Template talk:Surname links
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How to use
[edit]The "See also" section Template:Surname/doc states: "{{Surname links}}, useful for searching for articles related to a surname". That seems handy, but I cannot find any explanation of how to use this template (Surname links). The template page is very confusing. When I click on "edit this page" I find substantial information that does not appear when merely looking at the template page. I am not sure whether or not the hidden information can or should be made more visible or if some explanation of the features should be provided. Some examples would be very useful. I was wondering whether this template is appropriate for use on the Hunziker surname page that I recently created.--Rpclod (talk) 20:22, 3 October 2008 (UTC)
- It takes one parameter and offers up a series of likely disambiguation page names. If the pages exist, then a blue link appears, but if not then a the link appears of course in red - I've just amended the template not to show any redlinks and added documentation.
- Hence {{Surname links|Smith}} gives: Smith (disambiguation) ·Smith (name) ·Smith (surname) ·All pages · Living people · WP search · links
- For the example you seek, output is: Hunziker ·All pages · Living people · WP search · links
- David Ruben Talk 01:16, 22 November 2008 (UTC)
- Thank you very much for the prompt and detailed reply, both here and at my proposal for a SurnameLink InfoBox. I did not realize that the templates were case sensitive and ran into problems trying to use "Surname links", but finally overcame my thick-headedness. As general questions to other users, is there or should there be some recommended location for placing this text on a page? Are any changes as to display (e.g., centering) warranted for consistency? I assume that there needs to be some balancing between: (1) interface consistency and flexibility and (2) information and clutter. Also, might this template's concept be integrated with the Persondata or individual infobox templates, again for consistency and also to automatically pull surname information? Should the template account for surname derivatives? (For example, should the entry for Chuck Hunsinger be able to point to the Hunziker surname page using this template, but with an explanation as to the relationship between "Hunsinger" and "Hunziker"?)--Rpclod (talk) 14:45, 24 November 2008 (UTC)