Wikipedia:Simple diff and link guide: Difference between revisions
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{{Wikipedia how to|WP:D&L}} |
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{{Template:3-tier diff}}{{Linking and page manipulation|linking and diffs}} |
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== What are diffs? == |
== What are diffs? == |
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A '''diff''' is a permanent link to a single edit or set of edits, showing the '''''diff'''''erence between the before and after versions. |
A '''diff''' is a permanent link to a single edit or set of edits, showing the '''''diff'''''erence between the before and after versions. |
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==Why use diffs and page section links?== |
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If you contribute an argument to a page like [[Wikipedia:requests for comment|requests for comment]], [[Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration|requests for arbitration]], or [[WP:ANI|the incidents noticeboard for administrative attention]], it's essential to give evidence for your claims in the form of [[diff]]s and/or other [[WP:LINK|link]]s. Without such evidence, you will be taken less seriously. If you simply claim that "editor X has posted several personal attacks on talkpages" or "editor Y is edit warring on [[George W. Bush]]", you may be ignored, or told "diffs or it didn't happen". |
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The most useful evidence consists of diffs to '''individual edits''' and links to '''[[help:Section|page section]]s'''. Don't link to entire talkpages, as they are too long and diverse to be helpful. Avoid linking to a [[Wikipedia:Edit history|page history]] or an editor's [[Wikipedia:contributions|contributions]], as those will probably have changed by the time somebody clicks on your link to view them. |
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==How to harvest a diff== |
==How to harvest a diff== |
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Revision as of 12:10, 25 August 2017
 | This help page is a how-to guide. It details processes or procedures of some aspect(s) of Wikipedia's norms and practices. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, and may reflect varying levels of consensus and vetting. |
| The 3-tier diff and link series |
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| Linking and page manipulation |
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What are diffs?
A diff is a permanent link to a single edit or set of edits, showing the difference between the before and after versions.
Why use diffs and page section links?
If you contribute an argument to a page like
The most useful evidence consists of diffs to individual edits and links to
How to harvest a diff
Find the page which contains the edit you want to refer to. Click on its history tab. Find the edit in the history list. (If that's a problem, clicking on the word prev in the list will let you read the edit.) Right-click on its "prev" button and select "Copy link location" or "Copy Shortcut". The diff you want is now in your clipboard.
How to harvest a page section link
Find the page which contains the section you want to refer to. Click on "Permanent link" in the "Toolbox" in the lefthand sidebar. Go to the page's Table of Contents. Right-click on the name of the section you want to use, where it appears in the Table of Contents, and select "Copy link location". The section link you want is now in your clipboard.
How to put diffs and links into your text
Diffs and other links are all formatted in the same way. The whole of them must always be used, including the http://.
- Diffs and links will work if they're simply pasted "naked" into your text like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/InShaneee/Workshop&diff=next&oldid=115703696.
- Or you can make them neater by putting single (not double) square brackets round them. Typing this:
[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/InShaneee/Workshop&diff=next&oldid=115703696]will give a note like this:[1]. - At this point removing the
http:orhttps:is advisable, to generateprotocol-relative URLs. - Or you can make them elegant by wrapping them into a word in your text. Typing this:
[//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/InShaneee/Workshop&diff=next&oldid=115703696 this]will give this link. Notice the space between the link and the wrapper word.