Challenge of the week: Correct simple errors in reference tags [closed]

Question

Hi WikiTreers,

Will you join our "Data Doctors" Challenge of the week?

This is an easy one to participate in, once you know how reference tags work, i.e.:

1. A footnote needs to start with <ref> and end with </ref>.
2. There needs to be a <references /> tag directly below the == Sources == headline for the footnotes to display.

Using these tags is naturally confusing for Newts. It's very frustrating for new members when a tag is missing or misplaced and they can't figure out why footnotes aren't appearing.

Once again, Aleš has come up with something incredibly helpful. He's prepared a report of profiles from around the tree where a reference tag appears to be misplaced. Click here for the list.

Can you help fix them?

The member with the most points at 11:59pm EDT on Sunday night will get the Winner badge this week and the bragging rights. But we'll all benefit from a neater, cleaner shared tree.

If you're participating, please post here to let us know. It's nice to cheer each other on. Or post if you have any questions about how to participate.

Thanks for helping!

Real-time tracking results: See your stats 
alongside other participants here.

Top 10

• Chris Hoyt - 753
• Derrick J. Watson - 698
• Helen E. Edwards - 613
• Virginia L. Fields - 587
• Kathy Zipperer - 291
• Anon Cormack - 264
• Erin J. English Bailey - 250
• Anders Lönnermark - 171
• Cathleen M. Langhoff - 163
• Alison A. Palmer - 120

Comments

Absolutely! I can do some. I tried to do a few but I am not on the trusted list so editing isn't possible?

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Cathleen - 

Above the Sources section:

Inline citations should look like <ref>some source listed here</ref>

they can be named, so <ref name="foo">bar</ref>

and then reused like so: <ref name="foo" />

In the Sources section:

there should be a <references /> tag, which triggers the code to display all those inline citations that were above it. 

there should not be any <ref>foobar</ref> inline citations after the <references /> tag. If you find those you can:

1. move them to the right location in the bio if you see where they belong, and make them inline citations

2. take the <ref> </ref> tags out but leave the text, and add an asterisk (if it's not already there) so that it appears as a bulleted Source

Make sure you leave "Data Doctor Suggestion <whatever number>" and an explanation in the comment for your change, and then also change the Status of the suggestion with a comment, so others know it's fixed. 

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Laura,

You are correct about the trusted list issue, you can send the PM a private message and note that in the Status of the suggestion, or you can put a comment on the page and also note in the status of the suggestion.

Alternatively, look for the numbers in the Open column, so you know you can edit them and get something done. You'll still have to skip over the pre-1700 / pre-1500 ones if you don't have those abilities, but creates a little more momentum

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Thanks!

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Why aren't people changing the status box after they make a correction?  I've looked up several errors, and the changes  (from the change heading) appear to be done, but status doesn't say so.  Waste of time.

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@Margaret, See my note above. The update of the spreadsheet seems down/not working/not uptodate for this suggestion.

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When correcting DBEs please check the change log BEFORE you make a correction, in case the DBE was already attended to by someone else.  It helps no-one if you uncorrect, or incorrectly re-correct, something that was already fixed.

Thanks!

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I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer - I need to restore a profile back to where I first edited it. How can I do that? It was a complicated reference tags profile and is not working out - please advise.

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You should see a link on the top of the change page to restore the profile. If there are multiple, you have to restore the most recent first and work your way through it.

The changes page is one of the tabs of a profile.

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Thank you Michel. I finally found the offending reference tags there were causing the problem!

Answer 1

I will help this week with the reference tags!

Answer 2

I can do this... Thanks.

(Sorry Virginia, I goofed and accidentally added a comment to your answer.)

Answer 3

Sure.  I'll knock off some.

Answer 4

I should be able to do some.

Answer 5

I will play! (Been gone from DD a while; Hi, all!)

Answer 6

Count me in!

Answer 7

I'm up for this! Let's knock out these ref errors.

Answer 8

I would like to help

Answer 9

I’ll knock off a few of these

Answer 10

I’ll do a few.

Answer 11

I'll see what I can get done.

Answer 12

I'm down to work on some of these.

Answer 13

I can do some.

Answer 14

Happy to add a few

Answer 15

I will work on these. I have lots of experience fixing my own goofs!!

Answer 16

i'll do a few to help out

Answer 17

absolutely!

Answer 18

I’m sure I can do a few of these as I sometimes create them.

Answer 19

I've done some pre-1500. I don't have many on my personal lists.

Answer 20

I'll try a few.