Template talk:DidYouKnow/current

Rotation
Now that we have almost 53 of these, do you want to set up a rotation like we have for the featured article and featured source? I was thinking of taking the day of the year and dividing by 7 to get the week (rounding down, you get a number from 0 to 52). We could either change the current week's trivia file as we add new ones, or we could start numbering them from 0 to 365 and have the trivia change daily, defaulting to the last one in the current week, as we slowly fill them in. (At the current rate, this will take more than 6 years to fill out the calendar.) This way, the trivia will update automatically even when we're not here to attend to it. What do you think, sirs? &mdash;Moviesign (talk) 15:07, January 5, 2014 (UTC)


 * It's possible. I think there's already a Wikimedia widget to choose the number of the week, making picking a number simpler. However, that would need 52 or 365/366 DYK pages (i.e., Template:DidYouKnow/1, Template:DidYouKnow/2, ...) which would be quite tedious to construct in quantity.
 * However, the philosophy I've been using, borrowed from Wookieepedia and others, is to use DYK to showcase recent new articles. A half-dozen articles of different types (character, place, organisation, spell, item, year, etc.) from each of our users. A backed-up supply of DYKs would lose that personal touch. I like the idea, and keeping in touch checking new articles on a Sunday night around family dinner usually isn't so hard. But if it could be made easier, that would be welcome. :)
 * Any ideas on how we should handle DYK in the next year? — BadCatMan (talk) 01:19, January 6, 2014 (UTC)


 * I was thinking a bot could make the pages and all you'd have to do is cut and paste the bullet points into it from the archive page, hit save, rinse, repeat. Does that work? I like showcasing new articles too, but I also don't want the work you've done on past trivia to collect dust in the archives. (Granted, anyone who wants to look at it can find it, so I'm aware my point is mostly moot. I'm geeking out on this a bit.) So how about this idea: we set up the rotating feature, but present it below the current week's trivia. The first half dozen points are current and stay constant for a week and the next half dozen are selected from the archives, either in a rotation or at random, weekly or even daily. Every week we get a new archive file that goes into the rotation queue. In six years we'll have new trivia for every day of the year :)
 * As for how we handle DYK, what would suit you? I'll volunteer to help out more often if you'd like. I just don't want to step on your toes, since it was your idea. (I also selfishly don't want to give you incentive to do less wiki work, hehe.) If it's okay with you, you could call for volunteers with the understanding that you get editorial review privileges. What's your pleasure? &mdash;Moviesign (talk) 03:30, January 6, 2014 (UTC)


 * Sorry, I forgot to get back on this. Unfortunately, bots can't make pages, or at least, there's no way to do so in the program I use. You generate a list of existing pages from a category, then set rules to search through them and make changes. If a human creates the pages, then the bot could be used to fill them out afterwards.
 * I wonder if its possible to write code that selects a random entry from a list? That would save on the need to create lots of pages.
 * I like the new/old rotation of DYKs, and it does create more content for the main page.
 * I don't mind continuing doing DYKs, as it keeps my hand in the wiki, in contact with new articles and users, and applying my editing skills to something more interesting. :) Sometimes there's not the time or energy, and I tackle it the next day. Fortunately, you've filled in several times, thanks. And I don't mind anyone else having a go either. If you're watching, feel free to volunteer. :) — BadCatMan (talk)

Help!
I don't have time for this tonight. Can someone else please update? Otherwise, I'll do it tomorrow morning. Thanks! — BadCatMan (talk) 12:49, October 26, 2014 (UTC)


 * Okay, I'll start on it now. — BadCatMan (talk) 00:25, October 27, 2014 (UTC)


 * There were a huge number of new pages this week. I started copy-editing them, but there are still more to do. &mdash;Moviesign (talk) 03:29, October 27, 2014 (UTC)


 * Thanks. I'm always working my way through Special:Newpages, sharing my focus on those from the current week, those from past weeks, and some random existing pages.
 * It's the usual truckload, unfortunately. :( New users just seem to pour out light, stubby character articles with the same flaws and not follow up on things or go into depth, it seems. Expanding the wiki isn't the same as developing the wiki, IMO. — BadCatMan (talk) 09:48, October 27, 2014 (UTC)


 * I just wanted to say that I love the trivia pages ... especially when I see a page I created. :) Artemaz (talk) 11:39, September 19, 2015 (UTC)


 * Cool. I try to get one from every user (only those with accounts now) and get a good spread of topics. But anyone can suggest a personal fave or even add some themselves (he says, hinting heavily :) ). — BadCatMan (talk) 13:15, September 19, 2015 (UTC)

Unlocked
My previous suggestions turned out to be futile, as the page was locked to regular users. I've reduced the protection on the page, so established users can add trivia of their own. If you have a new article you're proud of, you can advertise it here. — BadCatMan (talk) 11:46, November 27, 2015 (UTC)

2015 to 2016
I will update the page to work for the new year shortly before the changeover at my 8:00 am. — BadCatMan (talk) 12:54, January 3, 2016 (UTC)


 * After copying /current to /archive/2015, you can just replace (not just add, but replace) the first entry in /current with the latest trivia. Once it starts to show up on the Main page, then delete the other 52. No need to watch the clock :) &mdash;Moviesign (talk) 14:57, January 3, 2016 (UTC)


 * Okay, but if it goes wrong, I'm blaming you. :p For the record, I have the 2015 set backed up and ready to archive tomorrow. I would've done it earlier, except the Main Page started showing identical current and archived trivia. Oops. — BadCatMan (talk) 15:08, January 3, 2016 (UTC)


 * Yes, duplicates can happen this way, about 33% of the time since we have 3 archived years (wow). If you want to prevent the duplicates, just name /archive/2015 something that doesn't start with "2". Once the calendar rolls over, rename it back to 2015. Or just live with it for a few hours. &mdash;Moviesign (talk) 00:02, January 4, 2016 (UTC)