We are planning to change {{multiple issues}} so that when |cleanup=July 2012 it calls this template instead of producing its own text. At the same time we can make the reason parameter compulsory over there. But in order to do this, I'd like to change the date that reasons become mandatory from May 2012 to July 2012, to prevent breakage of existing uses. Everyone okay with this? — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 15:13, 6 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I've implemented this — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 20:59, 7 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Now that the reason is required for {{Cleanup}}, should a reason also be required for {{Cleanup-remainder}}? (e.g. Aquarian Age) GoingBatty (talk) 23:37, 15 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I've converted it into a wrapper template (similar to {{cleanup section}}. But could you keep an eye on Category:Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from July 2012 because any tags added after July 2012 will now have an error message on them? — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 09:14, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the quick response, Martin! There are only four articles in the category, and each tag was added by an IP. Therefore, I posted a message on each article's talk page in the hopes that someone will update or remove the tags. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 16:43, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

All cleaned up - thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 23:47, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Should Template talk:Cleanup/sad have a link to the monthly Category:Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field to make it easier to find and fix these tags? I've added the template to Template talk:Cleanup-remainder. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 16:50, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The link is in the number at the start of the sentence! — Martin (MSGJ · talk) 20:19, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

So it is - wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 23:47, 16 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Shouldn't this template only place articles into Category:Wikipedia pages needing cleanup that are in the mainspace, i.e, not have user talk pages? A good example is this Category:Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from November 2006. Thanks, --PatrickFlaherty (talk) 16:07, 7 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Replace {{DMC|Wikipedia pages needing cleanup|from|{{{date|}}}}} with {{DMCA|Wikipedia pages needing cleanup|from|{{{date|}}}}}

Rich Farmbrough, 23:57, 7 January 2013 (UTC).[reply]

Possible topic-specific parameters?

This template is, as it currently stands, used in a lot of pages? I realize that it would almost certainly be an incredible amount of work to make changes like I propose to it, but would there be any way to maybe add parameters to the template such that the articles get categorized by one or more broad subject areas? I have a feeling MILHIST would probably do an incredible job addressing any cleanups in their field, and it might be possible that some other groups or WikiProjects might be able to more clearly address the problematic articles in their scope if there were categorizations to that effect. Yes, I know there is almost certainly some sort of bot which can do intersections, but if nothing else maybe adding parameters for the ten basic categories of WP:1.0 might make it a bit more likely that interested editors could find articles in their fields which have serious cleanup concerns. John Carter (talk) 17:35, 12 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I recently used BattyBot to change {{Cleanup}} to {{Cleanup-university}} or {{Cleanup-school}} or {{Video game cleanup}} based on infoboxes, in the hopes that interested editors would cleanup their articles. Until parameters could be added, I would be willing to make more changes if anyone has suggestions. Thanks! GoingBatty (talk) 02:20, 13 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

"templates needing cleanup" categories

There are around 25000 links to categories of the form "Wikipedia_templates_needing_cleanup_from_month_year" arising from the use of this template on namespace 0. See Pages that link to "Category:Wikipedia templates needing cleanup from March 2009" for examples.

The behaviour is consistent whether the template is transcluded or substituted. I suspect there's a test for the existence of a category of the above form that needs to be wrapped up in a check for the namespace on which the template has been placed somewhere. Alas, I can't see where - can anyone assist? - TB (talk) 15:03, 8 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

If you are getting 25000 from AWB then it is probably topping out. The category link is generated by {Category handler} parameter category, passed to that template and not returned. It is a good example of (admittedly very clever) people trying to be clever, the DMC family of templates restricted in functionality but tiny. Category handler,which can be invoked many times on one page is about 3.5k (it is used on over 3 million pages). Rich Farmbrough, 19:44, 7 January 2013 (UTC).[reply]

The 25K figure is from a bespoke set of Toolserver tools. I could not myself begin to unravel anything within {{Category handler}} :( - TB (talk) 21:27, 7 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]