Difference between revisions of "Help:References"

To create references you will use a '''reference template'''. Templates are a useful trick that simplify the work involved. While not necessary to understand the basics, it may be helpful to take a look at the [[:Help:Templates]] article beforefor continuing.more background on how templates work.

A ''basic'' reference template looks like this: <code><nowiki>{{ref |text=This is a reference.}}</nowiki></code>. Notice that it's enclosed by double curly braces (<code>{{</code> and <code>}}</code>). The ''template name'' comes first ("ref"), followed by ''parameters'', all separated by vertical bars (<code>|</code>). Named parameters, like "text=" require the parameter name and equals sign along with your input, as shown above. Unnamed parameters (you'll see these below, in all caps) should be completely replaced by your input. When placed in the text of an article, it will be automatically rendered as a superscript, bracketed number: <code>{{ref |text=This is a reference.}}</code>. It links to the bottom of the page, where you'll see that same number along with the text: <references />

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{book ref |BOOK |CHAPTER}}</nowiki></code>, where:

;EpigraphsEpigraph {{t|epigraph ref}}

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{epigraph ref |BOOK |CHAPTER}}</nowiki></code>, where:

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{msh ref |PART |CHAPTER}}</nowiki></code>, where:

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{tes ref |DAY}}</nowiki></code>, where:

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{au ref |SYSTEM/STORY}}</nowiki></code>, where:

A general URL ref is shown first, but use of the more specific templates, ''particularly'' <code><nowiki>{{wob ref}}</nowiki></code>, is preferable.

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{url ref |url= |text= |site= |date=}}</nowiki></code>, where:

;17th ShardArcanum {{t|17swob ref}}

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{17swob ref |TYPE |ID |DESCRIPTION |date=ENTRY}}</nowiki></code>, where:

:* <code>TYPEENTRY</code> is the typeentry ofnumber--the contentnumber referenced:following "post#e", "topic",in "user",the etc.url

;TwitterGeneral File {{t|tweetfile ref}}

: Looks like: <code><nowiki>{{tweetfile ref |ID FILE|DESCRIPTION |date=}}</nowiki></code>, where:

:* <code>IDFILE</code> is the tweetfile IDname, numberincluding the extension

:* <code>DESCRIPTION</code> is a brief description of what the informationfile is

If you're going use a particular reference multiple times, you may find '''named references''' useful. Just include the additional parameter <code>|name=</code> in the reference template. Whenever you want to reuse that reference, you canuse the basic {{t|ref}} template and omit all the other parameters besides <code>|name=</code>.

''Example:'' Say you want to cite book X chapter 4. For the first reference use <code><nowiki>{{book ref|X|4|name=X4}}</nowiki></code>, and then for every other instance just use <code><nowiki>{{book ref|name=X4}}</nowiki></code>.

In fact, you can ''really'' keep the article clean by putting long reference templates directly in the Notes section. Instead of <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>, put all of your long citations (with names added) between <code><nowiki><references></nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki></references></nowiki></code> tags down in the Notes sectiomsection. Then you can call them out in the body of the article with the names alone!

The Coppermind wiki is awesome.{{url ref|name=coppermind}}

And here's another reference to that great website.{{url ref|name=coppermind}}

{{url ref|url=http://www.coppermind.net|text=A cool place.|site=Coppermind|date=2016-101-101|name=coppermind}}

The Coppermind wiki is awesome.{{url ref|name=coppermind}}

And here's another reference to that great website.{{url ref|name=coppermind}}

{{url ref|url=http://www.coppermind.net|text=A cool place.|site=Coppermind|date=2016-101-101|name=coppermind}}