Talk:Format Rules/Templates

If you are using the same template for every page in the same story can you just include the Category(s) in the template? Is there another reason to place the Category in each page? --Styxarcher (talk) 18:05, 25 March 2020 (CET)

You are never sure how your template is going to be used later on by others. It is safest to wrap all categories in a <noinclude></noinclude> element so you aren't inadvertently spreading categories around. Categories, the way they are used on this site, are just to keep the stories organized. (Additionally, you may wish to sign all correspondence on talk pages using the signature button --third from the left on talk pages-- or by manually placing the shortcut for your signature, which is: --~~~~.) --Elerneron (talk) 09:40, 25 March 2020 (CET)

When you say used by others, you mean used by others in other stories? If so I had not considered that... I was thinking of templates as classes within programming that you use for inheritance. In this case inheriting categories/information. For example my current thinking for Hot & Horny is: (Sudo Code)

Template:Hot&Horny
<noinclude>Category:Template</noinclude>
Category:Hot & Horny|*
Name Name

Template:H&H Alex
<noinclude>Category:Template</noinclude>
Category:H&H Alex
Template:Hot&Horny|Name=Alex a 38 year old male.


The result is for each page within the story I only need to place {{Template:H&H Alex}} on the bottom. With each character getting there own template that would include all there relevant information. It functions as a instance. As the template used inherits/contains all the needed categories.

To be clear, I am not married to this method. If it has issues I have not considered, or you request I change it, I will change it to what ever method you recommend. This is just how I was taught to program.--Styxarcher (talk) 18:33, 25 March 2020 (CET)

That is fine if that is how you want to handle it. I don't really see anyone using that particular template in another story anyway. There are stories with templates that one might be tempted to use in their own story . . . particularly if one does not understand how to make one's own template. That is why I generally advise against putting naked categories in templates. --Elerneron (talk) 18:53, 25 March 2020 (CET)