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User:5Q5#How to Archive a Talk Page by 5Q5

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To visitors: Please visit my talk page to leave a message. Thank you.

My first edit as a registered editor was on October 11, 2006. Prior to that I was an unregistered editor, though sparsely.

What does "5Q5" mean? Nothing profound. Looking back, I was probably thinking of a United States five-dollar bill with two fives on each side and "Q" referring to the race of superbeings on Star Trek called the Q.

Disclaimer: I may access Wikipedia and its sister sites using a laptop via public wireless shared-IP networks and therefore I am not responsible for the actions of other editors who may also use them.

Disclaimer: Wikipedia and its sister sites are the only place on the Internet or elsewhere where I am associated with the username "5Q5". I only have this one account and username.

Thanks. -- 5Q5|✉

How to Archive a Talk Page (manually) <small>by 5Q5</small>

This page used to be linked on Help:Archiving a talk page but the info is now over 10 years old so it is best to see the current instructions.

{{collapse top}}

Step by Step Instructions - Archiving a Talk Page (Common Cut-and-Paste to Subpage Method)

  • (NOTE: These instructions were written over a decade years ago, but I assume they will still work.)
  • These are detailed steps to follow for the beginner. Once you have some experience, you should be able to complete the archiving process by remembering the basic steps. Some editors create a temporary .txt file on their computer and copy and paste material to and from that during the archiving.

1.  Minimize this page to your taskbar and then log back in to Wikipedia and go to the Talk page that you want to archive. Minimizing this page will allow you to refer to it by opening and minimizing it again as you proceed through the steps. You could also print out these instructions and then check them off after completion.

2.  On the Talk page that you want to archive, look at the address bar at the top of the browser. It should read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:[the article's name]. Add the name  /Archive_1  at the very end of the address and highlight and copy (Ctrl-C) the last two segments  Talk:[article's name]/Archive_1  for pasting momentarily in a subsequent step.

Example: the address for the Psychokinesis Talk page is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Psychokinesis.

The address segment you would want to create and copy is  Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive_1

(If you are doing Archive 2 or Archive 3 , etc., you would number it accordingly.)

3.  While still on the current Talk page, click the top tab: "edit this page."

4.  An Editing Talk page will appear. Paste (Ctrl-V) the  Talk:[article's name]/Archive_1  that you just copied in step 2 into the left search box. Do not press "Go" yet.

5.  Highlight and copy (Ctrl-C) the entire source code from the current Talk page as it appears in the editing box. You will be pasting this code in a few moments a subsequent step.

6.  Now you can click the "Go" button to conduct a search for  Talk:[article's name]/Archive_1

7.  On the next Search page, You will see the proposed new page in red text. Click on it.

8.  An  Editing Talk:[article's name]/Archive_1  page with an empty compose box will appear. This is where you will create the new page for Archive 1.

9.  Paste (Ctrl-V) the source code from the current Talk page into the Archive 1 compose box.

10.  After the source code has been pasted, at the top of the source code, delete any templates for Wiki Talk page notices. They are not needed for archive pages. If you are creating Archive 2 or Archive 3, etc., keep the previous Archive template that already appears in the code. Pages that are archived have their own special notice. Add the following Wiki template to the top of the code: 

{{talkarchive}}

Example of the edit page for

[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive_1&action=edit Editing Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive 1] and how the archive page looks: Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive_1

Example of the edit page for

[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive_10&action=edit Editing Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive 10] and how the archive page looks: Talk:Psychokinesis/Archive_10

11.  Enter:  "Archive 1 created"  in the bottom edit summary box.

12.  Click the  "Preview" button. If everything looks okay, click  "Save page."  You have now created  Archive1  for the article's Talk page. Archive pages have their own History tab. The first entry will be the  "Archive 1 created"  attributed to you.

13.  Return to the article's current Talk page. You may need to find it through a search for the article or try the History folder. It is now time to empty the page.

14.  Click the top tab:  "edit this page."

15.  On the  Editing Talk  page, you can now delete as much of the current Talk page as necessary to allow space for new topics. There may be some currently active discussions or other material that should be kept. This is a judgment call. Other editors may decide to return currently unresolved discussions on their own. Obviously, it would defeat the purpose of clearing out the page of old material if this is overdone.

16.  Add the following Archive info box template at the top of the new Talk page code. Place it under any templates for Wiki Talk page notices that may already be there. This simplified template will center the Archive numbers and add a search box. Note: do not use this simplified template at the top of your archived page codes; use it only on the current talk page. See #10 above for what to use on archived pages. For an example of what the template below will look like on a current talk page, see the current Talk:Psychokinesis page.

{{archives|auto=yes|search=yes|}}

Here is how the archive source code looks at the top of the current [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Psychokinesis&action=edit Talk:Psyckokinesis] editing page. Note how the archive template is placed under any other templates.



{{talkheader}}


{{WikiProject Paranormal|class=start}}


{{Rational Skepticism|class=B|importance=mid}}


{{controversial3}}


{{archives|auto=yes|search=yes}}

17.  Enter:  "Archive 1 created."   or similar note, along with any other comments in the bottom edit summary box. I usually put: ARCHIVED - Creation of Talk:[article's name]/Archive 1."

18.  Click the  "Preview" button. There should be an Archive box in the upper right displaying the link to Archive1 and date created. If everything looks okay, click  "Save."  Creation of the Archive1 page is complete!

- End Instructions -

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Wiki templates, tags, policy/guideline links <small>(stored here for 5Q5's personal use)</small>

Custom message boxes

;Examples of custom messages I created for use in articles. For more info on amboxes, see Template:Ambox

{{ambox|type=content|text=An editor is requesting consensus regarding revising material in this section. Please consider participating in the discussion on the talk page here.|date=[month] [year]}}

{{ambox|type=content|text=An editor is requesting consensus regarding deleting material from this section. Please consider participating in the discussion on the talk page here.|date=[month] [year]}}

{{ambox|type=content|text=An editor is requesting consensus regarding adding material to this section. Please consider participating in the discussion on the talk page here.|date=[month] [year]}}

{{ambox

|type=content

|text=An editor is requesting consensus regarding adding a link to this section. Please consider participating in the discussion on the talk page here.

|date=[month] [year]}}

;A custom messages box I created for use in a talk page discussion where repeated disruptive editing is occurring in the article (for extreme cases, not everyday use).

:

{{warnsign}}: Repeatedly undoing edits that correct violations of Wikipedia Policies and Guidelines is considered disruptive editing and can result in a temporary or permanent topic or site-wide block. You are strongly advised to discuss any concerns on the talk page before undoing such corrective edits. Casting aspersions and WP:HOUNDING are also indicators of disruptive editing. Please discuss the article content and not other editors. ~~~~

::Copy and paste this code (the border pixel width can be increased from 1 to 2 if desired; revise secondary WP content as needed):

:::

{{warnsign}}: Repeatedly undoing edits that correct violations of Wikipedia Policies and Guidelines is considered disruptive editing and can result in a temporary or permanent topic or site-wide block. You are strongly advised to discuss any concerns on the talk page before undoing such corrective edits. Casting aspersions and WP:HOUNDING are also indicators of disruptive editing. Please discuss the article content and not other editors. ~~~~

Citation templates

;Assorted citation templates

See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Citation_templates Category:Citation templates], Wikipedia:Citation templates, Wikipedia:Citing sources.

Setting up multiple references from the same source. First: Subsequent references: .

;Web template

See also Template:Cite web.





{{cite web


|url=


|title=


|last=


|first=


|date=


|year=


|website=


|publisher=


|location=


|page=


|pages=


|access-date=


|archive-url=


|archive-date=


|quote=


}}




    

  • This is a simplified template. Include comma in dates; e.g.: January 1, 2014.
    • 








{{cite web


|url=


|title=


|last=


|first=


|date=


|access-date=


|language= [example, if website is in Spanish, put =es here]


|trans-title= [put English translation of title here]


|trans-quote= [put English translation of quote here]


}}




    

  • This is a simplified template for use with citations that are in a non-English language.
    •

; Books (long and short templates)

See also Template:Cite book.





{{cite book


| last =


| first =


| author-link =


| title =


| publisher =


| series =


| volume =


| edition =


| date =


| location =


| pages =


| language =


| url =


| doi =


| id =


| isbn =


| mr =


| zbl =


| jfm =


}}




    

  • Variation if page number element is used: | page = [will auto-display "p."] or | pages = ["pp."].
    • 

  • If used, a quote will automatically appear in quotation marks, so do not add.
    • 

  • Add any additional useful information before the  tag.
    • 








{{cite book


| last1=


| first1=


| title=


| year=


| publisher=


| location=


| isbn=


| page=


| pages=


| quote=


}}

;Magazines, etc. (short and long templates)





{{cite journal


| last=


| first=


| date=


| title=


| journal=


| location=


| publisher=


| id=


| page=


| pages=


| quote=


}}




    

  • Add "p." for "page" and "pp" for "pages" For "id" add the ISSN number.
    • 








{{cite journal


| last=


| first=


| author-link=


| coauthors=


| title=


| journal=


| volume=


| issue=


| pages=


| publisher=


| location=


| date=


| id=


| isbn=


| page=


| pages=


| quote=


}}

; General citation template





{{Citation


| last=


| first=


| title=


| date=


}} [add any additional text here that identifies the work or author]




    

  • This is a simplified general template for documents, reports, etc.
    •

Assorted templates and Wiki information links

See also Help:Talk pages#Assorted talk page boxes and graphics

;Quotations

{{tq|quoted text}}    (Inline use on talk pages. Text appears green. See below.)

{{tq|Text is quoted in green and displayed inline in a talk page discussion.}}

{{Talkquote|quoted text}}    (Creates the following below on a separate line.)

{{Talkquote|Text is quoted and displayed in a talk page discussion.}}

   (Creates the following below on a separate line.)

Text is quoted and displayed in a talk page discussion. Change colors as desired.

{{Quote|quoted text| Who said it| Source, page ___}}    (Indented with no box, make Source in italics.)

{{Quote|quoted text| Source, page __}}    (Indented with no box.)

{{quotation|quoted text| Who said it| Source}}    (Creates example below.)

{{quotation|Quoted material| Person who said it| Source}}

;Top banners/flags

{{Unreferenced|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: "This article does not cite any references or sources.")

{{verify}}   (creates: "This article needs additional citations for verification.")

{{Refimprove|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: "This article needs additional citations for verification.")

{{POV-check}}   (nominates page for neutrality check)

;Section banners/flags

{{expand section}} (creates a small boxed notice: "This section requires expansion.")

{{Request edit}} (creates a boxed notice requesting a review of a proposed edit that might be a conflict of interest)

;Line tags/flags

(Optional parameter: | reason = )

{{cn|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: citation needed)

  • {{fact-span|text= |date=Month 2025}}   (creates: citation needed  Also faintly boxes the text being questioned.)

{{clarify|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: clarification needed)

  • {{clarify|reason= |text= |date=Month 2025}}   (creates: clarification needed  Also faintly boxes the text being questioned.)

{{explain|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: further explanation needed)

{{vague|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: vague)

{{Failed verification|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: not in citation given)

{{Request quotation|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: need quotation to verify)

{{whom?|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: according to whom?)

{{Specify|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: specify)

{{Dubious|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: dubious – discuss)

{{Verify credibility|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: unreliable source?)

{{better source|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: better source needed)

{{Verify source|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: ''verification needed')

{{editorializing|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: editorializing?)

{{peacock-inline|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: peackock term)

{{weasel-inline|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: weasel words)

{{or|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: original research?)

{{Volume needed|date=Month 2025}}   (creates:Volume & issue needed)

{{Dead link|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: dead link)

{{failed verification|date=Month 2025}}   (creates: failed verification and mouse hover text: "The material near this tag failed verification of its source citation(s).")

; Lists

Do not use br. See MOS:LISTGAP, WP:BULLETLIST, WP:UBLIST, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Plainlist Template:Plainlist], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Bulleted_list Template:Bulleted_list].

;Redirect

(Place this instruction in the blank code section of the editing page of a newly created article that needs to be redirected to an already existing article. Example: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Telekinesis&action=edit Telekinesis redirect].)

#REDIRECT name of article to be forwarded to

;Talk page shortcut template to mention other editor's name

{{u|Insert Username here}}

Creates (example): To {{u|Insert Username here}}, I read your comments and agree with you.

;Closing a talk page discussion

(Place this template above the talk page topic section that is to be closed for further discussion. No closing tag is needed. The section will be boxed off and colored with a message at top: "The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.")

{{atop|result=Insert reason for closing here if desired. It will be displayed in a separate box to the right.}}

;Talk page graphics and icons

{{seealso|Wikipedia:List of discussion templates}}

{{Check mark}}  creates  {{Check mark}}

{{Done}}  creates  {{done}}.  (Add the period. It is not automatic.)

{{Partly done}}  creates  File:Gold check mark.svg Partly done:

{{Not done}}  creates  File:Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done:

{{Question}}  creates  File:Pictogram voting question.svg Question:

{{Fixed}}  creates  {{fixed}}

{{Resolved mark}}  creates  {{Resolved mark}}

{{tl|cross}}  creates  {{cross}}

{{tl|outdent}} or {{tl|od}}  creates a carry-over line to begin discussion at far left. {{outdent}}

{{articlelinks|Insert article name here}}   creates (for use on a talk page discussion post on a separate line, such as at the top, insert the name of the linked article being discussed):

{{articlelinks|Insert article name here}}

;Unsigned posts

(Obtain information from history log, place in template below, and add this to the end of the unsigned comment on the talk page.)

See also: Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages

{{subst:unsigned|Put username or IP address here|Day Month Year (UTC)}}

; Wikipedia tools

[https://xtools.wmcloud.org/ xtools.wmcloud.org]

[http://en.wikichecker.com/ en.wikichecker.com]

=Policies, Guidelines, etc.=

{{Col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

MOS:ONWHITE (color chart)

Wikipedia:Deletion policy

Wikipedia:List of policies

Wikipedia:List of guidelines

Help:Wikitext

Wikipedia:List of essays

Wikipedia:How to edit a page See also Wikipedia:Cheatsheet

Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines

Help:Using talk pages

Wikipedia:Template messages/Talk namespace

Wikipedia:Refactoring

Wikipedia:WikiProject edit counters

Help:Page history

Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lead section

Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Biographies

Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Icons

Special:ListUsers - Search the list of all Wikipedia usernames.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Upload&uselang=en-screenshot&wpUploadDescription={{Non-free%20use%20rationale%0A|Article=%0A|Description=%0A|Source=%0A|Portion=%0A|Low_resolution=%0A|Purpose=%0A|Replaceability=%0A|other_information=%0A}} Uploading a screenshot]

Wikipedia:Verifiability

Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources

Wikipedia:Disputed statement

Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute

Wikipedia:NPOV dispute

Wikipedia:Edit warring

Wikipedia:Disruptive editing

WP:Vandalism

Wikipedia:Signs of sock puppetry

Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard

Wikipedia:No original research

Wikipedia:Circular

Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not

Wikipedia:Protection policy

Wikipedia:Civility

Wikipedia:Image use policy

Wikipedia:Non-free use rationale guideline

Wikipedia:Media copyright questions

Wikipedia:Contact us/Article problem/Copyright

Wikipedia:Oversight

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Wikipedia:Redlink

Wikipedia:Relevance

Wikipedia:Overlinking / WP:Repeatlink

Wikipedia:Notability

Wikipedia:Profanity

Wikipedia:Gaming the system

Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Words to watch

Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style#National_varieties_of_English

Wikipedia:Ignore all rules

Wikipedia:Article titles

Special:ProtectedTitles

Wikipedia:POLLS

Wikipedia:Layout

Wikipedia:List of shortcuts

Wikipedia:External links

Wikipedia:RFC (Requests for comment)

Wikipedia:Userboxes

Wikipedia:User pages

Wikipedia:Changing username

Wikipedia:Clean start

meta:Right to vanish

Wikipedia:Retiring

Wikipedia:Signatures

Wikipedia:Signature tutorial

WP:External links to avoid

Wikipedia:Barnstars - Awards to give to other Wikipedia editors on their Talk pages.

Wikipedia:Service awards - Awards given to oneself.

Wikipedia:Awards by WikiProject

Wikipedia:Other awards

Wikipedia:Personal user awards

Wikipedia:Recent changes patrol

Wikipedia:Volunteer response team

Wikipedia:Editcountitis

[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Contributions User Contributions search]

Nostalgia Wikipedia Archive of Wiki pages as they appeared on Dec 20, 2001.

[http://deletionpedia.dbatley.com/w/index.php?title=Main_Page Deletionpedia] Automated archive of deleted Wiki articles.

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= Templates =

Note: sometimes adding "|section" to a template will change its named use from article to section.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Search&search=+prefix:Wikipedia%3ATemplate+messages&fulltext=Search Templates - Search results]

  • Template:Notability/doc Notability guideline parameters for templates. Example: {{notability|academics|date=[Month, year]}}.
  • [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Archival_templates Category:Archival templates] (list)