Template:Start date

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

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Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

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Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners

```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

Start Trading Now

Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)

Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners

```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

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```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

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```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

Start Trading Now

Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)

Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners

```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

Start Trading Now

Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)

Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners

```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki

Template:Start date

Template:Start date is a MediaWiki template designed to display a date in a standardized, human-readable format, particularly useful for indicating the start date of events, projects, or periods within a wiki. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, using, and customizing the `Template:Start date` template for beginners. It will cover its purpose, parameters, examples, potential issues, and related templates. This template is invaluable for maintaining consistency when documenting timelines and historical data.

Purpose

The primary purpose of `Template:Start date` is to consistently format dates across a wiki. Without a standardized template, dates might appear in various formats (e.g., January 1, 2023, 1/1/2023, 2023-01-01), leading to visual clutter and potential confusion. This template ensures that all start dates are displayed in a uniform manner, enhancing readability and professionalism. It’s particularly useful for projects that involve tracking timelines, historical events, or scheduled activities. Effective date formatting is crucial for data integrity and usability, especially when dealing with Time series analysis.

Basic Usage

The simplest way to use the template is to provide a date in YYYY-MM-DD format. The template will then automatically format it into a more readable format, typically "January 1, 2023".

```wiki Template loop detected: Template:Start date ```

This will output:

January 1, 2023

Parameters

The `Template:Start date` template accepts several parameters to customize the output. Here's a breakdown of each parameter:

1 (Date): This is the *required* parameter. It represents the start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For example, `2023-12-25` represents December 25, 2023. Incorrectly formatted dates will likely result in errors or unexpected output.

format: (Optional) This parameter allows you to specify a custom date format using PHP's `date()` function format codes. This provides a high degree of flexibility. For example, `format=d.m.Y` would output "25.12.2023". Refer to the PHP date() function documentation for a complete list of format codes. Using custom formats requires a good understanding of these codes.

month: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the month name. This is useful if you want to override the template's automatic month detection, perhaps for localization or specific stylistic requirements. Accepts the month name as a string (e.g., `month=December`).

day: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the day of the month. Similar to 'month', this overrides the template's automatic day detection. Accepts the day as a string (e.g., `day=25`).

year: (Optional) This parameter allows you to explicitly specify the year. Overrides the template's automatic year detection. Accepts the year as a string (e.g., `year=2023`).

hideyear: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that controls whether the year is displayed. If set to `true`, the year will be omitted. Default is `false` (year is displayed). Example: `hideyear=true`. This can be useful when the context clearly implies the year.

showfullmonth: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the full month name is displayed. If set to `true`, "January" will be displayed instead of "Jan". Default is `false`. Example: `showfullmonth=true`.

link: (Optional) A boolean parameter (true/false) that determines whether the date is linked to a corresponding page (e.g., a page for that specific date). Default is `false`. Example: `link=true`. This is helpful for creating navigable timelines.

separator: (Optional) Allows you to change the separator character between the day, month and year. Default is a comma and a space (", "). Example: `separator=.` will output the date with a period as a separator.

Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use the template with different parameters:

Basic Usage:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024

Custom Format:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: 15/03/2024

Hiding the Year:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15

Showing the Full Month Name:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (No change in this case, as the default behaviour is often to use the full month name)

Linking the Date:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (Assuming a page exists for "March 15, 2024")

Combining Parameters:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March 15, 2024 (The format parameter will be overridden by hideyear)

Using a custom separator:

   ```wiki
   Template loop detected: Template:Start date
   ```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

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```

   Output: March.15.2024

Potential Issues and Troubleshooting

Incorrect Date Format: The most common issue is providing the date in a format other than YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure the date is entered correctly.

Invalid Format Codes: If using the `format` parameter, ensure the format codes are valid PHP `date()` function codes. Incorrect codes will result in errors or unexpected output. Consult the PHP date() function documentation.

Missing Pages for Linked Dates: If the `link` parameter is set to `true`, but the corresponding date page does not exist, the output will be a red link. Create the page to resolve this.

Template Conflicts: Rarely, conflicts can occur if other templates or extensions modify the output of this template. If this happens, investigate the interaction between the templates and extensions.

Localization: The default output is in English. For wikis using other languages, consider using the `month` parameter to specify the month name in the desired language or exploring localization extensions. This is related to Localization strategies.

Related Templates

Several other templates complement `Template:Start date` and provide related functionality:

Template:End date: Displays an end date in a standardized format. Often used in conjunction with `Template:Start date` to define a period.
Template:Duration: Calculates and displays the duration between a start and end date.
Template:Date: A more general-purpose date formatting template, offering more options than `Template:Start date`.
Template:Now: Displays the current date and time.
Template:Age: Calculates and displays the age based on a birth date.
Template:Timeline: Creates visual timelines based on a series of dates.
Template:Event timeline: Similar to timeline, but optimized for event-based timelines.
Template:Year: Displays only the year from a given date.
Template:Month: Displays only the month from a given date.
Template:Day: Displays only the day from a given date.

Advanced Usage and Customization

For more advanced users, the `Template:Start date` template can be extended and customized through the use of parser functions and Lua modules. This allows for more complex date calculations, conditional formatting, and integration with other wiki features. For example, you could use parser functions to dynamically determine whether a date falls within a specific range or to display different text based on the date. This involves a deeper understanding of MediaWiki's template system and programming languages like Lua. Consider studying MediaWiki extension development for more complex customizations.

Best Practices

Consistency: Always use `Template:Start date` (or a similar standardized template) for all start dates in your wiki.
YYYY-MM-DD Format: Provide the date in YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure correct parsing.
Use Parameters Wisely: Only use the optional parameters when necessary to customize the output. Avoid unnecessary complexity.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the template or its usage, test thoroughly to ensure the output is as expected.
Document Your Changes: If you modify the template, document your changes clearly for future maintainers.
Consider Accessibility: Ensure the date format is accessible to users with disabilities. Use clear and concise language.
Understand Date Interpretation: Be mindful of regional differences in date interpretation (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY) and choose a format that is unambiguous for your target audience. This is relevant to Global market analysis.

Further Resources

Start Trading Now

Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)

Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners