Template talk:Infobox settlement/Archive 1

About the footnotes

Hello everyone:

Please don't take out the footnotes area as I have now used it for interesting effect on the Los Angeles page (with the help of a lot of HTML tags). If you're seeing {{{footnotes}}} on your city page then you need to fix your markup at that end! Like this: footnotes = |

--149.142.112.3 02:52, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

That may once have been true, but Los Angeles does not appear to be using this template. So can someone please give an example of how that field should be used? -- Jmabel | Talk 07:15, August 30, 2005 (UTC)

I think the footnotes section should be removed. Most cities don't use it and it just ends up being a blank section in the table. If a city wants to do something extra they should make their own template (which many have). How do others feel about removing the footnotes section? Kaldari 08:10, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

I like having some way to get one more item into the template; at Seattle I wanted to use it precisely for a note on an item in the table; I was just hoping there might be an illustration of a "right" way to do it. I see I can't use the {{tl:ref}}/{{tl:note}} system inside the template, is there some way around this?-- Jmabel | Talk 04:47, August 31, 2005 (UTC)

Image width

Cannot, instead of a fixed value, a variable {{{image_width}}} be used? If articles do not set value (Image_width =300), will it not take default value of image?--JimWae 22:20, 2005 July 14 (UTC)

Why is the pre-set length a problem? -- Netoholic @ 22:32, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

It scales up smaller images, making them appear pixellated (for example, London). Lupin 22:36, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

Metro Population

Several pages (Los Angeles, California and Cleveland, Ohio, for example) use the "population_note" field to mention the population of the metro population. When the infobox is rendered for Cleveland, the population section looks like this:

 -Population       2,148,048 (metro area)
   -Total (2000)   478,403
   -Density 	    2,380.9/km²

A reader could easily mistake metro area population for the population of the City of Cleveland. Could a field for metro area population be added below total population? --Mesulliv 04:24, July 19, 2005 (UTC)

That would seem to make more sense to me. The population of the city itself is what one would expect to see in an article about the city. It's okay to list the metro population in the infobox, but it's not what I would expect to see listed first. Columbus, Ohio does it in a way that makes sense to me. -Aranel ("Sarah") 00:08, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Alternate versions

I added some alternate versions of this template: Template:Infobox_City-NoFlag - For when no flag/seal information is available Template:Infobox_SmallCity - for small towns without mayors, etc. Marvin01 | talk 13:52, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

There is also Template:US City infobox, that should either be merged back here, or all other US cities be converted to use that template rather than this one. It should be one or the other. Lexor|Talk 09:38, September 2, 2005 (UTC)

I appreciate Template:Infobox_City-NoFlag, but what if the town has a seal, but no flag? I'm surprised this hasn't come up before; I would think that most cities do not have a flag.  –Benjamin 00:52, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

New England town infobox

I also added an alternate version. Template:Infobox Town MA. I originally made this for Massachusetts towns (not cities), but it could apply to most New England states, maybe even NY & NJ, too. New England municipalities include towns, not just cities. Therefore, there are Boards of Selectmen & Town Managers instead of City Councils and Mayors. However, I hardly think this infobox I've made is such a good idea after all. Perhaps I can get some input from this WikiProject's participants. Feel free to comment here or on the talk page of Project Massachusetts. -Markles 18:18, 22 September 2005 (UTC).

Composite Placebox

People working at WikiProject Argentina have created a generic, customizable set of templates to characterize populated places, following the model of the composite Taxobox of WikiProject Tree of Life. Please take a look at Template talk:Placebox-begin. Suggestions are welcome. --Pablo D. Flores (Talk) 11:39, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

lat/longitude doesn't comply with Manual of Style

The latitude and longitude system doesn't comply with Wikipedia style guidelines, which specify that Template:coor should be used. AdamDiCarlo 15:33, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

I decided to be bold and create a transitional solution (see template). I will work on converting articles to use the new parameters; help is wanted. --Wikiacc (talk) 22:17, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

There is a problem with the coordinates system in that they don't include seconds as well. Also, are we going to eliminate the original set of coordinates? Pentawing 22:46, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

I don't see why not. --Wikiacc (talk) 01:51, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

I have to note that some city articles include second of arc along with degree and minute. Unless there were a way of also including the seconds, please leave the template as is. Pentawing 02:45, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

The seconds can be included using {{Coor dms}} instead of {{Coor dm}}.

Also, help is needed with the esoteric templates! They seem to be exhibiting unexpected behaviour. I've reverted back to the old system for now. --Wikiacc (talk) 18:25, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

PLEASE stop experimenting with a live template - be bold, but don't be reckless. -- Netoholic @ 19:03, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

Template_map

The template_map parameter is intended to be substituted for the image_map parameter, if desired. In other words use one or the other, but not both. For example:

template_map={{GBNewYorkState|34|94}}

This will invoke the GBNewYorkState template with parameters 34 and 94. This will then display a map of New York State with a red dot at pixel position x=34 y=94. This is presently implemented in the Buffalo, New York infobox.

Hopefully, this will allow maps with locations on them to be easily constructed with just the template call, rather than having to create a map for each new location. I did not insert this into the example or empty syntax above, I'm not sure how to deal with optional parameters in these. PAR 20:18, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Avoid using meta-templates

Everyone needs to read this guideline before trying to insert any new "clever" functions into Templates. -- Netoholic @ 19:02, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

I've reformatted to remove the dependance on the "if" meta-template. -- Netoholic @ 19:05, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

Added skyline option

Since many pages use older infobox formats that have room for a skyline shot, I've added support for it here as an optional parameter (image_skyline). See examples above and Austin, Texas for a live example. -- Netoholic @ 21:02, 20 December 2005 (UTC)

Can you add a parameter for the skyline tooltip? I'm working on an article were I have added a very representative image of the place at the top, but it's not a skyline, so when you hover the image, the caption doesn't make sense. --Enano275 14:30, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Added motto option

The motto and nickname fields are now optional, so that this template can be more useful. -- Netoholic @ 21:02, 20 December 2005 (UTC)

Right/Left Align

How does this template get right-aligned, when the same-type is left aligned at Burg?

Nicknames

Are unofficial or made-up nicknames appropriate for an infobox?

NO PAR 05:05, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Map width

I can't find anywhere that the problems mentioned above in #Image_width have been resolved. I was adding an infobox to Jersey City, New Jersey, originally copying the one used in Newark, New Jersey - a (former) featured article. I know it's depreciated, so I tried this infobox and had major problems with the map size. With New Jersey being oriented N/S, the map size really needs to be smaller. To deal with the problem, I have made an altered version of Infobox City: Template:Infobox City mapsize where the mapsize can be specified with a parameter. I also added an optional item to list when the city was "Established", as I've seen that used in many city articles. If someone else has also come up with an infobox to deal with the mapsize problem, let me know and we can combine them. --Aude (talk | contribs) 15:43, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

If it's possible to merge my changes here back to Template:Infobox City, I'd be pleased as Infobox City would be more useful for cities (e.g. Montpelier, Vermont, Indianapolis, Indiana,...) in jurisdictions that are oriented N/S. BTW, I noticed the "map size" option is also used in Template:Infobox U.S. County. --Aude (talk | contribs) 16:09, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

At the moment, please refrain from using the modified infobox on more city articles (it is best to try to keep the number of city infoboxes to a minimum). I will see if there is a way to integrate your changes into the current infobox. Pentawing^Talk 06:16, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for your comments. I agree on keeping the # of infoboxes to a minimum, and would prefer these added options integrated into the one, single infobox (if there is consensus support for these options). Right now, Template:Infobox City mapsize is only used in Jersey City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.. The infoboxes can easily be swapped for Template:Infobox City. --Aude (talk | contribs) 16:16, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Okay. It's simple to add the mapsize option after the default 250px mapsize. I just put it in (if you object, feel free to revert and discuss here). If no mapsize is entered when putting the template into a city article, then the default 250px is used. However, if a different mapsize is specified when using the template, that mapsize overrides the default. --Aude (talk | contribs) 16:27, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

One more thing about the mapsize option... I noticed the similar discussion above regarding image size. The mapsize option could be added for the image, so that portrait oriented images could be sized different than landscape oriented images. Any interest in this? or thoughts? --Aude (talk | contribs) 16:36, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

I've added the option to the skyline image entry, in the same manner as the map image entry. Pentawing^Talk 20:00, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Founded

The other thing added in Infobox City mapsize was the founded date, under the government heading. And maybe it's just a minor thing, but I made it so you could change the terminology from "Founded", to "Established", "Incorporated", or something else. I think there is enough of a semantic difference between the terms, that the terminology should be flexible. Any thoughts? --Aude (talk | contribs) 16:31, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

I agree that the template needs a flexible "founded" field. I've added one based on your original template. harpchad 20:57, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

Metro population

There's been some interest in adding metro pop. to the infobox ^[1]. I just changed it to class=hiddenStructure, so it's optional, as metropolitan area population is applicable for many cities, while not applicable for many others. --Aude (talk | contribs) 04:00, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Thank you! I wasn't sure how to make it optional when I added it, but it definitely needs to be there! Dr. Cash 04:40, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

• But adding United States metropolitan area mkes this an infobox ONLY for US cities--JimWae 05:27, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for catching that. I changed the link to just Metropolitan area. --Aude (talk | contribs) 05:31, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Pop Density

Added new field {{{population_density_mi2}}} and put the hiddenstructure code on {{{population_density}}}. No matter what wishful thinking we may have, Americans still prefer miles over kilometer(re)s ℬastique▼^parℓer♥^voir♑ 20:04, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Stacking and aligning multiple template boxes

Editors of Saint Louis, Missouri would like to use Template:Quotebox to place directly under Template:Infobox City, and I've tried several ways to accomplish this, to no avail. How is it done (if it is possible)? Alternatively, it could be placed inside city infobox, but I'm not sure that is possible or desirable, or how to do it, if it is. Evolauxia 09:32, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

Postal Codes

Could we also add a field for ZIP codes for U.S. cities and postal codes for other cities? I think this would be worthwhile information for the infobox.Jonathan Kovaciny 14:33, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

This could get messy. Many cities have lots of zip codes. Many large cities, such as Phoenix, Arizona, have as many as 80 or so zip codes. This would make the infobox look a bit cluttered. Telephone area codes, on the other hand, could be something worth adding here, though. Though with the increased use of cell phones, many cities seem to be adding quite a few of these, too. Dr. Cash 07:23, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

It seems like we should put a list of zip/postal codes in some standard place in city articles. Maybe at the bottom of the article, or in the text of the introduction section, but it's something that an encyclopedia should really have in order to be complete. Phoenix-forgotten 19:17, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Links to flag articles

It would be nice if the link underneath the flag did not simply link to Flag but rather to the specific page for the city's flag, e.g. Flag of Washington, D.C.. This is what the 'Infobox Country' template does - can it be done for this template? The Singing Badger 17:08, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Done. --mav 21:54, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Cool! The Singing Badger 21:58, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Accessibility

Bethesda, Maryland using CSS hacks (click for larger view)

Bethesda, Maryland using meta-templates (click for larger view)

I've modified this template to be more accessible for the disabled (see my longish explanation at User:Locke Cole/Don't use hiddenStructure). Just to give a quick demo though of a before and after, take a look at the images to the right. I checked a number of articles for errors and didn't find any, however, if there are any please feel free to revert my edit and report the offending article here so I can try and correct the issue. Thanks! —Locke Cole • t • c 07:00, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

Region field hidden?

I'm experimenting with this infobox for an article I'm writing, and it's come to my attention that the Region field is hidden when the infobox is rendered. I wanted to know if there was any way to make it visible. I'm inexperienced with editing templates, so I'm not going to do it myself and risk defacing the template. Thanks for the help. Wlmaltby3 08:18, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

As far as I can tell the template either never had a region field, or if it did, it didn't seem to have it for very long. =) In any event, the "empty syntax" above is incorrect in saying there is such a field currently; I'll correct that and leave it to everyone else to decide if it should be added (again[?]). —Locke Cole • t • c 08:35, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

To be honest, I've got no recollection as to how I came across the region field. I believe I may have copied the template from an existing page before coming to the template's page. That may have been where I erred. Thanks for your input, though! Wlmaltby3 10:20, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

No longer using qif template

I have refactored this template to no longer use {{qif}}. We should only use {{#if}} in the future. Death to meta-templates! Long live the new parserfunction! Kaldari 23:02, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Skyline image caption?

I'd like to propose another parameter for a caption for the skyline image. Any thoughts? howcheng {chat} 17:14, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I suggested that somewhere above. I support you 100% --Enano275 00:27, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

This is now in place, although I accidentally hit enter and submitted the form before I was able to put something in the edit summary. howcheng {chat} 17:29, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Works great, thanks! --Enano275 03:14, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Flag and seal

What happened to the flag and seal links? --Fang Aili ^說嗎? 22:57, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

New parameters for measurements

I placed some new options in the template for including U.S. Customary (English) measurements. Please see the Usage and Empty syntax above and the article on San Jose, California for examples.—MJCdetroit 00:53, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

This is much better than the several styles of workarounds that were in use before. Let's definitely keep this. harpchad 20:57, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

Popuation note not showing

Some edit in the template must have broken this parameter, because it's not appearing anywhere, not even in the San José article. --Enano275 23:10, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

When did you notice this?—MJCdetroit 20:31, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

I think that I fixed it, but I am not an expert at this. It seems to work on the San José article. I cound not find when the problem originated, but hopefully this fixes it. Let us know if there is still a problem.—MJCdetroit 01:09, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

P.S.—In the case of the San Jose article, the population note was used to show the population for the metro area. Since there was already a field for population_metro, I just swapped the info into that field. —MJCdetroit 01:54, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

It's working now. Thanks! --Enano275 21:47, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

Problem with one of the embedded links

There seems to be a small error in the code for this template. When you enter a value in the field |area_total =, it links the entire displayed text (i.e., 34.1 km²) to the article M², a disambiguation page for square miles rather than square kilometers. I'd edit the template myself but the code is too complicated for me to understand. Aplomado ^talk 19:22, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

I think it has to do with the area_magnitude parameter, if you leave it blank it links to _m² rather than (i.e) 1 E8_m². The template should handle that field better if it's blank, I'll add a #if to check if magnitude is defined. harpchad 19:50, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Done, template now checks the area_magnitude parameter before it creates the link, otherwise it's just plain text (km² is linked in the land area row). harpchad 19:58, 31 May 2006 (UTC)