Help:Templates


 * See also: Help:Templates on MediaWiki

Templates are just that: templates that can be used on any page to standardize some element. There are many kinds of templates, each serving a different goal.

Essentially, a template is a separate page, and by including the name of that page enclosed in { {two curly brackets}} in a page, the entire contents of that template page will be displayed on the page you've posted it on. Many templates have extra parameters that will form the actual content of the template.

Navigation Templates

 * See all navigation templates

The simplest kind of template, navigation templates are simple templates that list several pages and facilitate page navigation. They are placed on pages of similar types, as can be seen with templates such as the or  templates. These contain no extra parameters to modify.

Infobox Templates

 * See all infobox templates

Infobox templates have specific fields relating to particular topics depending on what the infobox's intended purpose is, such as or. These contain extra parameters to modify in order to display the necessary information.

Formatting Templates

 * See all formatting templates

Formatting templates exist to help with the standardization of formatting across the Wiki - they essentially mold what you've written to appear a certain way. An excellent example would be the template; it ensures that all in-game citations in references appear the same throughout the entire site. These contain extra parameters to modify.

Making a Template
The easiest way is to add  { {your template name}} to the Sandbox, and click on the red link that appears. From there you can create your template, which is most easily done by copying and pasting the code from a similar template; then you can just modify it.

Make sure that at the end of the last line of the ACTUAL TEMPLATE you add to begin any section detailing how to use the template, and also the add the necessary category for that template. Do not finish the template, create a new line, and then add the tag.

Testing a Template
When editing a template, a "preview page with this template" option will appear on the edit form. In the "page title" box, enter the name of a page that currently uses the template and pressing the adjacent "show preview" button. This allows you to preview the template as it would appear on that page if you saved the edit.

Sandboxed templates can also be tested on pages using Special:TemplateSandbox.

Please refer to MediaWiki for more information on this feature.