User:Rpclod/templates

I am trying to understand the mechanics of Wikipedia templates in general.

Help:Template and other listed template help sites are not particularly helpful. The quick guide does not adequately explain the fundamentals of templates and jumps into creating templates without encouraging or explaining the re-use of existing templates, including how to find templates. The only exception to this general problems is Happy Melon's site.

So, I am trying to read and understand specific templates that effect Wikipedia articles on which I am working. Several of these templates are not documented or minimally documented and perhaps my notes can serve as a basis for more extensive documentation.

Two areas of my current template interest are:

• Patent citation templates - A number of templates apparently create references for patents. I am unsure whether or what patent citation standards exist.
• Surname link templates - I am interested in a template that can be efficiently embedded into Wikipedia articles on a particular individual that provides a consistent link to a discussion of the applicable surname. In particular, I am interested in improving Template:Surname links.