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+ | '''System messages''', also called '''MediaWiki messages''', provide a means for customizing the interface of a wiki. |
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− | {{Tocright}} |
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− | '''System messages''' (alternatively called ''"MediaWiki messages"'') provide a means for customising the interface of a wiki. Each system message has a predefined value that can be overridden by editing the appropriate page in the MediaWiki namespace. |
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− | __NOTOC__ |
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− | ==Background== |
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− | [[File:HarryPotter.png|thumb|375px|{{#NewWindowLink:http://harrypotter.wikia.com|The Harry Potter Wiki}} has used System Messages to customize what a user sees when they have a new message to instead say "you have an owl", which refers to a plot device in the Harry Potter series.]] |
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− | When MediaWiki was first coded, the need for the interface to be heavily customizable quickly became apparent. Many wikis wanted to tweak certain words to incorporate wiki-specific terms, for example using the term "Scribble" versus "Edit" on creative writing wikis. Foreign language wikis needed a way to quickly translate terms from English into their native language. |
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+ | Please keep in mind that it is not always wise to tweak these messages. The default value is there because it is considered the most universally understandable terminology. |
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− | The solution was system messages. Practically every word you see as part of the interface - from the "Edit" and "History" buttons to the navigation elements to the global footer - is customizable. |
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+ | So, for example, while you might want to make the [[Help:Chat|Chat]] welcome message unique for your community, please try and make sure that new members of your community will still understand the meaning behind it. |
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− | When an extension or feature is introduced to MediaWiki, Wikia staff give each piece of its interface a pre-defined English value that can be overridden by editing the local message in the MediaWiki namespace. A list of all system messages on your wiki is available at [[:Special:AllMessages]]. |
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− | While the messages are there for the purpose of customization, please keep in mind that it is not always wise to tweak these messages. The default value is there because it is considered the most universally understandable terminology. So while "edit" ''may'' make more sense to say "revise", "scribble", "tweak" or something to one wiki, "edit" in general is considered the most straightforward wording that invokes to the average user what the edit button will actually do when clicked. |
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+ | Note: for security reasons, not all MediaWiki messages are freely editable. You can see the editable list here: '''[[Help:System messages/whitelist]]'''. If you want to edit a message not listed there, you must contact [[Special:Contact|Fandom Staff]]. |
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− | Using |
+ | ===Using Special:AllMessages=== |
− | #Go to [[ |
+ | # Go to [[Special:AllMessages]] and select the "all" radio button. Search for the text that you want to replace and click the message that uses it. |
− | #If the message has never been edited before, you will see |
+ | # If the message has never been edited before, you will see the default message value in the editor. This will help confirm that you are editing the correct message. |
− | #Edit the page just like a normal page, putting in the message text.<br /> |
+ | # Edit the page just like a normal page, putting in the message text.<br />Pay careful attention to anything with a "$" in the message. This is a 'variable' that will be replaced when the message is actually being used. You may want to ask for help on the [[w:Special:Forum|Community Central Forums]] if you don't know what these variables represent. |
− | #Save the message and verify the message has |
+ | # Save the message and verify that the message has changed.<br />Clear your browser cache (Ctrl + F5) if you do not immediately see the change. |
− | === |
+ | ===Using the special language code trick=== |
− | + | In many cases you can use a special 'language' code to find out a message name more quickly. This can be done by appending '''<code>?uselang=qqx</code>''' to the URL (see [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|uselang=qqx}} this page] as an example). All the messages on that page will then be replaced by the names of the pages in the MediaWiki namespace. |
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− | *MediaWiki:Common.js - Controls the JavaScript for the entire wiki. |
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− | *MediaWiki:Wikia.css - Controls the CSS look of the Wikia skin. |
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− | *MediaWiki:Edit - By default, "edit", this message controls the text one clicks when they wish to edit a page. |
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− | *MediaWiki:Newmessageslink - Customizes what the new messages bubble says. |
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− | *Mediawiki:Viewsource - A message of the view source message when a user is blocked or a page is protected. |
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+ | * MediaWiki:Common.css - controls custom community [[Help:CSS|CSS]] |
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+ | * MediaWiki:Common.js - controls custom community [[Help:JavaScript|JavaScript]] |
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+ | * [[Help:System messages/whitelist]] - the list of pages in the MediaWiki namespace that administrators can edit. All others require a request to [[Special:Contact|Fandom Staff]] |
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+ | ==Further help and feedback== |
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+ | {{Help and feedback section}} |
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+ | [[de:Hilfe:Systemnachricht]] |
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[[es:Ayuda:Mensajes del sistema]] |
[[es:Ayuda:Mensajes del sistema]] |
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+ | [[fi:Ohje:Järjestelmäviestit]] |
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+ | [[fr:Aide:Messages système]] |
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+ | [[it:Aiuto:Messaggi di sistema]] |
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+ | [[ja:ヘルプ:システムメッセージ]] |
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+ | [[nl:Help:Systeemberichten]] |
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+ | [[pl:Pomoc:Komunikaty MediaWiki]] |
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+ | [[pt:Ajuda:Mensagens do sistema]] |
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+ | [[ru:Справка:Системные_сообщения]] |
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+ | [[tr:Yardım:Sistem mesajları]] |
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+ | [[vi:Trợ giúp:Thông điệp hệ thống]] |
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+ | [[zh:Help:系統訊息]] |
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Revision as of 02:51, 17 December 2019
System messages, also called MediaWiki messages, provide a means for customizing the interface of a wiki.
Please keep in mind that it is not always wise to tweak these messages. The default value is there because it is considered the most universally understandable terminology.
So, for example, while you might want to make the Chat welcome message unique for your community, please try and make sure that new members of your community will still understand the meaning behind it.
Step by step
As the messages are stored in the MediaWiki namespace, only admins of a community have the necessary permissions to be able to make changes to the system messages.
Note: for security reasons, not all MediaWiki messages are freely editable. You can see the editable list here: Help:System messages/whitelist. If you want to edit a message not listed there, you must contact Fandom Staff.
Using Special:AllMessages
- Go to Special:AllMessages and select the "all" radio button. Search for the text that you want to replace and click the message that uses it.
- If the message has never been edited before, you will see the default message value in the editor. This will help confirm that you are editing the correct message.
- Edit the page just like a normal page, putting in the message text.
Pay careful attention to anything with a "$" in the message. This is a 'variable' that will be replaced when the message is actually being used. You may want to ask for help on the Community Central Forums if you don't know what these variables represent. - Save the message and verify that the message has changed.
Clear your browser cache (Ctrl + F5) if you do not immediately see the change.
Using the special language code trick
In many cases you can use a special 'language' code to find out a message name more quickly. This can be done by appending ?uselang=qqx
to the URL (see this page as an example). All the messages on that page will then be replaced by the names of the pages in the MediaWiki namespace.
Notable system messages
- MediaWiki:Common.css - controls custom community CSS
- MediaWiki:Common.js - controls custom community JavaScript
- MediaWiki:Mainpage - controls the landing page when a visitor goes directly to the community's main URL in their address bar (such as 'community.fandom.com')
- MediaWiki:Licenses - defines the options users see for image copyright status when uploading an image
- MediaWiki:Newarticletext - this is the message that you get when you follow a link to a page that doesn't exist yet
See also
- Help:System messages/whitelist - the list of pages in the MediaWiki namespace that administrators can edit. All others require a request to Fandom Staff
- System messages help on Mediawiki.org
- Customization policy - details about when it is and is not appropriate to customize certain parts of the site interface
- Description - in-depth information about customizing system messages to help search engines understand your content
- Theme designer - how best to change the background and wordmark of your wiki
Further help and feedback
- Browse and search other help pages at Help:Contents
- Check Fandom Community Central for sources of further help and support
- Check Contacting Fandom for how to report any errors or unclear steps in this article