Would this be ok to do? [closed]

Question

A lot of my profiles are starting to get really, really, really long at the bottom with all my inline citations... and I think it looks tacky

So I was experimenting and think I found a solution that would make my profiles look a lot cleaner.... example here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nielsen-4735

My question is whether or not this would even be ok for me to do to my profiles?

I hope so, because I really like it ...a lot!

Comments

I think it is just. And neat. I like it (:

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Hi Stephany,

Although your blockquote is not really approved WikitTee styling. I do like the way you think and how you are trying to be innovative to solve a problem you have.

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Nine sources is not long.

Answer 1

I don't know, if I've scrolled down to the bottom of the page in the first place it's because I want to see the sources, I'm not thrilled about having to scroll some more, and only being able to see a little at a time. I'd also wonder whether it doesn't make it harder for the visually impaired to access. But it is neat, I admit.

Answer 2

I agree that it looks neat, but I do not really like it. It makes it harder to find the source you are looking for. If the box was a bit bigger it might help.

Comments

No offence to the OP, but I detest it. I'd rather see a source list as long as my arm than use those horrible scroll boxes.

Answer 3

That lovely scroll box, that you will occasionally find on older profiles is no longer recommended on wikitree. It requires HTML coding which is not recommended. Here's the list of Wikitree coding.

Comments

Many profiles use various kinds of boxes and tables.  I think this is another example of an out of date help page which needs to be addressed.

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I'm not positive what boxes and tables you're referring to Joe, but I think they are covered under the braces section.

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Hi, Joe --

Anne's correct. HTML and  CSS are specifically not recommended, and the page she referenced is the correct page. There's an additional page that discusses more about why they shouldn't be used here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:HTML_and_Inline_CSS

The tables that you see are wikitables which use standard Wiki Markup.

Answer 4

Sorry, I would not be interested in having to fiddle about scrolling, so unless it was a profile I really needed to use I would not be interested in reading it. It is not even easy to scroll if you are using an ipad. I am afraid I don’t think it looks better either.

Comments

My feeling too.

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Me three.

Answer 5

If you wanted to shorten the text on the profile, try writing a narrative bio instead and using <ref></ref> to attach the sources.  That would get rid of all those headings with attendant white space before and after them.

Comments

This is a very good suggestion. I have also at times added __NOTOC__ at the top of a profile to get rid of the table of contents.

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i do use <ref></ref> all the time

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I had no idea about  __NOTOC__ Thanks! 

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But do you write a narrative bio? For instance,
"Bertha Sophia Nielsen was born on 3 Jun 1865 in Maribo, Denmark to  Niels Rasmüssen  and Gjertrud Marie Jensdatter, and baptised on 24 September 1865 in Gloslunde, Maribo, Denmark."

would take up only a couple of lines; a lot less room than the current 7 lines it takes.  Thus, by putting together your text, you would leave more room for sources.

Answer 6

I would prefer to see the sources listed and easy to see without the scrolling.  I agree with Jillaine, nine is not very many sources at all.

Comments

this profile was just an example i have much longer ones

Answer 7

When I'm scrolling down a page on my laptop, I'm usually using the space bar because it's easier on my hands than mouse clicks in the scrollbar; it would annoy me to have to use the mouse to see your sources.

And I agree with several other commenters -- if I've made it all the way to the bottom and am still scrolling down, it's because I *want* to see all your sources.

It does at least behave well with the inline links.

Answer 8

I am not a fan, as it puts in scrolling-within-scrolling as others have said. I do, however, appreciate you asking! I hope you don't feel like you're at the bottom of a dogpile ;)

As Ros suggested in one of the other answer comments, consider writing in paragraphs instead of lists--it really cuts down on the length.

To put it in perspective, your sources section is currently only as long as your Born, Christening, Marriage, and Children sections. If you wrote a sentence for each (granted, the children will be a long list in a sentence), you'd save about as much space as your current source code box, but all would be visible instead of hidden in an inner scrollbox.

Answer 9

You want to see what a nice profile is... look at some of these...

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Examples

Comments

Thanks ....BUT I do know what a nice profile looks like......

Here are a few examples of "NICE" profiles I have written the biography for and am quite proud of one of which is featured on that list of examples

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Weaver-6642

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Parker-11929

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harper-6545

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Logan-2228

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cash-217

Answer 10

To me, your citations scroll box breaks the continuity of the page. I would not use it on any profile that I manage. As with most of the others who have posted, I prefer a single scroll bar; I find that look much cleaner than the scroll box look.

Also, long Sources sections are no problem, in my view. I have many profiles with 25 or more citations that I have placed under a sub-heading for FamilySearch (my go-to repository!). My inline-citations sub-heading areas generally aren't as long since I haven't written many Biographies yet.

Finally, as a couple other members have noted, the use of (most) HTML coding is discouraged by current style guidelines.

Sorry we had to burst your bubble, Stephanie!!