WikiIndex:Talk pages for wiki people: Difference between revisions

'''WikiIndex:Talk Pages for Wiki People''' — this [[project page]] describes specific [[namespace]] pages – commonly known as '[[talk page]]s', also known as '[[discussion]]' pages – are available to all registered users and also all [[IP address]] pages which have edited the [[wiki]].

[[User]]s unfamiliar with all of the clever things the [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software can do may not be fully unaware of the intricate detail of this.

Every persons' [[user page]] has a corresponding [[talk page]] (correctly known as '[[user talk]]').  Not just any random page to add to the jumble: it is special for its user.  As soon as a [[user talk]] page is edited (by anyone other than the 'owner' of its respective user talk page), the MediaWiki software creates a message in the form of a highly visible banner to that user – displayed at the top of <u>any</u> page being viewed; as soon as that user logs in, or during any page transition whilst logged in; advising that he or she has new messages on their user talk page.  This message banner disappears after the user opens their user talk page – which is very easy to do because the message includes [[wikilink]]s to their talk page, including a direct link to the section having been changed. An example is shown below:<div class=usermessage><div class=plainlinks>You have <font color=#002CC8>[[Special:MyTalk|a new message]]</font> from another user (<font color=#002CC8>[[Special:MyTalk|last change]]</font>).</div></div>

Newer [[Special:Version|versions]] of the MediaWiki software add the option of a link that goes to their user talk page that shows the latest [[diff]]erence; which is extra-useful if your visitor added something not at the end but under an appropriate heading partway down the page, or edited a more than one heading.  You see the text that was added, and can then work your way through previous edits to see if there are any you missed.

If two or more other persons edit your user talk page, the message banner has some subtle changes in its display; for example, should three persons have edited your user talk page, it would appear as follows:<div class=usermessage><div class=plainlinks>You have <font color=#002CC8>[[Special:MyTalk|new messages]]</font> from 3 users (<font color=#002CC8>[[Special:MyTalk|last changes]]</font>).</div></div>

 

The convention on [[:Category:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]], its [[:Category:Wikimedia Foundation|related projects]], and several derived works – is that nobody should alter anything that someone else has written on anybody else's [[user talk]] page – unless they wish to fix [[red link]]s or disambiguations, or if it's offensive, etc., (and maybe not even if it is - it may be useful evidence!)

 

Users occasionally {{tag|TalkPage Archives|archive}} the older parts of their [[user talk]] pages, with a [[wikilink]] to their archive (which can easily be a subpage); for example, <code><nowiki>[[User talk:Robin Patterson/archive1|Archive Aug-Nov 2005]]</nowiki></code>.  Please see [[Template:TalkPageArchive]], as this will auto-include any archived talk page and/or user talk page into [[:Category:TalkPage Archives]].

:Is this a question about {{tag|Wiki People|wiki people}} talk pages or talk pages in general? [[TedErnst]] | <small>[[User talk:TedErnst|talk]]</small> 14:03, 22 May 2006 (EDT)

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