Help:Introduction to Templates

Templates are used in the Computer History Wiki to prevent the reduplication of work and help provide a uniform layout. For example, we have the template {{stub}} to show a short, very incomplete article. Instead of having to include this text manually on every such article, placing the text {{stub}} in an article produces:

Infoboxes

Infoboxes allow the uniform display of information based on a template. Custom data can be fed into the template by entering it into the article, for example:

{{Infobox Machine
| name = Apple I 
| manufacturer = [[Apple Computer]]
| form factor = [[Personal Computer]]
| year introduced = July 1976 
| year discontinued = March 1977
| cpu = [[MOS 6502]]
| clock speed = 1 MHz
| ram = 4 KB standard
| graphics = 40x24 character output
| successor = [[Apple II]]
}}

Apple I
Manufacturer:	Apple Computer
Year Introduced:	July 1976
Year Discontinued:	March 1977
Form Factor:	Personal Computer
Clock Speed:	1 MHz
Memory Size:	4 KB standard
Graphics:	40x24 character output
CPU:	MOS 6502
Successor(s):	Apple II

produces the box on the right of the screen here. The Infobox Machine template is the general template for most computer systems in this wiki. See Template:Infobox Machine for an overview of the values you can use with this template.

To avoid the insanity of a haphazard set of datasheets for a million different devices, we've got some basic templates in place which we really would like you to use:

• Template:Infobox Machine - for a system in general
• Template:Infobox Tape drive - for tape drives
• Template:Infobox Disk drive - for disk drives
• Template:Infobox Software - for software, etc.
• Template:Infobox OS - for operating systems
• Template:Infobox App - for applications (similar to Software above)

If these are not sufficient, or you have any requests or comments, you can discuss it on the talk page of this article -- the people writing the infoboxes are watching these talk pages.