Transclusions and easily breakable plates.[]
Semantics MediaWiki does look like a good expansion to add. I can ask about it in IRC, though you'll have a better angle to talk about it, since you know more about the technical aspects. The only problem I foresee would be the question of who's going to handle the software, as this looks like something that needs Administrator privileges. (But then again, maintenance doesn't seem much of an obstacle compared to its initial installation.)
And as for general consensus about transclusions and templates...most of the structures were already done by my predecessors, and they seemed okay with the heavy templating. (For example, right now I'm wondering if I should break Template:Dungeon Page into sections, because the edit buttons lead directly to the template instead of letting editors edit the actual parameters.) As of now, the wiki's much emptier than it used to be, so there shouldn't be any conflicts with extensive renovations. I only ask that they either be kept easy to use, or have a good "instruction manuals" that new editors can rely on (though then again, all templates should follow that).
Very neat trick with the platecraft parameter. We can probably go with that in other places too. (I dunno if there's a Unique Plate yet, but there definitely could be.) -Akira 21:57, 26 February 2012 (UTC)
- First, thanks for the comments. I appreciate them, and would definitely appreciate any support via appropriate channels. Second, it seems like we'd need to talk with one of these folks and sell them on the idea of the Semantic MediaWiki extension. I believe the preparser extension is installed (that lets us do #ifexist and #if, etc.), and the rest can be taken care of via SMW's "ask" command. It's somewhat like DPL (I think that's what it's called; it does dynamic page stuff), but with a lot more flexibility and roll-up capability.
- To give you some idea of organization, I have found that, for me, the following structure works best:
- Template page, with copy-paste code, and a sample of output.
- Template/Documentation page, which documents what's going on with the template, caveats of use, and so forth.
- Template/Sandbox page, where new directions and branches/bug-fixes of the template can be tested.
- This layout is VERY effective, as the entire site doesn't grind to a halt when I change the "Items" template and forget a closing brace. Instead, working from an exemplar item, I point that item's template call to "Items/Sandbox" and then--uh-oh!--I can fix my closing brace. In the interim, one item's page looked mangled, rather than EVERY item's page.
- Let's get this distilled down to a list.
- I will:
- See what I can do with the Valentine's Day titles; I'll probably start building out /Sandbox pages where appropriate.
- Come in to IRC/Wiki-talk/what have you if/when appropriate.
- Would you mind:
- Taking the lead in pitching the SMW idea? Opening that door, perhaps? Key points here seem to be re-use, classification, and elimination of re-keying. And ease in management.
- I don't claim to know everything, and I'm certainly no MediaWiki-whiz, but I've been around the block a couple times. I just want to make it easier for us to play our game with direction and purpose. :)
- Niet3sche Talk 23:37, 26 February 2012 (UTC)
Extensions[]
Just realized I forgot to get back to you on the extensions.
I told Bumble about the Semantic MediaWiki, and she said she'll talk to the php dev team about it. I haven't heard back from her yet, but it hasn't been too long since she replied, so I'm just waiting for now.
About Extension:Tooltip, though, I'm personally not sure if that'll be useful. It looks cool, but any explanation worthy of a parenthetical aside is worthy enough to go into its own page. So in my opinion anything like that can just be hyperlinked with the explanatory information moved to its page.
If you have any other examples in mind for using Extension:Tooltip, though, I still have room to change my opinion. -Akira 03:54, 4 March 2012 (UTC)
- Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I'm not completely sold on Extension:Tooltip either, but came across a page that was riddled with implicit asides.
- I cannot, however, remember which page that was.
- Hopefully SMW gets a nod. Niet3sche Talk 04:59, 4 March 2012 (UTC)