How Editing Works: Difference between revisions

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==Editing Philosophy==


Maintaining a comprehensive database of all types of music is a large task, and MusicBrainz depends on its users to spot mistakes in the database and then to take the initiative to correct these errors. To help with that task the MusicBrainz editing and voting system was designed, it gives MusicBrainz users the ability to update and maintain the database effectively and easily.
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">'''Status:''' ''This page is work in progess. With [[WikiDocs]] it should replce the old [http://www.musicbrainz.org/mod_intro.html mod_intro]. It starts off based on that page and should eventually integrate content from [[Information On Editing|InformationOnEditing]] and [[Editing Guideline|EditingGuideline]].''
</ul>


Although in the past some new data was automatically imported from a number of sources (such as freedb.org, the EMusic collection, the CD Index database, and metadata submitted via FreeAmp) the quality was generally lacking and had to be manually fixed to conform to the MusicBrainz [[Style Guideline|style guidelines]]. Thus the vast majority of new data that is now entered into the database is added by MusicBrainz users, '''''like you!'''''
See also the [[Moderation FAQ|ModerationFAQ]] or the [[Classical Music FAQ|ClassicalMusicFAQ]] on our wiki.


MusicBrainz is an open community with the goal that the people who use MusicBrainz will take it upon themselves to correct any incorrect information they may come across and/or add information where it may be lacking.
==Moderation Philosophy==


''Please also read [[How Voting Works|how to vote]] for information on the review process each edit goes through before being accepted into the database.''
The [[MusicBrainz]] moderation system is designed to give MusicBrainz users the power to update and maintain the database. Maintaining a comprehensive database for popular music is a large task, and MusicBrainz will depend on its users to spot mistakes in the database and then to take the initiative to correct these errors.


==Editing Guide==
The data in [[MusicBrainz]] has been collected from a number of places including the EMusic collection, metadata submitted via [[FreeAmp]], the CD Index database, and freedb.org data. While some of these data sources are better than others, there will always be mistakes in the data in MusicBrainz.


In order to maintain a consistent level of quality in the database, editors should familiarize themselves with the MusicBrainz [[Style|style guidelines]]. Your changes will be judged against these guidelines when other users vote on your edits.
I hope that the people who use [[MusicBrainz]] will take it upon themselves to look up a few of their favorite artists and then make sure there are no mistakes in their artists metadata. If [[MusicBrainz]] can get up to 10,000 users, each user would only need to check out and update a few artists in order to clean up the entire database.


To edit [[MusicBrainz]], follow these steps:
Moderators should familiarize themselves with the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/style.html Style Guidelines] that define how to organize and capitalize the data in [[MusicBrainz]]. When other Moderators votes on your suggested changes, they will judge your changes against these guidelines.
# [http://musicbrainz.org/register Create a MusicBrainz account] and log in. Anyone can create an account. We don't ask for any private information, so there is no chance for us to give this information to anyone! One thing we do ask that all users of MusicBrainz follow the [[Code of Conduct]].
# [http://musicbrainz.org/search Search] for your favorite artist and view the releases by that artist.
# If you spot a mistake, a typo, or a mis-classification click on the appropriate Edit/Move/Add link (usually next to the data, on the sidebar or on the tabs at the top of the page). If you are not logged into MusicBrainz (see step #1) you will not see these edit links.
# The edit links will take you to pages where you can edit/add the information for that artist. On the edit pages you will find further instructions and sometimes links to [[Style|style guidelines]] that will provide a guidance for this particular type of edit. Please read and follow these guides - they are important in order for the entire database to be consistent. If the edit page has more than one field that can be edited, but not all fields need to be changed, just leave the correct fields like they were.
# Once you click on submit on the edit/add pages, you will be taken back to the release/artist page that you just came from. An edit will be entered into the database: you can usually see it by clicking Open Edits on the sidebar of the page (or, in some cases, you'll need to check All Edits instead).
# The default edits page lists all the edits that are currently pending, showing what will change with each one. Voting is as useful as editing: to know more about it, check [[Introduction to Voting]].
# If 3 people unanimously vote for or against a suggested change, the change is immediately accepted or rejected, respectively. Otherwise, after 7 days:
## If there are no votes, the edit is automatically accepted.
## If there is at least one vote, the edit is accepted if there are more "Yes" votes than "No" votes. If not, it is rejected.
# Some edits, such as release adds, will have the data show in MusicBrainz as soon as they're entered - if they get voted down, that data will be removed.
# If you find yourself in a position where you have made a mistake, you can cancel your own edits by going to your open edits (a link can be found on your profile page). When you find a bad edit, click on its Cancel edit link to mark it as "To be canceled"; it will then be removed from the database within the hour. This is much better and less time-consuming than creating a new edit that corrects the bad edit (in which case both the correction and the original bad edit would have to be voted on, creating extra work for everyone).


==AutoEditors==
==Moderation Guide==


See [[Auto-Editor]]s.
To moderate (change) the database, follow these steps:
# [http://www.musicbrainz.org/newlogin.html Create a MusicBrainz account] and log in. Anyone can create an account. We don't ask for any private information, so there is no chance for us to give this information to anyone!
# [http://www.musicbrainz.org/search.html Search/browse] for your favorite artist and view the albums by that artist.
# If you spot a mistake, a typo, or a mis-classification click on the Edit/Move/Add link next to the incorrect/missing data item. If you are not logged into [[MusicBrainz]] (see step #1) you will not see these edit links.
# The moderation links will take you to pages where you can edit/add the information for that artist. On the edit pages you will find further instructions and links for style guideline popups that will provide a guidance for your moderation participation. Please read and follow these guides -- they are important in order for the entire database to have a consistent look and feel. If the edit page has more than one field that can be edited, but not all fields need to be changed, just leave the correct fields alone.
# Once you click on submit on the edit/add pages, you will be taken back to the album/artist page that you just came from. A moderation request will be entered into the database, and if you click on the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/mod/search/pre/new.html Moderate] button at the top of the page you will be taken to the moderation page, where you can view/vote on moderations.
# The default moderation page lists all the moderations that are currently pending. Please vote on other people's suggestions to edit the database. Each row in the moderation table will contain information about the suggested change and it will show how many peope have voted yes and no to the suggestion. You may only vote once on a change and you may not vote for your own modifications.
# For all of the modifications that you have not voted on, you may select the Yes, No or Abs radiobutton for Yes, No or Abstain (DUH!). You can go down the list of moderations and vote for each by selecting the appropriate radio button and then clicking on submit at the top of the page. If you are not sure about a modification or you have no idea if the suggested modification is correct, then simply abstain from the vote.
# If 3 people unanimously vote for or against a suggested change, the change is immmediately accepted or rejected, respectively. If the votes are not unanimous the system will wait for 1 week and then accept the suggested change into the database if the simple majority of moderators voted yes. If the vote fails to achieve a simple majority it is dropped from the moderation table without being applied to the database. Some moderations, such as the add album moderation, will add data into the database at the time the moderation is entered into the system. If such moderations get voted down, the data that was entered for the moderation will be removed from the database.
# The default moderation page shows new moderations, but you may also view your past votes or your past moderations by selecting the Old Moderations and My moderations links at the top of the moderation table. The expiration times show on the moderation page are in GMT.


==Auto Moderators==
==Get Editing!==


One good option is to just check some artists you enjoy, and see what you can add or correct. Or if you'd like to participate in the editing process, but don't know where to start, you can check out the [http://musicbrainz.org/reports reports page], which lists several things that might be wrong.
Automoderators are moderators who have made a large number of contributions to [[MusicBrainz]], and some basic moderations made by automoderators are not required to be voted on by other moderators. The following moderation types are automoderations:


[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:Editing]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]
Add Album, Add Album Annotation, Add Artist, Add Artist Alias, Add Artist Annotation, Add Relationship, Add Relationship Attribute, Add Relationship Type, Add Track, Add Track (old version), Change Track Artist, Convert Album to Multiple Artists, Convert Album to Single Artist, Edit Album Attributes, Edit Album Language, Edit Album Name, Edit Artist, Edit Artist Alias, Edit Artist Name, Edit Artist Sortname, Edit Relationship, Edit Relationship Attribute, Edit Relationship Type, Edit Track Name, Edit Track Number, Edit Track Time, Move Album, Move Disc ID, Remove Relationship Attribute, Remove Relationship Type, Remove TRM ID

The policy for suggesting more automoderators is as follows: Any automoderator can suggest a new moderator to be promoted to an automoderator. The suggested moderator must then be endorsed by two other automoderators. Once endorsed, the automoderators have one week to vote on the promotion of the endorsed automoderator. A simple majority is required to be promoted.

Any moderator who suggests or endorses a moderator cannot vote on the new moderator. The suggesting/endorsing/voting will happen in the mb-users mailing list and should be facilitated by the moderator who suggests the new moderator.

==Get Moderating!==

If you're ready to get moderating straight away, go to the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/mod/search/pre/new.html moderation page]. If you'd like to participate in the moderation process, but don't know where to start, check out the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/reports/index.html moderation suggestions] page.

----

This is a [[WikiDocs Page|WikiDocsPage]] which will eventually replace [http://www.musicbrainz.org/mod_intro.html http://www.musicbrainz.org/mod_intro.html]. It is [[Maintained By Don Redman|MaintainedByDonRedman]] and [[Maintained By Robert Kaye|MaintainedByRobertKaye]].
[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]] [[Category:Documentation]]

Revision as of 17:28, 23 May 2015

Editing Philosophy

Maintaining a comprehensive database of all types of music is a large task, and MusicBrainz depends on its users to spot mistakes in the database and then to take the initiative to correct these errors. To help with that task the MusicBrainz editing and voting system was designed, it gives MusicBrainz users the ability to update and maintain the database effectively and easily.

Although in the past some new data was automatically imported from a number of sources (such as freedb.org, the EMusic collection, the CD Index database, and metadata submitted via FreeAmp) the quality was generally lacking and had to be manually fixed to conform to the MusicBrainz style guidelines. Thus the vast majority of new data that is now entered into the database is added by MusicBrainz users, like you!

MusicBrainz is an open community with the goal that the people who use MusicBrainz will take it upon themselves to correct any incorrect information they may come across and/or add information where it may be lacking.

Please also read how to vote for information on the review process each edit goes through before being accepted into the database.

Editing Guide

In order to maintain a consistent level of quality in the database, editors should familiarize themselves with the MusicBrainz style guidelines. Your changes will be judged against these guidelines when other users vote on your edits.

To edit MusicBrainz, follow these steps:

  1. Create a MusicBrainz account and log in. Anyone can create an account. We don't ask for any private information, so there is no chance for us to give this information to anyone! One thing we do ask that all users of MusicBrainz follow the Code of Conduct.
  2. Search for your favorite artist and view the releases by that artist.
  3. If you spot a mistake, a typo, or a mis-classification click on the appropriate Edit/Move/Add link (usually next to the data, on the sidebar or on the tabs at the top of the page). If you are not logged into MusicBrainz (see step #1) you will not see these edit links.
  4. The edit links will take you to pages where you can edit/add the information for that artist. On the edit pages you will find further instructions and sometimes links to style guidelines that will provide a guidance for this particular type of edit. Please read and follow these guides - they are important in order for the entire database to be consistent. If the edit page has more than one field that can be edited, but not all fields need to be changed, just leave the correct fields like they were.
  5. Once you click on submit on the edit/add pages, you will be taken back to the release/artist page that you just came from. An edit will be entered into the database: you can usually see it by clicking Open Edits on the sidebar of the page (or, in some cases, you'll need to check All Edits instead).
  6. The default edits page lists all the edits that are currently pending, showing what will change with each one. Voting is as useful as editing: to know more about it, check Introduction to Voting.
  7. If 3 people unanimously vote for or against a suggested change, the change is immediately accepted or rejected, respectively. Otherwise, after 7 days:
    1. If there are no votes, the edit is automatically accepted.
    2. If there is at least one vote, the edit is accepted if there are more "Yes" votes than "No" votes. If not, it is rejected.
  8. Some edits, such as release adds, will have the data show in MusicBrainz as soon as they're entered - if they get voted down, that data will be removed.
  9. If you find yourself in a position where you have made a mistake, you can cancel your own edits by going to your open edits (a link can be found on your profile page). When you find a bad edit, click on its Cancel edit link to mark it as "To be canceled"; it will then be removed from the database within the hour. This is much better and less time-consuming than creating a new edit that corrects the bad edit (in which case both the correction and the original bad edit would have to be voted on, creating extra work for everyone).

AutoEditors

See Auto-Editors.

Get Editing!

One good option is to just check some artists you enjoy, and see what you can add or correct. Or if you'd like to participate in the editing process, but don't know where to start, you can check out the reports page, which lists several things that might be wrong.