
Employee
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137 Messages
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5.6K Points
Wed, Nov 15, 2017 3:33 PM
Changes to formats supported for creating links within contributions
Today, Wednesday 15th November 2017, we will begin the roll-out of changes to the types of linking formats supported within our contribution interfaces.
Currently within our contribution interfaces we support two types of linking. They are:-
As part of this work, the existing ability within the legacy format to perform name matching will be removed. An example of this feature is below:-

From today all contribution interfaces will begin being updated to support only the [link=nm1234567] for name and [link=tt1234567]. This change will not impact how the data is displayed on IMDb, it is purely a change to the contribution interfaces. This change affects 23 different data types:-
These changes will be rolling out over the next 24 hours during which time we will be monitoring the launch. We are in the process of ensuring that all submission guides are updated to reflect this change.
If you do spot any issues or have questions/feedback, please respond to this thread.
Thanks,
Rachel
Currently within our contribution interfaces we support two types of linking. They are:-
- [link=nm1234567] for names and [link=tt1234567] for titles. This is our modern linking method, which utilizes the unique identifier for each name or title in the database (which can be harvested from our URLs).
- 'Tomoyuki Tanaka (I)'(qv) for names and _"Buffythe Vampire Slayer" (2001) {Once More, with Feeling (#6.7)}_ (qv) for titles. This is our legacy format which requires in-depth knowledge of our legacy name or title text format and is error prone.
As part of this work, the existing ability within the legacy format to perform name matching will be removed. An example of this feature is below:-
From today all contribution interfaces will begin being updated to support only the [link=nm1234567] for name and [link=tt1234567]. This change will not impact how the data is displayed on IMDb, it is purely a change to the contribution interfaces. This change affects 23 different data types:-
- Plot Outline
- Plot Summary
- Crazy Credits
- Alternate Versions
- Connections
- Articles
- Books About This Person
- Biographical Movies
- Biography
- Real Life Quotes
- Name Trivia
- Trivia
- Nickname
- Other Works
- Portrayed in Other Movies
- Salary
- Spouse
- Trademarks
- Goofs
- Quotes
- Awards
- Soundtracks
- Literature
These changes will be rolling out over the next 24 hours during which time we will be monitoring the launch. We are in the process of ensuring that all submission guides are updated to reflect this change.
If you do spot any issues or have questions/feedback, please respond to this thread.
Thanks,
Rachel
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CuriousUserX90
282 Messages
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6.5K Points
3 y ago
2
Elwood_Blues
65 Messages
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2.7K Points
3 y ago
So unless a different way of adding/correcting links is implemented (for example, like adding cast members: you add a name and a list of possible matches appears), I will submit less data/corrections.
5
CuriousUserX90
282 Messages
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6.5K Points
3 y ago
1
0
vhavnal
216 Messages
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11.2K Points
3 y ago
1
CuriousUserX90
282 Messages
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6.5K Points
3 y ago
All those Names now list [link=Number] in their place, appearing like how you'd see them when editing a Trivia Item on the App Version.
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james_johnston_4d5h8woi6a7ga
17 Messages
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738 Points
3 y ago
Now that the new format of linking names and titles is fully implemented, some tools that would be nice might be (they probably would have been nice in the past, but, better now than never):
1. Add a button on all name and title pages to write the appropriate format link to the clipboard (or similar location) that could then be pasted into an appropriate place in a submission.
2. Add a button to all appropriate submission pages that pops up a search box over the page so a submitter can search for the name or title they want. Once the name or title is found, a button in the pop-up box would write the link in the correct format to the clipboard (or similar location) so all the submitter need do is paste the link in at the desired point in the submission.
My point is that, by providing simple tools that take a lot of the manual work out of building the link (and hiding the actual mechanics of the link itself), I think many of the complaints I see above would fade away. Also, by having the tools create the link in the appropriate format, any time links are changed/enhanced in the future, changing the tools would automatically provide the new format without changing the way a submitter creates the link.
1
ron_5041943
251 Messages
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7.6K Points
3 y ago
Complaint: Readability has been eliminated during editing.
Previously:
Written by 'Justin Timberlake' (qv), 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv) and 'Scott Storch' (qv)
Performed by 'Justin Timberlake' (qv)
Produced by 'Tim Mosley (I)' (qv)
Currently:
Written by [link=nm0005493], [link=nm0608856] and [link=nm1395028]
Performed by [link=nm0005493]
Produced by [link=nm0608856]
The enhancements Owen suggests would greatly improve this, and should be the highest priority fix.
Suggestion: Putting in something like this should be allowed:
Performed by [link=Justin Timberlake]
and the system would make the conversion automagically.
Putting in something liks this, would bring up the name picker, where we select the correct name (roman numeral), and the system auto-converts it to the name const.
Produced by [link=Tim Mosley]
To-Do item: The back-end needs to update links when name merges happen. Example from soundtracks:
Music by [link=nm2228215]
Name/page doesn't exist under that const anymore.
To-Do item: Links to companies need to be disallowed at submission, and lists scrubbed for them. Example from soundtracks:
Courtesy [link=co0508645]
Typing the new syntax on a virtual keyboard (phone/tablet, etc...) is very time comsuming because the square brackets are not part of the standard virtual keyboard layout. The old (qv) system was much easier to type because single ticks and parens were easy to get to from a virtual keyboard.
1
ido_hammer
35 Messages
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956 Points
3 y ago
As things stand now, I’ll be passing on anything that involves this tedious procedure - too much work for me, sorry. I’ll gladly reconsider this decision if and when the system is improved.
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CuriousUserX90
282 Messages
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6.5K Points
3 y ago
0
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CuriousUserX90
282 Messages
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6.5K Points
3 y ago
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