Introducing the PF Library

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
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The PF Library is a new database designed to provide quick access to information on Mathematics and Physics, helping users avoid external searches for reliable information. It features an editable format where members can define and expand on concepts, enhancing discussions within the forum. Users can add content, browse topics, and utilize an auto-linking feature that connects forum posts to relevant library entries. The library encourages contributions and includes tools for reporting items and commenting on entries. Overall, the PF Library aims to streamline the learning process and enrich the community's knowledge base.
  • #61
Seeing as not everyone is able to edit, how can we report something needing editing?

see here
'Equations' box, 2nd one down, has a typo.

b.
 
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  • #62
benabean said:
Seeing as not everyone is able to edit, how can we report something needing editing?

see here
'Equations' box, 2nd one down, has a typo.

b.

Hit the "report item" button on the menu on the left hand side of the screen (although there's no need to do it for this one, since I've just edited it! :smile:)
 
  • #63
cristo said:
Hit the "report item" button on the menu on the left hand side of the screen (although there's no need to do it for this one, since I've just edited it! :smile:)

thanks for that!
keep up the good work.:smile:

b.
 
  • #64
A great idea - though members might want to consider not recreating entries needlessly that are explained well in wikipedia. It's not hard to find endless arrays of physical and mathematical concepts explained there.
 
  • #65
Eric Belcastro said:
A great idea - though members might want to consider not recreating entries needlessly that are explained well in wikipedia. It's not hard to find endless arrays of physical and mathematical concepts explained there.
I would hope with the system that we have in place that our entries will be far more reliable than Wikipedia. Not that I am suggesting that either the PF library or Wikipedia should be used as a primary study reference.
 
  • #66
A possible addition to the right hand side menu could be 'recommended texts and books / further reading' for each entry.?

b.
 
  • #67
benabean said:
A possible addition to the right hand side menu could be 'recommended texts and books / further reading' for each entry.?

b.

Sort of what the "see also" section is for
 
  • #68
Greg Bernhardt said:
Sort of what the "see also" section is for

Ahh I would've taken the see also section to contain links to other Library entries,
ie 'Magnetism' would have a link to the library entry to 'electricity' for instance.

After a while there maybe a substantial list to other see also's, which wouldn't be good for organization of links.
 
  • #69
Perhaps those who are not members can submit "recommended edits" then those who have access can approve. I would like to edit some of the entries but alas do not have the ability to do so.
 
  • #70
Quadratic Equation
 
  • #71
Looks good to me!
 
  • #72
Diffy said:
Perhaps those who are not members can submit "recommended edits" then those who have access can approve. I would like to edit some of the entries but alas do not have the ability to do so.

As has been stated above you can report things you think need editing.
 
  • #73
Hootenanny said:
I would hope with the system that we have in place that our entries will be far more reliable than Wikipedia. Not that I am suggesting that either the PF library or Wikipedia should be used as a primary study reference.
I see what you mean. It would be nice for a community forum to go at it. Lot's to teach, lot's to learn...
 
  • #74
Eric Belcastro said:
I see what you mean. It would be nice for a community forum to go at it. Lot's to teach, lot's to learn...
The only draw back is that we have a much smaller pool of potential authors than Wikipedia, which means that populating the library is going to be a slow process. However, the advantage we have over Wikipedia is that for any given topic, there is likely to be a moderator who is considered proficient in that field. So once an entry has been moderated and published here on PF you can almost guarantee that it is going to be scientifically accurate, whereas you can't say the same for Wikipedia.
 
  • #75
Hey Everyone!

It seems a bit weird that whenever you write something like circle, you are linked to it's definition. Has anyone thought of having something like a latex code thing, where the key words could be coded, and then the link provided? A mathematical explanation for a circle isn't really needed in General Discussion, unless people just ignore it.
 
  • #76
Another thought, is it not possible to make the first letter of the link, case sensitive in that you can choose wether it is a capital letter or not.
 
  • #77
I think that's being looked at Mayday.
 
  • #78
This is a great idea, thanks for creating this trove of knowledge.
 
  • #79
this could turn very useful person like me..thankyou ...
 
  • #80
Could there please be a method of receiving notification of changes to a library entry? :smile:
 
  • #81
Thanks Kurdt.
 
  • #82
First entry in an edit log is now shown as the item creator. "In the News" field has been replaced with "Recent Forum Threads on xxxx".
 
  • #83
Some proposed changes:

i] There needs to be a preview option: Once i submit an article, there i no way for me to look if the Latex and the BBCode formatting is correct. I have to wait for the article to be approved before I realize that i made a mistake while typing in the formula.

ii] No edit option: Non-moderators cannot edit or propose edits to an article. Atleast allow me to edit the articles which are created by me, in case i want to add additional information.
 
  • #84
rohanprabhu said:
Some proposed changes:

i] There needs to be a preview option: Once i submit an article, there i no way for me to look if the Latex and the BBCode formatting is correct. I have to wait for the article to be approved before I realize that i made a mistake while typing in the formula.

ii] No edit option: Non-moderators cannot edit or propose edits to an article. Atleast allow me to edit the articles which are created by me, in case i want to add additional information.
The lack of previewing capability is unfortunate but may be what we must settle for. If you have edits or additions you'd like to have added, you can either report the entry or post the edits under Comments.
 
  • #85
plus.. why are so many database errors occurring. It's frustrating after writing a long article to see the 'Database error' page.
 
  • #86
rohanprabhu said:
plus.. why are so many database errors occurring. It's frustrating after writing a long article to see the 'Database error' page.

The database is backed up at around this time each morning, hence the database errors.
 
  • #87
cristo said:
The database is backed up at around this time each morning, hence the database errors.

ahh...
 
  • #88
Greg Bernhardt said:
First entry in an edit log is now shown as the item creator. "In the News" field has been replaced with "Recent Forum Threads on xxxx".

Cheers, Greg.

One other suggestion, which I'm not sure how easy it is to implement: would it be possible to restrict the set of forums from which threads appear in the "Recent Forum Threads on xxxx"? I only mention this because the article on "Limit" has a link to thread in GD (and one in the SA forum, but I'm not sure how visible that will be). I don't think that any threads in the PF lounge, or the Inner Circle, or probably some other forums, will ever be strictly related to the items in the PF Library, so it may be a good idea if we could somehow restrict links from these forums appearing.
 
  • #89
Greg Bernhardt said:
First entry in an edit log is now shown as the item creator. "In the News" field has been replaced with "Recent Forum Threads on xxxx".
I'm still not seeing the creator in the edit log Greg, unless this was implemented after the latest entry was submitted.

The Recent Forums Threads looks nice :approve:
 
  • #90
… how to preview …

rohanprabhu said:
There needs to be a preview option: Once i submit an article, there i no way for me to look if the Latex and the BBCode formatting is correct. I have to wait for the article to be approved before I realize that i made a mistake while typing in the formula.

rohanprabhu said:
plus.. why are so many database errors occurring. It's frustrating after writing a long article to see the 'Database error' page.

I recommend typing everything out first in the Reply page of some random thread, and using the Preview button there. :smile:

(and choose a really short thread, with no LaTeX, so that the previewing is fast.)
 

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