Raidz (talk) 22:12, 7 August 2022 (UTC)raidzxd


 * Can you give a link to the wiki you own? MacacoKouhai (talk) 22:24, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Here: mystanarchy.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page Raidz (talk) 22:35, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Ah! It is because you can no longer make further configurations due to some T&S investigation https://meta.miraheze.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&logid=752885. MacacoKouhai (talk) 22:39, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Hmm, that's weird. Is there any possible reason to know why this is happening or when it will be over? Raidz (talk) 22:48, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I don't know. Maybe you can try contacting User:Doug (Miraheze) or User:Mysterion5361 privately. MacacoKouhai (talk) 22:54, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Alright, thanks. Raidz (talk) 23:05, 7 August 2022 (UTC)

Forminput box not appearing on mobile
Hello!

When I check my site on mobile, the forminput box and "Create or edit" button does not appear on my form pages. You can check this here.

Can someone help me figure out why and help me fix this?

Thanks! ParentRatings (talk) 01:28, 9 August 2022 (UTC)


 * I've tested on other browsers and other devices, and it sometimes works. I assume this has to do with how they implement JavaScript. The one place I cannot get it to work on is my android device using Chrome. I double checked and JavaScript is enabled. Is mobileview always this finnicky? Is there a way to make this better? I assume that an android device using Chrome is going to be a very common combination and want to be able to get my site working for those users. Thanks for any assistance. ParentRatings (talk) 23:10, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

XP4Ever WIKI gone
The XP4Ever Wiki that used to be available at: is no longer there. What happened?

I see it was closed because of inactivity, which is sad news. An abandoned Wiki is as useful a repository of knowledge as an live one, especially when the subject is a old operating system. Can it be reinstated to the joy of retrocomputing enthusiasts? In fact, I am writing this from Windows XP!

Can you perhaps bring it back up for a short period so that I may archive it, or—even better—let me download an archive of this Wiki? 94.79.3.84 09:21, 9 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Per Special:DeletedWikis, XP4Ever was created on Fri, 19 Jun 2020 08:37:50 GMT, and deleted on Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:05:13 GMT. Perhaps a steward can help you out at Requests for reopening wikis? Or better yet, try contacting original bureaucrat wherever else he's active. --Routhwick (talk) 09:25, 9 August 2022 (UTC)


 * P.S. should have made a dormancy exemption beforehand. --Routhwick (talk) 09:29, 9 August 2022 (UTC)


 * The wiki is merged into Retro Windows Wiki. As the only bureaucrat have declared to leave, the wiki is now at a no bureaucrat status and is currently managed by stewards. Any local election for applying the bureaucrat status is welcomed, but do note the sitenotice there, in which a registered account is required to request rights, as well as contributions are need to shown investment to the wiki in order to apply for admin rights. -Cheers, Matttest (talk | contribs) 11:49, 9 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the feedback, guys. Is there any practical reason to revive XP4Ever if, as you say and I have checked, it has been integrated into Retro Windows Wiki?

TheTopTens
I remember discussing why I couldn't use this as a source as it was blocked by the spam filter when I tried to use it. I was told it had been blacklisted and that if I wanted to change that, I should create an RFC. However, I cannot find the discussion. Does anyone know where the discussion is, and more importantly, whether or not this information is true (as in, it is blacklisted and I should create an RFC if I want to change that)? FatBurn0000 (sandbox | CentralAuth) 10:12, 9 August 2022 (UTC)
 * The Spam Blacklist is managed by the Counter Vandalism Team exclusively so an RfC would mandating a change would be overly blunt. If you have any suggestions for CVT regarding the spam blacklist, feel free to start a discussion on the Stewards' noticeboard. Agent Isai  Talk to me! 17:27, 9 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Okay, but can you verify the URL thetoptens.com is being blocked somehow? FatBurn0000 (sandbox | CentralAuth) 20:56, 9 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I vaguely remember people discussing about TheTopTens, but I believe it's already blocked somehow? (Correct me if I am wrong about that.) --DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 11:38, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Request to import images from angrybirds.fandom.com to angrybirds.miraheze.org
Hello! Can someone please import the images from angrybirds.fandom.com to angrybirds.miraheze.org? The wiki looks better with the images. Reece2o19 (talk) 07:15, 10 August 2022 (UTC)
 * I'm sure someone will assist you sooner or later. --DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 11:39, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

How to add a feature from Wikipedia to Miraheze?
I am writing a fake biography of a footballer/soccer player. On Wikipedia, there is a feature called "infobox footballer biography" which allows you to put stats about said person's career. However when I tried to use that on my wiki that I'm working on, it didn't work and nothing happened. It said the template wasn't found. Is there anyway to add a feature from Wikipedia to Miraheze? Or something similar?

Thanks in advance. TheNeditor355748 (talk) 13:00, 10 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Import Template:Infobox footballer biography from Wikipedia and include all templates. ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 14:44, 10 August 2022 (UTC)
 * Thanks, but can you please explain how to actually import a template from Wikipedia? Like step by step, if possible. TheNeditor355748 (talk) 15:40, 10 August 2022 (UTC)
 * It is a very complicated and long process. You would have to go to Wikipedia's Special:Export and put the titles of the infoboxes you want, download, go to your wiki's Special:Import and upload the file. However, that's all your infobox will come unformatted. As I said, it's much more than that, it's complicated to understand. — Pixial  [Talk] 02:03, 11 August 2022 (UTC)

Creating a background out of repeating images
So I'm trying to make a background with repeating titles. This is the image I am using. How would I go about doing this? ZeusDeeGoose (talk) 03:21, 11 August 2022 (UTC)