Halopedia:Layout guide: Difference between revisions

 
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<center>''For the writing style guide, see [[Halopedia:Manual of Style]].''</center>
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{{Center|For the writing style guide, see [[Halopedia:Manual of Style]].}}
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{{Policy}}
{{Policies}}
 
This '''Layout Guide''' is the wiki's official guide to laying out a typical basic article. Complicated articles may be best modeled on the layout of an existing article of appropriate structure.
This '''layout guide''' is the wiki's official guide to laying out a typical basic article. Complicated articles may be best modeled on the layout of an existing article of appropriate structure.


== Objectives ==
== Objectives ==
This Layout Guide's objectives are as follows:
This layout guide's objectives are as follows:
#to promote [[Halopedia:Manual_of_Style#Internal_consistency|consistency]] in articles.
#to promote [[Halopedia:Manual_of_Style#Internal_consistency|consistency]] in articles.
#to encourage users (editors and readers alike) to organise content in a cogent, concise and coherent manner.
#to encourage users (editors and readers alike) to organise content in a cogent, concise and coherent manner.
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*The section "List of appearances" must only contain official ''Halo'' titles in release date order.  
*The section "List of appearances" must only contain official ''Halo'' titles in release date order.  


*Unless written as otherwise, the preferred spelling is [[wikipedia:American English|American English]].<!-- Queen's English needs more love! -->
*Halopedia has no preference as to whether to use [[wikipedia:American English|American English]] or [[wikipedia:British English|British English]] - however, once one style is defined within an article it should be employed consistently. Article titles, however, still preference American spellings.<!-- Queen's English needs more love! -->


*Unless presented as such, always use the [[wikipedia:Metric system|Metric system]] over [[wikipedia:United States customary units|US customary units]] as the primary measurement. Make sure to present the US customary units in brackets after the metric system. For editor's ease of editing, it is recommended to use the [[template:convert|Convert template]] to avoid unnecessary debates on conversion issues.
*Unless presented as such, always use the [[wikipedia:Metric system|Metric system]] over [[wikipedia:United States customary units|US customary units]] as the primary measurement. Make sure to present the US customary units in brackets after the metric system. For editor's ease of editing, it is recommended to use the [[template:convert|Convert template]] to avoid unnecessary debates on conversion issues.
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Note that if the subject of the article is a media title, that title should be ''italicised''.
Note that if the subject of the article is a media title, that title should be ''italicised''.


It is also suggested that an image/picture should be inserted in the introduction if it is available. The image/picture should be placed on the right side of the article, at a pixel size of <code>300px</code>. The image/picture can be either a thumbnail (that is, it features a caption) or as a standalone image/picture (for example, [[List of references to "seven" in the Halo series|the number "7" image in "List of references to "seven" in the Halo series"]].<!-- Well, it "was" an image of a "7"... before I changed it into a text... -->
It is also suggested that an image/picture should be inserted in the introduction if it is available. The image/picture should be placed on the right side of the article, at a pixel size of <code>300px</code>. The image/picture can be either a thumbnail (that is, it features a caption) or as a standalone image/picture (for example, [[Seven|the number "7" image on the "Seven" article]].<!-- Well, it "was" an image of a "7"... before I changed it into a text... -->


In some cases, an [[:Category:Infoboxes|Infobox]] may be inserted if there is enough information that warrants one. For further information on infobox usage, see [[#Templates|Templates]].
In some cases, an [[:Category:Infobox templates|Infobox]] may be inserted if there is enough information that warrants one. For further information on infobox usage, see [[#Templates|Templates]].


== General sections ==
== General sections ==
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=== Trivia section ===
=== Trivia section ===
The <u><code>Trivia</code></u> section is for noteworthy trivial information, such as little details that does not add much to the subject, could even be disregarded, but are fun to know. Pointless and irrelevant [[Wikipedia:Trivia sections|trivia]] will be removed however. It may have subsections such as a subsection on "Easter eggs", "Glitches", or even "References" to other media. It can even have a "Production notes" subsection if the information is noteworthy but not substantial enough as to having its own section. If there is only one trivia entry, no bullet point is needed.
The <u><code>Trivia</code></u> section is for noteworthy trivial information, such as little details that does not add much to the subject, could even be disregarded, but are fun to know. Pointless and irrelevant [[wikipedia:Trivia sections|trivia]] will be removed however. It may have subsections such as a subsection on "Easter eggs", "Glitches", or even "References" to other media. It can even have a "Production notes" subsection if the information is noteworthy but not substantial enough as to having its own section. If there is only one trivia entry, no bullet point is needed.


While it may be a user habit to include an image alongside a trivia, it is recommended that users should avoid this as it may cause layout issues with the rest of the sections.
While it may be a user habit to include an image alongside a trivia, it is recommended that users should avoid this as it may cause layout issues with the rest of the sections.
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</gallery>
</gallery>
</pre>
</pre>
When a gallery becomes too large (typically, this means more than 12 images, though at your discretion), sub-sections should be created for better organization and presentation. Sub-sections in a gallery section should broadly follow these categories:
*'''Concept art''': Illustrations or artwork created during the development of any media.
*'''Development images''': Renders, screenshots, or even photographs taken during the development of any media. This section could include concept art, especially when there is only one or two images of concept art.
*'''Illustrations''': '''''Finalized''''' versions of illustrations, excluding concept art, such as cover art, comic panels, promotional artwork, etc. This section could be combined with concept art into a "Concept art and illustrations" sub-sections if there is only one or two images of illustrations.
*'''Renders''': Renders from games. These images should have a transparent or relatively neutral background.
*'''Screenshots''': Screenshots taken from any games, films, and videos. This section could be combined with renders into a "Screenshots and renders" sub-sections if there is only one or two images of renders.
*'''Merchandise''': Photographs of real-world merchandise, most notably action figures.
Please note that these sections could overlap or contradict with one another; as such, it is down to your best judgment which one(s) are most appropriate for the page.


For more information about gallery and images, see [[Help:Images]].
For more information about gallery and images, see [[Help:Images]].
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Deriving appearances of individual constituents from an appearance of a larger whole should be applied with discretion. Although there are exceptions, it is generally advised that the appearance or mention of an entity alone does not constitute as an appearance of all of its constituents. For example, in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', there are instances in which all of the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] are gathered in the same space; however, only the Spartans who are explicitly named or described in the narrative are considered to "appear" in the novel. Similarly, while the [[quantum mirror]] is a component of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]] armor and is thus fictionally present in all media in which the armor appears, it is only mentioned or seen in ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' which is thus listed as its only appearance.
Deriving appearances of individual constituents from an appearance of a larger whole should be applied with discretion. Although there are exceptions, it is generally advised that the appearance or mention of an entity alone does not constitute as an appearance of all of its constituents. For example, in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', there are instances in which all of the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] are gathered in the same space; however, only the Spartans who are explicitly named or described in the narrative are considered to "appear" in the novel. Similarly, while the [[quantum mirror]] is a component of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]] armor and is thus fictionally present in all media in which the armor appears, it is only mentioned or seen in ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' which is thus listed as its only appearance.
Unreleased media should ''not'' be added to an article's appearance list until the subject has been ''confirmed'' to appear in that work. Concept art or similarly vague information releases are not regarded as a reliable confirmation of an appearance in the final work.


There are several templates which can be used to further detail specific types of appearances:
There are several templates which can be used to further detail specific types of appearances:
*<code>[[:Template:1st|1st]]</code> - used to identify a subject's first ''appearance'' in any work; if the subject is only mentioned for the first time, but does not appear as described above, use the "First mentioned" tag instead.
*<code>[[:Template:1st|1st]]</code> (First appearance) - used to identify a subject's first ''appearance'' in any work; if the subject is only mentioned for the first time, but does not appear as described above, use the "First mentioned" tag instead.
*<code>[[:Template:Mo|Mo]]</code> - used if the subject is mentioned in the source, but is not physically present in the narrative; in visual media, this means that the viewer cannot see the mentioned entity.
*<code>[[:Template:Fm|Fm]]</code> (First mentioned) - when a previously unseen or unmentioned subject is mentioned for the first time, use this in the place of "First appearance" and "Mentioned only".
*<code>[[:Template:First mentioned|First mentioned]]</code> - when a previously-unseen or unmentioned subject is mentioned for the first time, use this in the place of "First appearance" and "Mentioned only".
*<code>[[:Template:Mo|Mo]]</code> (Mentioned only) - used if the subject is mentioned in the source, but is not physically present in the narrative; in visual media, this means that the viewer cannot see the mentioned entity.
*<code>[[:Template:Indirect mention|Indirect mention]]</code> - applies to instances in which the subject is not directly mentioned by name, but is being alluded to in an unambiguous manner.
*<code>[[:Template:Im|Im]]</code> (Indirect mention) - applies to instances in which the subject is not directly mentioned by name, but is being alluded to in an unambiguous manner.
*<code>[[:Template:C|C]]</code> - can be used to provide more specific, although brief, information on appearances that do not fit any of the aforementioned categories; this may include notes such as "Cameo appearance" or "Possible appearance" (used in very rare cases in which the possibility is highly likely or strongly implied, though uncertain).
*<code>[[:Template:C|C]]</code> - can be used to provide more specific, although brief, information on appearances that do not fit any of the aforementioned categories; this may include notes such as "Cameo appearance" or "Possible appearance" (used in very rare cases in which the possibility is highly likely or strongly implied, though uncertain).


==== "List of appearances" in in-universe articles ====
==== "List of appearances" in in-universe articles ====
Articles written from an in-universe perspective feature a list of appearances to detail the works in which the article subject has appeared. All works the subject appears in should be listed in chronological order of release date, regardless of the type of media. Appearance lists must only contain official and [[Halopedia:Canon Policy|canonical]] ''Halo'' titles. A list of official media in chronological release date order can be found [[User:Sith Venator/Cheat Sheet|here]].
Articles written from an in-universe perspective feature a list of appearances to detail the works in which the article subject has appeared. All works the subject appears in should be listed in chronological order of release date, regardless of the type of media. Appearance lists must only contain official and [[Halopedia:Canon policy|canonical]] ''Halo'' titles. A list of official media in chronological release date order can be found [[User:Sith Venator/Cheat Sheet|here]].


==== "Appearances" in articles for real-world media ====
==== "Appearances" in articles for real-world media ====
Pages for real-world media (e.g. games) have lists for the in-universe entities that appear within that work. In these lists, the appearances are grouped into categories (characters, technology, etc.) and listed in alphabetical order within their respective categories. In order to prevent these lists from becoming too extensive, less significant appearances or mentioned-only subjects may not be included.
Pages for real-world media (e.g. games) have lists for the in-universe entities that appear within that work. In these lists, the appearances are grouped into categories (characters, technology, etc.) and listed in alphabetical order within their respective categories. The template [[:Template:Featurelist|Featurelist]] is used to organize these lists; the template page also contains the default layouts to use in appearance lists for games and other media.
 
An appearance list may be replaced with more specialized sections while there is very little information available on the final set of appearances in a given work; an unannounced game, for example, may use a tentative "Content" section to analyze the content shown in media released so far in prose form, rather than a bulleted list.


=== Miscellaneous sections ===
=== Miscellaneous sections ===
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The best of practice for adding templates is only to do so ''when it is necessary''. Please note that while templates are intended to provide useful features and simplify the editing process, an excess usage of templates can lead to a cluttered and uncomfortable presentation. For more information on this, please see [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:Avoid template creep|'''Wikipedia'''<nowiki />'s entry on ''"template creep"'']].
The best of practice for adding templates is only to do so ''when it is necessary''. Please note that while templates are intended to provide useful features and simplify the editing process, an excess usage of templates can lead to a cluttered and uncomfortable presentation. For more information on this, please see [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:Avoid template creep|'''Wikipedia'''<nowiki />'s entry on ''"template creep"'']].


==Official layouts==
== Individual layout styles ==
The purpose of standardizing all articles to an official format is to improve the quality and readability of all articles in Halopedia. That said, all users must follow the official format.
Listed below are layout styles tailored for specific articles.
 
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
'''In-universe''' articles - These layout guides apply to articles focusing on lore and in-universe content.
 
*[[/Character]] - Layout for articles focusing on characters
*[[/Vehicle]] - Layout for articles focusing on vehicles
*[[/Weapon]] - Layout for articles focusing on weapons
*[[/Armor]] - Layout for articles focusing on armor (particularly MJOLNIR, Sangheili harness and Brute power armor variants)
*[[/Ship]] - Layout for articles focusing on ships
*[[/Military]] - Layout for articles focusing on military-related subject
*[[/Planet]] - Layout for articles focusing on planets
*[[/Enemy]] - Layout for articles focusing on types of unit in the ''Halo'' series (IE Brute Captain, Sangheili Minor, Promethean Knight etc.)
 
{{Col-2}}
'''Real-world''' articles - These layout guides apply to articles focusing on gameplay and real-world content.
 
*[[/Campaign]] - Layout for articles focusing on the campaign mode
*[[/Multiplayer]] - Layout for articles focusing on the multiplayer mode
*[[/Walkthrough]] - Layout for sub-articles on walkthroughs
*[[/Music]] - Layout for articles focusing on music
*[[/Quotes]] - Layout for articles focusing on quotes
*[[/Map]] - Layout guide for articles focusing on multiplayer maps.
*[[/Gamemode]] - Layout guide for articles focusing on multiplayer gametypes.
{{Col-end}}


*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Starship|Starship (UNSC/Covenant)]] article standard
{{Halopedia HAGP}}
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Character|Characters (incl. SPARTANs)]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Weapon|Weapon]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Vehicle|Vehicle]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Campaign|Campaign Level]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Walkthrough|Walkthrough Standards]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Multiplayer|Multiplayer Level]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Doll|Action Figures]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/Music|Music & Songs]] article standard
*[[Halopedia:Layout Guide/MilUnit|Military Unit]] article standard


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