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[Nonoitall]

Nonoitall 5,681 edits since July 14, 2008

5,681

From Dragon Ball Wiki, the ''Dragon Ball'' encyclopedia

Hello, I'm nonoitall. I joined the Dragon Ball Wiki back on July 14, 2008, mainly motivated by massive removal of Dragon Ball content that was going on on Wikipedia, and received the privilege/responsibility of being an admin here about two weeks later. Ever since I've been trying to help out in whatever way I can. Mostly, I try to touch up articles and give them a more polished, encyclopedic style, and I also like to throw in my two cents when help is needed to establish policies. (Consistency makes me happy.) When I have time, I enjoy contributing new material and fixing up old material to the best of my limited ability. I'm still very new to wiki's in general, so if you know something you think I don't, I'm grateful to anyone who wants to share their knowledge.

I've been a little busy in real life recently and haven't been quite as frequent an editor as I once was, but I still try to help out with maintenance and other things when I have a chance to visit the wiki.

Contents

[edit] Wiki productivity tips

[edit] Custom color codes

I've had several people ask me where they can get color codes, for example, to use for attack infoboxes. The colors use RGB hexadecimal notation. Basically, there are six hexadecimal digits that describe the color. The first two digits represent the intensity of the red component, the second two digits represent the intensity of the green component, and the last two represent the intensity of the blue component. If that's a little over your head, there are also charts and generators available online that can help you to choose the right color code for your needs.

[edit] Templates

Templates are very versatile tools on a wiki, and knowing the ins and outs of their usage can help you to do some pretty neat things. Simply put, a template is a page on the wiki whose contents get used in other pages. In concept, they are somewhat similar to macros used in programming and office work. There is nothing magical about template pages — they are created just like any other page. The typical place to put general usage templates is in the Template namespace, which just means that the template's name will start with Template:. For example, Template:Fact is a template that is commonly used to request a citation for a statement.

There are two ways you can use a template: Transclusion and subclusion.

[edit] Transclusion

Transclusion is the most common way to use templates. In transclusion, you simply enclose the template's name in two pairs of braces. For example, when I write {{fact}} in an article, the following construct appears in its place:

[citation needed]

Note that I did not need to write out the Template namespace in the reference. (I did not need to write {{Template:Fact}}, though that would have had the same effect.) This is because the Template namespace is the default namespace for templates, and if you do not include a namespace in your reference, the wiki assumes that the template you're using resides in the Template namespace. If I wanted to transclude a page from a different namespace, I would be required to include the namespace in my transclusion. For example, there is a template at User:Nonoitall/sig that contains my signature. Since that page does not lie in the Template namespace, I must specify the page's namespace when transcluding it. So, I write {{User:Nonoitall/sig}} in order to produce the following result:

 talk contr 

If we want to transclude a template from the regular article namespace, for example, Vegeta Saga/Edited Episodes, we still need to specify a namespace, but since that namespace is technically unnamed, we simply use a colon preceded by nothing. In this example, we transclude that template by writing {{:Vegeta Saga/Edited Episodes}}.

An important thing to note about transclusion is that when you use it in an article, the article's actual code simply contains a reference to the template inside of two braces. Only when the article is displayed does the wiki software actually go and replace the reference with the code from the template. Hence, altering a template will also alter the final rendering of any page that transcludes the template, because the wiki will always retrieve the current revision of the template that the page refers to.

[edit] Subsclusion

Subclusion is a combination of transclusion and substitution. The notation for using subclusion is the same as transclusion, except that the special word, SUBST: must be included before the name of the page you are subcluding. In the previous examples, we would write {{SUBST:fact}}, {{SUBST:User:Nonoitall/sig}} and {{SUBST::Vegeta Saga/Edited Episodes}} to subclude those templates instead of transcluding them.

The difference between subclusion and transclusion is what finally gets saved as the page's wiki code. In translusion, the page's code simply contains the reference that is placed there by the editor — all the magic happens when the page is drawn by the wiki software. However, in subclusion, as soon as the page is saved, the template's code is actually copied into the page's code, replacing the reference that was put there. Let's suppose that I create a template at Template:Example and on that template I write the following:

Hi! This is nonoitall's example!

Now let's see the difference between what happens when we subclude that template, as opposed to transcluding it.

What we write on the pageWhat gets saved on the pageWhat gets rendered on the page
Transclusion{{example}}{{example}}Hi! This is nonoitall's example!
Subclusion{{SUBST:example}}Hi! This is nonoitall's example!Hi! This is nonoitall's example!

At first glance, it may look as though transclusion and subclusion are two different methods for accomplishing the same exact thing, but there is a key difference. Let's say that we decided to change the above template after using it on another page. For example, let's say we changed it to read like this:

Howdy! This template has been modified!

Now what happened to the pages where we previously transcluded/subcluded the template?

What we wrote on the pageWhat got saved on the pageWhat previously got rendered on the pageWhat now gets rendered on the page
Transclusion{{example}}{{example}}Hi! This is nonoitall's example!Howdy! This template has been modified!
Subclusion{{SUBST:example}}Hi! This is nonoitall's example!Hi! This is nonoitall's example!Hi! This is nonoitall's example!

As you can see, since subcluded templates are copied directly into the page's code, the copy is completely independent of the original template, and remains the same even if the original template is changed. However, with transclusion, any updates to the original template affect the pages on which the template is transcluded, as those pages only contain a reference to the template.

[edit] Parameters in templates

I'm not going to delve into it too much for now, but it's also possible to write a template that takes named or numbered parameters. These parameters are passed to the template when it is transcluded/subcluded by using the pipe (|) character to separate the the template name from its parameters. An example of this is the Template:Translation template, which accepts parameters such as the standard name, Japanese translation, literal translation and so on. For example, writing {{translation|'''Goku'''|孫 悟空|Son Gokū}} produces the following result:

Goku (孫 悟空, Son Gokū)

I suggest looking through templates like that and/or Googling if you'd like to find out more about this, though I may write more on this subject in the future.

[edit] Custom signatures

If you haven't read the above section about templates, I suggest that you do so before reading this section. If you'd like to have a custom signature that appears when you sign your comments, you can do so on the Special:Preferences page. You'll notice there is a text field on this page labeled, "Signature" and a check box labeled "Custom signature". You can place any code in the Signature field that you want, check the Custom signature box, and have it show up as your signature when you sign your name. Unless you intend your signature to be very simple, I suggest creating a template and simply subcluding that template in the signature box.

Since a signature is a personal project and doesn't relate to the wiki's theme, it is most appropriate to make your template a sub-page of your user page. A sub-page of a page is simply a page that has the same name as its parent, followed by a slash and another arbitrary name. For example, my user page is User:Nonoitall, so a sub-page of my user page would be a page named User:Nonoitall/name-of-sub-page, where name-of-sub-page is an arbitrary title. I've chosen to place my signature template at User:Nonoitall/sig.

You can create your signature at the sub-page of your choosing. If you're like me, you can click here to create a /sig sub-page of your own user page. (Instructions on formatting an elaborate signature are outside the scope of this discussion, but I suggest reading up on wiki and HTML code. Google is your friend here. It can also be helpful to look at the source code for others' signatures.) It's customary to have links to at least your user page and talk page in your signature. After you've created your signature template, you can use it as your signature by subcluding it into the Signature field on Special:Preferences.

I say subclude instead of transclude because if you attempt to transclude the template into your signature, the wiki will automatically convert your transclusion to a subclusion. (Isn't that special?) If you've read the above section, you'll know that this means the wiki is basically forcing you to create a complete copy of all your signature's code anywhere that you sign your signature. Also, since this is subclusion and not transclusion, places where your signature has been signed won't be updated retroactively when you update your signature template.

If you'd rather use transclusion, either to reduce code clutter where your signature is signed or to make your signature updates retroactive, there is a way you can work around the wiki software's pushiness. You can create a second sub-page that simply transcludes your signature template. Then subclude that second page in your Signature field. The result is that, when you sign your name, the wiki will subclude the contents of the second page onto the page you're signing. Since the second page simply contains a transclusion of your true template page, that's what will get copied on to the pages you sign. Sneaky, huh?

There is a caveat to doing this though. Bare in mind that any changes made to your signature template will change every page you've signed your name on. This applies not only to changes that you make, but also to changes that any prospective vandal decides to make. Thankfully, this doesn't seem to have been a problem on this wiki so far, but since there's very little reason for anyone but you to change your signature, I see no reason why you can't request that an admin protect your signature page if it would make you feel more comfortable. I'm happy to do so for anyone who would like me to.

Happy sig-writing!

[edit] FAQ

[edit] OMG, why did you just mess up my edit???

First of all, I'm sorry if I've offended you! I leave edit summaries on about 99% of my edits, so that's a good place to start looking if you want to know the purpose behind my edit. If that doesn't address your concerns, feel free to leave me a message. I make plenty of mistakes!

[edit] nonoitall, will you be my friend?

You betcha! If you'd like to be my friend, here are some things you can do to get on my good side:

  • Do...
    • ...use correct spelling and grammar, and write in an encyclopedic style.
    • ...discuss things in a civil manner on talk pages when differences of opinions arise.
    • ...abide by consensus once it's been established — even if you don't like it.
    • ...add in credible sources for unsourced information in articles.
    • ...remove harmful information that's unsourced.
    • ...request citations for harmless information that's unsourced.
    • ...leave summaries for your edits — especially when your edit undoes something someone just did, or when someone might question the rationale behind your edit.
    • ...rewrite content to make it more polished.
    • ...sign your comments on talk pages — even if you're an anonymous user.
    • ...mark pages that don't belong on the wiki for deletion.
    • ...send me a box of donuts every now and then. Oh, and I'd love a copy of the Japanese Dragonbox sets!
  • Don't...
    • ...vandalize or spam pages.
    • ...get into an edit war without communicating by talk page or edit summaries.
    • ...insult other editors for having an opinion other than yours.
    • ...add/change content in an article just for the sake of changing it, without adding any substance or improving its readability/accuracy.
    • ...add unverifiable information and fan fiction into articles.
    • ...blank articles that have been marked for deletion. (An exception is when removing vandalism or harmful information.)
    • ...edit other users' comments and user page (unless you're fixing a formatting problem, removing vandalism, or they request it).
    • ...make a nuisance of yourself when/if you're edit gets reverted. (If you feel it wasn't warranted, talk about it in a civil manner on the appropriate talk page, or through edit summaries if you're attempting to reach a compromise.)
    • ...edit my talk page a million times to leave one message.

[edit] Will you help me fix this article?

Believe me, nothing would please me more. I tend to be pretty busy though, and have to ration the time I spend on the wiki. As such I usually use what time I do have to try and undo regressions and touch up edits that need a little help. The method to my madness is that, if we can prevent the state of the articles from getting worse, then the wiki as a whole can only improve. Since I do try to look over most of the edits on the wiki though, if you've recently made a contribution that needs a little help, I will probably get to it without you having to say anything!

[edit] How can I help out?

Many ways! If there's a certain aspect of Dragon Ball that you're particularly knowledgeable about, improve that part of the wiki to the best of your ability. I'll be taking note of other things that could use some attention in the Places you can help section below.

[edit] Who's your favorite DB character?

I have to go with Gohan — particularly throughout the major Cell and Majin Buu Sagas. As runners up I'd probably pick Goten and then Goku. (Gotenks fits in there somewhere too, but I guess I already picked part of him in Goten.) As far as lesser known characters goes, Pikkon is probably my favorite.

[edit] Who's your favorite DB villain?

Cell — particularly in his Imperfect and Perfect forms. Runners up are Majin Buu and King Piccolo. Dr. Gero is also a favorite, though his role is a bit more behind the scenes than the others.

[edit] Places you can help

If you're looking for something to do, these are some areas I've noticed could use some help:

  • Episode summaries
    Many of the episode summaries (see a list of them on the guides/lists I mentioned in the last item) are pretty wanting in the grammar department, and could use the help of someone who can write in a polished, encyclopedic style.
  • Black Star Dragon Ball Saga biographies of Goku, Trunks and Pan
    These could use some help in the grammar/encyclopedic style department as well.
  • The movie write-ups for Goku
    Same as the last two items.
  • Daizenshuu
    Most of the sections in this article should be rewritten in a more encyclopedic style. (Words like "you" and "your" are no-nos, and a lot of it sounds almost like an ad for the Daizenshuu volumes.)
  • Images
    There are many low quality screenshots throughout the wiki. If you have access to the DVDs and can capture higher quality screenshots with which to replace them, that would be ideal.
  • Maintenance
    I do my best to look over most of the edits made on the wiki. (Doing so catches vandalism that might otherwise go unnoticed, and I also try to touch up any edits that were well-meaning, but may have grammar issues or other problems.) This demands most of the time that I spend on the wiki. If you've checked over a certain time range of edits and fixed up ones that need help, you can let me know so that I don't need to do the same thing twice. Any help in this area is greatly appreciated!
  • References
    Even for statements that are "common knowledge", it always good to have a reference to back it up. If you see a statement in an article that doesn't have a reference and you know where to find one, by all means add it!
  • Other
    I'm sure just about every page on the wiki could use some help in one way or another. Just look around and help out wherever you can!

Happy editing!

[edit] Places I try to help

For the most part, I'm sort of a self-appointed 'bottom feeder fish' of the wiki. Basically, I review almost every edit that is made to the wiki. For edits that don't quite fit in an encyclopedic article, I do my best to adjust them appropriately. This includes fixing everything from minor spelling and grammar mistakes to rewriting contributions that need it or eliminating vandalism and false information. It might seem like a lot of this is just nitpicks (and a lot of it is), but it's my feeling that if we can keep the wiki's quality from dropping, it will only improve. It's not the most enjoyable task in the world and it's time-consuming, but thorough maintenance does prevent a surprising amount of less-than-desirable content from lingering on the wiki for too long.

Other than that, I occasionally have time to contribute new material, or overhaul something that needs it, which is kind of what I'd prefer to do with all the time I spend on the wiki if I could.

As of late, I've been a little less active, though I still get on every now and then. SSJGoku93 and PrinceZarbon have graciously been helping out with maintaining the wiki.

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