Wikidata For Wikimedia Projects/Projects/Move Wikidata item link

Move the Wikidata data object to the "In Other Projects" sidebar section

Background

Initially, the Wikidata data-object* link was added to the toolbox section of pages of the different Wikimedia projects. Later, the In Other Projects sidebar was created to store links to all Wikimedia projects utilising Wikidata's sitelinks, but it didn't include the Wikidata data object to avoid duplication. As this sidebar wasn't enabled everywhere, the link was kept in the toolbox.
Now that the "In Other Projects" sidebar is enabled across all Wikimedia projects, the Wikidata data object link can be moved there.

* data object is the multilingual technical name referring to the 'Wikidata Item' sitelink, as this term changes depending on language setting.

The Problem

Users may expect to see a Wikidata item link in the In Other Projects section of the toolbar, as this is where links to corresponding pages are kept for the Wikimedia sibling projects. Instead the link is kept under the General section.

The Solution

When a page is connected to a Wikidata item, the link to the Wikidata Item is displayed under the In Other Projects sidebar menu section. Moving the Wikidata Item link to the In Other Projects may increase the discoverability and navigability.

Please tell us what you think. It is important that this change does not interrupt user workflows, is intuitive and works well for navigating from the page to the associated Wikidata item. To make sure of that, we need your feedback:

Available for testing on Farsi, Hebrew and Ukrainian Wikipedia.
Feedback for this task is gladly welcomed on the Discussion page.

Status and next steps

Below is a timeline of the progress of this task:

1.0 Defining tracking criteria

Scoping the requirements to build the tracking instrument.

1.1 Add changes to test environment

Listening triggers were deployed to the Beta.Wikidata cluster.

1.2 Add changes for listening triggers to Wikidata Deployment train

Triggers for tracking the parameters have been merged to MediaWiki Ver. 1.43.0-wmf20 and are awaiting deployment to the live Wiki projects.

1.3 Setup the Superset dashboard

1.4 Recruit pilot wikis to test the new sidebar layout

Contacted Ukrainian, Farsi and Hebrew Wikipedia's to request approval to deploy the changes there. This would allow us to see the changes on both a Left-To-Right and Right-To-Left script direction.

1.5 Schedule changes to Deployment Train

Pending approval of pilot wikis, the code slice will be be made for the train deployment.
Train adds (inactive) code changes to pilot wikis:
- group0 - Tuesday, 27.08.2024
- group1 - Wednesday, 28.08.2024
- group2 - Thursday, 29.08.2024
Approximately 16:00 CEST (UTC+2), 29.08.2024 - Activate code segment via mw-config (changes to UI will take effect after this point).

1.6 Observation period and stress-testing

For a period of time (min. 1 week), we will collect usage data of the new Wikidata item data object location (see Track data object usage)
Global announcement: during this period, we will inform all Wiki communities and projects of the upcoming change.
A dedicated Feedback page has been created to receive editor's opinions on this change.
Bug-fixing: A patch to create an exception for the mobile skin: MinervaNeue to ensure the Wikidata item remains as is (as the skin does not contain an In Other Projects section.
- Sub-Ticket: Centralise move Wikidata item code into Wikibase T376389 We received a request to move the logic of the above bug fix into Wikibase to proof against future changes of the Minerva Sidebar.

1.7 Pass / Fail decision

If user-behaviour and interaction with the data object is not negatively impacted by the change, a final sign-off for global deployment will be given.

1.8 Global deployment

Activate code slice for all wikis via mw-config. This change was scheduled for 15:00 UTC-2, 04 October, 2024 but has been delayed due to a dependency in a follow-up ticket (see 1.6).
Activate code slice for all wikis via mw-config. This change is scheduled for 15:00 UTC-2, 22 October, 2024.
The Wikidata item has been moved to the In Other Projects section on all Wikimedia projects and all languages.

Affiliated Tasks & Sub-Tickets

Pre-Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we anticipate

I don't see any change, Wikidata item is still under General

In some rare cases, the change may require an additional nudge. If your Wikidata item link after 04.10.2024' is not under In Other Projects, please try the following:

A null-edit - an 'empty' page edit.
- Click "Edit" or "Edit Source" link on the page
- Click "Publish changes" at the bottomof the edit box without making any changes.
Purge request - use this Special page and enter the page link and click the button.
Refresh your browser - try refreshing the page in your browser.

If none of these options work, please report your issue to us here.

What if we don’t want the location to change?

As mentioned below, some Wikis already move the location of the Wikidata item using bespoke code. If your Wiki would prefer to keep the Wikidata item where it currently is (or to move it elsewhere in the Tools menu), this can be done by adding custom code to move the Wikidata item back to its original location.

Will Wikidata Item be renamed to Wikidata?

No doubt you have noticed that the entries in the In Other Projects menu-section are only the sibling project’s name (Wikisource, Wikibooks, Wikivoyage etc.).
We do not currently have plans to rename the Wikidata item, our first priority is to move the link successfully. At a later stage, we will explore the utility and benefit of renaming the Wikidata item and Wikidata links but only in consultation with UX and the Wiki communities.

My Wiki already uses a gadget / JavaScript / CSS to move the Wikidata item

We are implementing a new feature in the MediaWiki code that will replicate the functionality currently being handled by additional code, such as gadgets and user-scripts. While our update shouldn't disrupt those existing gadgets or scripts, it may make them unnecessary, as the new feature will provide the same functionality natively within MediaWiki. Please be vigilant! Although we have taken every care to ensure we do not introduce any bugs or errors, things happen, and we ask you to please report any bugs here.

Has this been attempted before?

Yes, it has. In 2019, the Wikidata development team tried to resolve Phabricator task:T66315 but unfortunately, the changes had to be rolled back shortly before deployment due to unforeseen technical issues that came from deleting the link from General and re-building it in the In Other Projectsmenu section.
The task languished in a state of limbo until February 2024 when the establishment of Wikimedia Deutschland's new software development team Wikidata For Wikimedia Projects adopted it.
Our approach is to move the link and the function underlying it and so the issues that arose previously should not happen again.

This task represents a chance for new software engineers to onboard to MediaWiki and finally provide a solution to this 10-year old ticket.

I view Wikimedia sites on mobile, will this affect me?

The skin serving mobile traffic of the Wikimedia projects is called MinervaNeue and represents a much more streamlined UI. Notably, this means it does not have an "In Other Projects" menu section.
An exception to keep the Wikidata item link in the MinervaNeue skin unaffected in its placement has been included in the code slice.