Wikipedia talk:Signatures

Fixing old format timestamps in others' signatures

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: [1], [2]. 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 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)

5 tildes style

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)

@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)

Technical display bug

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

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

@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 ==
=== Preferred option ===
==== Standard signature ====
=== Other options ===
==== Using three tildes ====
==== Using five tildes ====

and on mobile this is what I am served:

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(3)">
  <h2 id="How_to_sign_your_posts">How to sign your posts</h2>
</div>
<section class="mf-section-3 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-3">
  <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3">
    <h3 id="Preferred_option">Preferred option</h3>
  </div>
  <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4">
    <h4 id="Standard_signature">Standard signature</h4>
  </div>
  <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3">
    <h3 id="Other_options">Other options</h3>
  </div>
  <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4">
    <h4 id="Using_three_tildes">Using three tildes</h4>
  </div>
  <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4">
    <h4 id="Using_five_tildes">Using five tildes</h4>
  </div>
</section>

These headings are correct. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 12:13, 14 September 2024 (UTC)

Dark mode

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)

Three-tilde signatures don't get quick reply boxes

Use of a three-tilde signature breaks identification of the signature and placement of a 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)