Forum:Table of Contents Always Collapsed

Anyone know how to make the Table of Contents always collapsed on the entire wiki? Thanks! Ltearth 03:47,12/23/2011


 * This can't be done in the manner you are wanting to do so. Logged out users always see the ToC collapsed, so using code to toggle the ToC would show the ToC always open for anonymous users. So, in the attempt to halt if for a certain group, you alter it for the rest. Rappy 05:29, December 23, 2011 (UTC)


 * Why don't Wikia sort this out? Whether the TOC is open or closed changes the look of a page massively, and yet (the majority of) logged-in users have the TOC open, and all anons see it hidden. Why? It makes it really hard to format the page to look good for everyone. Added to this is the fact that you can't toggle the show/hide thing in preview mode on the fun new editor's preview.--Acer4666 00:44, January 4, 2012 (UTC)


 * This isn't something 'Wikia should sort out'. It's core MediaWiki that handles it this way. You shouldn't base formatting of the page on a TOC. The page should flow regardless of the TOC. You can use magic words such as and to control where it shows up or whether it shows up all. User Preferences can hide the TOC altogether, so you can't assume you know what everyone's preferences are when creating a page's structure. It's best if you find a way to present the information on a page regardless of the TOC being open or closed. Rappy 02:17, January 4, 2012 (UTC)


 * "core mediawiki handles it this way"? Can you show me any other wiki not on wikia that has tables of contents auto-hidden for anonymous users, and by default shown for logged-in users? It makes no sense. Wikia already "assumes" everyone's preference is to show them, as that is by default what all users are set to, and I bet the vast majority aren't even aware of the option to hide them. And I don't format my pages based on the TOC, but having an extra 20 lines or not on a page alters the look of it whether we like it or not. I know I can suppress them on any given page, but I think they are useful, as long as appear the same to the majority of people (rather than splitting viewers into two large groups and treating them differently)--Acer4666 19:49, January 4, 2012 (UTC)


 * AFAIK, core MW 1.16.5 (which Wikia uses) behaved that way. Most off-Wikia sites are using 1.17 or 1.18 so I can't find you an example. Either way, core 1.17 and core 1.18 show the TOC for both logged in and logged out users, so the fact that they are trying to hide them for both is opposite of the way it's handled. When Wikia upgrades MW to 1.18 (which I hear should be soon) it shouldn't be a problem. The issue with the TOC ruining formatting of your pages will still have to be addressed. I, for one, would be upset if JS was in place on a wiki I frequent to collapse the TOC on every page. So my suggestion of finding a way to work it out wasn't an unrealistic one. P.S. Please change your signature. I know you may be protesting the category redlinks, but adding Category: to the front of it just confuses people and isn't cute or funny; just annoying. Rappy 21:12, January 4, 2012 (UTC)


 * If Wikia are going to finally catch up with every other wiki to fix my problem, then that's good, I await the change. The TOC doesn't ruin my formatting, the assumption that one group of people want to see it one way and the other group want to see it another ruins my formatting.
 * I am not going to change my signature based on your comments; if you want to push the issue please bring it up at the relevant place. Please don't alter my forum posts.-- Category:Acer4666 22:45, January 4, 2012 (UTC)


 * I spoke to sannse and she admitted it's Wikia that has purposely collapsed the TOC for anons and they have no intent to change that as it allows anons to see more information on the page. So as for the OP, there is no way to do this unless Wikia adds a toggle to the TOC to determine if the TOC is open or closed. I'd suggest sending any other comments on this to Special:Contact as they would be the ones to make any of those decisions. Rappy 01:02, January 5, 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for looking into this further - I'll e-mail Wikia about it. I set up a demonstration of my formatting difficulties to be included in the special:contact - if you're interested it's here. The only solution I can do atm is a specially created template as a TOC for each long page (which I've done in some cases)-- Category:Acer4666 19:33, January 5, 2012 (UTC)