Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Computing/List of books on the history of computing

Notes

I started this page because essentially the same list was at History of computing and History of computing hardware - to avoid having to maintain the list in more than one place. Bubba73 17:06, August 19, 2005 (UTC)

Formatting problem

{{help}} Look at the 1st entry of the article: "Allan, Roy ...". The text "Contains over 280 ..." starts a new line and is double-spaced. The entire section is double-spaced as are most other sections. If you use "history" to display the previous version, that version displays correctly. And if you use history to compare those two versions, the only change shown is a spelling correction "Greenword" to "Greenwood".

I've made thousands of edits, but can't find the problem here. Feeling dumb. tooold (talk) 19:52, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

I have a feeling it's your browser, or possibly something funny with your personal CSS? I looked at it in Firefox and Google Chrome and the spacing looks fine for the Alan Roy entry and the same as the spacing throughout the rest of the article.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 20:14, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

I use Windows XP, Firefox. Get the same display with IE8 (1st time I've tried it), get the same display with a WIkipedia logon or IP address. My description may not have been adequate -- that the "Contains over 280 ..." starts a new line is the wrong formatting. In the prior version (and all prior versions, I think), that text continues on the same line. I've also restarted my system - which had no effect.

If when you view the article, the "Contains over 280.." is on the same line, I'll just ignore the problem, believing the problem to be with my system. Thanks tooold (talk) 21:56, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

I can believe this, which is not actually a nice thing to say in this case. That first line is a template for a book citation followed by text. When a period was added immediately after the template, the formatting was correct! When I then removed that period - thus back to the prior state - the formatting was still correct(!), the error did not repeat. Cost me a couple of hours; forget it and move on. Thanks again. tooold (talk) 22:10, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

Ah, so the one extra character sent it over the edge? For me half the sentence is on the next line, which has to do which how large text formats on my screen. If you hit Ctrl+- (minus) once or twice many of the lines which are wrapping will no longer.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 22:17, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

This is Wikipedia, not your private web page

I was really surprised at how bad this situation was. I expect this only on obscure pages that hardly anyone ever looks at. Please note: Wikipedia:Manual of Style does exist. Michael Hardy (talk) 00:34, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

What is the point of the strings of hyphens?

They're used like <hr> on this page. Someone obviously had some conscious intent with the way they used them, but that intent is not apparent to me. Please explain. Maybe it is already explained somewhere (I skimmed, I didn't read closely yet). The explanation needs to be more at-a-glance findable (in lede) if so. — ¾-10 18:47, 17 October 2010 (UTC)

I don't see any reason for them. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 22:57, 17 October 2010 (UTC)