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Copyedit: em dashes, bold labels, rules, sentence-case headings; Twinkle is opt-in, not automatic; tag counts checked against the deployed gadget (25, five RTC-specific)
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<div style="background-color:#f0f9ff; border-left:5px solid #4B9CD3; padding:15px; margin:20px 0;">
<div style="background-color:#f0f9ff; border-left:5px solid #4B9CD3; padding:15px; margin:20px 0;">
These tools are available to all registered editors. They help automate repetitive tasks like creating infoboxes, importing specifications, and managing categories. For general editing help, see '''[[Help:Editing]]'''.
These tools are available to all registered editors. They help automate repetitive tasks like creating infoboxes, importing specifications, and managing categories. For general editing help, see [[Help:Editing]].
</div>
</div>


== 🧰 Available Tools ==
== 🧰 Available tools ==


=== Infobox Generator ===
=== Infobox generator ===


{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
| '''[[Special:BlankPage/InfoboxGenerator|Open Infobox Generator]]''' — also available via the toolbar button when editing an article
| [[Special:BlankPage/InfoboxGenerator|Open Infobox Generator]]; also available from the toolbar button when editing an article
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
| Generate properly formatted infobox wikitext for '''computers''' and '''peripherals/accessories'''
| Generate infobox wikitext for computers and for peripherals and accessories
|}
|}


'''Features:'''
Features:
* Switch between '''Computer''' and '''Peripheral''' infobox types
* Switch between the Computer and Peripheral infobox types
* Form fields for all infobox parameters — only filled fields appear in the output
* Form fields for all infobox parameters; only filled fields appear in the output
* Auto-links predecessor and successor fields (e.g. type "Macintosh IIcx" → outputs <code><nowiki>[[Macintosh IIcx]]</nowiki></code>)
* Links predecessor and successor fields automatically (typing "Macintosh IIcx" outputs <code><nowiki>[[Macintosh IIcx]]</nowiki></code>)
* Formats image filenames correctly (adds <code><nowiki>[[File:...|250px]]</nowiki></code> wrapper)
* Formats image filenames (adds <code><nowiki>[[File:...|250px]]</nowiki></code> wrapper)
* Live preview shows how the infobox will render
* Live preview shows how the infobox will render
* One-click copy to clipboard
* One-click copy to clipboard
* "Insert into Editor" button when used from the article editor
* "Insert into Editor" button when used from the article editor


'''How to use:'''
How to use:
# Open the [[Special:BlankPage/InfoboxGenerator|Infobox Generator]]
# Open the [[Special:BlankPage/InfoboxGenerator|Infobox Generator]]
# Select the infobox type (Computer or Peripheral)
# Select the infobox type (Computer or Peripheral)
# Fill in the fields you need — leave unwanted fields blank
# Fill in the fields you need and leave the rest blank
# Click "Generate Infobox"
# Click "Generate Infobox"
# Copy the wikitext and paste it as the '''first line''' of your article
# Copy the wikitext and paste it as the first line of your article


----
=== Spec sheet importer ===
 
=== Spec Sheet Importer ===


{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
| '''[[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Open Spec Importer]]'''
| [[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Open Spec Importer]]
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
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|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Data source
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Data source
| [https://everymac.com EveryMac.com] — comprehensive Macintosh specifications database
| [https://everymac.com EveryMac.com], a Macintosh specifications database
|}
|}


'''Features:'''
Features:
* Search EveryMac by model name
* Search EveryMac by model name
* Quick-select dropdown for common Macintosh models
* Quick-select dropdown for common Macintosh models
* Fetches full specs and maps them to RTC Wiki infobox fields:
* Fetches the full specifications and maps them to RTC Wiki infobox fields:
** CPU (processor type + speed)
** CPU (processor type + speed)
** Memory (standard + maximum)
** Memory (standard + maximum)
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* All mapped fields are editable before generating wikitext
* All mapped fields are editable before generating wikitext
* Side-by-side view: mapped infobox fields + full EveryMac spec sheet for reference
* Side-by-side view: mapped infobox fields + full EveryMac spec sheet for reference
* Results are cached for 24 hours (fast repeat lookups)
* Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat lookups are fast


'''How to use:'''
How to use:
# Open the [[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Spec Importer]]
# Open the [[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Spec Importer]]
# Search for a model or use the quick-select dropdown
# Search for a model or use the quick-select dropdown
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# Edit any fields that need adjustment
# Edit any fields that need adjustment
# Click "Generate Infobox Wikitext" to get the finished wikitext
# Click "Generate Infobox Wikitext" to get the finished wikitext
----


=== Twinkle ===
=== Twinkle ===
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|-
|-
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
! style="width:15%; background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Access
| Toolbar buttons appear automatically on every page (TW menu)
| TW menu in the toolbar on every page, once the gadget is enabled
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
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|}
|}


25 maintenance templates available, including 5 RTC-specific:
The Tag module offers 25 maintenance templates, five of them specific to RTC:
* {{tl|Missing specs}} — Article needs technical specifications
* {{tl|Missing specs}}: article needs technical specifications
* {{tl|Missing photos}} — Article needs product photographs
* {{tl|Missing photos}}: article needs product photographs
* {{tl|Needs teardown}} — Device needs internal photography/documentation
* {{tl|Needs teardown}}: device needs internal photography/documentation
* {{tl|Verify model}} — Model information needs verification
* {{tl|Verify model}}: model information needs verification
* {{tl|Software list needed}} — Software compatibility list needed
* {{tl|Software list needed}}: software compatibility list needed


Enable in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Preferences → Gadgets → Twinkle]]. Documentation: [[RetroTechCollection:TW]].
Enable in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Preferences → Gadgets → Twinkle]]. Documentation: [[RetroTechCollection:TW]].
----


=== HotCat ===
=== HotCat ===
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|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
| Click-based category management — add, remove, or change categories without editing the source
| Add, remove or change categories by clicking, without editing the source
|}
|}


Enable in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Preferences → Gadgets → HotCat]].
Enable in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Preferences → Gadgets → HotCat]].
----


=== Pywikibot ===
=== Pywikibot ===
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|-
|-
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
! style="background-color:#f2f2f2;" | Purpose
| Batch operations — bulk edits, category moves, template substitutions
| Batch operations: bulk edits, category moves, template substitutions
|}
|}


Available for admin use. Contact an administrator if you need batch operations performed.
Available for admin use. Contact an administrator if you need batch operations performed.


== 📋 Recommended Workflow ==
== 📋 Recommended workflow ==


'''Creating a new computer article:'''
Creating a new computer article:


# '''Import specs''' — Open the [[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Spec Importer]], find your model, review the data
# Import the specifications: open the [[Special:BlankPage/SpecImporter|Spec Importer]], find your model, review the data
# '''Generate infobox''' — Click "Generate Infobox Wikitext", copy to clipboard
# Generate the infobox: click "Generate Infobox Wikitext", copy to clipboard
# '''Create article''' — Paste the infobox as the first line
# Create the article: paste the infobox as the first line
# '''Write content''' — Follow the [[Help:Editing|editing guide]] and style guides
# Write the content, following the [[Help:Editing|editing guide]] and [[Help:Writing a repair guide]]
# '''Add categories''' — Use HotCat for quick category assignment
# Add categories with HotCat for quick category assignment
# '''Tag if incomplete''' — Use Twinkle to add maintenance tags for missing sections
# If the article is incomplete, use Twinkle to add maintenance tags for missing sections


== 📖 Related Pages ==
== 📖 Related pages ==


* [[Help:Editing]] — Comprehensive editing guide
* [[Help:Editing]]: editing guide
* [[RetroTechCollection:TW]] — Twinkle documentation
* [[RetroTechCollection:TW]]: Twinkle documentation
* [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Gadget Preferences]] — Enable/disable optional tools
* [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|Gadget preferences]]: turn optional tools on or off


[[Category:RetroTechCollection Wiki]]
[[Category:RetroTechCollection Wiki]]

Revision as of 11:35, 30 September 2026

Editing Tools
Tools to speed up article creation and editing on the RetroTechCollection Wiki

These tools are available to all registered editors. They help automate repetitive tasks like creating infoboxes, importing specifications, and managing categories. For general editing help, see Help:Editing.

🧰 Available tools

Infobox generator

Access Open Infobox Generator; also available from the toolbar button when editing an article
Purpose Generate infobox wikitext for computers and for peripherals and accessories

Features:

  • Switch between the Computer and Peripheral infobox types
  • Form fields for all infobox parameters; only filled fields appear in the output
  • Links predecessor and successor fields automatically (typing "Macintosh IIcx" outputs [[Macintosh IIcx]])
  • Formats image filenames (adds [[File:...|250px]] wrapper)
  • Live preview shows how the infobox will render
  • One-click copy to clipboard
  • "Insert into Editor" button when used from the article editor

How to use:

  1. Open the Infobox Generator
  2. Select the infobox type (Computer or Peripheral)
  3. Fill in the fields you need and leave the rest blank
  4. Click "Generate Infobox"
  5. Copy the wikitext and paste it as the first line of your article

Spec sheet importer

Access Open Spec Importer
Purpose Import technical specifications from EveryMac.com and auto-generate infobox wikitext
Data source EveryMac.com, a Macintosh specifications database

Features:

  • Search EveryMac by model name
  • Quick-select dropdown for common Macintosh models
  • Fetches the full specifications and maps them to RTC Wiki infobox fields:
    • CPU (processor type + speed)
    • Memory (standard + maximum)
    • Storage (HDD, floppy, optical)
    • Display (built-in + resolution)
    • Dimensions and weight
    • OS support range
    • Pricing and model numbers
  • All mapped fields are editable before generating wikitext
  • Side-by-side view: mapped infobox fields + full EveryMac spec sheet for reference
  • Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat lookups are fast

How to use:

  1. Open the Spec Importer
  2. Search for a model or use the quick-select dropdown
  3. Review the auto-mapped infobox fields on the left
  4. Reference the full EveryMac data on the right for anything the auto-mapper missed
  5. Edit any fields that need adjustment
  6. Click "Generate Infobox Wikitext" to get the finished wikitext

Twinkle

Access TW menu in the toolbar on every page, once the gadget is enabled
Purpose Maintenance tagging, page protection, speedy deletion, and batch operations

The Tag module offers 25 maintenance templates, five of them specific to RTC:

Enable in Preferences → Gadgets → Twinkle. Documentation: RetroTechCollection:TW.

HotCat

Access Category links at the bottom of any page get (+) (−) (±) buttons
Purpose Add, remove or change categories by clicking, without editing the source

Enable in Preferences → Gadgets → HotCat.

Pywikibot

Access Server-side only (command line)
Purpose Batch operations: bulk edits, category moves, template substitutions

Available for admin use. Contact an administrator if you need batch operations performed.

Creating a new computer article:

  1. Import the specifications: open the Spec Importer, find your model, review the data
  2. Generate the infobox: click "Generate Infobox Wikitext", copy to clipboard
  3. Create the article: paste the infobox as the first line
  4. Write the content, following the editing guide and Help:Writing a repair guide
  5. Add categories with HotCat for quick category assignment
  6. If the article is incomplete, use Twinkle to add maintenance tags for missing sections
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