- (Copying from Forum:SMW where it got no reply)
The form format leads people to think that what they put in the "sources" box will be displayed separately from what they put in the "notes" box. It isn't; and that can lead to some absurd display results, e.g. at William Gibson Patterson (1915-1974).
I can see that there would be more complex coding (and potentially far more headings - or twice as many labels - on the display) needed to give sources and notes separate headings. Right now they have no headings! (That's for the last few weeks. Also, as noted elsewhere, the explanatory notes or symbols to the left are replaced with unhelpful link-like things.)
Before anyone goes to too much trouble to restore the heading, let's discuss options.
- Give them separate headings despite the extra coding; and put "sources" first in every part of the forms, as they are for "children", and in the displays.
- Combine them into one box on the form, so that users realise that sources need some distinguishing word(s).
--- Robin Patterson (Talk to me) 12:19, April 1, 2011 (UTC)
-- Robin Patterson (Talk) 13:27, January 3, 2012 (UTC)
Combine the boxes[]
Another year with no response!
I want them combined. Many of my "sources and notes" are along these lines: "http://whatever.co shows all children but gives no dates; http://somethingelse.co gives dates for a few, some of which agree with other sites that show even fewer children. There may be more info on http://xyz.co." Sources and notes are intermingled, without the necessity of keeping them under separate headings (which will not display on the page). I don't want to have to repeat the URLs or the notes in another box.
Can anyone see any reason why those two should not be combined on the forms? A new family of properties "sources and notes" can gradually replace existing properties, which can remain displayed just below them on the person page until moved or replaced. See Property:Baptism notes, Property:Baptism sources, Property:Baptism sources primary, Property:Baptism sources secondary, Property:Birth Notes, Property:Event notes, Property:Event sources, Property:Note, Property:Notes, Property:Sources, etc. (Find more at http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Special:AllPages?namespace=302.) Or just use the existing "source" properties. (Who is ever going to be serious about distinguishing primary and secondary sources? They are on the little-used "advanced form" and can remain hidden except from people who really want to use them.)
-- Robin Patterson (Talk) 06:12, January 21, 2013 (UTC)
Problems with tags inside sources or notes[]
See Help talk:Children for illustration and solution of a display problem. For now, it seems to be unwise to include "ref" or similar tags inside sources and notes. Move such material to the free text area. -- Robin Patterson (Talk) 03:33, January 24, 2016 (UTC)