View source for Template:Ambox/doc

{{Documentation subpage}}
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{{Mbox templates (small)}}

This is the {{tl|Ambox}} (['''A''']rticle ['''m''']essage ['''box''']) metatemplate.

It is used to build ''article message box'' templates such as {{tl|Underlinked}}. It offers several different colours, uses default images if no image parameter is given, and has some other features.

== Common parameters ==
The box below shows the most common parameters that are accepted by {{Tl|Ambox}}. The purpose of each is described below.
<pre>
{{Ambox
| name  = 
| subst = <includeonly>{{subst:substcheck}}</includeonly>
| small = {{{small|}}}
| type  = 
| image = 
| sect  = {{{1|}}}
| issue = 
| talk  = {{{talk|}}}
| fix   = 
| date  = {{{date|}}}
| cat   = 
| all   = 
}}
</pre>

=== ''name'' ===
The ''name'' parameter specifies the name of the template, without the Template namespace prefix. For example {{Tl|Underlinked}} specifies {{Para|name|Underlinked}}.

This parameter should be updated if the template is ever moved. The purpose of this parameter is twofold:
* If incorrectly [[Wikipedia:Substitution|substituted]], it allows the meta-template to notify the name of the template which has been substituted, which may help editors to fix the problem.
* It allows the template to have a more useful display on its template page, for example to show the date even when not specified, and to apply categorisation of the template itself.

=== ''subst'' ===
The ''subst'' parameter allows the meta-template to detect whether the template has been incorrectly substituted, and give an appropriate warning. It will also add such pages to [[:Category:Pages with incorrectly substituted templates]]. Just copy the code exactly as it appears in the box.

=== ''small'' ===
The ''small'' parameter should be passed through the template, as this will allow editors to use the small format by specifying {{para|small|left}} on an article:
{{Ambox|nocat=true|small=left|text=This is the small left-aligned Ambox format.}}
Otherwise the standard format will be produced:
{{Ambox|nocat=true|text=This is the standard Ambox format.}}

Other variations:
* For templates which should ''never'' be small, specify {{Para|small|no}} or do not pass the small parameter at all.
* For templates which should ''always'' be small, just specify {{Para|small|left}}.
* For templates which should ''default to small'', try {{para|small|<nowiki>{{{small|left}}}</nowiki>}}. This will allow an editor to override by using {{para|small|no}} on an article.

=== ''type'' ===
The ''type'' parameter defines the colour of the left bar, and the image that is used by default. The type is chosen not on aesthetics but is based on the type of issue that the template describes. The seven available types and their default images are shown below.
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = speedy
| text  = type=<u>speedy</u> – Speedy deletion issues, such as {{tl|db-g1}} and {{tl|db-g3}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = delete
| text  = type=<u>delete</u> – Deletion issues, such as {{tl|article for deletion}} and {{tl|proposed deletion}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = content
| text  = type=<u>content</u> – Content issues, such as {{tl|POV}} and {{tl|globalize}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = style
| text  = type=<u>style</u> – Style issues, such as {{tl|cleanup}} and {{tl|underlinked}}.
}}
{{ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = notice
| text  = type=<u>notice</u> – Article notices, such as {{tl|current}} and {{tl|in use}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = move
| text  = type=<u>move</u> – Merge, split and transwiki proposals, such as {{tl|split}} and {{tl|copy to Wiktionary}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = protection
| text  = type=<u>protection</u> – Protection notices, such as {{tl|pp-vandalism}} and {{tl|pp-protected}}.
}}

If no ''type'' parameter is given the template defaults to {{para|type|notice}}.

=== ''image'' ===
You can choose a specific image to use for the template by using the ''image'' parameter. Images are specified using the standard syntax for inserting files in Wikipedia (see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#How to place an image]].) Widths of 40-50px are typical. For example:

* {{Tl|POV}} specifies {{Para|image|<nowiki>[[File:Unbalanced scales.svg|40px|link=|alt=]]</nowiki>}} and looks like this:
{{POV|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

* {{tl|underlinked}} specifies {{para|image|<nowiki>[[File:Ambox wikify.svg|50x40px|link=|alt=]]</nowiki>}} and looks like this:
{{underlinked|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

Please note:
* If no image is specified then the default image corresponding to the ''type'' is used. (See [[#type]] above.)
* If {{para|image|none}} is specified, then no image is used and the text uses the whole message box area.
* If an icon is [[Wikipedia:Alternative text for images#Purely decorative images|purely decorative]] and also in the [[Wikipedia:Image use policy#Public_domain|public domain]], [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility|accessibility]] can be improved by suppressing the link to the file page by adding "{{para|link}}{{para|alt}}" as seen above.

=== ''sect'' ===
Many article message templates begin with the text '''This article ...''' and it is often desirable that this wording change to '''This section ...''' if the template is used on a section instead. Other possibilities include '''This list ...''' and '''This biographical article ...'''

To facilitate this functionality, pass {{para|sect|<nowiki>{{{1|}}}</nowiki>}}. This will allow editors to type '''section''' as the first unnamed parameter of the template to change the wording. For example, {{tlx|Advert|section}} produces:
{{Advert|section|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

If using this feature, be sure to remove the first two words ("This article") from the template's text, otherwise it will be duplicated.

=== ''issue'' and ''fix'' ===
The ''issue'' parameter is used to describe the issue with the article. Try to keep it short and to-the-point (approximately 10-20 words) and be sure to include a link to a relevant [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|policy or guideline]].

The ''fix'' parameter contains some text which describes what should be done to improve the article. It may be longer than the text in ''issue'', but should not usually be more than two sentences.

When the template is in its compact form (when placed inside {{tl|multiple issues}}) or small form (when using {{para|small|left}}), the ''issue'' is the only text that will be displayed. For example, {{Tl|Citation style}} defines
* <code>|issue=<nowiki>This article '''has an unclear citation style'''.</nowiki></code>
* <code>|fix=<nowiki>The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of [[Wikipedia:Citing sources|citation]], [[Wikipedia:Footnotes|footnoting]], or [[Wikipedia:External links|external linking]].</nowiki></code>

When used stand-alone it produces the whole text:
{{Citation style|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

But when used inside {{Tl|Multiple issues}} or with {{Para|small|left}} it displays only the issue:
{{Multiple issues <!-- Even though there's only one "issue", please don't remove this {{Multiple issues}} template. It is a demonstration of the formatting. --> |{{Citation style|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}}}
{{Citation style|small=left|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

=== ''talk'' ===
Some article message templates include a link to the talk page, and allow an editor to specify a section heading to link directly to the relevant section. To achieve this functionality, simply pass the ''talk'' parameter through, i.e. {{para|talk|<nowiki>{{{talk|}}}</nowiki>}}

This parameter may then be used by an editor as follows:
* {{para|talk|SECTION HEADING}} - the link will point to the specified section on the article's talk page, e.g. {{para|talk|Foo}}
* {{para|talk|FULL PAGE NAME}} - the template will link to the page specified (which may include a [[Help:Link#Section linking (anchors)|section anchor]]), e.g. {{para|talk|Talk:Banana#Foo}}

Notes:
* When this parameter is used by a template, the talk page link will appear on the template itself (in order to demonstrate the functionality) but this will only display on articles if the parameter is actually defined.
* In order to make sure there is always a link to the talk page, you can use {{para|talk|<nowiki>{{{talk|#}}}</nowiki>}}.
* If the talk page does not exist, there will be no link, whatever the value of the parameter.

=== ''date'' ===
Passing the ''date'' parameter through to the meta-template means that the date that the article is tagged may be specified by an editor (or more commonly a [[Wikipedia:Bots|bot]]). This will be displayed after the message in a smaller font.

Passing this parameter also enables [[:Category:Wikipedia maintenance categories sorted by month|monthly cleanup categorisation]] when the ''cat'' parameter is also defined.

=== ''cat'' ===
This parameter defines a monthly cleanup category. If {{para|cat|CATEGORY}} then:
* articles will be placed in '''Category:CATEGORY from DATE''' if  {{para|date|DATE}} is specified.
* articles will be placed in '''Category:CATEGORY''' if the date is not specified.

For example, {{Tl|No footnotes}} specifies {{Para|cat|Articles lacking in-text citations}} and so an article with the template {{Tlx|No footnotes|2=date=June 2010}} will be placed in [[:Category:Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2010]].

The ''cat'' parameter should not be linked, nor should the prefix <code>Category:</code> be used.

=== ''all'' ===
The ''all'' parameter defines a category into which all articles should be placed.

The ''all'' parameter should not be linked, nor should the prefix <code>Category:</code> be used.

== Other parameters ==
The box on the right shows all possible parameters for this template. However, it is not recommended to copy this, because it will never be required to use all parameters simultaneously.
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="background:transparent; width=40%" 
!All parameters
|-
|<pre style="font-size:90%; width=40%">
{{Ambox
| name        = 
| subst       = <includeonly>{{subst:substcheck}}</includeonly>
| small       = {{{small|}}}
| type        = 
| image       = 
| imageright  = 
| smallimage  = 
| smallimageright = 
| class       = 
| style       = 
| textstyle   = 
| sect        = {{{1|}}}
| issue       = 
| talk        = {{{talk|}}}
| fix         = 
| date        = {{{date|}}}
| text        = 
| smalltext   = 
| cat         = 
| all         = 
| cat2        = 
| all2        = 
| cat3        = 
| all3        = 
}}<noinclude>
{{Documentation}}
</noinclude>
</pre>
|}

=== ''imageright'' ===
An image on the right side of the message box may be specified using this parameter. The syntax is the same as for the ''image'' parameter, except that the default is no image.

=== ''smallimage'' and ''smallimageright'' ===
Images for the small format box may be specified using these parameters. They will have no effect unless {{para|small|left}} is specified.

=== ''class'' ===
A custom [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] class to apply to the box.

=== ''style'' and ''textstyle'' ===
Optional CSS values may be defined, without quotation marks <code>" "</code> but with the ending semicolons <code>;</code>.
* ''style'' specifies the style used by the entire message box table.
* ''textstyle'' relates to the text cell.

=== ''text'' and ''smalltext'' ===
Instead of specifying the ''issue'' and the ''fix'' it is possible to use the ''text'' parameter instead.

Customised text for the small format can be defined using ''smalltext''.

=== Additional categorisation parameters ===
* ''cat2'' and ''cat3'' provide additional monthly categories; see [[#cat]].
* ''all2'' and ''all3'' provide additional categories into which all articles are placed, just like [[#all]].

== Technical notes ==
* This meta-template uses the ambox CSS classes in [[MediaWiki:Common.css]]. The classes can also be used directly in a [[Help:Table|wikitable]] if special functionality is needed. See the [[Wikipedia:Ambox classes|how-to guide]] for that.
* If you need to use special characters in the text parameter then you need to escape them like this:
<pre>
{{Ambox
| text  = <div>
Equal sign = and a start and end brace { } work fine as they are.
But here is a pipe &amp;#124; and two end braces &lt;nowiki>}}&lt;/nowiki>.
And now a pipe and end braces &lt;nowiki>|}}&lt;/nowiki>.
</div>
}}
</pre>
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| text  = <div>
Equal sign = and a start and end brace { } work fine as they are.
But here is a pipe &#124; and two end braces <nowiki>}}</nowiki>.
And now a pipe and end braces <nowiki>|}}</nowiki>.
</div>
}}

* The <code>&lt;div></code> tags that surround the text in the example above are usually not needed. But if the text contains line breaks then sometimes we get weird line spacing. This especially happens when using vertical dotted lists. Then use the div tags to fix that.
* This template uses CSS classes in [[MediaWiki:Common.css]] for most of its looks, thus it is fully skinnable.
* This template calls {{Tl|Ambox/core}} or {{tl|ambox/small}} which holds most of the code for {{Tl|Ambox}}, while {{Tl|Ambox}} itself does parameter preprocessing.
* Internally, this meta-template uses HTML markup instead of wikimarkup for the table code. That is the usual way meta-templates are made, since wikimarkup has several drawbacks. For instance, it makes it harder to use [[m:Help:ParserFunctions|parser functions]] and some special characters in parameters.
* The default images for this meta-template are in png format instead of svg format. The main reason is that some older web browsers have trouble with the transparent background that MediaWiki renders for svg images. The png images here have hand optimised transparent background colour so they look good in all browsers. Note that svg icons only look somewhat bad in the old browsers, thus such hand optimisation is only worth the trouble for very widely used icons.
* For more technical details see the [[Template talk:Ambox|talk page]] and the "See also" links below. Since this template works almost exactly like {{Tl|Tmbox}}, {{Tl|Imbox}}, {{Tl|Cmbox}} and {{Tl|Ombox}} their talk pages and related pages might also contain more details.

== See also ==
{{Mbox templates see also}}
Other pages:
* [[Wikipedia:Ambox CSS classes]] – Describes how to use the ambox CSS classes directly in [[Help:Table|wikitable]]s and [[HTML element#Tables|HTML tables]].
* [[Wikipedia:Article message boxes]] – The style guideline for creating article message boxes.
* [[Wikipedia talk:Article message boxes]] – For discussion about these matters.

<includeonly>{{#ifeq:{{SUBPAGENAME}}|sandbox||
<!-- Categories go below this line, please; interwikis go to Wikidata, thank you! -->
[[Category:Article message templates| ]]
[[Category:Mbox and messagebox templates]]
[[Category:Exclude in print]]
}}</includeonly>