User talk:Σ

How do I manually archive some threads without it causing trouble with the counter?

Currently I've been changing the settings frequently depending on how busy my talk page is, but it would be better to select specific things to archive faster, like notifications and finished conversations.

Alternatively is there an "archive now" function to do everything on the page except the minimum number of threads? For if there's one ongoing conversation and nothing else active? I've tried setting it to zero days, but that didn't seem to work.

Late Night Coffee (talk) 13:57, 22 February 2026 (UTC)

Please tag me if you reply here. Late Night Coffee (talk) 13:58, 22 February 2026 (UTC)

Would it be possible to treat the archive bot configuration as a template, which could then issue editor warnings (in page preview, for instance) when parameters are garbled or used incorrectly.

For example, semi-recently templates like {{Talk header}} and {{Archives}} got the ability to report on the configuration to users, so editors no longer need to check the source code (edit the page) to learn the archiving cadence. For example, |algo=old(60d) will be reported as an archiving period of 2 months.

However, this can and has made editors incorrectly change parameters, say to |algo=old(3m) with the intent to increase the period from 2 to 3 months.

But the bot does not understand the unit "m" for months. You need to express this as |algo=old(90d).

It would be helpful if this could be reported in page preview, much like how infoboxes and citation templates complain about problems with parameters.

This was previously discussed over at Talk:Talk header, but people seemed to think this (and User:ClueBot III/ArchiveThis) would be a better home for such functionality.

Thanks CapnZapp (talk) 22:09, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

@CapnZapp: It's been a while with no response. Did you try emailing, per the I do not check my talk page box at the top of this page? If you did, maybe one of the other users mentioned in the same box could help. Couldn't hurt to ping and ask.

Technically, I don't think administrative access to the bot is actually needed to implement this as we aren't proposing to change the bot in any way here. We would only need someone with permissions to edit User:MiszaBot/config. I've tried the following code and I'm fairly sure it would work as intended:

{{#if:{{{key|}}}|[[Category:Pages archived using a key]]|{{#ifeq:{{#invoke:String|find|source={{{archive|}}}|target={{#titleparts:{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}/}}|1|<nowiki />|<includeonly>{{Preview warning|Page using [[User:MiszaBot/config]] with [[:Category:Pages where archive parameter is not a subpage|archive parameter not a subpage]]}}[[Category:Pages where archive parameter is not a subpage]]</includeonly>}}}}<!--

-->{{#ifeq:{{{algo|}}}|{{#invoke:String|match|s={{{algo|}}}|pattern=old%(%d+[hd]?%)|show-pattern=no}}|<nowiki />|<includeonly>{{Preview warning|Page using [[User:MiszaBot/config]] with invalid duration in {{para|algo|old()}} parameter: must use a duration in hours (h) or days (d)}}</includeonly>}}<!--

--><noinclude><!--{{Documentation|User:Lowercase sigmabot III/Archive HowTo}}--></noinclude>

The first paragraph of code is an error check the configuration already does. The second paragraph is my addition which would implement a check of |algo= and output a preview warning. Note that this does not populate a tracking category; it would only produce a preview warning. (Adding a tracking category with the preview warning could be done in the same way it's done in the first paragraph.) The third, final paragraph is documentation. – Scyrme (talk) 15:44, 24 April 2026 (UTC)

I have notified Σ via Wikipedia mail. CapnZapp (talk) 16:20, 24 April 2026 (UTC)

Pinging User:dbeef, User:The Earwig, and User:Enterprisey. Best regards, CapnZapp (talk) 16:21, 24 April 2026 (UTC)

I agree this is a reasonable change to make to the template and doesn't require any changes on the bot side. — The Earwig (talk) 02:21, 25 April 2026 (UTC)

In case it's helpful, an explanation for how the new check works: #invoke:String|match effectively repeats any input to |s= given by |algo= which matches the regular expression (regex) given in |pattern=. This regex is the same one Aidan9382 suggested at Template talk:Talk header; it appeared to work as intended after trying it out. If there's a match, the output from #invoke:String|match will be identical to the original input from |algo= because it will simply be repeated.

The #ifeq expression checks if |algo= is identical to the output of #invoke:String|match. If they are identical, it outputs nothing visible. If they are not identical, it outputs a preview warning. Using the #ifeq expression allows this check to produce a specific warning, rather than just a generic "no match" warning, and also ensures that the output when there's a match is nothing, rather than visibly repeating whatever is written into the |algo= parameter. – Scyrme (talk) 16:06, 24 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for your feedback, User:The Earwig. I believe you can proceed, User:Scyrme, given no objections from either dbeef or Enterprisey, or Σ for that matter. CapnZapp (talk) 15:43, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

@CapnZapp: I can't. User:MiszaBot/config is protected (WP:PINKLOCK). I don't have permission to edit it. I've provided the code, but someone else has to copy it in. – Scyrme (talk) 17:17, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

This edit request to User:MiszaBot/config has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

May someone with permissions please copy the code in the sandbox into User:MiszaBot/config? The code implements a preview warning when a invalid duration is given to the config. How it works is explained at User talk:Σ § issue warning to editors if archive bot configuration is malformed, and the implementation was discussed at that section and at Template talk:Talk header § Proposal to have template issue warning to editors if archive bot configuration is malformed. – Scyrme (talk) 17:28, 27 April 2026 (UTC)

I assume you do not intend to comment out the documentation template, as is current on the sandbox? — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 09:08, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

@MSGJ: Yes, I did that while testing and it wasn't intended for the live version. I've amended the sandbox. – Scyrme (talk) 12:59, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

 Done — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 13:24, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank-you! – Scyrme (talk) 13:57, 28 April 2026 (UTC)