Help:File description page: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:53, 2 March 2018

Revision as of 02:16, 21 March 2018

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{{Wikipedia how-to|WP:IDP}}

When a file such as an image, video or sound clip is [[Help:Images and other uploaded files|uploaded]] to Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Commons, an associated '''file description page''' is created (also known as an '''image description page''' or '''file page''' ). The purpose of these pages is to provide information about the file: for example the author, date of creation, who uploaded the file, any modifications that may have been made, an extended description of the file's subject or context, where the file is used, and license or copyright information. In the case of an image, the file description page shows a higher resolution version of the image, if available.

To view the file description page for an image or video, click on the image itself. For a sound file, click on the information icon, [[File:CrystalClearInfoIcon.png]], near the sound clip link.

A file description page consists of five parts:

*The contents of the file itself.

*The [[Help:Editing|editable section]]: This should include a description of the file, plus source and copyright information. When editing, this section allows [[Wikipedia:Wiki Markup Language]] (also known as [[Wikipedia:Glossary#W|Wikitext]]) and should include some or all the parameters of [[Template:Information]].

*File history: If a new version of a file is uploaded with the same name, the existing file is replaced and becomes available via file history. See [[Help:Page history]].

*File usage: A list of pages that embed the file (including pages where the file appears as part of a template). If a file is stored on Commons and used on other Wikimedia wikis, a "Global file usage" section will be included as well.

*Metadata (images only): Technical information about the file and the equipment used to create it (camera model, etc.).

The following are examples of different types of files:

*[[:File:Leucospermum cultivar Edit.jpg|Image example]]

*[[:File:Russian national anthem at Medvedev inauguration 2008.ogg|Video example]]

*[[:File:Edison cylinder Lost Chord.ogg|Sound example]]

*[[:File:Abroad - 1882.djvu|Mixed content example (DjVu in this case, but could also be PDF)]]

==Useful things to include in the editable section==

The editable section of the page is used to describe the file and provide additional information. Initially this section automatically contains the upload summary supplied when the file was first uploaded. The following are useful things to put on a file page: