Hi. :) Since you are the queen of interesting templates (so far as I know), I wanted to ask what the protocol is for creating new ones. I'm gradually working out some standard responses to situations I encounter a lot (you can see the formulas I'm using at the moment over here), and it would be awfully helpful if I could turn some of them into templates. (The copyright policy advisement is for those editors who've been warned through Twinkle or not at all, since the Twinkle advisement is not specific about policy and policy notification is required for speedy deletion under GS#12.) I don't want to stumble into sacred ground. :) --Moonriddengirl 16:42, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:be WP:BOLD :) — Timotab Timothy (not Tim dagnabbit!) 16:43, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
::So, if I make a template of my own, I won't be left as a skeleton to horrify the leading lady in future Indiana Jones movies? (Indiana Jones Part 12: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Wikipedia Sacred Cows). Of course, I have to figure out how to make a template of my own. :) But I can probably cobble something. --Moonriddengirl 16:47, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::Well, here is what I'd advise, and indeed, what I've done. I have all my own templates, but they are in my userspace. I just subst them, and voila! Now, if enough people like them and there's a demand for them, then perhaps it would be acceptable to move them into Template space, but the move towards template standardization makes that a bit of a challenge. There is nothing that says editors cannot make their own templates and use them, but if they are in template space, they are open for TfDs if someone feels they are redundant or unnecessary. I can help you format them into templates that will allow you to specify the editor's name, the article/page you're referring to, and to have them auto-sign when used, if you want me to. But I'd probably suggest doing these in userspace, rather than in Template space for now. You can also discuss your changes and/or suggestions at WT:UTM, to get input from others, and help creating your own templates, if you wish to do that. I think that personalized templates are a wonderful thing, when used in the right situations. There are plenty of times that I use standard Twinkle templates, but there are also times when they are just not as friendly, (i.e. with obvious edits by children) and in some cases, I prefer mine. Let me know if you want any help with them, dear! Ariel♥Gold 17:00, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
::::See [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Template Meta-Wiki Template Help] and, if you need it, [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Advanced_templates Meta-Wiki Advanced Template Help]. If you're getting *REALLY* involved, take a look at [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:ParserFunctions ParserFunctions Help] as well. --MikeVitale 17:02, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::::And if all that confuses you, you can get Mike to make them! ~*Giggle*~ (Mike is a programmer, and he rocks, seriously) Also, if you look over mine, and decide you like some of those, just let me know and I'll give you the instructions on how to use mine if you wish to. Ariel♥Gold 17:05, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
::::::Thank you! User space is fine with me. I'm going to read over all of this and see what I can figure out. :) --Moonriddengirl 17:09, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Okie dear, let me know if you want to add the editor's name, an article, and a signature to them, and I'd be willing to help you do that if you can't figure out how. (If you check my code, chances are you'll be able to work it out though, those three things are pretty easy to do). Ariel♥Gold 17:14, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
(Resetting indent) As a relatively technologically clueless human being, I am finding the guidelines difficult to follow. I'd be very grateful if you could tell me this: what do you type on a user's page when you are trying to place your Last Warning? If you could it for me, I think I might be able to figure out how to turn a section into a template rather than the whole page. :) --Moonriddengirl 18:56, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:Okay, well first, a template really should be its own page. Unless you "hide" all other sections using , you can't substitute a specific section of a page. Plus, it is just easier to make each template its own page. As for your question, I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. Are you asking if you can force an edit summary via templates? I don't think that's possible to do. If you're asking how to just make the wording say "This is your last warning", then sure you can do that, but the template would not know if it was, indeed, the last warning, the user placing it would have to use it in that specific situation. If that's not what you mean, maybe you can explain it in another way because I'm not clear on what the question is, lol. Ariel♥Gold 18:59, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
::And, would you allow me to put one of your notices in that page into template form, so you can see how it works? It will automatically place the editor's name, the article you're referring to, and the signature of the person placing the notice, and you can see how that works. If you want to figure it all out on your own, I understand that too, as learning by doing is helpful, but I'd be more than happy to do one first, just so you can see how it works. Let me know, I'm not busy right now so I'd be happy to do it! Ariel♥Gold 19:02, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::Oh! I was under the impression that I could put all of my little messages on one page and make the different sections templates. I was asking how you templated that specific message so I could figure out how you did that. I gather that the page I'm looking at is your compendium, and that they're actually housed elsewhere. :) As for allowing you to, I'd be GRATEFUL. :D I work best by example. --Moonriddengirl 19:04, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
::::Oh gosh, yes that's my mistake for not explaining, that page is just a "visual gallery", if you will, of all my template pages, each one is its own template page. Let me do one for you, and then you can see how that works. I'll also add hidden comments for you to understand what portion of the code does what. I'll holler at you with the link when I'm done! Ariel♥Gold 19:07, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::::Thanks. :) I appreciate your taking your time to help out with this. Given the variety of creative templates you use, I knew you'd be a good one to run to. Plus you're nice. :D --Moonriddengirl 19:12, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
It is no problem at all, and no trouble! I'm not a template guru by any means, but things like this, I can do, and I enjoy doing them, so hey! I'm doing your A7 notice first. Ariel♥Gold 19:16, 26 September 2007 (UTC)