Help:Templates

From CGWiki

Templates are specially created pages which users can reference to enhance their articles with minimal effort.

Using Templates

Let's say you've created your comic article, but want to use the template for the comic's info box which you've seen on other comic pages.

If you put {{ComicInfobox}} on your comic's page, you'll notice the box is now on the side but it looks identical to what you see here. In order to fill in the blanks you see there, you'll have to add in the information yourself. Let's do it for my favorite fictional comic, Super Fantastic Punch Out.

{{ComicInfobox|
 | comicname = Super Fantastic Punch Out
 | image = [[Image:SFPO.jpg]]
 | writer = [[User:Punch_You |Punch You]]
 | character = [[Comic:Super_Fantastic_Punch_Out/Characters|Several]]
 | artist = [[User:Punch_You | Punch_You]]
 | website = http://sfpo.comicgenesis.com
 | update = MWF
 | began = January 24, 2004
 | ended = Continuing, probably never.
 | rating = Web-14
 | style = Action
 | content = |
 }}

See how each line corresponds with one of the words in the curly brackets in the template? Easy as pie, no? If you've done it correctly, the comic info box will now appear on your page with the information you've provided.

You'll have to provide the information for any templates which have the curly brackets, but some of them like stub can be put in your article as-is.

Creating Templates

Creating templates is done the same way that any articles are created. If you want to have user-defined elements, enclose them in three curly brackets. However you've formatted the template is how it will appear on an article if it gets referenced.

The same guidelines which apply to the creation of any new page applies to creating a template. Will it be useful to users? Is it absolutely necessary? Can it be used on several current pages and will it be able to be used on any future pages?

Editing Templates

Because templates are used by several, and in some cases many, pages, they should not be edited unless the user knows exactly what effects the edits will make.

This article is a stub. Expand it, post haste, or we'll break your thumbs!