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.
