Template:Isbn
- Template:ISBN
Template:ISBN is a MediaWiki template designed to format and validate International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) within wiki articles. It provides a consistent and user-friendly way to display ISBNs, and crucially, helps ensure their accuracy. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to using the template, covering its functionality, parameters, examples, error handling, and best practices. It is geared towards beginners with little to no prior experience with MediaWiki templates.
What is an ISBN?
Before diving into the template itself, understanding what an ISBN *is* is essential. An ISBN is a unique numeric commercial book identifier. It's used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, and other entities to identify books for ordering, listing, and inventory purposes. There are two main types of ISBNs: ISBN-10 and ISBN-13.
- **ISBN-10:** An older 10-digit format. Still in use for books published before January 1, 2007. The last digit is a check digit (X can be used to represent 10).
- **ISBN-13:** A 13-digit format introduced in 2007. Now the standard format. Also includes a check digit.
The template handles both formats. A valid ISBN is critical for accurate cataloging and discoverability. Incorrect ISBNs can lead to books being misidentified or unavailable. Understanding Technical Analysis alongside proper data entry, like ISBNs, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of information.
Why Use the Template?
Manually formatting ISBNs can be prone to errors. The `Template:ISBN` offers several advantages:
- **Consistency:** Ensures all ISBNs are displayed in a uniform format throughout the wiki.
- **Validation:** Performs a basic check to verify the validity of the ISBN. While not foolproof, it catches common errors. Thinking of this as a simple form of Risk Management in data presentation.
- **Linkability:** Can optionally link the ISBN to external databases like Google Books, WorldCat, or other book information resources. This is similar to utilizing external resources in Trend Following.
- **Readability:** Improves the presentation of ISBNs, making them easier to read and copy.
- **Maintainability:** If the desired ISBN format or linking behavior needs to be changed in the future, it only needs to be updated in the template, not in every article where an ISBN appears. This is akin to using a robust Trading System.
Template Syntax
The `Template:ISBN` syntax is straightforward:
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
The first parameter, `ISBN number`, is the ISBN itself. The remaining parameters are optional and control the template's behavior.
Parameters
The `Template:ISBN` supports the following parameters:
- `1` (ISBN): Required. The ISBN number to be formatted and validated. Can be either ISBN-10 or ISBN-13.
- `link`: Optional. Specifies where to link the ISBN. Possible values:
* `google`: Links to Google Books. * `worldcat`: Links to WorldCat. * `isbnbook`: Links to ISBNdb. * `none`: No link. (Default)
- `display`: Optional. Controls how the ISBN is displayed. Possible values:
* `yes`: Displays the ISBN as is. (Default) * `no`: Does not display the ISBN (useful for categorization or other hidden uses).
- `error`: Optional. Controls what is displayed if the ISBN is invalid. Possible values:
* `show`: Displays an error message. (Default) * `hide`: Suppresses the error message.
- `format`: Optional. Allows for specific formatting. Currently not fully implemented, largely for future expansion.
- `alt`: Optional. Provides alternative text for the link. Useful for accessibility.
- `id`: Optional. Allows a unique ID to be assigned to the span containing the ISBN. Useful for styling with CSS.
Examples
Here are several examples demonstrating how to use the `Template:ISBN` with different parameters:
- **Basic Usage:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 0-321-76572-2
- **Linking to Google Books:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 0-321-76572-2
- **Linking to WorldCat:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 0-321-76572-2
- **ISBN-13:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 978-0-321-76572-4
- **Hiding the ISBN (for categorization):**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: (Nothing is displayed)
- **Showing an error message for an invalid ISBN:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: Invalid ISBN: 1234567890 (An error message will also be generated by the template)
- **Hiding the error message for an invalid ISBN:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 1234567890 (No error message is displayed, but the ISBN is still considered invalid internally.)
- **Using an alternative link text:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: Book on Google Books
- **Adding an ID for CSS styling:**
```wiki Template:ISBN ```
Output: 978-0-321-76572-4 (Allows for specific styling using CSS)
Error Handling and Validation
The `Template:ISBN` performs a basic check digit validation. It doesn't guarantee that the ISBN is *actually* a valid, published ISBN, but it does help catch common typos. The template checks:
- **Length:** Ensures the ISBN is either 10 or 13 digits long.
- **Character Set:** Verifies that the ISBN contains only digits and, for ISBN-10, the letter 'X' as the check digit.
- **Check Digit:** Calculates the check digit based on the ISBN and compares it to the provided check digit.
If the ISBN fails validation, the template displays an error message (unless `error=hide` is specified). This is important for Position Sizing – knowing if your data is correct is paramount. The error message indicates that the ISBN is invalid. It’s important to note that this validation is not foolproof and a seemingly valid ISBN might still be incorrect.
Best Practices
- **Always include the ISBN:** When citing books, always include the ISBN if available.
- **Double-check the ISBN:** Before adding an ISBN to a wiki article, verify its accuracy against the book itself.
- **Use the `link` parameter:** Linking to external databases like Google Books or WorldCat provides additional information and enhances the user experience. Consider this akin to using multiple Confirmation Indicators.
- **Consider accessibility:** Use the `alt` parameter to provide descriptive alternative text for the link.
- **Don't hide errors unnecessarily:** Only hide the error message if you are certain the ISBN is valid despite failing the template's check (e.g., due to a known limitation of the validation algorithm).
- **Use consistent formatting:** Stick to a consistent style for displaying ISBNs throughout the wiki. This aligns with the principles of Chart Pattern Recognition.
- **Test your changes:** After modifying the template, thoroughly test it with various ISBNs to ensure it functions as expected. This is similar to Backtesting a trading strategy.
- **Understand the Limitations:** The template provides a basic check. It does not guarantee the ISBN exists or is currently in print. For truly comprehensive ISBN validation, consider using external ISBN validation services. This is a parallel to understanding the limitations of any Market Indicator.
- **Consider using a dedicated Book citation template**: For more comprehensive book information, consider using a dedicated book citation template which often includes ISBN support as part of a larger set of bibliographic data.
Further Considerations
- **Future Enhancements:** Potential future enhancements to the template could include:
* More robust validation against external databases. * Support for additional linking options. * Advanced formatting options. * Integration with other MediaWiki extensions.
- **Template Documentation:** This article serves as the primary documentation for the `Template:ISBN`. Keep it up-to-date and accurate.
- **Community Collaboration:** Encourage community members to contribute to the development and improvement of the template. This fosters a sense of ownership and ensures the template meets the needs of the wiki. This is the same principle behind a successful Trading Community.
- **Relationship to other templates:** Understand how this template interacts with other templates such as those for citations and book details. A holistic view is crucial, akin to understanding Intermarket Analysis.
See Also
- Help:Templates
- Help:Linking
- Help:Formatting
- Technical Analysis
- Risk Management
- Trend Following
- Trading System
- Position Sizing
- Confirmation Indicators
- Backtesting
- Market Indicator
- Chart Pattern Recognition
- Intermarket Analysis
- Google Books
- WorldCat
- ISBNdb
- Book citation template
- Moving Averages
- Bollinger Bands
- MACD
- RSI
- Fibonacci Retracements
- Candlestick Patterns
- Support and Resistance
- Volume Analysis
- Elliott Wave Theory
- Gann Theory
- Ichimoku Cloud
- Price Action
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