These step-by-step instructions show the FL directors and their delegates the exact steps to maintain Wikipedia:Featured lists, Wikipedia:Featured list candidates and Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates, their subpages and logs, and how to close and archive FL nominations.

Incorporates bits from my old FLC and FLRC closing instructions, Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates/Closing instructions, and User:SandyGeorgia/FA_work, User:SandyGeorgia/sandbox#GimmeBot steps.

Timeline of FLC leadership edit


FLC maintenance edit

Nothing in this section is essential to the FL process; it's just routine "stuff". The only thing that determines whether a list is FL is whether it was added to or removed from WP:FL by the Featured list directors or their delegates. The rest is for the convenience of other editors.

New FLC listings edit

All new WP:FLC listings should be checked:

  1. If there is one, the previous FLC should be listed and pipe-linked with the standard terminology "previous FLC" (to work with scripts).
  2. Check the talk page of every new FLC for:
    1. the {{FLC}} template at the top of the page (many nominators forget, and it should be the template, not a subst.
    2. old peer reviews archived and closed (if not, leave a note either at the talk page, at the FLC page, or both)
    3. articles may not be at PR, GAN and FLC at the same time
    4. convert old DYK templates (example)
    5. general talk page cleanup, banners, dykdate added to articlehistory if present, and all templates needed to complete articlehistory in place and complete, old afds dealt with (sample). Clean up missing TOC when needed, example. Update depending on GimmeBot, who will build articlehistory?
    6. Notify the WikiProjects mentioned on the talkpage of the FLC, and any logical ones not posted at talk page -- We're low on reviewers, so their input could be valuable, esp. regarding style guidelines. Should expect more drive-by votes, though, so have to be vigilant.

Ongoing FLCs edit

Check WP:FLCs regularly for

  1. Unsigned entries (surprisingly frequent, a sig needs to be attached to every declaration, add {{unsigned}} as needed, and often, when discussion gets long, the {{interrupted}} template is needed to attach a declaration to its owner, sample).
  2. Graphics (see the WP:FLC instructions, they slow down the page and often need to be removed)
  3. Sub-sections (see the WP:FLC instructions, they need to be removed when inserted)
  4. Inappropriate strikes and caps (see the WP:FLC instructions, nominators should not strike others' comments, and caps should be used sparingly).
  5. Monitor for double declarations of Support or Oppose, or unbolded and almost hidden supports or opposes.
  6. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/backlog/items

Closing FLCs edit

edit

  1. Remove the transcluded discussion from WP:FLC. While removing it, mention the name of the list in the edit summary that it is being promoted.
  2. Transclude the discussion to this month's promotion log
  3. Update the log tallies in Featured list log.
  4. Update Wikipedia:Featured lists, including the count at the top.
    1. Update Wikipedia:Former featured lists, including the count at the top (rarely necessary)
  5. Add a notice to Template:Announcements/New featured pages, cycle the entries, removing as many as has been added.
  6. Add a notice to Wikipedia:Goings-on.
  7. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/backlog/items
  8. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/Closure log
  • GimmeBot will complete the closure by updating the list's talk page, adding the FL star, archiving the FLC page and adding a closure box.

Failed nominations edit

  1. Remove the transcluded discussion from WP:FLC. While removing it, mention the name of the list in the edit summary that it is being archived.
  2. Move the transcluded flc page to the top of the current month's failed log
  3. Update the log tallies in {{Featured list log}}.
  4. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/backlog/items
  5. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/Closure log
  • GimmeBot will complete the closure by updating the list's talk page, archiving the FLC page and adding a closure box.

Withdrawals edit

  1. Remind the nominator not to remove the FLC template, with a link to WP:FLC/ar by adding {{FLCClosed}} to the bottom of the nomination.

Nominator-withdrawn FLCs containing Opposes: to be recorded in articlehistory edit

  1. Make sure there's a note on the FLC, linking to the request to withdraw from the nominator
  2. Remove transcluded FLC page from WP:FLC. While removing it, mention the name of the list in the edit summary that it is being archived.
  3. Move the transcluded FLC page to the top of the current monthly failed log, with an edit summary saying withdrawn (for my future stats, distinguish from a fail). Moving it to the monthly archive file will trigger GimmeBot to do the rest.
  4. Make sure the {{FLC}} template is still on the article talk page, so Gimmebot won't stall.
  • GimmeBot will complete the closure by updating the list's talk page, archiving the FLC page and adding a closure box.

Premature FLCs withdrawn with no opposes, or no opposes of substance edit

  • Complete sample
  • It's a judgment call as to whether the FLC should be recorded into articlehistory.
  1. Remove transcluded FLC page from WP:FLC
  2. Do NOT move to monthly archive page
  3. Move the FLC page to the next open N, /archiveN
  4. Re-open the original FLC file to (a) remove the redirect, (b) prep it ready for next submission by adding the page header ===[[Article name]]=== and (c) link to previous FLC withdrawn (no uppercase "p" all uppercase "FLC", this is for some other scripts)
  5. Go to the article talk page. (a) Remove the {{FLC}} template from the article talk page, (b) leave a comment on the talk page in a new section noting that the flc was withdrawn, with a link to the archive file.
  6. If necessary, notify the nominator with the {{FLC withdrawn}} template or a customized message.
  • GimmeBot will not do anything with this closure

FLRC maintenance edit

New FLRC listings edit

All new Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates listings should be checked:

  1. Make sure the FLRC is actually a Featured list (sometimes nominators meant to submit to Wikipedia:Peer review or WP:FLC) and complies with the instructions about three to six months between promotion and review and several days after mainpage appearance:
    If it doesn't belong at FLRC:
    1. Remove the transclusion from Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates
    2. Remove the {{FLRC}} template from the article talk page
    3. Leave a note for the nominator
    4. Decide if the FLRC has to be maintenance or author-deleted, or moved to a FLC or PR file, and transcluded there.
  2. Make sure notifications are done per the Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates instructions, if not, prompt the nominator to do so.
  3. Make sure the templates are in order on the article talk page, including {{FLRC}} at the top of the page (the template, not a subst).

Ongoing FLRCs edit

  1. Monitor for premature declarations of Keep/Remove and remind that Keep/Remove !votes should be made after concerns have been met or sufficient time has passed where concerns have gone ignored
  2. Monitor daily for requests for feedback and more information
  3. Prompt the nominator if needed to return to the FLRC for feedback.

Closing FLRCs edit

Keeps edit

  1. Transclude the discussion to the current month's Kept section of the removal log
  2. Update the log tallies in {{Featured list log}}.
  3. GimmeBot will complete the closure by updating the list's talk page, archiving the FLRC page and adding a closure box.

Delists edit

  1. Remove the transcluded discussion from Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates. While removing it, mention the name of the list in the edit summary that it is being delisted.
  2. Transclude the discussion to the current month's Delisted section of the removal log
  3. Remove the list from Wikipedia:Featured lists, and update the count in the project page's introduction.
  4. Add the list to Wikipedia:Former featured lists under the same section heading it was under at Wikipedia:Featured lists, and update the count in the project page's introduction.
  5. Update the log tallies in {{Featured list log}}.
  6. GimmeBot will complete the closure by updating the list's talk page, archiving the FLRC page and adding a closure box.
  7. Update Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/Closure log

Other FL-related tasks edit

Nothing in this section is essential to the FL process; it's just routine "stuff". The only thing that determines whether a list is FL is whether it was added to or removed from WP:FL by the directors or delegates. The rest is for the convenience of other editors.

Daily (or weekly) edit

Sync FLC and FLRC categories edit

  1. look for the nontranscluded entry.
  2. Often, the nontranscluded entry will be a driveby nom from a new editor who hasn't returned.
    1. If so, a decision has to be made about whether to transclude it to FLC or FLRC, or leave a note to the editor about possibly maintenance deleting the page ({{db-g6}}).
      If the page is maintenance deleted, be sure to also remove the {{FLC}} or {{FLRC}} template from the talk page.
    2. If not, transclude the FLC or FLRC to WP:FLC or WP:FLRC, and notify the nominator. The nominator should be reminded to update the timestamp to reflect when the FLC was actually submitted, or add a note to the FLC to that effect.

Monthly edit

Open new monthly archive files at Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/Featured log, Wikipedia:Featured list candidates/Failed log, and Wikipedia:Featured list removal candidates/log, adding {{featured list log}} to the top of each.

GimmeBot steps edit

GimmeBot steps for archive/promote FLCs and Keep/Remove FLRCs. Blue text is links to examples and edit summaries

Event Promote FLC Fail FLC Keep FLRC Remove FLRC Notes
1. Tag FLC/FLR closed tagging closed FLC discussion
{{subst:Fl top| result= '''promoted''' by ~~~~ [diff]}}
{{subst:Fl bottom}}
tagging closed FLC discussion
{{subst:Fl top| result= '''not promoted''' by ~~~~ [diff]}}
{{subst:Fl bottom}}
tagging closed FLR discussion
{{subst:Flr top| result= '''kept''' by ~~~~ [diff]}}
{{subst:Fl bottom}}
tagging closed FLR discussion
{{subst:Flr top| result= '''removed''' by ~~~~ [diff]}}
{{subst:Fl bottom}}
Use UTC timestamp when Dabomb/TRM/the delegates moved to log to tag the top of the closed FLC or FLRC and indicate who promoted/archived with diff.
2. Add/Remove star Adding FL star after FLC removing FL star after FLR Remove or add {{Featured list}} to or from article
3. Update ArticleHistory and Class Assessments remove {{featured list candidates}} template, update AH and current status update ArticleHistory remove {{featured list candidates}} template, update AH, update ArticleHistory remove {{featured list removal candidates}} template, update AH, update ArticleHistory remove {{featured list removal candidates}} template, update AH and current status update ArticleHistory This has to be done on all, incorporating DYKs, peer reviews, GAs, and FLC/FLRC, as well as updating older nominations that were archived. currentstatus= must be "FL", "FFLC", "FL", or "FFL". See {{articlehistory}} for usage.
4. Update Wikiproject Assessments FL-class to all Wikiproject banners no change no change Remove or change to List-class Upgrade Wikiproject assessments on promotions to FL, remove (or reassess) on demotions

If GimmeBot ever retires edit

Uncertain still who will pick up GimmeBot tasks.
  • Manually archive WP:GO every Saturday night/Sunday morning UTC (the instructions are in the page). Otherwise, close and tag WP:GO as Historical, see this discussion. Gimmetrow had just coded GimmeBot to do the weekly archiving at WP:GO, agreeing to do it after years of Raul and Sandy searching for someone who would take on the weekly archiving of that page. Shortly after he wrote the code, an unannounced change was made at the Wikimedia level. In the discussion that ensued, it was found that WP:GO isn't really used by anyone, is info that is duplicated elsewhere anyway, and probably isn't worth the maintenance effort. As of September 2013, however, it is still being used.
  • FLC and FLRC archiving without GimmeBot, either manually complete the steps as above, or go back to the old (pre-GimmeBot) method:
  1. As now, FLC and FLRC directors/delegates indicate when a FLC/FLRC has closed by moving the transcluded file to archive and adding/removing the article at WP:FL and WP:FFL.
    1. Tag closed processes as in Step 1.
    2. Move, archive and clear redirects per Steps 2–7.
    3. Add/remove FL stars per Step 8
    4. Step 9 is replaced. See Template talk:ArticleHistory/work#Templates.
      1. After a FLC/FLRC is closed by moving it to archive, replace the {{FLC}} or {{FLRC}} template on the talk page with the appropriate template: {{FL}}, {{FLCfailed}} or {{FFL}}.
      2. Another editor or new bot will have to later convert the templates to articlehistory.
    5. Update WikiProject class-assessments per Step 10

Other things to consider

  1. Who will check for renames on WP:FLs, failed FLs and WP:FFLs so the talk page links correspond with the FLC and FLRC logs?
  2. Who will update articlehistory?

Old talk page templates edit