iFixit is a fantastic resource for DIY electronics repair, offering a wealth of guides, wikis, and community support. A key aspect of maintaining the quality and accuracy of this information is the use of flags. These markers provide important information about the state of an article, quickly informing users about potential issues or special characteristics. This article explores iFixit flags in detail, covering their purpose, usage, and management.
Flags are prominently displayed markers at the top of iFixit wiki articles and guides. They serve as quick indicators of an article's status, alerting readers to potential issues or specific classifications. Think of them as visual cues that help users quickly assess the content they are viewing.
Flags serve three main purposes:
By flagging articles, the system automatically adds them to the Contribute page, creating a centralized list of pages needing improvement. This helps the iFixit community collaboratively maintain the quality of the site's content.
The process for adding flags differs slightly between wikis and guides:
Wikis: To add a flag to a wiki article, simply insert the appropriate flag code at the top of the page. For example, to add a "Private" flag, you would use the following code:
[flag|private]
The system automatically moves the code to the top of the article upon saving.
Guides: Flags are added within the Guide Introduction editor. Locate the "Flags" text box and either type the name of the desired flag or select it from the dropdown menu.
While any user with editing privileges can add existing flags to articles, creating new flags is restricted to administrators. To create a new flag, it must be added to the /Info/Flags page.
The syntax for creating a flag is as follows:
[def_flag
|flagid=WIKI_IMPROPER_FORMATTING
|image=DEFAULT_IMAGE
|title=Improper Formatting
|text=This wiki does not meet Dozuki's formatting guidelines.
]
To then use this flag on a wiki page, you would use the following code:
[flag|improper formatting]
Important Considerations:
flagid values starting with WIKI_ are for wiki articles, while those starting with GUIDE_ are for guides.Here's a list of available images: ALERT, BULLETS, CAMERA, DELETE, DUPLICATE, FOLDER_MISSING, GRAMMAR, IMAGE_MISSING, INCOMPLETE, LOCK, MARKUP, PENCIL, PERSON, PHOTOS, PREREQ, PREREQ_ERROR, PREREQ_MISSING, SHUFFLE, SPEECH, STAR, STUB, STUB_DEVICE, STUB_PAGE, TEXT_ERROR, TEXT_MISSING, WRENCH.
For more detailed information, refer to iFixit's Flag Info page.
Administrators possess the ability to remove flags, but should exercise extreme caution when doing so. Removing a flag that is currently in use will remove it from all articles where it is implemented.
To check if a flag is in use, add the flag ID to the following URL: http://www.dozuki.com/Contribute?flagFilter=FLAGID. For example: http://www.dozuki.com/Contribute?flagFilter=GUIDE_INCORRECT_TEXT.
Due to caching, flag text and image changes may take several hours to appear. Be patient if your adjustments are not immediately visible.
You can easily find all guides that have a particular flag attached to them. Simply use the following URL structure, replacing "GUIDE_USER_CONTRIBUTED" with the desired Flag ID:
http://www.dozuki.com/Contribute?flagFilter=GUIDE_USER_CONTRIBUTED
Remember to use the flag ID from the Info/Flags page.
In certain situations, it may be necessary to create flags that only administrators can add or remove. This can be achieved by adding the text privilege=admin to the flag definition.
[def_flag
|flagid=GUIDE_CONTROVERSIAL_CONTENT
|image=DEFAULT_IMAGE
|title=Controversial page
|text=This page is on a controversial topic, and site administrators are currently reviewing it.
|privilege=admin
]
While this feature can be useful, it's crucial to use it sparingly. Empowering the community to manage flags is generally preferable, and setting appropriate permission thresholds for page edits can help maintain quality. The primary use case for administrator-only flags is to prevent special flags from being added to new, low-permission threshold pages.
iFixit flags are a vital tool for maintaining the quality and accuracy of the platform's repair resources. By understanding their purpose, usage, and management, users can contribute to a more reliable and informative DIY repair experience. Whether you're flagging an article for improvement or creating a new flag for a specific purpose, remember that these markers play a crucial role in the iFixit community.
Looking to further enhance your iFixit experience? Consider exploring other helpful iFixit features such as managing your User Account or learning how to effectively use Wiki Formatting and Syntax to create high-quality content.
