Readers' FAQ

This FAQ page addresses some concerns and questions readers may have about DIYinfo.

[edit] How do I search Diyinfo?

There should be a small search box at the side of the screen, marked search, followed by Go and Search. Just type what you are looking for into the search box and press the Enter key. Or, click Go / Search.

Some Web browser|browsers allow searching Diyinfo via their URL/Location bar, for example Konqueror, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer 7. This is commonly accessed by typing "wp Main Page", but may change according to the browser settings, please check the documentation on whether this feature is in your browser and how to configure it.

It can also easily be added to the URL/Location bar of Opera by right-clicking the Diyinfo search box and selecting Create search.

[edit] What is the license agreement on the contents of DIYinfo?

Diyinfo articles are all open content and are covered by the [GNU Free Documentation License]. See DIYinfo.org: Copyrights.

[edit] May I mirror entire sections of the DIYinfo to my site? How much may I quote?

You may mirror or quote as much as you wish, as long as you maintain the text under the GNU Free Documentation License. See DIYinfo.org: Copyrights.

[edit] If I link from my site to DIYinfo, am I required to use the GNU License for my site?

No. Linking is not an act regulated by copyright, so the GNU Free Documentation License does not apply.

[edit] What if I use a small quote (three or four sentences)?

No, since it is covered by the fair use doctrine.

[edit] What if I quote entire articles?

Check with your lawyer, or just put the site under the GNU FDL. However, DIYinfo members try to assume good faith, so minor copyright violations are unlikely to result in a lawsuit.

[edit] How do I cite a DIYinfo article in a paper?

Cite it as you would any other web page in accordance with the normal citation practice the publication you are submitting the paper to follows. Citing the individual authors is not necessary, but you should at least include the date on which you retrieved the article (and ideally the full timestamp from the history).

[edit] Why are the backgrounds of some pages light blue and others white?

Fact sheet article pages (mainspace) have white backgrounds, while dynamically generated special pages, talk pages, user pages, and about-DIYinfo pages have light blue backgrounds. This is intended as a visual cue that you're not in the fact sheet article categories per se.

(Note: This answer is dependent on which skin you are currently using. For more information.)

[edit] What should I do when I find a factual error in DIYinfo?

You should correct it. Volunteer contributions from those who believe knowledge should be free for everyone make up Diyinfo, and the community is always ready to welcome whomever would like to join.

Because Diyinfo is an all-volunteer project that anyone can edit, errors or omissions can and do creep in. This should be kept in mind when reading; the very nature of Diyinfo means it should not be trusted completely.