[Imports] edit import guideline wiki page

Christoph Hormann chris_hormann at gmx.de
Wed Nov 6 15:39:32 UTC 2013


On Monday 04 November 2013, Jason Remillard wrote:
>
> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Import/Guidelines
>
> The actual expectations for imports are firmer than what is suggested
> by the wiki page. The goal is to catch the wiki page up with the
> actual current expectations...
>
> Stop calling it the "Guidelines" start calling it the "Policy". Its
> our policy. If its ignored, everybody is going to be upset about
> it....

This policy already exists and is described on

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mechanical_Edit_Policy

This, the page you talk about and

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Automated_Edits_code_of_conduct

are overlapping signicicantly and none of them is written in a way 
really suited as an instruction for doing an import.  

IMO the question of what is required and what is just recommended is not 
as important as having clear instructions to those who want to do an 
import.  People are usually willing to follow guidelines if they are 
written in a clear and understandable way even if they are not 
absolutely binding.  The checklist on that page is a good start but 
should probably include links to examples for people to learn from and 
to the various background information that is currently scattered 
across all these pages.  Empty templates like

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Import/Plan_Outline

are less useful.  Also keep in mind that it might seem clear to long 
term mappers what things like 'revert plan' and 'changeset size policy' 
are but need to be explained in a practically useful set of 
instructions (at best with links to examples of good practice).

-- 
Christoph Hormann
http://www.imagico.de/



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