I was contacted today by an administrator from the German language Sims Wiki, asking if we'd be willing to offer our images as a shared image repository. A shared image repository setup would allow De.Sims to add our images to their pages without re-uploading them to their local wiki.
I am supportive of this initiative, but I want to make sure that there is support for the idea among the broader TSW community before giving the go-ahead.
A few items of note, however. If we were to modify, rename, or delete a shared image, those changes would affect De.Sims as well. On top of this, we on the English Sims Wiki would not have any indicators that a file was being used by another wiki (so for instance, a file that is shared could show up on the list of unused files). To get around these problems, I'd want to establish a procedure for De.Sims editors to use our files. What I'm thinking is, De.Sims editors would come here looking for a particular file, and once they find the file they're looking for, they'd add a template (named something like {{Shared file}}) to the file they wish to use. The shared file template would let us know that the file is in use somewhere else, and warn us away from making significant modifications to the file without letting them know.
So, are there any thoughts about this? -- LostInRiverview talk · blog · contribs 16:24, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
- I don't see any harm for TSW. I would have several reasons for the German wiki not to do this, but I understand why they ask. I am supportive about this share, but I would suggest to leave any responsibility of changes (in any kind) up to the German wiki, and not to TSW. DeSims (talk) 16:37, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
- I don't know what you mean by "responsibility of changes", can you elaborate a bit more on that? My idea was that the German wiki users would add the shared file template to files on our wiki; they'd be responsible for letting us know which files they choose to use. I agree that I don't see any harm coming to TSW out of doing this, but I just want to make sure that the German Sims Wiki editors aren't significantly inconvenienced if we make changes to our files. -- LostInRiverview talk · blog · contribs 16:42, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
- I'm sorry that was perhaps a bit vague of me. I meant to say that if files were to be deleted, moved (or who knows TSW closes its server but the German wiki doesn't) that should be a 'risk' of the German wiki for using TSW as a 'serverhost'. I like the idea of a template, but if they have to add templates to all images they use (and I guess they will use this sharing for the thousands of traits, moods and icon images), will this sharing really be a better option for them? I would say that it would be better for the German wiki to keep an eye out on TSW rather than the other way around, if that makes sense.. DeSims (talk) 17:10, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
- I don't know what you mean by "responsibility of changes", can you elaborate a bit more on that? My idea was that the German wiki users would add the shared file template to files on our wiki; they'd be responsible for letting us know which files they choose to use. I agree that I don't see any harm coming to TSW out of doing this, but I just want to make sure that the German Sims Wiki editors aren't significantly inconvenienced if we make changes to our files. -- LostInRiverview talk · blog · contribs 16:42, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
- I don't see any harm for TSW. I would have several reasons for the German wiki not to do this, but I understand why they ask. I am supportive about this share, but I would suggest to leave any responsibility of changes (in any kind) up to the German wiki, and not to TSW. DeSims (talk) 16:37, June 14, 2019 (UTC)
This sounds like a really neat idea. I hadn't thought this possible, but I support the measure regardless. Ѧüя◎ґ (talk) 03:49, June 15, 2019 (UTC)
I don't want to keep the folks at the German Sims Wiki waiting for very long, so I'm going to close this discussion a week from today unless there is some opposition to the idea in that time. -- LostInRiverview talk · blog · contribs 01:07, June 22, 2019 (UTC)
- I definitely support the idea but potential drawbacks should be considered. It's a very generous offer to keep track of shared files but I feel like that in the long run it might be less complicated for everyone if they had their own files or at the very least upload the important ones themselves so they can be sure they won't get deleted. —Gvaudoin 💬 17:42, June 25, 2019 (UTC)
I've contacted the German Sims Wiki admin who initially contacted me, giving them the go-ahead with this idea. The consensus here is that they can utilize our images, but we on The Sims Wiki bear no responsibility for keeping them apprised to any changes we might make to our files (e.g renames, deletions, new versions). I'll leave this thread open for a bit in case there is a need for any further discussion. -- LostInRiverview talk · blog · contribs 21:19, July 2, 2019 (UTC)