View source for Template talk:Convert

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== Linear feature density ==

At [[Transport in Switzerland#Railways]] I've found a need to convert 122 km/1000 km<sup>2</sup> into imperial (probably something like miles per 100 or 1000 sqmi). Is this something convert can handled? In the article I've gone with separate conversions to come up with {{convert|122|km|disp=out}} per {{convert|1000|km2|disp=out}} which is not ideal. [[User:Thryduulf|Thryduulf]] ([[User talk:Thryduulf|talk]]) 16:58, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

:Best I can find is <code><nowiki>{{cvt|0.122|km/km2|mi/sqmi|3}}</nowiki></code> to display as {{cvt|0.122|km/km2|mi/sqmi|3}}
:In theory we should be able to use e3km2 and e3sqmi but these don't work. <span style="border:1px solid blue;border-radius:4px;color:blue;box-shadow: 3px 3px 4px grey;">[[User:Stepho-wrs|'''&nbsp;Stepho&nbsp;''']]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:xx-small; vertical-align:top">[[User Talk:Stepho-wrs|talk]]&nbsp;</span></span> 17:22, 19 July 2024 (UTC)
:Similarly at [[List of prominent mountains of Switzerland#Distribution]] there is {{tpq|approximately 1.09 summits per 100 km<sup>2</sup>}} that I've just left as I can't work out anything sensible (I don't think {{convert|0.0109|/km2|abbr=on}} is particularly useful). [[User:Thryduulf|Thryduulf]] ([[User talk:Thryduulf|talk]]) 17:36, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

::Found a really clumsy and dirty technique: <code><nowiki>{{cvt|122|mi|km0|abbr=values|disp=preunit|km/1000 km<sup>2</sup>|mile/1000 sq mile}}</nowiki></code> displays as {{cvt|122|mi|km|0|abbr=values|disp=preunit|km/1000 km<sup>2</sup>|mile/1000 sq mile}}
::This relies on km/km2 converting to mi/sqmi being the same ratio as mi to km - ie km/km2 is same as 1/km and 1/km -> 1/mi being the same ratio as mi -> km. Dirty, very dirty.
::Sadly, this trick doesn't work for summits per area. <span style="border:1px solid blue;border-radius:4px;color:blue;box-shadow: 3px 3px 4px grey;">[[User:Stepho-wrs|'''&nbsp;Stepho&nbsp;''']]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:xx-small; vertical-align:top">[[User Talk:Stepho-wrs|talk]]&nbsp;</span></span> 17:57, 19 July 2024 (UTC)
:If there were a heap of these, new units for "1000 km2" and "100 sqmi" and "100 km2" could be defined. I'm not sure how clean the result would be but it might be reasonable. [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 03:20, 20 July 2024 (UTC)
A similar issue arises at [[Scandinavian mountains#Climate, permafrost and glaciers]] where there is a need to convert "1.17 °C /100 m" but the logical <code><nowiki>{{convert|1.17|C-change/e2m}}</nowiki></code> gives an error ({{convert|1.17|C-change/e2m}}). A quick search suggests that "°C /100m" (with that exact spacing) is used in at least three other articles. [[User:Thryduulf|Thryduulf]] ([[User talk:Thryduulf|talk]]) 11:30, 12 September 2024 (UTC)

== Combining multiple components with ranges ==

Is it possible to combine the "multiple components" form, like {{tlx|convert|11|ft|2|in|m}} and {{tlx|convert|4|ft|5|in|m}}, with the "range" form? The only way that I've found that works is {{tlx|convert|11+2/12|x|4+5/12|ft|m|7=abbr=on}} - this gives {{convert|11+2/12|x|4+5/12|ft|m|abbr=on}} which is technically correct, but not ideal. --[[User:Redrose64|<span style="color:#a80000; background:#ffeeee; text-decoration:inherit">Red</span>rose64]] &#x1f339; ([[User talk:Redrose64|talk]]) 15:23, 29 September 2024 (UTC)
:Sorry, no. The multiple units like feet/inches can have several components (miles, chains, ...) and making them work with a range was beyond me. However, if desperate, there is a dirty trick which I can't really recommend but which gives a reasonable result in this case:
:*<code><nowiki>{{convert|3.40|x|1.35|m|ftin|order=flip}}</nowiki></code> → {{convert|3.40|x|1.35|m|ftin|order=flip}}
:*<code><nowiki>{{cvt|3.40|x|1.35|m|ftin|order=flip}}</nowiki></code> → {{cvt|3.40|x|1.35|m|ftin|order=flip}}
:[[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 23:00, 29 September 2024 (UTC)
::OK, {{ty}} --[[User:Redrose64|<span style="color:#a80000; background:#ffeeee; text-decoration:inherit">Red</span>rose64]] &#x1f339; ([[User talk:Redrose64|talk]]) 17:10, 30 September 2024 (UTC)

== A new double conversion ==

For [[Reciprocating engine#History]] <nowiki>{{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton long ton|lk=on}}</nowiki>  and <nowiki>{{convert|2,300|metric ton|ST LT|lk=on}}</nowiki> {{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton long ton|lk=on}} and {{convert|2,300|metric ton|ST LT|lk=on|sigfig=4}} instead of <nowiki>{{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton|lk=on}}</nowiki> or <nowiki>{{convert|2,300|metric ton|long ton|lk=on|sigfig=4}}</nowiki> {{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton|lk=on|sigfig=4}} or {{convert|2,300|metric ton|long ton|lk=on|sigfig=4}} [[User:Peter Horn|Peter Horn]] [[User talk:Peter Horn|User talk]] 01:54, 6 October 2024 (UTC)
:{{ping|Peter Horn}} When a unit code such as <code>short ton</code> contains a space, use <code>+</code> to separate units:
:*<code><nowiki>{{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton+long ton|lk=on}}</nowiki></code> → {{convert|2,300|metric ton|short ton+long ton|lk=on}}
:[[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 02:09, 6 October 2024 (UTC) [[User:Peter Horn|Peter Horn]] [[User talk:Peter Horn|User talk]] 02:41, 6 October 2024 (UTC)
::Thanks. [[User:Peter Horn|Peter Horn]] [[User talk:Peter Horn|User talk]] 02:49, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

== Possible bug report re: temperature units ==

Input:
{{Pre|<nowiki>{{Convert|1|K|C F|abbr=~}}
{{Convert|1|C|F|abbr=~}}
{{Convert|1|C|F|abbr=off}}
{{Convert|1|K|C F|abbr=off}}
{{Convert|1|Celsius|F|abbr=~}}
{{Convert|1|Fahrenheit|Celsius}}
{{Convert|1|C|kelvin|abbr=~}}</nowiki>}}

Output:{{br}}
{{Convert|1|K|C F|abbr=~}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|C|F|abbr=~}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|C|F|abbr=off}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|K|C F|abbr=off}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|Celsius|F|abbr=~}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|Fahrenheit|Celsius}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|C|kelvin|abbr=~}}{{br}}

Semi-expected output:{{br}}
1: 1 kelvin [K]{{br}}
2: 1 degree Celsius [°C]{{br}}
3 & 4: N/A, working{{br}}
5: 1 degree Celsius [°C]{{br}}

And last 2, certainly slightly surprising behavior that it outputs the unit names but doesn't recognize some as input. But it does for Celsius. If that's known/intended behavior, ought to be documented somewhere. (There, then it's not a bug, b/c you documented it—now it's a feature {{;)}})

Contrasted:{{Br}}
{{Convert|1|in|ft cm|abbr=~}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|inch|cm}}{{br}}
{{Convert|1|km|furlong}}{{br}} [[User:Slowking Man|Slowking Man]] ([[User talk:Slowking Man|talk]]) 23:14, 7 October 2024 (UTC)
:Convert has a lot of quirks due to its long history. The proper documentation is at [[Module:Convert/documentation/conversion data#Temperature]]. Various summaries of the units are available but I don't like the advice they give for temperature because they suggest that <code><nowiki>{{convert|30|°C}}</nowiki></code> is the approved method whereas it should actually be <code><nowiki>{{convert|30|C}}</nowiki></code> on the basis that unit codes are intended to be easy to type and it is not necessary to remember that it is <code>K</code> (kelvin) but <code>°C</code> (degrees Celsius). At any rate, for obscure historical reasons, <code>Celsius</code> was defined as an alias for <code>C</code> but the other names were not defined. If anything, I would recommend removing <code>Celsius</code>. [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 01:05, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
::I started wondering if the OP was more concerned about the fact that <code>abbr=~</code> produces <code>°C [°C]</code>. That option is rarely used. Most units default to showing the name for the input (for example, <code>30&nbsp;kilograms</code>). Using <code>abbr=~</code> would display <code>30&nbsp;kilograms [kg]</code>). That is, it shows the symbol as well as the name. It turns out that temperature units default to showing the symbol and you have to use <code>abbr=off</code> to make them show the name. That means you cannot also use <code>abbr=~</code> so it is not possible to show the name and symbol for a temperature unit. That is not ideal but probably is not worth fixing. See [[Template talk:Convert/Archive December 2014#What happened with abbr=~ ?]] for a discussion of whether the option should be deprecated. [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 02:08, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
:::WMF needs to determine your IRL identity and insure your life for $10,000,000 -- the conservative cost of hiring a staff of coders to take over maintenance of convert, should the worst happen. [[User:EEng#s|<b style="color:red;">E</b>]][[User talk:EEng#s|<b style="color:blue;">Eng</b>]] 03:24, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
::::I would take you up on that great idea if it were not for my nervousness regarding giving someone a $10,000,000 reason for me to disappear! [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 03:55, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
:::::With the right paperwork, a "reported" death and a new life in Cuba, you could have a rather nice retirement plan :)
:::::On an unrelated note, I'd completely forgotten that I had commented on this 10 years ago. But having never used it even once, I'm in favour of removing it. Is it used much?
:::::Sounds like the OP's gripe is that <code>Fahrenheit</code> and <code>kelvin</code> are valid outputs but not valid inputs. Considering we also have meters, miles, feet, inches, etc as inputs, I tend to agree with him. <span style="border:1px solid blue;border-radius:4px;color:blue;box-shadow: 3px 3px 4px grey;">[[User:Stepho-wrs|'''&nbsp;Stepho&nbsp;''']]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:xx-small; vertical-align:top">[[User Talk:Stepho-wrs|talk]]&nbsp;</span></span> 07:08, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
:::::Gotta watch out for that template mafia. Extremely groan-worthy memeing attempt: {{syntaxhighlight|lang=wikitext|code=<nowiki>{{that's|how={{{mafia|{{{works}}}}}}}}</nowiki>}} ([https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/thats-how-mafia-works for those not getting it]) --[[User:Slowking Man|Slowking Man]] ([[User talk:Slowking Man|talk]]) 23:14, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
::Hah, not surprising (I've seen scarier corner cases in old code for sure). Wanted to be helpful mainly and ensure this was known. Certainly understand if people aren't rushing in to overhaul the template code. Would be good to document the behavior somewhere I think. Where do people think is the best place to put that? Wouldn't mind writing up a note in the docs. Thanks for the expert knowledge! {{=)}} --[[User:Slowking Man|Slowking Man]] ([[User talk:Slowking Man|talk]]) 23:14, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

== Ranges of ranges of values ==

In technical plant descriptions (e.g. floras), dimensions of plant parts are often given in ranges of ranges: "5-15 x 4-8 mm". Is there a way to get <code><nowiki>{{convert}}</nowiki></code> to handle that appropriately, i.e. "5-15 x 4-8 mm (0.2-0.6 x 0.2-0.3 in)"? At the moment, <code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|15|×|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> gives "5 mm–15 mm × 4 mm–8 mm (0.2 in–0.6 in × 0.2 in–0.3 in)", which is far too repetitive for readability.

<code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|15|mm|1|abbr=on}} x {{convert|4|–|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> is a little better, giving "5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) x 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in)", but that's still needlessly repetitive. <code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|4|mm|1|abbr=on}} x {{convert|15|–|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> gives "5–4 mm (0.2–0.2 in) x 15–8 mm (0.6–0.3 in)", which is also still repetitive, and also incorrectly formatted.

Any advice?
: -- <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">[[: User:Photosynthetic430|<span class="tmpl-colored-link {{#if:|mw-no-invert|}}" style="color:  green ; text-decoration: inherit;">Photosynthetic430</span>]] [[: User talk:Photosynthetic430|<span class="tmpl-colored-link {{#if:|mw-no-invert|}}" style="color:  #21bf21 ; text-decoration: inherit;">❧</span>]]</span> 15:37, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

::According to the documentation, <code><nowiki>|x|</nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki>|abbr=on|</nowiki></code> combine to output the unit symbol multiple times, as per [[MOS:UNITSYMBOLS]]. Replace <code><nowiki>|x|</nowiki></code> with <code><nowiki>|xx|</nowiki></code> so that <code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|15|xx|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> outputs {{convert|5|–|15|xx|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}. Downside is that xx is deprecated and you will be violating [[MOS:UNITSYMBOLS]]. Perhaps you should raise the question of whether this format should be used at [[Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]. <span style="border:1px solid blue;border-radius:4px;color:blue;box-shadow: 3px 3px 4px grey;">[[User:Stepho-wrs|'''&nbsp;Stepho&nbsp;''']]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:xx-small; vertical-align:top">[[User Talk:Stepho-wrs|talk]]&nbsp;</span></span> 15:54, 11 October 2024 (UTC)
:There must be some way in which<code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|15|×|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=values|disp=preunit|mm|in}}</nowiki></code> giving "{{convert|5|–|15|×|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=values|disp=preunit|mm|in}}" is risky but I haven't figured that out yet. [[User:NebY|NebY]] ([[User talk:NebY|talk]]) 16:00, 11 October 2024 (UTC) Ah - anyone using it for anything but mm would have to take care to change both "mm" - otherwise e.g. changing only the first mm to m as <code><nowiki>{{convert|5|–|15|×|4|-|8|m|1|abbr=values|disp=preunit|mm|in}}</nowiki></code> gives "{{convert|5|–|15|×|4|-|8|m|1|abbr=values|disp=preunit|mm|in}}". [[User:NebY|NebY]] ([[User talk:NebY|talk]]) 16:09, 11 October 2024 (UTC)
::Discussions here about [[MOS:UNITNAMES]] resulted in the situation shown above where unit symbols are duplicated. There was a fair bit of pressure to remove a workaround which I retained on the principle that a template should not prevent an editor from exercising judgment. The trick is to use <code>xx</code> instead of <code>x</code>.
::*<code><nowiki>{{convert|5|-|15|x|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> → {{convert|5|-|15|x|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}
::*<code><nowiki>{{convert|5|-|15|xx|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}</nowiki></code> → {{convert|5|-|15|xx|4|-|8|mm|1|abbr=on}}
::Note that it is better to use a letter <code>x</code> and a hyphen <code>-</code> in the input because they are easier to type and easier for others to copy. [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 22:47, 11 October 2024 (UTC)
:::Thank you! That's exactly what I needed. -- <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">[[: User:Photosynthetic430|<span class="tmpl-colored-link {{#if:|mw-no-invert|}}" style="color:  green ; text-decoration: inherit;">Photosynthetic430</span>]] [[: User talk:Photosynthetic430|<span class="tmpl-colored-link {{#if:|mw-no-invert|}}" style="color:  #21bf21 ; text-decoration: inherit;">❧</span>]]</span> 08:12, 13 October 2024 (UTC)

== Pint, half pint, one-third [of an] imperial pint  ==
In [[Beer festival]], are instances of pints related to the United Kingdom units of measurement (imperial pints) or just a type of beer glass?-- [[User:Carnby|Carnby]] ([[User talk:Carnby|talk]]) 17:05, 19 October 2024 (UTC)
:{{replyto|Carnby}} Why are you asking here, and not at [[Talk:Beer festival]]? This is the talk page for discussing improvements to [[Template:Convert]]. --[[User:Redrose64|<span style="color:#a80000; background:#ffeeee; text-decoration:inherit">Red</span>rose64]] &#x1f339; ([[User talk:Redrose64|talk]]) 21:13, 19 October 2024 (UTC)
::{{replyto|Redrose64}} My apologies, just a mistake. But there are some problems involving {{tl|convert}} as well: 
::*there is an instance of the measuring unit "half pint" that I need to convert into litres and US pints;
::*using <code><nowiki>{{convert|1/3|imppt|L USpt|1|spell=in|disp=sqbr}}</nowiki></code> yields one-third imperial pint instead one-third '''of an''' imperial pint;
::*there is an instance of "tubs of cider and perry"; a tub should be about four gallons, according to the Merriam-Webster.
::--[[User:Carnby|Carnby]] ([[User talk:Carnby|talk]]) 19:38, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

:::[[Tub (unit)]] lists different weights for butter/cheese (84 lb), tea (60 lb), camphire (56-86 lb), vermillion (336-448 lb), camphor (130 Dutch lb), coal (100 lb), salt (18 imperial gallons). <span style="border:1px solid blue;border-radius:4px;color:blue;box-shadow: 3px 3px 4px grey;">[[User:Stepho-wrs|'''&nbsp;Stepho&nbsp;''']]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:xx-small; vertical-align:top">[[User Talk:Stepho-wrs|talk]]&nbsp;</span></span> 20:50, 20 October 2024 (UTC)
::::But for cider and perry?-- [[User:Carnby|Carnby]] ([[User talk:Carnby|talk]]) 21:06, 20 October 2024 (UTC)
:::You don't have to use Convert. If it doesn't produce the English phrasing you want, you can obtain and insert the value into your phrasing in any way you want. If you'd rather use Convert than a calculator, perhaps to give other editors confidence, you can use it to give only the output value(s) and unit(s) (or even only a value), e.g. <code>one-third of an imperial pint (<nowiki>{{convert|1/3|imppt|L USpt|1|disp=out}}</nowiki>)</code> -> one-third of an imperial pint ({{convert|1/3|imppt|L USpt|1|disp=out}}). More such options are available at [[Template:Convert/doc#Displaying parts of the result: 2 (1.5)]]. [[User:NebY|NebY]] ([[User talk:NebY|talk]]) 21:29, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

== More readable fractions ==

Using the fraction function such as {{convert |7 |cm |frac=8}} with some browsers results in hard-to-read small font for the integer of the conversion as well as the fraction numerals. (The only difference is a different vertical position between the integer and numerator. The input value shows correctly in regular font.) Is there a work around to make it more browser-agnostic? Or at least to add whitespace between the integer & the fraction to make the result more readable? [[Special:Contributions/71.230.16.111|71.230.16.111]] ([[User talk:71.230.16.111|talk]]) 05:45, 21 October 2024 (UTC)
:Here is a comparison with {{tl|frac}}:
:*<code><nowiki>{{convert|7|cm|frac=8|disp=number}}</nowiki></code> → {{convert|7|cm|frac=8|disp=number}}
:*<code><nowiki>{{frac|2|3|4}}</nowiki></code> → {{frac|2|3|4}}
:Using [[Special:ExpandTemplates]] shows the outputs are identical (except that {{tl|frac}} has a self-closing templatestyles). The place to discuss this might be [[Template talk:Fraction]] or [[WP:VPT]]. [[User:Johnuniq|Johnuniq]] ([[User talk:Johnuniq|talk]]) 07:13, 21 October 2024 (UTC)
::I'll take it to [[template talk:fraction]]. The obvious solution is to insert a [[narrow non-breaking space]]. [[User:JMF|𝕁𝕄𝔽]] ([[User talk:JMF|talk]]) 10:12, 21 October 2024 (UTC)