WikiIndex:User preferences help: Difference between revisions

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WikiIndex:User preferences help (view source)

Revision as of 13:46, 24 September 2017

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expand info, try to get it to match the same Special:Preferences logical order as our own MW installation
(expand info, try to get it to match the same Special:Preferences logical order as our own MW installation)
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{{TOCright}}
{{TOCright}}
==User data==
'''WikiIndex:User preferences help''' — this {{tag|WikiIndex}} page is one of a series of {{tag|Help|help pages}}, and specifically details how to manage your [[user]] [[:Category:Account|account]] here on WikiIndex.  It is particularly useful in describing the various 'user customisation' options as found within the [[Special:Preferences|Preferences]] area of this [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software that powers this website.
 
==User profile data==
<pre>
<pre>
User data
User data
Your email*:
* Real name (optional): if you choose to provide it this will be used
o Disable e-mail from other users
for giving you attribution for your work.
Your nickname (for signatures):
Your nickname (for signatures):
Change password
Change password
Line 11: Line 13:
Retype new password:
Retype new password:
o Remember password across sessions
o Remember password across sessions
* Real name (optional): if you choose to provide it this will be used
for giving you attribution for your work.
* Email (optional): Enables people to contact you through the website
* Email (optional): Enables people to contact you through the website
without you having to reveal your email address to them, and it can be
without you having to reveal your email address to them, and it can be
used to send you a new password if you forget it.
used to send you a new password if you forget it.
</pre>
Your email*:
o Disable e-mail from other users</pre>


*'''Your e-mail''': you may optionally register your e-mail address (it will not be shown publicly on the site).  This will enable you to reset your password by clicking the 'Mail me a new password' box on the log in screen at the top right, if you forget it.  Additionally, it will enable other registered users to send e-mail to you from the 'E-mail this user' link on your user page unless you've checked the ''disable'' box (see below).
*'''Your e-mail''': you may optionally register your e-mail address; however, it will not be shown publicly on this site.  This will also enable you to reset your password by clicking the 'Mail me a new password' box on the log-in screen at the top right, if you forget it.  Additionally, it will enable other registered users to send e-mail to you from the 'E-mail this user' link on your user page – unless you've checked the ''disable'' box (see below).
*'''Disable e-mail from other users''': if you check this, users will not be able to send you e-mail by way of the 'E-mail this user' feature.
*'''Disable e-mail from other users''': if you check this, users will not be able to send you e-mail by way of the 'E-mail this user' feature.


===Your nickname===
===Your nickname===
We prefer that you use your '''[[WikiIndex:Real names|real name]]''' as your [[username]], the term "nickname" is used here for a name you may optionally specify, different from your username, for when you enter your signature with <code><nowiki>~~~</nowiki></code> or <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code>.
We prefer that you use your '''[[WikiIndex:Real names|real name]]''' as your [[username]], the term 'nickname' is used here for a pseudonym name you may optionally specify, different from your username, for when you enter your signature with <code><nowiki>~~~</nowiki></code> or <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code>.


The [[wiki]] software allows even more versatility if you check the 'Raw signatures (without automatic link)' checkbox.  This prevents the software from automatically linking your signature, and allows you to specify how you'd like your signature linked instead.  So, for instance, you could add a link to your talk page by typing this into the nickname box: <small><tt><nowiki>[[User:Name|Name]] | [[User talk:Name|talk]]</nowiki></tt></small>.
The [[wiki]] software allows even more versatility if you check the 'Raw signatures (without automatic link)' checkbox.  This prevents the software from automatically linking your signature, and allows you to specify how you'd like your signature linked instead.  So, for instance, you could add a link to your talk page by typing this into the nickname box: <small><tt><nowiki>[[User:Name|Name]] | [[User talk:Name|talk]]</nowiki></tt></small>.
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*drawing excessive attention to yourself may create the impression that you find yourself more important than other people
*drawing excessive attention to yourself may create the impression that you find yourself more important than other people


If you use the edit toolbar for signing, remember that it gives two dashes before the four tildes; (use 3 tildes to not have the time/date stamp).
If you use the edit toolbar for signing, remember that it gives two dashes before the four tildes; (use three tildes to add your name, but not the time/date stamp).


===Password===
===Password===
To change your password, enter your old password, the new password, and the new password a second time.  (If you're merely changing the other preferences, you do not need to enter your password.)
To change your password, enter your old password, the new password, and the new password a second time.  (If you're merely changing the other preferences, you do not need to enter your password.)


*'''Remember password across sessions''':  enabling this feature will place a cookie in your browser's cache, which will allow [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] to recognize you each time you visit the page.  You will not have to log in each time you visit.
*'''Remember password across sessions''':  enabling this feature will place a cookie in your [[:Category:Browser|browser's]] cache, which will allow [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] to recognize you each time you visit the page.  You will not have to log-in each time you visit.


If you want to use ''remember my password'', you have to change your password if it was generated by MediaWiki and emailed to you.  This is a security feature but very often causes trouble for new users.
If you want to use ''remember my password'', you have to change your password if it was generated by MediaWiki and emailed to you.  This is a security feature, but very often causes trouble for new users.


==QuickBar settings==
==Appearance==
This selection only works in the Classic and Cologne Blue skins (see below).  In Monobook, there is a left panel anyway; in Nostalgia there is none.
===Skin===
 
<pre>
This is the list of links to the various special pages.  You may optionally have it appear at the right or left side of each page.  There is no option yet to have it appear at the top or bottom of the page.
O Cologne Blue
O Modern
O MonoBook
O Vector
O Classic
O Nostalgia
O MySkin</pre>


The 'fixed' quickbar will appear at the top corner of the page, while the 'floating' quickbar will appear at the top corner of the browser window instead of scrolling with the article text.  Floating quickbars may not float correctly on old or mobile browsers.
A MediaWiki [[:Category:Skins|skin]] is a visual style of page display.  There are differences in the HTML code the system produces (but probably not in the page body), and also different CSS and/or JavaScript style sheets are used.


The QuickBar must be enabled to allow you access to some features such as moving (renaming) a page, and in the case of Classic, also to arrive at the [[Special:SpecialPages|Special pages]], unless you type the URL.
Previously, the default was the [[:Category:Monobook|Monobook skin]]; what was called Standard is here in the preferences called Classic (not to be confused with the even older [[:Category:Nostalgia|Nostalgia]]), but the system uses 'wikistandard' in the naming of CSS files.  As of 2017, the current default skin here on [[WikiIndex]] is [[:Category:Vector|Vector]].


==Skin==
Standard [[wikilink]]s at the edges of the page are in different positions.  Some links are not present in every skin.  In Nostalgia, some links are in a drop-down menu instead of permanently visible.
'''Skin'''<br>
O Classic<br>
O Nostalgia<br>
O Cologne Blue<br>
O MonoBook<br>
O MySkin
----


A MediaWiki skin is a style of page display.  There are differences in the HTML code the system produces (but probably not in the page body), and also different style sheets are used.
[[:Category:Cologne Blue|Cologne Blue]] has a fixed font pitch size, unless one specifies in your own browser setting 'ignore font sizes specified in the webpage'; even then, the line height is fixed; therefore this skin is hardly suitable for a large font.


The default is the new Monobook skin; what was called Standard is here in the preferences called Classic (not to be confused with the even older Nostalgia), but the system uses 'wikistandard' in the naming of CSS files.
In Monobook, the width of the panel on the left is dependent on the font size.  Therefore, with a large font, the width of the main part of the page is smaller than with other skins.


Links at the edges of the page are in different positions.  Some links are not present in every skin.  In Nostalgia, some links are in a drop-down menu instead of directly visible.
For Classic with a quickbar and a large font, a personal CSS setting to reduce the size of the quickbar text may be necessary.  This depends on the wiki project, specifically on the length of the longest word in the quickbar.  If that does not fit in the designated width, there are display complications, depending on the browser.  In Internet Explorer, the quickbar overlaps the main text, and a vertical line which is intended to separate the two, crosses the main text.  In some other browsers, the problem does not arise if the quickbar is on the right.


Cologne Blue has a fixed font size unless one specifies in the browser 'ignore font sizes specified in the webpage'; even then the line height is fixed; therefore this skin is hardly suitable for a large font.
Since there is word wrapping – but no wrapping within a word, the longest word and not the longest full label is the criterion:
*'contributions' — [[English Wikipedia|English]] and [[French Wikipedia]] and [[Wikimedia Meta-Wiki]] – short, large font is possible;
*'Beobachtungsliste' — [[German Wikipedia]] – long, large font is hardly useable;
*'Foutenrapportage' — [[Nederlandse Wikipedia]] – ditto;
*'Gebruikersbydraes' — [[Afrikaans Wikipedia]] – ditto.


In Monobook the width of the panel on the left is dependent on the font size.  Therefore, with a large font, the width of the main part of the page is smaller than with other skins.
To use the full width of the screen for the main text, use Classic without quickbar or Nostalgia.  The drawback is that links are missing for the special pages and your [[user page]], respectively.


For Classic with a quickbar and a large font, a CSS setting to reduce the size of the quickbar text may be necessary.  This depends on the project, specifically on the length of the longest word in the quickbar.  If that does not fit in the designated width, there are complications depending on the browser.  In Internet Explorer, the quickbar overlaps the main text and a vertical line which is intended to separate the two, crosses the main text.  In some other browsers the problem does not arise if the quickbar is on the right.
===Quickbar settings===
This selection only works in the [[:Category:Classic|Classic]] and [[:Category:Cologne Blue|Cologne Blue]] skins (see [[#Skin|above]]).  In [[:Category:Monobook|Monobook]], there is a left panel anyway; in [[:Category:Nostalgia|Nostalgia]] there is none.


Since there is word wrapping but no wrapping within a word, the longest word and not the longest full label is the criterion:
This is the list of links to the various [[Special:SpecialPages|special pages]].  You may optionally have it appear at the right or left side of each page.  There is no option yet to have it appear at the top or bottom of the page.
*"contributions" - [[English Wikipedia|English]] and [[French Wikipedia]] and Meta - short, large font is possible
*"Beobachtungsliste" - [[German Wikipedia]] - long - large font is hardly useable
*"Foutenrapportage" - [[Dutch Wikipedia]] - ditto
*"Gebruikersbydraes" - [[Afrikaans Wikipedia]] - ditto


To use the full width of the screen for the main text, use Classic without quickbar or Nostalgia.  The drawback is that links are missing to the special pages and your user page, respectively.
The 'fixed' quickbar will appear at the top corner of the page, while the 'floating' quickbar will appear at the top corner of the [[:Category:Browser|browser]] window instead of scrolling with the article text.  Floating quickbars may not float correctly on old or [[:Category:Wikis with a mobile-view site|mobile]] browsers.


==Rendering math==
The quickbar must be enabled to allow you access to some features such as moving (renaming) a page, and in the case of Classic, also to arrive at the [[Special:SpecialPages|special pages]], unless you type the full URL in your browsers address box.
<pre>
Rendering math
o Always render PNG
o HTML if very simple or else PNG
o HTML if possible or else PNG
o Leave it as TeX (for text browsers)
o Recommended for modern browsers
o MathML if possible (experimental)
</pre>
MediaWiki allows you to enter mathematical equations as well.  These options let you control how that code is rendered into PNG images.
*'''Always render PNG''': always make a PNG image from the TeX code.
*'''HTML if very simple or else PNG''': if the TeX code is very simple, like "x = 3", render it as HTML. For more complex code, render as PNG.
*'''HTML if possible or else PNG''': this option tries really hard to use HTML, but if it's too complicated, then it renders it as PNG.
*'''Leave it as TeX''': don't convert the TeX code, just show it. This is primarily for text-based browsers like Lynx.
*'''Recommended for modern browsers''': if you use a web browser that was released in the past year or so, use this option.
*'''MathML if possible (experimental)'''


==Date format==
===Date format===<!-- this section needs updating -->
The following is rendered depending on preferences:
The following is rendered depending on preferences:
<pre>
<pre>
Line 110: Line 95:
  [[2001]]-[[01-15]]
  [[2001]]-[[01-15]]
  [[January 15]]
  [[January 15]]
  [[15 January]]
  [[15 January]]</pre>
</pre>


With your current preference setting on this project the seven are rendered as follows:
With your current preference setting on this project the seven are rendered as follows:
Line 124: Line 108:
By default, the rendering is as usual for links.  However one can specify as preference that all of the first five are rendered the same, in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th way.  If the 4th or 5th way is selected, the 6th and 7th line are not affected.  If the 2nd or 3rd way is selected, the 6th and 7th line are rendered accordingly, without the year.
By default, the rendering is as usual for links.  However one can specify as preference that all of the first five are rendered the same, in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th way.  If the 4th or 5th way is selected, the 6th and 7th line are not affected.  If the 2nd or 3rd way is selected, the 6th and 7th line are rendered accordingly, without the year.


==Editing==
===Time offset===
<pre>
<pre>
Editing
Server time: 16:34
Rows:           Columns:
Local time: 18:34
o Edit box has full width
Time zone*: select your local time zone from the comprehensive drop-down list
o Show edit toolbar
*Enter number of hours your local time differs from server time (UTC).</pre>
o Show preview before edit box and not after it
o Add pages you edit to your watchlist
o Mark all edits minor by default
</pre>


*'''Rows''', '''Columns''':  here you can set up your preferred dimensions for the textbox used for editing page text.
*'''Time diff''':  this is the number of hours to be added or subtracted from UTC to find your time zone.  This time zone is used when calculating displayed page update timestamps, and may become temporarily incorrect from time to time if you observe daylight saving time.  Don't forget to update it to match ''your'' local time, because the wiki doesn't know where you are or precisely when you celebrate DST.  (Also, the server's clock may be slightly offset from reality, much as Wikipedia articles may be!)  A scattering of typical (and possibly incorrect!) time diff values are below.  If yours isn't listed, try [http://www.timeanddate.com/time/abbreviations.html this link] or add and subtract a few hours as needed.
*'''Edit box has full width''':  if this box is checked, the edit box (when you click 'Edit this page') will be the width of the browser window, minus the quickbar width.
*'''Show edit toolbar''':  in compatible browsers, a toolbar with editing buttons can be displayed.
*'''Show preview before edit box and not after it''':  if you select this option, the preview will be displayed above the exit box when you click the 'Show preview' button while editing a page.
*'''Add pages you edit to your watchlist''':  if this option is selected, any articles that you create or modify will be automatically added to your [[Special:Watchlist|watchlist]].
*'''Mark all edits minor by default''':  this option automatically selects the 'This is a minor edit' checkbox when you edit pages.
 
==Time zone==
<pre>
Time zone
Server time is now: 06:34
Local time display: 08:34
Offset*:
*Enter number of hours your local time differs from server time (UTC).
</pre>
 
*'''Time diff''':  this is the number of hours to be added or subtracted from UTC to find your time zone.  This time zone is used when calculating displayed page update timestamps, and may become temporarily incorrect from time to time if you observe daylight saving time -- don't forget to update it to match ''your'' local time, because the wiki doesn't know where you are or precisely when you celebrate DST.  (Also, the server's clock may be slightly offset from reality, much as Wikipedia articles may be!)  A scattering of typical (and possibly incorrect!) time diff values are below.  If yours isn't listed, try [http://www.timeanddate.com/time/abbreviations.html this link] or add and subtract a few hours as needed.


** -10 (DST -9) Hawaii and western Aleutian Islands.  (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)
** -10 (DST -9) Hawaii and western Aleutian Islands.  (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)
Line 164: Line 128:
** -2 (DST -1) Mid-Atlantic.
** -2 (DST -1) Mid-Atlantic.
** -1 (DST 0) Azores, and Cape Verde Islands.
** -1 (DST 0) Azores, and Cape Verde Islands.
** 0 (DST 1) United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, mainland Portugal, Iceland (no DST), Casablanca, and Monrovia (no DST).
** 0 (DST 1) United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, mainland Portugal, Casablanca (Greenwich Mean Time).
** 0 (DST 0) Iceland (no DST), and Monrovia (no DST).
** 1 (DST 2) Most of Europe, and West Central Africa (no DST).
** 1 (DST 2) Most of Europe, and West Central Africa (no DST).
** 2 (DST 3) Bucharest, Kiev, Cairo, Johannesburg (no DST), Finland, and Jerusalem.
** 2 (DST 3) Bucharest, Kiev, Cairo, Johannesburg (no DST), Finland, and Jerusalem.
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*Recent changes
*Recent changes
*Related changes
*Related changes
*Page history, Image history
*Page history, File history
*User contributions
*User contributions
*New pages
*New pages
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The UTC time is applicable:
The UTC time is applicable:
*In the signing of Talk pages
*In the signing of Talk pages<!-- not here on WikiIndex - it seems to be server time of PST -->
*In the Upload log
*In the Upload log
*In referring to non-localized events, including things that happen on the wiki.
*In referring to non-localized events, including things that happen on the wiki.


Keep this in mind when copying an excerpt from Recent Changes, a revision history listing, etc. to a [[talk page]].  Convert manually to UTC or temporarily set the preferences to a zero offset before producing the revision history  etc. to be copied.
Keep this in mind when copying an excerpt from Recent changes, a revision history listing (aka a '[[diff]]'), etc., to a [[talk page]].  Convert manually to UTC or temporarily set the preferences to a zero offset before producing the revision history etc. to be copied.
 
===Advanced options===
<pre>
o Link underlining:
o Threshold for [[:Category:Stubs|stub link]] formatting:</pre>
 
*'''Link underlining''':  a trio of options for displaying [[wikilink]]s and external links;
*'''Threshold for stub link formatting''':  see [[:Category:Stubs|Stub]] feature.
 
===Math===
Rendering math<!-- needs updating to match latest software version -->
<pre>
o Always render PNG
o HTML if very simple or else PNG
o HTML if possible or else PNG
o Leave it as TeX (for text browsers)
o Recommended for modern browsers
o MathML if possible (experimental)</pre>
MediaWiki allows you to enter mathematical equations as well.  These options let you control how that code is rendered into PNG images.
*'''Always render PNG''': always make a PNG image from the TeX code;
*'''HTML if very simple or else PNG''': if the TeX code is very simple, like "x = 3", render it as HTML.  For more complex code, render as PNG;
*'''HTML if possible or else PNG''': this option tries really hard to use HTML, but if it's too complicated, then it renders it as PNG;
*'''Leave it as TeX''': don't convert the TeX code, just show it.  This is primarily for text-based browsers like Lynx;
*'''Recommended for modern browsers''': if you use a web browser that was released in the past year or so, use this option;
*'''MathML if possible (experimental)'''.
 
==Editing==
===Editor===
<pre>
Columns:
Rows:
o Mark all edits minor by default
o Prompt me when entering a blank edit summary
o Warn me when I leave an edit page with unsaved changes
o Show edit toolbar
o Enable enhanced editing toolbar
o Enable wizards for inserting links, tables as well as the search and replace function
o Edit box has full width</pre>
 
*'''Columns''', '''Rows''':  here you can set up your preferred dimensions for the textbox used for editing page text;
*'''Mark all edits minor by default''': this option automatically selects the 'This is a minor edit' checkbox when you edit pages;
*'''Prompt me when entering a blank edit summary''':  when selected, this option reminds you to add an [[edit summary]] when you try to save a page without;
*'''Warn me when I leave an edit page with unsaved changes''':  reminds you to save your edit before navigating away from current unsaved edit;
*'''Show edit toolbar''':  in compatible browsers, a toolbar with editing buttons can be displayed;
*'''Enable enhanced editing toolbar''':  gives an enhanced editing toolbar which includes special characters, wiki markup, etc;
*'''Enable wizards for inserting links, tables as well as the search and replace function''':  try it and see!
*'''Edit box has full width''':  if this box is checked, the edit box (when you click 'Edit this page') will be the width of the browser window, minus the quickbar width.
 
===Preview===
<pre>
o Show preview on first edit
o Show preview before edit box
o Add pages you edit to your watchlist</pre>
 
*'''Show preview on first edit''':  when selected, a full page preview will appear together with the edit box immediately after clicking on the edit tab; uncheck this box to show just the edit box on first click of edit tab;
*'''Show preview before edit box''':  if you select this option, the preview will be displayed above the exit box and not after it when you click the 'Show preview' button while editing a page;
*'''Add pages you edit to your watchlist''':  if this option is selected, any articles that you create or modify will be automatically added to your [[Special:Watchlist|watchlist]].
 
===Labs features===
<pre>
o Enable side-by-side preview
o Enable step-by-step publishing</pre>
 
==Recent changes==
===Display options===
 


==Recent changes and stub display==
<pre>
<pre>
Number of titles in recent changes:
Number of titles in recent changes:
o Hide minor edits in recent changes
o Hide minor edits in recent changes
o Enhanced recent changes (not for all browsers)
o Enhanced recent changes (not for all browsers)
Threshold for stub display:
</pre>
</pre>
* '''Number of titles on recent changes''':  you may select the number of changes which will be shown by default on the Recent Changes and Watchlist pages.  Once on those pages, links are provided for other options.
* '''Number of titles on recent changes''':  you may select the number of changes which will be shown by default on the Recent Changes and Watchlist pages.  Once on those pages, links are provided for other options.
* '''Hide minor edits in recent changes''':  registered users may choose to mark edits as being minor (meaning fixes too trivial for trusting users to check up on).  It applies to Recent Changes and Enhanced Recent Changes, but not to the Watchlist.  It also affects Related changes, but currently in an odd way: if the last edit of a page linking to the current page was minor, then neither that nor the last major change is shown.
* '''Hide minor edits in recent changes''':  registered users may choose to mark edits as being minor (meaning fixes too trivial for trusting users to check up on).  It applies to Recent Changes and Enhanced Recent Changes, but not to the Watchlist.  It also affects Related changes, but currently in an odd way: if the last edit of a page linking to the current page was minor, then neither that nor the last major change is shown.
* '''Enhanced recent changes''' (not for all browsers):  group recent changes per day by article, display the titles of the changed articles in order from new to old latest change, or in the case of hiding minor edits, latest major change.
* '''Enhanced recent changes''' (not for all browsers):  group recent changes per day by article, display the titles of the changed articles in order from new to old latest change, or in the case of hiding minor edits, latest major change.
* '''Threshold for stub display''':  see Stub feature.


==Search result settings==
==Search result settings==
Line 252: Line 280:


==Notes==
==Notes==
If you want to change your username (if, say, you didn't know about the use real names policy when you created your account, or your name changed when you got married), it is recommended that you do this retroactively in the sense that your previous user contributions are recorded under the new name.  Users and [[sysop]]s cannot do this, though a Beaucrat ''may'' be able to do so.  Signatures are not changed and therefore will no longer match page histories of the talk pages concerned.  However, you can edit signatures manually.  Also other occurrences of your name on talk pages are not retroactively changed.  The deletion log and the upload log are not altered.
If you want to change your [[username]] (if, say, you didn't know about the use real names policy when you created your account, or your name changed when you got married), it is recommended that you do this retroactively in the sense that your previous user contributions are recorded under the new name.  [[User]]s and [[sysop]]s cannot do this, though a [[WikiIndex:Bureaucrats|Bureaucrat]] ''may'' be able to do so.  Signatures are not changed, and therefore will no longer match page histories of the [[talk page]]s concerned.  However, you can edit signatures manually.  Also other occurrences of your name on talk pages are not retroactively changed.  The deletion log and the upload log are not altered.


;Account deletion is not possible
;Account deletion is not possible
Line 264: Line 292:


==External links==
==External links==
*[[MetaWiki:Help:Preferences|Wikimedia MetaWiki Help]]
*[[Meta-Wiki:Help:Preferences|MediaWiki Handbook: Help:Preferences]] at [[Wikimedia Meta-Wiki]]


[[Category:WikiIndex]]
[[Category:WikiIndex]]
[[Category:Help|User preferences help]]
[[Category:Help|User preferences help]]
Retrieved from "https://wikiindex.org/w/Special:MobileDiff/199151"

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