View source for Manual:Templates

# Manual:Templates

## Introduction to Templates

Templates are a powerful feature of [[MediaWiki]] that allow you to reuse the same content on multiple pages without having to copy and paste it repeatedly. They are essentially pre-defined text blocks with variables that can be customized each time the template is used. This saves time, ensures consistency, and makes it easier to update information across an entire wiki. This guide will provide a comprehensive introduction to templates, covering their creation, usage, parameters, and advanced techniques.  Understanding templates is crucial for anyone seeking to contribute significantly to a wiki, particularly a large one like this.  They are the building blocks for maintaining a consistent and organized knowledge base.

## Why Use Templates?

Before diving into the specifics, let's outline the benefits of using templates:

* **Consistency:** Templates ensure that information is presented in the same format across multiple pages.  This is particularly important for things like infoboxes, navigation boxes, and standard notices.
* **Maintainability:** If information in a template needs to be updated, you only need to change it in one place, and the changes will be reflected on all pages that use the template.  This significantly reduces the effort required to maintain a large wiki.
* **Reusability:** Templates can be used on any number of pages, saving you from repeatedly typing the same content.
* **Organization:** Templates can help to organize information and make it easier to find.
* **Complexity Management:**  Complex formatting or calculations can be encapsulated within a template, simplifying the content on the main page. For example, calculating a [[Fibonacci retracement]] level can be done within a template.

## Creating a Template

To create a template, you need to create a new page with the prefix "Template:". For example, to create a template for displaying information about a stock, you would create a page called "Template:StockInfo".

1. **Create the Page:** Navigate to `Template:YourTemplateName` (replace `YourTemplateName` with the desired name). If the page doesn't exist, you'll be prompted to create it.
2. **Write the Template Code:** Use standard [[MediaWiki markup]] to define the content of the template.  You can include text, images, links, and other wiki elements.  Crucially, you’ll use *parameters* to allow for customization (see the next section).
3. **Save the Page:** Save the page to create the template.

## Template Parameters

Parameters are variables that allow you to customize the content of a template each time it's used. They are defined within the template code using a special syntax: `{{{parameter_name}}}`.  When the template is used on a page, you provide values for these parameters.

**Example:**

Let's create a simple template called "Template:Greeting" with a parameter called "name":

```wiki
Hello, {{{name}}}! Welcome to the wiki.
```

Now, on a page, you can use this template like this:

```wiki
{{Greeting|name=John}}
```

This will display:

Hello, John! Welcome to the wiki.

### Default Parameter Values

You can provide default values for parameters in case they are not specified when the template is used.  This is done using the `default=` keyword:

```wiki
Hello, {{{name|Anonymous}}}! Welcome to the wiki.
```

If you use the template without specifying a name:

```wiki
{{Greeting}}
```

It will display:

Hello, Anonymous! Welcome to the wiki.

### Numbered Parameters

You can also use numbered parameters (1, 2, 3, etc.) instead of named parameters:

```wiki
This is a template with a numbered parameter: {{{1}}}.
```

Usage:

```wiki
{{NumberedTemplate|Example Value}}
```

Output:

This is a template with a numbered parameter: Example Value.

## Using Templates

To use a template on a page, simply include its name within double curly braces: `{{TemplateName}}`.  If the template has parameters, you can specify them after the template name, separated by pipes (`|`).

**Example:**

Let's say you have a template called "Template:StockQuote" with parameters for "symbol", "price", and "change":

```wiki
'''Stock Quote for {{{symbol}}}'''
Price: {{{price}}}
Change: {{{change}}}
```

To use this template on a page, you would write:

```wiki
{{StockQuote|symbol=AAPL|price=170.34|change=+1.25}}
```

This will display:

'''Stock Quote for AAPL'''
Price: 170.34
Change: +1.25

## Advanced Template Techniques

### Conditional Statements

Templates can include conditional statements to display different content based on the values of parameters.  This is done using the `#if` parser function.

**Example:**

```wiki
#if: {{{positive}}} == true
The price is increasing.
#else
The price is decreasing.
#endif
```

Usage:

```wiki
{{ConditionalTemplate|positive=true}}  
{{ConditionalTemplate|positive=false}}
```

Output:

The price is increasing.
The price is decreasing.

### Loops

Templates can also include loops to repeat a block of code multiple times.  This is done using the `#loop` parser function or, more commonly, by recursively calling the template itself.

### Template Documentation

It's important to document your templates so that other users can understand how to use them.  You can create a documentation subpage for each template by adding `/doc` to the template name.  For example, the documentation for "Template:StockInfo" would be located at "Template:StockInfo/doc".  This page should explain the template's purpose, parameters, and usage examples.  Consider including examples of using the template with different [[candlestick patterns]].

### Template Categories

Templates should be categorized to make them easier to find.  Use the `` category (or a more specific category if appropriate) at the bottom of the template page.

### TemplateData

TemplateData is a JSON-based format that describes the parameters of a template. It's used by the VisualEditor to provide a user-friendly interface for editing templates.  Creating TemplateData is highly recommended for complex templates.  You can edit TemplateData using the "TemplateData" tab at the top of the template page.

## Common Template Use Cases

* **Infoboxes:**  Used to display key information about a topic in a standardized format. For example, an infobox for a stock could include its symbol, company name, industry, and current price. This is useful for comparing different stocks using [[fundamental analysis]].
* **Navigation Boxes:** Used to create links to related pages. For example, a navigation box for a particular trading strategy could include links to pages about the strategy's rules, examples, and performance.
* **Standard Notices:** Used to display warnings, disclaimers, or other important information.
* **Header/Footer Templates:** Used to create consistent headers and footers across multiple pages.
* **Chart Templates:**  Can be used to embed charts or visualizations, potentially integrating with external data sources via APIs.  Consider using templates to display [[Bollinger Bands]] or [[MACD]] charts.
* **Formula Calculation Templates:** Templates can encapsulate complex formulas, such as calculating [[Relative Strength Index]] (RSI) values or [[Average True Range]] (ATR).
* **Strategy Summaries:**  Templates can provide a concise summary of a trading strategy, including its risk level, time frame, and key indicators.
* **Pattern Recognition Templates:** Templates can help identify chart patterns like [[head and shoulders]] or [[double top/bottom]].
* **Economic Calendar Integration:** Templates can dynamically display economic events and their potential impact on the market.
* **Sentiment Analysis Display:**  Templates can visually represent market sentiment based on news feeds or social media data.

## Best Practices for Template Design

* **Keep it Simple:**  Avoid unnecessary complexity.  The easier a template is to understand, the easier it will be to use and maintain.
* **Use Descriptive Parameter Names:**  Choose parameter names that clearly indicate their purpose.
* **Provide Default Values:**  Whenever possible, provide default values for parameters to make the template more user-friendly.
* **Document Your Templates:**  Create clear and concise documentation to explain how to use the template.
* **Test Your Templates:**  Thoroughly test your templates to ensure they work as expected.
* **Consider Accessibility:** Ensure your templates are accessible to users with disabilities.
* **Avoid Excessive Recursion:** Deeply nested template calls can lead to performance issues.
* **Use Categories:** Categorize your templates to make them easier to find.
* **Follow Wiki Style Guidelines:** Ensure your templates adhere to the overall style guidelines of the wiki.  Pay attention to formatting and consistency.  Consider how the template will interact with existing [[technical indicators]].
* **Consider using Lua modules for complex logic:**  For very complex templates, consider using Lua modules, which provide more powerful programming capabilities. This is particularly useful for complex financial calculations related to [[options trading]] or [[forex trading]].

## Troubleshooting Common Template Issues

* **Template Not Displaying:**  Check that the template name is spelled correctly and that the template page exists.
* **Parameters Not Working:**  Check that the parameter names are spelled correctly and that you are using the correct syntax when calling the template.
* **Unexpected Output:**  Review the template code for errors and test it with different parameter values.
* **Performance Issues:**  Simplify the template code or consider using Lua modules.

## Conclusion

Templates are an essential tool for building and maintaining a large and consistent wiki. By understanding the concepts and techniques outlined in this guide, you can create powerful and reusable templates that will save you time, improve the quality of your wiki, and make it easier for others to contribute. Mastering templates will allow you to create more sophisticated content, such as detailed analyses of [[Elliott Wave Theory]] or complex risk management strategies.  Experiment with different techniques and don’t be afraid to ask for help from other wiki users.  Remember to always document your templates thoroughly.

[[Help:Templates]]
[[Help:ParserFunctions]]
[[MediaWiki:Common.css]]
[[MediaWiki:Common.js]]
[[Manual:Lua]]
[[Manual:Categories]]
[[Help:VisualEditor]]
[[Special:Templates]]
[[Help:Editing]]
[[Manual:Page]]


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[[Category:Templates]]