Wikipedia:WikiProject Geographical coordinates/comparison

Comparison of Coordinates entry methods

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     Template
Aspect 
free format {{coor}} coor d/dm/dms {{coord}} {{coordinate}}
Status unused in English Wikipedia, method prior to 2005 unused in English Wikipedia, was frequently used in other languages
deprecated
used in English Wikipedia 2005-2008
deprecated
current standard in English Wikipedia
(since September 2008)
current standard in de Wikipedia
(since February 2008)
deleted from English Wikipedia in September 2008
Sample 1° 2' N 5°12' W
(more)
{{coor| 1_2_N_5_12_W| 1°2'N, 5°12'W}} {{coor title dm| 2|46|N| 45|30|W| region:ZZ_type:landmark}} {{coord| 2|46|N|45|30|E| region:ZZ_type:landmark| display=title}} {{coordinate| NS=2/46/0/E| EW=5/12/0/W| type=landmark| article=/}}
Strengths

easy to enter

  • Well known set of templates
  • Data entered into template is validated (input validation)
  • Less overhead (2-3 subtemplates only). Can be included numerous times in tables (an estimated 3880 times in discussed sample)
  • partial support for microformat
  • supported by google
  • supports "name="
  • Frequently used (was)
  • One template for all input formats (dec/dms)
  • dec/dms format can be set in user stylesheet
  • well documented
  • input validation recently added
  • Frequently advocated
  • supported by google
  • supports microformat
  • supports "name="
  • Frequently used
  • uses of older templates are currently being migrated to this format using a bot
  • Data entered into template is validated (input validation)
  • One template for all input formats
  • named parameters for coordinates (NS=/EW=)
  • named parameters for type/region/globe etc.
  • Less overhead (5-10 subtemplates only).
  • can display text/icons instead of coordinates
  • support for elevation
  • supports microformat
  • supports "name="
  • Frequently used (in German Wikipedia)
Weaknesses

can't be parsed

coordinates need to be entered twice

  • type/region/globe/etc. parameters all gobbled up
  • d/m/s are entered in separate fields
  • to switch from dec to dms input, one needs to switch templates
  • not supported by mediawiki
  • type/region/globe/etc. parameters all gobbled up
  • coordinate parameters all gobbled up
  • display=title, display=inline,title lengthy
  • Many subtemplates (15-20). Its post-expand include size limits the number of coordinates that can be included in lists (689 times in sample discussed below)
  • rounding problems for dms display
  • d/m/s are entered in separate fields
  • not supported by mediawiki
  • more verbose format (15-20% more to type)
  • several subtemplates (5-10). Its post-expand include size limits the number of coordinates that can be included in lists (425 times in sample discussed below)
  • not supported by mediawiki
Risks
  • A series of templates rather than one
  • Complex template
  • more to convert if adopted
Opportunities
  • Interwiki standardisation


Details on the coor at/title d/dm/dms set

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Templates Input format
Display degrees degrees/minutes degrees/minutes/seconds
in title bar {{coor title d}}
{{coor title dm}} {{coor title dms}}
article and title {{coor at d}} {{coor at dm}} {{coor at dms}}
in article {{coor d}} {{coor dm}} {{coor dms}}
Samples Input format
Display degrees degrees/minutes degrees/minutes/seconds
in title bar {{coor title d|55.671667|N|12.525|E|region:DK}} {{coor title dm|55|40.3|N|12|31.5|E|region:DK}} {{coor title dms|55|40|18|N|12|31|30|E|region:DK}}
article and title {{coor at d|55.671667|N|12.525|E|region:DK}} {{coor at dm|55|40.3|N|12|31.5|E|region:DK}} {{coor at dms|55|40|18|N|12|31|30|E|region:DK}}
in article {{coor d|55.671667|N|12.525|E|region:DK}} {{coor dm|55|40.3|N|12|31.5|E|region:DK}} {{coor dms|55|40|18|N|12|31|30|E|region:DK}}