Help:Templates

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Templates enable you to do things much faster and/or easier. Templates are used very frequently on pages, so it's best to learn about them. When the wiki sees a template it recognizes on a page, it will automatically replace it with something else. What appears there is up to the users.

• How to use a template
• Making templates
• Templates not updating
• Useful templates
• Magic words
• See Also

How to use a template

Before a template can be added somewhere, first its contents must be defined on its own page. Template pages should start with the prefix Template:.

Templates have some limited programming abilities, which gives them lots of possibilities. We'll talk more about those later.

To add a template to a page (which is called transcluding), simply type {{, the name of the template, and then }}. If you wish to add any parameters, put a | between the template's name and the }}, and define the parameters there. All parameters you define need to be separated by another |.

Note:Any page can be transcluded by another one actually. Below is a transclusion of the Main Page:

Welcome to the Valve Developer Community. Whether you're building a "Triple-A" commercial project or a mod for Half-Life® 2, you'll want to sign up as a Valve developer today. It's free to join, and open to anyone working with the Source Engine and the Source SDK.

Sign up to become part of the community!

Source and the Source SDK Go to the Source Engine documentation index Our knowledgebase of technical information about using the engine and all of the related tools is posted on a community-driven web site called a wiki. Sign up as a developer to contribute. Dota 2 Workshop Tools Go to the Dota 2 Workshop Tools documentation index Now in a Beta test release, the Dota 2 Workshop Tools can be used by developers to create and test custom game modes for Dota 2. For Mod Teams Why choose the Source Engine for your mod? Read Making a Mod - building a team through the shipping process. Already using the SDK? Check the Source SDK FAQ for some helpful answers. New to Source coding? Get started with basic programming articles. Read (or add!) a tutorial on Source development, or any part of the content creation process.

Valve Technology The engine under the hood of Half-Life 2 can make your game a success. Let Source™ do the heavy lifting so that your team can focus on building great games. If you're interested in building a product using Source, talk to us about options for distribution on Steam.   Read about Valve Technology

Examples

Here's a template where we don't define any parameters, you just drop it right in.

{{restart}}

Result: Requires restart to take effect.

If you visit this template's page, you'll see that its just those five words.

The ent template is a template that can accept up to two unnamed parameters.

{{ent|sv_cheats|1}}

Result: sv_cheats 1

Unnamed parameters must be defined in a specific order.

KV is one of the most common templates used. It accepts an optional named parameter (since).

{{KV|Script think function (thinkfunction)|string|Name of a function in this entity's script which will be called automatically every 100 milliseconds (ten times a second) for the duration of the script. It can be used to create timers or to simulate autonomous behavior. The return value (if present) will set the time until the next call.|since=l4d2}}

Result:

Script think function (thinkfunction) <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Name of a function in this entity's script which will be called automatically every 100 milliseconds (ten times a second) for the duration of the script. It can be used to create timers or to simulate autonomous behavior. The return value (if present) will set the time until the next call.

Without the |since=l4d2 at the end, the (New with Left 4 Dead 2) message would not have displayed. Named parameters can be defined in any order.

Templates can also use templates (nesting). In the KV template above, the |since=l4d2 part adds {{l4d2 add}} into the page, which is the (New with Left 4 Dead 2) message.

Substitution (for advanced users)

Instead of transcluding a template, one can choose to substitute it. Substitution will replace a template with the contents of the template directly onto the page. To substitute a template, transclude it like you normally would, then add subst: between {{ and the template's name. After that, click the save button and the wikitext will automatically be added. Do not substitute carelessly, because the substituted wikitext will not be updated when the template is. See Wikipedia:Help:Substitution for more information.

{{subst:delete|This is a bad page.}}

When the page is saved, that text will be replaced with this:

{{Delete-meta|{{#if: This is a bad page. | This is a bad page. }} }}[[Category:Candidates for speedy deletion]]

Note the automatic forwarding of parameters. When substituting, the page should not appear any differently than it would if transcluded. The only difference is in the page code.

Making templates

Making a template like Template:Restart is rather easy - just type the text you want, and save it. What about ones with parameters?

Tip:When making templates, you may want to space out your code to make it easier to read, but watch out for unintentional whitespace. HTML comments (<!-- -->) can also be useful.

Unnamed parameters

To add an unnamed parameter, simply put {{{1}}} where you want it to be.

Here's part of the code for Template:Tip:

Tip:{{{1}}}

If you've seen this template before you know that it has its own special look, but this is all we will look at for now. All the user has to do when transcluding this is enter the text they want:

{{tip|Do not carve without vertex editing afterward.}}

Result:

Tip:Do not carve without vertex editing afterward.

If you want to add more than one unnamed parameter, simply change the number. Here's the (condensed) code for Template:Distinguish:

:''Not to be confused with [[:{{{1}}}]]{{#if:{{{2|}}} |{{#if:{{{3|}}} |, [[:{{{2}}}]]| or [[:{{{2}}}]].}}|.}}{{#if:{{{3|}}} |{{#if:{{{4|}}} |, [[:{{{3}}}]]|, or [[:{{{3}}}]].}}}}{{#if:{{{4|}}} |, or [[:{{{4}}}]].}}''

This template has some things we haven't talked about yet, but you can still see that there's four unnamed parameters used: {{{1}}}, {{{2}}}, {{{3}}}, and {{{4}}}.

All the user has to do when transcluding is this:

{{distinguish|Combine|Civil Protection|Overwatch}}

Result:

Not to be confused with Combine, Civil Protection, or Overwatch.

Named parameters

Usually you would want to have named parameters affect anything only if they are defined when being transcluded. We'll talk about conditions later. For now, let's look at Template:IO, which has many named parameters. In this template, {{{param}}} marks a place to add wikitext that's defined by |param=texthere when transcluding.

With named parameter:

{{IO|SetString|Updates the string.|param=string}}

Result:

SetString <string>

Updates the string.

Without named parameter:

{{IO|SetString|Updates the string.}}

Result:

SetString

Updates the string.

Default value

To make a parameter have a value by default, add a | to the right of the parameter name, and then define the value. Named and unnamed parameters can use this.

{{{1|3000}}}

This would make the value for 1 3000.

{{{value|}}}

This returns nothing. Without the |, it would literally return "{{{value}}}" as text, if it hasn't already been defined at some other point.

Parser Functions

#if: checks if a string or parameter has anything inside it.

{{#if: {{{target|}}} | Target aqcuired | Sleep mode activated... }}

Result: Sleep mode activated... (The parameter {{{target|}}} returns null because you (probably) are not viewing this page through a transclusion, so it's never had a chance to be defined.)

{{#if: Something is there! | Target aqcuired | Sleep mode activated... }}

Result: Target aqcuired

#ifeq: checks for equality between two strings. It can be used with parameters as well.

{{#ifeq: {{{target|}}} | friend | Friend... | Go away! }}

Result: Go away!

{{#ifeq: friend | friend | Friend... | Go away! }}

Result: Friend...

#expr: solves math problems.

{{#expr: 2 + 2}}

Result: 4

See m:Help:Calculation for all it's abilities.

#ifexpr: tells if a math expression is correct.

{{#ifexpr: 6 + 3 = 9 | Right | Wrong }}

Result: Right

{{#ifexpr: 6 + 3 = 23 | Right | Wrong }}

Result: Wrong

Documentation

Please give a description of what your template is, and maybe examples. To keep this describing text from appearing on pages, there are 3 different HTML tags you can use.

noinclude keeps wikitext inside it from appearing on the destination page, while keeping it on the source page.

onlyinclude makes only wikitext inside it appear on destination pages. Text not inside these will still appear on the template's page.

includeonly wikitext inside this will not appear on the template page. It has no effect on the destination page however.

They can sound very confusing at first. If you're confused on how to use them, check the source code for a template, because almost all use them for one purpose or another.

Templates not updating

If you've recently edited a template and the changes are not applying on pages it's been transcluded to, add ?action=purge at the end of the URL for those pages. This will tell the server to update the page's HTML immediately. You can achieve the same effect by editing a page and saving it without making any changes.

Useful templates

All templates in green text are that color so that they stand out against the greyscale tones of most pages. Most templates with that color also automatically add pages they are transcluded on into Category:TODO.

per-game templates

All games have templates that show their associated icon. (e.g. ) See Category:Game icons for the full list. Template:Game link is a template that automatically links to a game's page and displays its icon next to it. (e.g. Half-Life 2)

Most games also have templates that quickly note features they added that are available in all Source games afterwards, or features that are exclusive to them. (e.g. (New with Portal 2) and (Only in Portal 2)) See Category:Notice templates for all available.

Some games also have templates that quickly note that they also have a feature, usually backported from newer engine branches. These should be used with in conjunction with another game notice template. (e.g. (Only in Left 4 Dead) (Also in Garry's Mod) or (New with Alien Swarm) (Also in Garry's Mod))

=

Template:= is a template that only returns an equal sign. The character is sometimes needed because multiple wiki features make use of it. An equal sign generated through this will never be counted as formatting.

bug

Template:Bug notifies readers of a bug.

{{bug|The amount is double what it should be. Be careful!}}

Result:

Bug: The amount is double what it should be. Be careful!

clarify

Template:Clarify marks things that should be clarified.

PAS is a kind of bounding-box for Player or NPC AI sound detection.{{clarify}}

Result: PAS is a kind of bounding-box for Player or NPC AI sound detection.^[Clarify]

cleanup

Template:Cleanup marks a page that needs to be fixed up, preferably by someone knowledgeable. The text message is optional. If you do not give sufficient reason for the notice on the transclusion or the talk page, expect it to be removed by someone else.

{{cleanup|The last section needs to be clarified.}}

Result:

clr

Template:Clr clears the vertical space to the left or right of something. This is commonly used for making headlines not get moved around by images.

This text should appear next to the image. If you put {{clr}} right after this,

this bit of text here will get moved down.

---

This text should appear next to the image. If you put {{clr}} right after this,

this bit of text here will get moved down.

confirm

Template:Confirm marks something that needs to be confirmed. It's green color is meant to stand out.

{{confirm|Always goes to the left.}}

Result:

Confirm:Always goes to the left.

Always goes to the left.{{confirm}}

Result: Always goes to the left.^[confirm]

delete

Template:Delete marks a page that should be deleted. If you do not give sufficient reason for the notice on the transclusion or the talk page, expect it to be removed by someone else. When putting this on a page, you should also list the reason on that page's talk page, for any future readers that may want to know the purpose of the deletion.

{{delete|This is not a real thing.}}

Result:

distinguish

Template:Distinguish lets you notify users about pages that share similar names or may be confused for something else.

Example from Follow Freeman:

{{distinguish|"Follow Freeman!"}}

Result:

Not to be confused with "Follow Freeman!".

ent

Template:Ent is a really small template for making text that's both code and a link.

{{ent|noclip}}

Result: noclip

ExpandBox

Template:ExpandBox allows you to hide stuff inside a box that can be shrunk down so that it doesn't make pages as long.

{{ExpandBox|{{:KV BaseEntity}}}}

Result:

Classname (classname) <string>

The classname defines the type of entity.

Note:Classnames can be changed using AddOutput, which will influence how the engine deals with the entity in certain circumstances.

Name (targetname) <string>

The targetname that other entities refer to this entity by.

Global Entity Name (globalname) <string>

Name by which this entity is linked to another entity in a different map. When the player transitions to a new map, entities in the new map with globalnames matching entities in the previous map will have the previous map's state copied over their state.

Parent (parentname) <targetname>

Specifies a movement parent. An entity will maintain its initial offset from its parent. An attachment point can be added to the end of the name, separated by a comma.

Note:Every entity can be parented, even point entities. Some entities which aren't intended to be parented may not function correctly. phys_constraint can be used as a workaround to parenting.

Origin {X Y Z} (origin) <origin>

The position of this entity's center in the world. Rotating entities typically rotate around their origin.

Pitch Yaw Roll {Y Z X} (angles) <angle>

This entity's orientation in the world. Pitch is rotation around the Y axis, yaw is the rotation around the Z axis, roll is the rotation around the X axis.

Note:This works on brush entities, although Hammer doesn't show the new angles.

Hammer ID (hammerid) <string>

The entity's Hammer ID. Mainly used by plugins and debugging commands, such as ent_keyvalue. !FGD

Effects (effects) <string>

Effect flags. !FGD

Response Contexts (ResponseContext) <string>

Pre-defined response system contexts for this entity. Format is key:value,key:value,...

Note:Despite the description, this works for all entities, although it is missing from most entities in the FGD.

Minimum CPU Level (mincpulevel) <integer> (New with Left 4 Dead)

Minimum CPU Level allowed for this entity. 0 means all levels allowed. !FGD

Maximum CPU Level (maxcpulevel) <integer> (New with Left 4 Dead)

Maximum CPU Level allowed for this entity. 0 means all levels allowed. !FGD

Minimum GPU Level (mingpulevel) <integer> (New with Left 4 Dead)

Minimum GPU Level allowed for this entity. 0 means all levels allowed. !FGD

Maximum GPU Level (maxgpulevel) <integer> (New with Left 4 Dead)

Maximum GPU Level allowed for this entity. 0 means all levels allowed. !FGD

To do: Better description for all of these.

Disable for Xbox 360 (disableX360) <boolean> (New with Left 4 Dead)

If Yes, disables this entity on the Xbox 360 version of Source. !FGD

Confirm:Playstation 3?

Glow Backface Multiple (glowbackfacemult) <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Unknown. only. !FGD

To do: Documentation.

Entity Scripts (vscripts) <scriptlist> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Space delimited list of VScript files (without file extension) that are executed after all entities have spawned. The scripts are all executed in the same script scope, later ones overwriting any identical variables and functions.

Script think function (thinkfunction) <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Name of a function in this entity's script which will be called automatically every 100 milliseconds (ten times a second) for the duration of the script. It can be used to create timers or to simulate autonomous behavior. The return value (if present) will set the time until the next call.

Note:Try to avoid expensive operations in this function, as it may cause performance problems.

Lag Compensation (LagCompensate) <boolean> (New with Alien Swarm)

Set to Yes to lag compensate this entity. Should be used very sparingly!

Is Automatic-Aim Target (is_autoaim_target) <boolean> (New with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)

If yes, automatic-aim assistance will target this entity. !FGD

how

Template:How asks the question how?

Players can get past these.{{how}}

Result: Players can get past these.^[How?]

idea

Template:Idea is a nifty way to suggest ideas.

{{idea|Reward players for being clever and creative, instead of forcing things to be only one way.}}

Result:

Idea:Reward players for being clever and creative, instead of forcing things to be only one way.

merge

Template:Merge is a notice that notifies editors that it's been suggested for two or more pages to be combined into one. All merges should be discussed before being done.

{{merge|HDR}}

Result:

messagebox

Template:Messagebox provides a standard message box. This template is used by many notice templates, such as merge and cleanup.

{{messagebox|text=Remember to follow wiki etiquette.}}

Result:

morescreenshots

Template:Morescreenshots marks pages that should have more images on them. It allows for an optional text message to clarify what needs images.

{{morescreenshots|$envmapcontrast, $envmapsaturation}}

Result:

note

Template:Note is for making notes stand out more.

Bug: Appears to not accept HTML tags inside it...?

{{note|This will spawn at the map origin if you do not specify the position.}}

Result:

Note:This will spawn at the map origin if you do not specify the position.

obsolete

Template:Obsolete marks things that should no longer be used. Accepts three parameters, entity, tool, and shader.

{{obsolete|entity=1}}

Result:

otherlang2

Template:Otherlang2 is used for linking to versions of pages in other languages. For an example of its use, see the Main Page.

shortcut

Template:Shortcut displays a small box noting (abbreviated) redirects to a page.

{{shortcut|VDC:AL}}

Result:

spammer

Template:Spammer marks users that should be banned for spamming.

Bug: This template's formatting may look weird sometimes. It's intended to be the only thing on a page.

{{spammer}}

Result:

Note:This user is a spammer, vandal or other problem poster and should be considered for a ban

---

• Block this user. (Requires admin rights)
• Check if this user has been banned.
• View this user's contributions.

split-apart

Template:Split-apart marks pages that should be split into multiple pages. All splits should be discussed before being done.

{{split-apart}}

Result:

stub

Template:Stub marks pages that are very small. See Help:Stubs for info on using.

{{stub}}

Result:

tip

Template:Tip marks text as a tip to readers.

{{tip|This is a much less tricky process when using the vertex edit tool as well.}}

Result:

Tip:This is a much less tricky process when using the vertex edit tool as well.

toc-right

Template:toc-right shifts the table of contents over to the right side of a page. For an example, see Half-Life 2 map reference.

todo

Template:Todo marks things that need to be done. It's green color is meant to stand out.

{{todo|Find where this is in the game files.}}

Result: To do: Find where this is in the game files.

unsigned

Template:Unsigned is for talk pages. It should be added at the ends of unsigned comments.

{{unsigned|JeffLane}}

Result: —Unsigned comment added by JeffLane (talk • contribs). Please use four tildes (~~~~) to sign your username.

update

Template:Update marks outdated pages.

{{update}}

Result:

warning

Template:Warning marks things that readers should take caution of when doing something.

{{warning|This tool has been known to corrupt files. Try an alternative listed below.}}

Result: Warning: This tool has been known to corrupt files. Try an alternative listed below.

why

Template:Why asks the question why?

This shader has been deprecated.{{why}}

Result: This shader has been deprecated.^[Why?]

wip

Template:Wip marks pages that are in the middle of major edits. The adder requests that other users do not edit in the meantime.

{{WIP|~~~}}

Result:

Magic words

Magic words are special character strings that are kind of like templates. To apply one, simply type it on the page.

__TOC__

Forces the table of contents to be placed at this spot.

__FORCETOC__

Forces the table of contents to be placed at its normal spot. (Only useful on pages that don't have enough sections to automatically display a TOC.)

__NOTOC__

Hides the table of contents.

__HIDDENCAT__

Marks a category as hidden. To make the website show hidden categories for you, check the Show hidden categories box in Special:Preferences.

{{DISPLAYTITLE:title}}

Changes the title of a page at the top bar only.

See Also

• Special:ExpandTemplates - Shows completely expanded versions of templates, including substituted wikitext code and automatic substitution for any nested templates.
• Special:MostTranscludedPages - Lists templates most frequently used on pages. This doesn't show just templates actually; any page can be transcluded.
• Special:UncategorizedTemplates - Lists templates that are not listed under any categories.
• Special:UnusedTemplates - Lists templates that are not used on any pages.
• Special:WantedTemplates - Lists templates that are frequently used on pages, but do not exist. This list should be showing no pages, ideally.
• Wikipedia:Help:Magic_words_for_beginners - More about magic words.
• Wikipedia:Help:Template - A very helpful resource for template programming.
• New Help Desk - Questions? Ask here.