{{Event list}} generates a wikitable for a list of dated events, with the option to change to 1, 2, 3 or more columns of events (as columns=3), if needed depending on later updates to those events. For example, events later expanded as longer phrases might need to switch to a 2-column table, rather than the initial 3-column table of events.
The template {{event list}} allows a 1-column, 2-column, 3-column or more table of events to be added to an article describing events over time. The template allows the easy addition of date-stamped events, and the easy addition or insertion or removal of events as the article evolves over time without editors having to worry about table syntax, adjusting and balancing rows or columns, etc.
It produces a table consisting of pairs of dates and corresponding event descriptions, by default in 2 columns, but short events would fit well with "columns=3".
The number of date-event pairs in each column is automatically balanced by the template across the columns.
Within the date-event pairs, the width of the date versus the event description can be controlled. By default it is 15:85.
While the template will handle missing date values at the start, that is the first date does not have to be date1, the template treats intermediate missing dates as though they exist for column balancing, and it does not allow for any text wrapped new lines within a date or event's text.
The expanding skeleton is better to use if it is likely that more dates will be added in between earlier dates as the article is developed. No renaming of parameters is required each time a new date and event description is inserted.
{{event list<!-- up to 30 pairs of unnamed parameters|date| description of event -->
|date1|event1
|title =
|columns =
|datewidth =
}}
The named skeleton is better to use if the chronology is stable and clarity of date and event description relationships is required, with modifiable parameter layouts, for example for grouping events of the same type together for editing purposes but when appearing in the correct chronological order are intermixed.
{{event list<!-- up to 30 pairs of unnamed parameters|date|description of event -->
|1/1/1901|First day of the twentieth century.
|2/2/1902|Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
|3/3/1933|Born.
|13/9/1933|Added in the first tooth.
|4/4/1934|Lucky to make it past April fools day.
|14/6/1934|Just another thing we forgot to mention.
|5/5/1935|Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
|6/6/1946|Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
|7/7/1947|Second year at high school.
|8/8/1948|Another two years to go until University.
|9/9/1949|Sub senior.
|10/10/1950|Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
|11/11/1951|The real start of another decade.
|12/12/1952|Not sure about this university thing after all.
|15/5/1955|Working full time now supporting the cold war.
|16/6/1956|First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
|17/7/1967|The [[Vietnam War]] was a complete waste of time.
|18/8/1969|Belatedly over the Moon with relief.
|19/9/1972|The music is terrible now.
|20/10/1975|My own kids at school now.
|21/11/1978|The mortgage is so big it hurts.
|22/12/1980|Not sure what happened then.
|1/6/1985|Music is a bit better.
|17/2/1986|Winter Olympics, left me cold.
|19/7/1987|13 short of 2000, started work on y2k bug.
|19/10/1988|Expo in [[Brisbane]].
|31/3/1990|Grand kids, and life goes on.
|1/1/2001|The real start of another decade, another century, and another millennium.
|12/12/2007|[[Zen]] analysis of [[Wikipedia]].
|31/10/2008|Today?
|title = A whole big bunch of any dates
|columns = 3
|datewidth = 25
}}
A whole big bunch of any dates
Date
Event description
1/1/1901
First day of the twentieth century.
2/2/1902
Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
3/3/1933
Born.
13/9/1933
Added in the first tooth.
4/4/1934
Lucky to make it past April fools day.
14/6/1934
Just another thing we forgot to mention.
5/5/1935
Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
6/6/1946
Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
7/7/1947
Second year at high school.
8/8/1948
Another two years to go until University.
Date
Event description
9/9/1949
Sub senior.
10/10/1950
Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
11/11/1951
The real start of another decade.
12/12/1952
Not sure about this university thing after all.
15/5/1955
Working full time now supporting the cold war.
16/6/1956
First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
{{event list<!-- up to 30 pairs of unnamed parameters|date|description of event -->
|1 January 1901|First day of the twentieth century.
|2 February 1902|Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
|3 March 1933|Born.
|13 September 1933|Added in the first tooth.
|4 April 1934|Lucky to make it past April fools day.
|14 June 1934|Just another thing we forgot to mention.
|5 May 1935|Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
|6 June 1946|Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
|7 July 1947|Second year at high school.
|8 August 1948|Another two years to go until University.
|9 September 1949|Sub senior.
|10 October 1950|Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
|11 November 1951|The real start of another decade.
|12 December 1952|Not sure about this university thing after all.
|15 May 1955|Working full time now supporting the cold war.
|16 June 1956|First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
|17 July 1967|The [[Vietnam War]] was a complete waste of time.
|18 August 1969|Belatedly over the Moon with relief.
|19 September 1972|The music is terrible now.
|20 October 1975|My own kids at school now.
|21 November 1978|The mortgage is so big it hurts.
|22 December 1980|Not sure what happened then.
|1 June 1985|Music is a bit better.
|17 February 1986|Winter Olympics, left me cold.
|19 July 1987|13 short of 2000, started work on y2k bug.
|19 October 1988|Expo in [[Brisbane]].
|31 March 1990|Grand kids, and life goes on.
|1 January 2001|The real start of another decade, another century, and another millennium.
|12 December 2007|[[Zen]] analysis of [[Wikipedia]].
|31 October 2008|Today?
|title = A whole big bunch of any dates
|columns = 2
|datewidth = 25
}}
A whole big bunch of any dates
Date
Event description
1 January 1901
First day of the twentieth century.
2 February 1902
Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
3 March 1933
Born.
13 September 1933
Added in the first tooth.
4 April 1934
Lucky to make it past April fools day.
14 June 1934
Just another thing we forgot to mention.
5 May 1935
Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
6 June 1946
Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
7 July 1947
Second year at high school.
8 August 1948
Another two years to go until University.
9 September 1949
Sub senior.
10 October 1950
Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
11 November 1951
The real start of another decade.
12 December 1952
Not sure about this university thing after all.
15 May 1955
Working full time now supporting the cold war.
Date
Event description
16 June 1956
First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
{{event list<!-- abstract events group -->
|date1=1 January 1901|event1=First day of the twentieth century.
|date2=2 February 1902|event2=Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
|date13=11 November 1951|event13=The real start of another decade.
|date28=January 2001|event28=The real start of another decade, another century, and another millennium.
|date30=31 October 2008|event30=Today?
<!-- life events group -->
|date3=3 March 1933|event3=Born.
|date4=13 September 1933|event4=Added in the first tooth.
|date5=4 April 1934|event5=Lucky to make it past April fools day.
|date7=5 May 1935|event7=Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
|date8=6 June 1946|event8=Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
|date9=7 July 1947|event9=Second year at high school.
|date10=8 August 1948|event10=Another two years to go until University.
|date11=9 September 1949|event11=Sub senior.
|date12=10 October 1950|event12=Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
|date15=15 May 1955|event15=Working full time now supporting the cold war.
|date16=16 June 1956|event16=First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
|date20=20 October 1975|event20=My own kids at school now.
|date21=21 November 1978|event21=The mortgage is so big it hurts.
|date25=19 July 1987|event25=13 short of 2000, started work on y2k bug.
|date27=31 March 1990|event27=Grand kids, and life goes on.
|date26=19 October 1988|event26=Expo in [[Brisbane]].
|date29=12 December 2007|event29=[[Zen]] analysis of [[Wikipedia]].
<!-- philosophical events group -->
|date6=14 June 1934|event6=Just another thing we forgot to mention.
|date14=12 December 1952|event14=Not sure about this university thing after all.
|date17=17 July 1967|event17=The [[Vietnam War]] was a complete waste of time.
|date18=18 August 1969|event18=Belatedly over the Moon with relief.
|date19=19 September 1972|event19=The music is terrible now.
|date22=22 December 1980|event22=Not sure what happened then.
|date23=1 June 1985|event23=Music is a bit better.
|date24=17 February 1986|event24=Winter Olympics, left me cold.
|title = A whole big bunch of any dates
|columns = 2
|datewidth = 25
|collapse = notcollapsed
}}
Example of events defined in groups, rather than order as displayed.
A whole big bunch of any dates
Date
Event description
1 January 1901
First day of the twentieth century.
2 February 1902
Second day of the second month of the second year of the twentieth century.
3 March 1933
Born.
13 September 1933
Added in the first tooth.
4 April 1934
Lucky to make it past April fools day.
14 June 1934
Just another thing we forgot to mention.
5 May 1935
Over two years old now and throwing the mother of all tantrums.
6 June 1946
Toy soldiers for a birthday present.
7 July 1947
Second year at high school.
8 August 1948
Another two years to go until University.
9 September 1949
Sub senior.
10 October 1950
Senior year, high school graduation, driving a car.
11 November 1951
The real start of another decade.
12 December 1952
Not sure about this university thing after all.
15 May 1955
Working full time now supporting the cold war.
Date
Event description
16 June 1956
First class honurs degree in much ado about nothing.
