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This page documents an official policy of the FHODS Archive. |
This page sets out the FHODS Archive Linking Policy — the guidelines that editors should follow when adding links of any kind to pages on this wiki. Consistent linking helps readers navigate the archive effectively and ensures the integrity and reliability of the resource over time.
These guidelines apply to all pages in the FHODS Archive wiki. If you are unsure about a specific case, raise it on the relevant talk page or contact an administrator.
Purpose of linking
Links should help readers find relevant information quickly and naturally. A good link adds genuine value — it leads somewhere useful, contextually appropriate, and reliable. Links should never be added for their own sake, to promote an external website, or to create unnecessary repetition.
Internal links
Internal links connect pages within the FHODS Archive wiki itself. They are the primary way readers navigate between related content such as productions, performers, venues, and seasons.
When to link
- Link the first occurrence of a term or name on a page where a corresponding wiki article exists. Do not repeat the link later on the same page unless the page is very long and the repeated link would aid navigation (for example, in a separate section far from the first mention).
- Link people, productions, venues, and seasons that have their own dedicated articles.
- Do not link every occurrence of a common term — only where the link adds meaningful context.
How to link
Use standard wikitext link syntax:
[[Article name]] [[Article name|display text]]
Use piped links ([[Target|Label]]) when the display text needs to differ from the article title — for example, to use a shorter name or to fit grammatically into a sentence.
Redirects
Where a redirect exists, link to the redirect rather than bypassing it to the target article. This keeps links consistent and makes future moves easier to manage. Do not use redirect links in the form [[Redirect]] if the redirect target is significantly more specific and the redirected name is genuinely what the reader would expect.
Self-links
Do not link a page to itself. If a page title appears in the text of the same page, leave it unlinked or bold it on first use if appropriate.
External links
External links point to websites outside the FHODS Archive wiki. They should be used sparingly and purposefully.
Acceptable external links
External links are appropriate in the following circumstances:
- The official website of an organisation, venue, or person directly relevant to FHODS or a production.
- Primary sources such as official society records, local authority archives, or digitised historical documents.
- Reference sources such as the Internet Archive, the British Newspaper Archive, or official charity commission records.
- Pages that provide substantial additional information that cannot or should not be reproduced within the wiki.
Unacceptable external links
Do not add external links to:
- Commercial websites with no direct relevance to FHODS, its productions, or its history.
- Social media profiles (personal accounts), fan pages, or unofficial sites of uncertain reliability.
- Sites that require a subscription or registration to access, unless the link is to a widely available institutional resource.
- Unstable URLs likely to break (for example, direct links to social media posts or news articles on sites known to move or delete content).
- Any site that contains inappropriate, offensive, or illegal material.
Placement
External links should normally be placed in a dedicated == External links == section at the foot of the article, using a bulleted list. Do not embed external links inline in article prose unless there is a strong editorial reason to do so (for example, citing a primary source directly).
== External links == * Official FHODS website * The Tower Theatre – venue history
Link text
Always provide descriptive link text in square brackets. Do not use bare URLs as display text. Avoid vague labels such as "click here" or "this page". The link text should tell the reader where they are going.
Reliability and maintenance
External links should point to stable, authoritative sources. If you notice a broken external link, mark it with [dead link] or remove it if no archived version can be found. Editors are encouraged to use archived versions (e.g. via the Wayback Machine at https://web.archive.org) where the original source is at risk of disappearing.
Interwiki links
Interwiki links allow the wiki to link directly to articles on other MediaWiki-based projects, most commonly Wikipedia. They are written using a prefix rather than a full URL.
Wikipedia
Links to Wikipedia are appropriate where:
- A person, venue, work, or organisation associated with FHODS has a notable Wikipedia article.
- The Wikipedia article provides useful encyclopaedic background that the FHODS Archive does not need to duplicate.
Use the standard interwiki prefix:
Gilbert and Sullivan Wikipedia:The Leas Cliff Hall
Do not use Wikipedia as a general-purpose reference source or cite it as a primary authority for factual claims within the wiki. Where a claim matters, seek the underlying source.
Other interwiki destinations
Links to other MediaWiki projects (Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, etc.) follow the same principle: link only where there is a clear benefit to the reader.
File and media links
File links display or reference images, PDFs, programmes, photographs, and other media stored on the wiki.
Embedding images
Images should be embedded using the standard [[File:]] syntax. Include a caption and, where known, an alt text description for accessibility.
Use thumb for most images. Use frame only when the original size must be preserved. Avoid using left or right alignment without good reason; the default (right-aligned thumbnail) is usually appropriate.
Linking to files without embedding
To link to a file page without embedding the file (for example, to link to a PDF programme), use the Media: namespace prefix:
View the 1975 programme (PDF)
Or use the file's description page directly:
1975 programme
Uploading files
Only upload files for which FHODS holds rights, or which are clearly in the public domain. Files should be named clearly and descriptively. Use the format:
Fhods-[year]-[production]-[description].[ext]
For example: Fhods-1982-pirates-poster.jpg
All uploaded files should have a completed file description page including source, date, and licensing information.
General principles
- Link with purpose. Every link should benefit the reader. If you cannot explain why a link is there, remove it.
- Prefer internal links over external ones. If the information can be covered in a wiki article, create or improve that article rather than linking externally.
- Keep links current. Stale or broken links reduce trust in the archive. Check links you add, and flag or fix broken ones when you find them.
- Do not overlook accessibility. Link text should make sense out of context. Screen readers and assistive tools read links independently of surrounding prose.
Enforcement
Links that do not comply with this policy may be removed by any editor without prior discussion. If you disagree with a removal, raise the issue on the relevant talk page. Persistent addition of non-compliant links — particularly spam or promotional links — may result in editing restrictions at the discretion of administrators.