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

• Bobbie Hall - 1,053
• Phillip J. Jares - 972
• Mary R. Jenkins - 909
• Patricia A. Roche - 542
• Esmé G. van der Westhuizen - 408
• Walter W. Steesy - 376
• Karen M. Hoy - 323
• Susan E. Gore - 235
• Cindy L. Cooper - 223
• Carol E. Keeling - 195

Comments

Challenge is active

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http://tinyurl.com/Doctorsheet   spreadsheet link (fixed)

All updated and ready to go. Below is a link on the G2G post explaining how to do Data Doctor Challenges with screenshots.

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/631771/data-doctor-challenge-guide 

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I am in.  Have actually been working on these since the last time it was a challenge.

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Stephen, the spreadsheet link isn't working for me.  Error is that tiny url isn't finding a link to redirect to.  The Challenge Guide link works.

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I'm in. I work on these errors outside of the challenge anyway.

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I'm in too!

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Please use the correct form of references tag.  I've come across a couple done today that were not correct and those will generate another error.

The correct form is 

<references />

No colon in it, use a space after the word references and before the /.  It's easy to copy and paste from the side of the profile where both the sources heading and references tag are readily available.  I do it all the time, especially if I have also cleaned the profile and need it again.

== Sources ==
<references />

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It kept adding a space to the end of the link until I put the actual link over the link. Fixed now.

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I will help with this.

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will do a few this morning, just did a couple of things on one profile -Thomas David Wheeler m. Ann Hawkins, appears theres a few things wrong with this one including a duplc.  so will see what i can do to fix all errors on it, before i go to anything else.  I'm supposed to be working but need a break, so will stick around here for a bit and help while i can & will try to come back off and on today to help more

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I'd like to participate. How do I get started?

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Hi Sharon if you go here -

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/DBE_ErrorList_Challenge_51_860

look at the this and see which ones u think you can help with then just click on a name in the list - make sure to hit the challenge tracker when you are done, or go back to the status in the error list and click the status button there and complete the form of what you did to correct errors

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Count me in!

Answer 1

There are people getting ticked off when there are only a few things to work on when people don't document what they work on. It means people are constantly starting to re-do the work before they see it is done. I don't care if you document it on the sheet if you don't use it, document it HERE and I'll transfer it over.

Are you only doing errors in a specific state? don't claim them all especially if you grab the large one.State working on page 1 or 2 etc. That allows others to go to where you are NOT working and enjoy correcting without stepping on someone else constantly.

No, you don't have to use the sheet, and no you don't have to document it here. But you also don't have to ever brush your teeth or take a bath. Will you still expect to be kissed? 

Answer 2

All the pre-1500 suggestion are complete except 1. (I did not do all of them). This profile is flagged but I and someone else could not find the problem on this one: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clifford-243. The profile is a bit different in that it uses special characters in names and formatting wiki formatting in the body of the references.

Comments

Just a thought, but might it be the very last paragraph that is actually causing it to be flagged? This paragraph says "Also, automated message is showing a <ref> error - "The biography has unmatched <ref> tags." but I can't find it." This paragraph itself seems to contain 2 apparent <ref> statements neither of which has a corresponding </ref> statement, so unless the suggestion report is clever enough to ignore them then this might at least not be helping the issue.

I'm not pre-1500 certified so I can't check if this is all or even part of the problem.

Answer 3

I'll work on the ones from Quebec (all years).  I'll mark the spreadsheet too.

Answer 4

I'll work on these this week

Answer 5

Working on 863 errors 1700-1799, from the bottom up.

Answer 6

I'll pitch in today working on Wisconsin errors.

Comments

Wisconsin is all cleaned up!! (Well, at least the tag problems are.)

Answer 7

Not sure how many I will get done but count me in.

Answer 8

I'll help with 863 errors in Georgia, post-1500, top down.  I'll note the spreadsheet.

Answer 9

I will do a few

Answer 10

I'll work on this.  I started sort of in the middle of the open ones.  Most  have required me looking up her sources so it's slow going so far. She names the source but doesn't cite it (ex. <ref> Find a Grave.)

Answer 11

I'm in!  Not sure what to do with the locked profiles, though.  There are quite a few.

Comments

Locked profiles you either leave a side message on the profile or you send a private message to the PM about the error.

Answer 12

I am in for this week

Answer 13

Hi All!  I am a newb and need your guidance.  I am working on 863 errors in Georgia and have a question on Nicholson-3103.  I tried entering the <references /> tag after the "Notes" heading, thinking (hoping) it would link up...but no.  I do not see the answer elsewhere.   How should I handle this?  

Comments

Hi Mary-Ellen i see there is no   == Source ==  section at the bottom of the page after Notes, please add  this way inclding the  * at bottom on separate line, this should pull your sources into sources section if they are done with the <ref>  at beginning of source   and </ref> at end of source up in bio and notes

== Source ==

<references/>

*

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in top 1st paragraph u were missing </ref> at end of paragraph on last ref section there, so i went ahead and added it for you.  once you put in the

sub-title of

== Sources ==

<references/>

*

you should automatically in preview see the top section become sourced in the sources section

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Thank you, Arora, I will make these changes!

That worked!  Thank you, Arora, for making the correction on the 1st reference, and for your spot-on guidance!

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your welcome, ooh i see in my instructions i have "no space"

when u do inline referencing make sure there is a space

<ref />  at the beginning after the f

</ ref> and again at end before the r

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Understood, thank you again!

Answer 14

I've tried clicking through to the Challenge tracker at the top of a profile I've fixed.  The only items I see there now (4) don't apply to the weekly challenge - they are for month long projects.  Intead I go back to the error list and update the status from there.  Should I be seeing something different when I click on that Challenge Tracker button?

Or I don't recognize what to me should sound like weekly challenge clean up references??

Comments

just update the status. That is how we actually track it now. You can see by clicking the challenge tracker link in the upper left of the sheet or by clicking the "see your stats alongside other participants here" link in the original post up top.

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/631771/data-doctor-challenge-guide 

Answer 15

I'm in.  I've dabbled in challenges but this is the first official

Answer 16

Count me in. I will try and work from Steven's spreadsheet.

Answer 17

Given the incoming heat wave, a straight-forward challenge is welcome. Count me in. I'll work on 863 Missing <references /> tag for the 1700s.

Comments

people are working Maine only, Quebec only, and bottom up on this category. Just wanted you to be aware.

Answer 18

I have been putting in a few over the last 24 hours or so. Mostly orphans. (I do feel sorry for them somehow...)

Answer 19

I'm working on 863 Missing <references /> tag, 1800-1899, for Missouri.

 But can I also get some help with Data Doctor protocol?

I'm working one-handed while my toddler naps on top of me, and I'll have to stop working when he wakes up. So I won't be able to finish everything in that category. I'm not going for big numbers, just trying to pitch in a little bit.

But I also don't want to cause confusion by working on what someone else is working on.

Is it okay to state my category but get nowhere close to finishing it?

Comments

Do what you can, Jessica. If any of us run into what you're working on, I'm sure we can work around you. Every bit helps!

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Okay. Thanks!