On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 12:15 PM, Gregory Maxwell gmaxwell@gmail.com wrote:
On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 8:46 PM, Thomas Larsen larsen.thomas.h@gmail.com wrote:
Hi all,
The current <ref>...</ref>...<references/> system produces nice references, but it is flawed--all the text contained in a given reference appears in the text that the reference is linked from. For example:
[snip]
Once way I could conceive of correcting the problem is to have a reference tag that provides only a _link_ to the note via a label and another type of reference tag that actually _defines_ and _displays_ the note. For example:
[snip]
Thats a lot like what we used to do, the problem is that references were *constantly* orphaned, scrambled, etc. The references were often nonsense.
My view is that the current behavior is bad mostly because it makes it very hard to read the text in edit, you get this wall of meaningless markup.
Instead I propose: Have javascript mediate the edit box so that inline references are converted to little red [R] text, moving your cursor into the [R] area by clicking or arrowkeying causes it to expand to display the full reference. You can add references by simply typing them like normal and then they'll collapse when you navigate away, or you can press some "insert reference" button that pops up a dialog that asks for the relevant information which then types the completed reference for you.
This type of hiding could also be applied to other common inline markup and dramatically improve usability.
This type of edit box mediation has been done by other edit-helper userscripts, so it's certainly possible.
Thoughts?
Though it would be nice to also be able to see the whole raw wikitext if one wanted to, I like this idea a lot. I've had a great deal of trouble teaching people how to insert references in Wikipedia, but many internet users are perfectly familiar with the kinds of "click here to upload photos/insert text" boxes that are now becoming ubiquitous. If it was really a "put in your information and the reference is formatted for you" box, that would help both with ensuring that references are more complete and formatted correctly, and that fewer mistakes were made with syntax (the closing / is what always gets me). I'd say such a box should include two options: enter the information for formatting, or use a simple box to accept wikitext (for out of the ordinary or preformatted citations).
I'd put in a vote for applying the same thing to infoboxes, too! And then maybe an option for experienced users: turn off javascript and see the whole <s>mess as it is now</s> wikitext.
-- phoebe