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Magazines

	This page is within the scope of WikiProject Magazines, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of magazines on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MagazinesWikipedia:WikiProject MagazinesTemplate:WikiProject Magazinesmagazine
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Frequently asked questions

I would like to add a free-to-read publisher to the DOI prefix list in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration: Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration needs the 10.xxxx/... part of the DOI associated with the publisher. All the publications of the publisher must be free-to read. Once that is done, the xxxx part can be added to the list under local function build_free_doi_registrants_table(). Also leave a note at User talk:Citation bot.
I would like to add a free-to-read journal to the DOI prefix list in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration: Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration needs the 10.xxxx/yyyy part of the DOI associated with the journal. All the articles associated with that DOI pattern must be free-to read. Once that is done, the xxxx/yyyy parts can be added to the list under local extended_registrants_t = { with the format ['XXXX'] = {'YYYY'},. If there are multiple journals with the same DOI prefix, they can be grouped together with the format ['XXXX'] = {'YYYY', 'ZZZZ', '...'},. Also leave a note at User talk:Citation bot.
I would like to add a geo-dead/geo-access URL keyword: Previous discussions have come to the conclusion that this is not workable. Websites change which regions can access them regularly, and these websites are regardless not fundamentally dead.
I would like support for PDF page numbers: The specific page of a specific PDF may change between clients with the same file or files with the same client. Consider using a |chapter= or |quote= instead.
I would like my change done now: Local consensus is that these modules sync from their sandboxes approximately once every 3–6 months. This is due to complexity of changes, the number of transclusions these modules have, and to be sure sufficient consensus exists for a change.
I don't like (identifier) in the links to identifier pages: This is done to differentiate identifier links (... lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.^{<ref>Linden, David van der. (2015) ... doi:10.18352/dze.10126</ref>} ... ) from prose links (... the digital object identifier was introduced in 2000 by ... ) in Special:WhatLinksHere.

Alternate title or cover title

Some books have a shortened or different title on the cover vs the cover page. For example I recently cited Stability constants of metal-ion complexes, whose embossed hardbound cover simply says Stability Constants - this shortened name is also favored at times in citations. I feel like there ought to be a canonical parameter in this template to include the alternate title. In this case, I just appended with plain text as demonstrated in the copied citation below.

Martell, Arthur E. (1964). "Section II: Organic Ligands, C₆H₅CH(OH)CO₂H Mandelic Acid HL". In Sillén, Lars Gunnar; Martell, Arthur E.; Bjerrum, Jannik (eds.). Stability constants of metal-ion complexes. Special Publication (Chemical Society (Great Britain)), number 17 (2nd ed.). London, Great Britain: Chemical Society. p. 568–569. OCLC 208450. Internet Archive stabilityconstan0000jann. Cover title: Stability Constants.

I have run into this before. I'm imagining if I was browsing a physical library shelf of reference works I would indeed be kind of confused if I couldn't find the full title, since the cover only includes the short title. Pingnova (talk) 04:47, 13 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Pick one. Whichever you think will help someone find the work. Remember that they won't just be searching with the title in hand, they'll have all the other great stuff included in the citation. Izno (talk) 21:40, 13 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I updated this citation from one that only used Stability Constants and it was difficult at first to find what it referred to because that is a common phrase in chemistry literature. I personally try to provide as much info as I can, I'm thinking not everyone does though. Pingnova (talk) 00:13, 14 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Support for trans-series and trans-publisher

{{cite book |last1=Hiriart-Urruty |first1=Jean-Baptiste |last2=Lemaréchal |first2=Claude |author-link2=Claude Lemaréchal |year=1993 |chapter=XII Abstract duality for practitioners |title=Convex analysis and minimization algorithms, Volume II: Advanced theory and bundle methods |series=Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften |trans-series=Fundamental Principles of Mathematical Sciences |volume=306 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |location=Berlin |pages=136–193 (and bibliographical comments on pp. 334–335) |isbn=3-540-56852-2 |mr=1295240}}
{{cite journal | last1 = Hallgrímsson | first1 = Helgi | last2 = Eyjólfsdóttir | first2 = Guðríður Gyða | date = 2004 | language = Icelandic | title = Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir | trans-title = Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi | journal = Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar |trans-journal=Polygraph of the Institute of Natural Sciences | publisher = Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands |trans-publisher=Natural History Institute of Iceland | location = Reykjavík}}

Gives

Hiriart-Urruty, Jean-Baptiste; Lemaréchal, Claude (1993). "XII Abstract duality for practitioners". Convex analysis and minimization algorithms, Volume II: Advanced theory and bundle methods. Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften. Vol. 306. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. 136–193 (and bibliographical comments on pp. 334–335). ISBN 3-540-56852-2. MR 1295240. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans-series= ignored (help)
Hallgrímsson, Helgi; Eyjólfsdóttir, Guðríður Gyða (2004). "Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir" [Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi]. Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar [Polygraph of the Institute of Natural Sciences] (in Icelandic). Reykjavík: Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans-publisher= ignored (help)

Headbomb {t · c · p · b} 16:38, 14 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Citing an entire magazine, not just an article

Is there a way to cite an entire magazine using {{cite magazine}}, without entering the title of an article? When I tried to do so in Edward D. Maryon (see the November 1957 issue of The Improvement Era), it generated an error, and displayed the link as a bare URL. I've switched it to {{cite book}} for now, although that's a workaround, and doesn't display the issue number. Thanks, --Usernameunique (talk) 17:37, 15 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Given that the magazine's Wikipedia article begins with "The Improvement Era (often shortened to The Era) was an official magazine of....", would it be workable to use The Era in the "title" parameter and move The Improvement Era to the "magazine" parameter?

* {{cite magazine | ref = {{harvid|McKay|Evans|November 1957}} | editor1-last = McKay | editor1-first = David O. | editor1-link = David O. McKay | editor2-last = Evans | editor2-first = Richard L. | editor2-link = Richard L. Evans | title = The Era | magazine = The Improvement Era | volume = 60 | issue = 11 | date = November 1957 | publisher = Mutual Improvement Association of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | location = Salt Lake City | url = https://archive.org/details/improvementera6011unse }}

... to yield:

McKay, David O.; Evans, Richard L., eds. (November 1957). "The Era". The Improvement Era. Vol. 60, no. 11. Salt Lake City: Mutual Improvement Association of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

SirOlgen (talk) 19:13, 15 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

|title=(()) will display 'No title' (not in quotes) a generic message. -- GreenC 19:31, 15 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Why not using the magazine’s front page title, if there’s one? But I understand that some old magazines merely had a table of contents on the front page. Keriluamox (talk) 10:57, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Because they want to cite the entire issue of the magazine, not to the title of a part of that issue, regardless of whether that part is the title page or something else. —David Eppstein (talk) 18:03, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Having a 'cite issue' would be useful here. Specialized, likely to be abused, but useful. Headbomb {t · c · p · b} 02:34, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Specificity and abbreviations of locations?

Greetings and felicitations. How specific should a location in a citation be, and what type of abbreviations should be used? I use, for example, "New York", "Los Angeles", "London", and "Beijing", assuming that most Alpha − and Beta + and above cities don't need the administrative division of their location (if they have a separate one) specified, at least not for English literate readers. Similarly, if the publication is a product of a tip-top university which includes the its location in its name, I have been assuming that the location doesn't need its administrative division included (i.e., Oxford and Cambridge). OTOH, I add "The Netherlands" to "Leiden", and am wondering if I should add the county to publishers in the UK, or just use "Placename, UK". If I should use the county (or state, for the US, or province or territory for Canada), do I use the postal abbreviation (e.g, CT), the traditional abbreviation (Conn.), or the whole name (Connecticut)? As, say, in:

Bolitho, Hector, ed. (1943). A Batsford Century: The Record of a Hundred Years of Publishing and Bookselling, 1843–1943. London; Malvern Wells, UK: B. T. Batsford. OCLC 188389.

"Malvern Wells, UK", "Malvern Wells, Worcs, UK", or "Malvern Wells, Worcestershire, UK"?

Also, do I assume that a reader will know that Dakar is the capital of Bangladesh, or do I include that information (for all capitals of countries below a certain level of prominence)? —DocWatson42 (talk) 08:05, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Edit: Another example: "Jefferson, North Carolina, US", "Jefferson, North Carolina", or "Jefferson, NC"? Or "Jefferson, NC, US" (for McFarland & Company)? —DocWatson42 (talk) 08:10, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Edit 2: And does the uniqueness of a name count (e.g., Indianapolis and Minneapolis)? —DocWatson42 (talk) 08:12, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

See MOS:STATEABBR for a bit of guidance. – Jonesey95 (talk) 14:02, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. I read it, but it doesn't apply much to my question, other than to the abbreviations. :-/ —DocWatson42 (talk) 16:15, 23 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Re your two "Edit" entries above, I would choose "Jefferson, North Carolina" and "Indianapolis" based on what happens when I paste those strings into the Wikipedia search bar. – Jonesey95 (talk) 22:45, 24 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There is that—thank you. I have been thinking of the references outside the context of Wikipedia, as if they were standing on their own. —DocWatson42 (talk) 07:55, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Classical Armenian

As per Classical Armenian and SIL Global, xcl should return Classical Armenian in the language template but it doesn't work and it is not listed here. Can that be fixed or should I just spell it out in references? Mr.choppers | ✎ 02:20, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

MediaWiki says: {{#language:xcl|en}} → xcl (compare {{#language:hyw|en}} → Western Armenian)

MediaWiki does not recognize all ISO 639-3 language tags so, while language tags are to be preferred, sometimes it is necessary to spell out the name.

—Trappist the monk (talk) 03:00, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

i18n: Translatable texts from Module:Citation/CS1

'character' is translatable.

					err_msg = char_name .. ' ' .. 'character';

'Wikidata', 'Wikisource' and 'Wikipedia' are translatable.

					local proj_name = ({['d'] = 'Wikidata', ['s'] = 'Wikisource', ['w'] = 'Wikipedia'})[proj];	-- :w (wikipedia) for linking from a non-wikipedia project

'-name-list parameters' is translatable.

			utilities.set_message ('err_redundant_parameters', err_name .. '-name-list parameters');	-- add error message

A single space between Minutes and cfg.messages['minutes'] should be optional, since some languages do not require a space between them. For example, in Korean, "23 minutes in" is translated as "23분부터", not "23 분부터". (The same goes for Japanese, where they created separate module for i18n. See ja:Module:Citation/CS-ja and ja:Module:Citation/CS-ja/Configuration)

			Position = " " .. Minutes .. " " .. cfg.messages['minutes'];

'citation' (the second one) and 'cite ' are translatable. In addition, in Korean, the 'cite *' series is translated as '* 인용', such as 웹 인용 or 서적 인용. (Same for tr:Şablon:Web kaynağı, etc.) So there should be an option for swtiching the order of 'cite ' and config.CitationClass.

	local template_name = ('citation' == config.CitationClass) and 'citation' or 'cite ' .. (cfg.citation_class_map_t[config.CitationClass] or config.CitationClass);

So, it would be much better if these literal strings were moved to the /configuration and given a slight adjustment to improve i18n. Thanks.--Namoroka (talk) 02:36, 20 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for finding those. Fixed in the sandbox, I think. Examples in the same order:

for invisible characters:

Cite book comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite book\|title=Title with horizontal tab}}`
Live	Title with horizontal tab. `{{cite book}}`: horizontal tab character in `\|title=` at position 11 (help)
Sandbox	Title with horizontal tab. `{{cite book}}`: horizontal tab character in `\|title=` at position 11 (help)

Cite book comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite book\|title=Title with ^[1]}}`
Live	Title with ^[1]. `{{cite book}}`: ref stripmarker in `\|title=` at position 12 (help)
Sandbox	Title with ^[1]. `{{cite book}}`: ref stripmarker in `\|title=` at position 12 (help)

for interproject wikilink annotations:

Cite book comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite book\|author-link=:s:Author:Abraham Lincoln\|author=Abraham Lincoln\|title=Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address}}`
Live	Abraham Lincoln [at Wikisource]. Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address.
Sandbox	Abraham Lincoln [at Wikisource]. Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address.

For redundant author/editor parameters:

Cite book comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite book\|author=EB Green\|title=Title\|vauthors=Green EB}}`
Live	EB Green. Title. `{{cite book}}`: More than one of author-name-list parameters specified (help)
Sandbox	EB Green. Title. `{{cite book}}`: More than one of author-name-list parameters specified (help)

Cite book comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite book\|editor=EB Green\|title=Title\|veditors=Green EB}}`
Live	EB Green (ed.). Title. `{{cite book}}`: More than one of editor-name-list parameters specified (help)
Sandbox	EB Green (ed.). Title. `{{cite book}}`: More than one of editor-name-list parameters specified (help)

for 'minutes in' in-source location:

Cite AV media comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite AV media\|minutes=12:34\|title=Title}}`
Live	Title. 12:34 minutes in.
Sandbox	Title. 12:34 minutes in.

for error message, maint message, and preview message annotation ({{cite <whatever>}} same as {{cite book}} annotations above):

Citation comparison
Wikitext	`{{citation\|author=EB Green1}}`
Live	EB Green1, `{{citation}}`: Missing or empty `\|title=` (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Sandbox	EB Green1, `{{citation}}`: Missing or empty `\|title=` (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

References

^ ref stripmarker

—Trappist the monk (talk) 19:12, 21 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please move also "(empty string)". And cfg.messages['archived-unfit'] should have place-holder. FlatLanguage (talk) 05:10, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

And cfg.messages['inactive']. --FlatLanguage (talk) 06:19, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Possible generic cite titles

Hello, there are titles beginning with "This article is more than [time] old " which is not really part of the title and should be removed from the front of the title. Maybe these could be trapped under the generic titles tracking? [time] could be various such as "3 months", "9 years" etc. Keith D (talk) 11:43, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Only about 100 uses. Izno (talk) 21:57, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Another one for consideration - title ending in "- Read free for 30 days". Only about 20 of these. Keith D (talk) 20:52, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Bot request to address article number as page number

This bot request asking for a bot to address CS1 article number as page number issues is relevant to this page. – Jonesey95 (talk) 12:37, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

err_extra_text_volume and accept-as-written

|volume= pass through extra_text_in_vol_iss_check() before utilities.hyphen_to_dash(), while |issue= pass through utilities.hyphen_to_dash() before extra_text_in_vol_iss_check(). So accept-as-written markup suppresses err_extra_text_volume but doesn't suppres err_extra_text_issue.

{{cite magazine|title=title |magazine=magazine |volume=((vol. 1)) |number=((no. 2))}}

"title". magazine. Vol. vol. 1, no. no. 2. {{cite magazine}}: |number= has extra text (help)

Should we be consistent? --FlatLanguage (talk) 14:38, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The solution here is to not duplicate the template's functionality and use |volume=1 and |number=2. Headbomb {t · c · p · b} 16:24, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The solution for what? Will that make the hidden error appear? FlatLanguage (talk) 16:39, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That will not cause an error to begin with. Headbomb {t · c · p · b} 16:55, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed in sandbox: en:Special:Diff/1313422909

Cite magazine comparison
Wikitext	`{{cite magazine\|issue=((iss. 2))\|magazine=magazine\|title=title\|volume=((vol. 1))}}`
Live	"title". magazine. Vol. vol. 1, no. iss. 2. `{{cite magazine}}`: `\|issue=` has extra text (help)
Sandbox	"title". magazine. Vol. vol. 1, no. iss. 2. `{{cite magazine}}`: `\|issue=` has extra text (help); `\|volume=` has extra text (help)

--FlatLanguage (talk) 04:06, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Script error from validation.archive_date_check

Bad timestamp in |archive-url= makes a script error.

{{cite book|title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20209999000000/https://example.com |archive-date=2020-01-01}}

title. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. {{cite book}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2020-99-99 suggested (help)

{{cite book|title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20209999000000/https://example.com |archive-date=1 Jan 2020}}

Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Date_validation at line 986: bad argument #3 to 'format' (string expected, got nil).

This is from reformat_dates() without check_date(). Should we avoid script errors? I fixed like this, but this is temporary solution. --FlatLanguage (talk) 14:56, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed in the sandbox, I think:

invalid date portion of the archive.org timestamp:

{{cite book/new |title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20209999000000/https://example.com |archive-date=1 Jan 2020}}

title. {{cite book}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)

valid date portion of the archive.org timestamp:

{{cite book/new |title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101000000/https://example.com |archive-date=1 Jan 2020}}

title. Archived from the original on 1 Jan 2020.

invalid date portion of the archive.today timestamp:

{{cite book/new |title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20209999000000/https://example.com |archive-date=1 Jan 2020}}

title. {{cite book}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)

valid date portion of the archive.today timestamp:

{{cite book/new |title=title |url=https://example.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200101000000/https://example.com |archive-date=1 Jan 2020}}

title. Archived from the original on 1 Jan 2020.

—Trappist the monk (talk) 23:07, 25 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Sac/Fox language

Tagging a source with the ISO 639 code sac leaves a maintenance error (Category:CS1 maint: unrecognized language), and neither Sac nor Fox are recognized. See, for example, Fox language#Further reading. Is there an override we should do on Wikipedia, or should I take it up with the boffins at Mediawiki? Snowman304|talk 18:17, 27 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Maintenance messages are not error messages. Because cs1|2 uses MeadiaWiki for language tag/name support, MediaWiki support for sac will have to come from them.

Don't hold your breath. If I think I understand where MediaWiki gets language names/tags, if is from Unicode CLDR; mayhaps here?

When the language tag is not recognized, use the language name and ignore the maint message.

—Trappist the monk (talk) 19:17, 27 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Gotcha! Seems like they're missing quite a few languages on that list. Snowman304|talk 16:05, 28 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

doi-access=free + url-access=subscription conflict

This should display an error/maintenance message of some kind, e.g.

Stoll, Hans R. (2006). "Electronic Trading in Stock Markets". Journal of Economic Perspectives. 20 (1): 153–174. doi:10.1257/089533006776526067.

This is nonsense. If the DOI is free, then it shouldn't have a pay-to-read link there. And 9 times out of 10 |url-access=subscription is just completely erreneous. This should emit an error/maintenance category so it can be cleaned up to a proper

Stoll, Hans R. (2006). "Electronic Trading in Stock Markets". Journal of Economic Perspectives. 20 (1): 153–174. doi:10.1257/089533006776526067.

Headbomb {t · c · p · b} 20:10, 28 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

[1] ref stripmarker

[1]