WT:Signatures#Signature size guidelines

At least signatures from 2002–2005 used some old timestamp formats like:

• User:Example 22:50, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)
• User:Example 17:06, Apr 10, 2005 (UTC)

(these examples are from Talk:Chris_Claremont#List_of_X-Men_characters_created_by_Claremont).

These timestamps use the MDY format and/or shortened months.

Such signatures prevent the Reply button from showing up. Additionally, the "Latest comment: 19 years ago - 1 comment - 1 person in discussion" information section below the section header won't include these comments. You also can't subscribe to a section if it lacks that information section under the header.

So, if I see these old signatures, am I allowed to fix them by rearranging them to the DMY format and writing out the month? Or is there a planned fix for these in MediaWiki? Perhaps a bot run could be arranged to fix these? It should be an easy task, but would require tens of thousands of edits: [https://w.wiki/AnYs], [https://w.wiki/AnYt]. 2001:14BA:9C40:0:B03E:AC7D:4B9F:7666 (talk) 19:02, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

:I don't know about planned MediaWiki fixes, nor about bot tasks, but I do know that WP:TPO#Signature cleanup permits {{tq|you may edit the signature to the standard form with correct information}}. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 21:25, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

:There's a bug report about this situation at T246047, but as far as I know there are no plans to handle it in the software. Matma Rex talk 21:41, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

Should the 5 tildes (~~~~~) be gray, to reflect the style on comment pages (e.g. see the end of this comment)? Tule-hog (talk) 23:47, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

:No. The style for the timestamp in a signature indicates that it is a link to where the signature was used. There was a mention of this at WP:VPT a couple of months ago. Johnuniq (talk) 01:41, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

:{{replyto|Tule-hog}} No. It's not grey where it is actually used - in the editing box. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 07:44, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

:nuh uh Mcflurry2212 (talk) 09:08, 31 August 2024 (UTC)

Why on mobile it shows to use === when in edit == headers

--Luhanopi (talk) 17:08, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

:{{replyto|Luhanopi}} Which part of Wikipedia:Signatures does this relate to? --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 20:42, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

::Technical, to that page itself.

::Headers on Mobile show as H3 but the source uses H2 and H2 should be used.

::-- Luhanopi (talk) 06:23, 14 September 2024 (UTC)

:::The page markup includes: == How to sign your posts ==

==== Using five tildes ==== and on mobile this is what I am served:

I've got a black element in my signature that didn't show up in dark mode. I think I've fixed the issue. If you've got the same problem with a black or dark element, feel free to touch base with me. Schwede66 04:58, 10 October 2024 (UTC)

Use of a three-tilde signature breaks identification of the signature and placement of a [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk_pages_project/New_topic quick reply box] (if you don't have that enabled check your preferences) on the page. Given that is the case, can we change guidance to recommend against use of a three-tilde signature on talk pages? Ifly6 (talk) 06:42, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

: As you can see there is no quick reply button (and therefore no box) at this location. Ifly6 (talk)

::It's because the timestamp is linked, and the reply tool depends upon that link. No timestamp → no link → no reply. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 13:50, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

::I know, that's why I asked whether we should change guidance to recommend against usage of three-tilde signatures on talk pages. Ifly6 (talk) 17:44, 16 November 2024 (UTC)