Last modified: 2011-07-25 17:55:35 UTC
Commons administrators rely on a file being added to existing categories, so that it can be evaluated by people watching those categories. UploadWizard currently allows you to create your own categories as you upload. In particular, people whose language isn't english often create categories in their own language. This results in people creating files that don't get reviewed. Some Commons admins say that we should remove all ability to add categories from the wizard, and that if they want different categories they can do it "properly" later. That seems extreme to me and of course "properly" is being defined as "the old way", which I don't agree with. Perhaps we should insist on the file being added to some existing categories and only then allow it to create new ones?
Revising this... the real problem is that the Commons categorization bot sees that a file has a category, and assumes it doesn't need to be tagged as "needs categories". So, the real fix is: - Mention to the user that categories are in English, canonically. - If there are no categories added, then add {{subst:unc}} to the wikitext. The parser will expand that to an {{Uncategorized| ... }} template. - (complicated) if we still want to allow the user to create categories (perhaps they will be helpful to recategorization) then they shouldn't count, and {{subst:unc}} should still be added. But it's definitely simpler to bar them from creating a new category, however counterproductive... a widget that could express a tree structure would be better. These fixes are very Commons-specific, so they should be in configuration. i.e. uncategorized-template or something.
More notes: - We should not block an upload due to lack of cats. if it has no cats, just add the uncat template. - The category system is canonically english, but there exist non-Engish cats especially when the subject is of local interest only. Wording might be tricky here. Perhaps an "extra help" icon. - Experienced users will want to add cats. But just showing red links is impenetrable to the new user. It may be helpful to have the user confirm with a dialog that they really want to add a new category. - Again, the real fix would be to have a widget which could navigate the tree and add cats under other cats. That may be the long term fix.
Or, we block adding of new cats until you add at least one existing cat. And explain why, with a dialog.
largely fixed in r93071
