User talk:Timo

First Discussion

Hey, Timo: welcome to your very own Talk page. I really don't know how much wiki-experience you have, but from what I've seen, I'm assuming you're a quick learner. I'm going to talk to you as if you're a novice to wikis and not just to this one, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

These conversations are going to be divided between attempts to help you with your goals in wiki-editing and strategy for the Guide wiki (I'm going to try and bold any references to the wiki itself, to differentiate from the project you've created or actual text from the project). Please respond to anything you'd prefer here or start your own thread.

Editting: Suggestion for formatting

In the A Word Or Two From The Author article, might I suggest using a colon (:) added in right before your responses? That would cause your statement to be indented, breaking it out from the questions.--Dan 12:42, 11 March 2008 (PDT)

Strategy: Your Current Material

I can see, based on the DY series article, you have indeed made quite a few changes to what I've already posted. (In my mind, you have the seventh printing or version, while I'm working off the sixth.) For your Guide, it might be easier to post the v.7 material directly, than boosting the wiki code from here at SFC. The reason I say this is because you won't have to get into the nitty-gritty of the differences between mine and your's -just cut and paste it- and won't have to deal with all the dead wikilinks (also wlinks) that will be built into my code. (We'll have templates tailor-built for Guide in which to post the data and text into.) Not really a concern until we have Guide actually up and running, but wanted you to consider that before you (mis-)realized the scope of the project, in regards to differences. When we get to that point, you can provide me with your latest version and we'll tackle it together.--Dan 12:42, 11 March 2008 (PDT)

Hobbyist's Guide to the UFP Starfleet wiki is up

Yep, got it installed during evenings and labored on it surreptitiously at work. It is up and it is ugly (as it has no personality at the moment, but we'll work on that together). I've added several features that I had been looking for for my wiki, including two simple security measures. However, getting it so you can work trouble-free will still require a few more hours of work. I know you're a bit overworked right now, so in that way the timing is good. Feel free to address some of the questions I've put forward above and ask some yourself, if you find you do have the time. I'll introduce your wiki to you this weekend, if not tomorrow.

I have, however, come up with what I think is a winning front page layout, using multiple blocks. It is, of course, only my suggestion and can (I expect) be easily changed to whatever you might have come up with in the meantime. --Dan 16:27, 13 March 2008 (PDT)

Thank you very much, Dan!

I appreciate all the work you have put onto this hobby project where the lion's share of labor should be mine. I hope I can get to full swing in transferring and completing the actual entries in the following weeks. The current template for entries is quite practical, although I have to work on the division of weapons to various types (something I should have done a long time ago anyway), and on the sources&credits listing.

I have to study the front page layout when I find it... I'm still a bit lost around here, but hopefully learning. --Timo 10:56, 14 March 2008 (GMT+3)

Seriously, Timo: no problem. I've wanted to 'give something back' to ST fandom for quite some time, and when I realized you didn't need my editing help, I had nothing. 'Discovering' private wikis, especially when I started to 'port the Guide over for my own uses, gave me the opportunity I wanted.

Okay, I think I'm ready to show you the Guide. Take a look in the sidebar over there: you'll see an area called the 'construction trailer.' I figure that, instead of populating our talk pages with the minutiae of making this wiki both work and look good, I'd create areas we can hide, when we go live. In fact, I'm going to move the discussions off your talk page here and to over there. --Dan 05:58, 14 March 2008 (PDT)

Point of Clarification: The 'construction trailer' is where we can discuss the website specifically, while fanboy questions from myself (and others) should go on your talkpage.

Also, it is usually considered poor form to alter someone else's talk page, by removing previous posts and whatnot, so let me apologize right away for having done so here. I wanted to keep the pertinent information in a logical location (in this case, on the Guide site). --Dan 08:25, 14 March 2008 (PDT)

Okay, after two weeks of stomping around the internet, I found the coding answer I needed for the Guide. I see you haven't yet registered there, but when you do, please let me know about the issues I've brought up for your review and point me where you want me to go. I'll check in there every day or so, until you've started to give me my marching orders. Otherwise, hope everything is well with you. --Dan 15:18, 28 March 2008 (PDT)

"Missing" Narrative

Timo, the Part I: Starships and Other Large Vessels 'chapter' is the only one of the three to not have anything written for it. With the focus of the Guide being primarily on starships, it would seem that it was covered by other areas (both senior and subordinate to the chapter entry), but it seems to be a bit (only slightly) odd when met on the Guide wiki. (I'm saying this with my fan hat on.) --Dan 16:37, 13 March 2008 (PDT)

Good point. I think the lead-in to Part III also warrants expansion eventually. The Guide currently is lacking in symmetry in any case, what with only Part I having the Era division. But a lead-in for Part I will be forthcoming eventually. --Timo 10:59, 14 March 2008 (GMT+3)

Off to sea

Okay, Timo: I'm not sure what happened, why you haven't been back here, to the wiki I created for you or responded to my e-mails and posts at Flare. I've been seeing your posts at TrekBBS, so can only conclude you lost interest.

If I am mistaken, then I apologize, but my time has run out. I'm departing for a two-month underway period and won't be able to access my server from sea to change the framework at your wiki, at least until well after I get back. If you do change your mind, feel free to experiment with your wiki, upload articles and pictures etc. Any instruction/wiki guidance by me will have to wait, since the bandwidth and time on an aircraft carrier is so limited, but feel free to bring anyone else in that you'd like to assist in the project. If you don't have an interest in the project, then no further action by you is necessary; I'll shut it down in July, if so.

Please also be aware that I cannot be reached by my e-mail address while at sea, as google e-mail is prohibited there.

Best of luck, Dan 08:13, 21 April 2008 (PDT)