Help:File page
When a file such as an image, pdf, or video uploaded to Saintapedia an associated file page is created to house the file on the wiki. To get the file to appear on an article you must add a link to the file page.
The purpose of these pages is to provide information about the file, for example the author, date of creation, who uploaded the file, any modifications that may have been made, an extended description of the file's subject or context, where the file is used, and license or copyright information. In the case of an image, the file page shows a higher resolution version of the image, if available. To view the file page for an image or video, click on the image itself.
A file page consists of six parts:
- The file itself
- The editable section - this should include a description of the file, plus source and copyright information. (See #Useful things to include in the editable section below for some ideas
- "File history" - if a new version of a file is uploaded with the same name, the existing file is replaced and becomes available via file history. See page history
- "File usage" - a list of pages that embed the file (including pages where the file appears as part of a template).
- "Metadata" (images only) - technical information about the file and the equipment used to create it (camera model etc.)
- Categories - Used to organize the large amount of files uploaded to Saintapedia
The following are example pages for different types of files:
Useful things to include in the editable section
The editable section of the page is used to describe the file and provide additional information. Initially this section automatically contains the upload summary supplied when the file was first uploaded. The following are useful things to put on a file page:
File description
E.g.: "Image of a goldfish in a small tank". This should not be an alternative text (see alternative text for images), but rather a description. This is useful for users who do not have direct access to the image, and is a temporary substitute for a proper longdesc tag.
If you downloaded the file from somewhere else, you should give details of source, author, etc.
File summary
This is where you write the additional information about the file and how it was created, where, when, how, and by whom. As well as what the image is and what it is about. Example: "A picture I took underwater with a ___ camera, of a ____ fish." or "An original illustration of cars from the future and their bent wheels."
Image summary
Most articles that use images will have a caption, but this will probably be shorter than the image's full description, and more closely related to the text of the article.
Keep in mind that everyone who sees this image in an article and clicks on it for more information (or to enlarge it) arrives at the file description page.
If you made the image yourself, there are certain questions which only you can answer. Because you may not be around to answer those questions later, you should include this information in the description page when you upload the image. This will help other editors to make better use of the image, and it will be more informative for readers.
For pictures:
- Where was the picture taken?
- When was the picture taken?
- What are the names of all the people and notable objects visible in the picture?
- What is happening in the picture?
- Who was the photographer?
For synthetic pictures:
- Diagrams and markings should be explained as completely as possible.
- If necessary, a legend or key should be provided.
Technical information for pictures:
- If a film camera was used, provide the model number, lens information and exposure settings
- What post-production modifications were made? (adjustments to color, contrast etc.)
Technical information for synthetic images:
- What software was used to create or edit the image?
- What pre-existing sources (free images, photos, etc.) were used as inputs?
Copyright information
All files should be provided with copyright information. This includes the author, the file's source and the file's license. All files must either be freely licensed or suitable for "fair use" (a low resolution image or only part of a song for example). See Image for locations of these types of files.
File history
The File history has a listing a previous versions of the file. You can click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.
At the bottom, there is a link to upload a new version.
It can be linked with #filehistory.
File usage
File usage a list of pages that embed the file This includes pages where the file appears as part of a template. If the file raw url is used for the link, rather than a file link, that page will not appear in this list. Please remember that:
- Page need to link directly to the file page, not the image directory link location (in the screenshot example) at the top of the page
- All pages on the list that link to the file will automatically be updated when using the upload a new version feature. This will take a little time. Editors could purge the server cache to get the updated version to appear immediately on a particular page.
- It can be linked with #filelinks.
Categories
Files can be in the same category as other pages, but are treated separately: on the category page they are not included in the count of articles in the category, and they are displayed in a separate section, with for each a thumbnail and the name, see category page. A file category is typically a subcategory of the general category about the same subject, and a subcategory of a wider file category.
For categorizing a new file, the file page does not even have to be edited: the category tag can simply be put in the upload summary. Please see the Upload page for list of category suggestions.
Common questions
Editing a file
Files cannot be edited on Saintapedia. To edit a file it will need to be downloaded, modified using a suitable software program to perform the modifications, and then upload a new version.
What happens when you upload
The description text you supply during the upload process becomes the initial text of the image description page. (It also becomes the #Edit summary for the initial version of the file.)
See also
- File link
- Help:Files
- Uploading images
- (Recommended) - Help:Visual editor#Uploading images
- Uploading files and the add Image links
