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WikiProject:Fixing Broken Links 2.0

Revision as of 16:44, 3 April 2024 by Batsondl (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{breadcrumb | link1=Current Projects page | link2= | link3= | link4= | link5=Fixing Broken Links 2.0 }} == Purpose == The purpose is to fix broken links found on the Wiki. == Broken Links List == *[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zDjZM9AqsskIZelgjOymsZ7WDxzTpGLjC5ErjdSn3vU/edit#gid=1661384892 Wiki Broken Links July 2023 - Task List] == Project Instructions == === Step 1 - Sign...")
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Purpose

The purpose is to fix broken links found on the Wiki.

Broken Links List

Project Instructions

Step 1 - Sign Up



  • This tab contains broken links found on just one Wiki page.



Step 2 - Check the Wiki Page and Link

  • In column G, you will find the link to the Wiki page that contains this broken link. Click on this link.



  • Click on Edit Source on the Wiki page and do a ctrl-F to find the URL on the Wiki page.



  • Copy the URL and paste it into the browser address to see if this link redirects.



URL Automatically Redirects - New Link Found

  • If it redirects, copy the new URL and paste it onto the Wiki page over the old URL.



  • Put fixed broken link in the Summary and click on Save page



  • Type in the date by the broken link you just fixed on the task list.



  • Paste a copy of the new URL in column H of the task list.





URL is Broken - Check Internet Archives

  • If the URL comes up broken (404 error or any other error), use https://archive.org/web/ to find what the website used to look like.


  • In the Wayback Machine URL field at the very top of the page, paste in your link from the Google Sheet.

Wayback 1.PNG











When the Wayback Machine does NOT have a result
  • There are some reasons the Wayback Machine does not have a result.
  • The website never existed. Such a link that goes to a Wikipedia page that is spelled incorrectly.
  • The website is obscure or a foreign language that the Wayback machine does not cover.

  • To help find the correct link, you can try googling some key words from the URL to see if a correct link can be found. Using the display text for the URL can also help in googling.

  • If a link cannot be found, go to the Google Sheet and type in, "None" into column H. You can also add additional inofmration about why it couldn't be replaced. This can include, "could not find the replacement link" or "website is now gone."

When the Wayback Machine has a result
  • If the Wayback Machine has a version of the website in its database, you will see a calendar that lists the dates the website was archived.

  • It is best to choose two or three years, sometimes even 10 years before the last date the website was recorded to see what it looked like before the website changed.

Wayback 2.PNG























  • Click on that year and locate a date on the calendar that is highlighted blue. Be sure to click on the link on the dialogue box.

Wayback 3.PNG















  • Once you find a copy of the old website, review the old page and determine key words to use for when you use Google to locate the new URL.

In this example, you could use the key words, Alameda County California clerk recorder's office birth marriage death certificates"

Wayback 4.PNG

  • Review the results and see if any are close to what you think is the same thing.

Please note: Sometimes a website page no longer exists and there is not a good substitute. In this situation, remove the link completely and make a note on the Google Sheet in column N - "Notes or reason why the link could not be fixed:" - for example: "Defunct and no replacement found", and move on to the next broken link.

Use Google to find the new URL:

  • Google the beginning portion of the URL to locate a possible page.
  • Google the title of the page with additional details that might be useful.

EXAMPLE

  • For the broken link: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/marriage.html the Wayback Machine gave the original web page
  • The title of the page is: Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900 and you can see it is on the Illinois State Archives
  • Google: Illinois state archives "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900"
  • The first result on the list is: https://www.ilsos.gov/isavital/marriagesrch.jsp and you will see that it is the same page as found in the Wayback Machine.

Step 4 - Replace the Link

1. With the correct new URL found on Google, go to the Wiki page and locate the section on the Wiki the broken link is in.

Fix link.PNG

2. Click on Edit Source link and you will see the wikitext code. In this example, we will replace URL http://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/bdm_online.htm from the line with the new URL.

Broken link.PNG

3. If the new URL is: https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/bdm/index.htm.

The code should now read:

[https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/bdm/index.htm Alameda County Clerk Recorder - Vital Records]. Make sure the name of the link matches the organization and website. For example, in this case, if the information is now on a different website than Alameda County Clerk Recorder, you need to change the link name, too. If there is other text included to explain the link (such as navigation instructions, or available records), you may need to update that as well.

Step 5 - Check Your Work

1. Click show preview.

2. Click the link you just added to make sure it works and it's the right one.

3. You can now save the page by typing in the summary field, fixed link and then click on the Save page button.

4. Return to the Google Sheet, record the date in column K and paste a copy of new URL you used on the Wiki page in column M. You can use column I to add any notes.

5. You can now choose another broken link to fix from the Google Sheet.


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