Board Thread:New Features/@comment-24739709-20150518230347/@comment-24473195-20150630181333

Shareif wrote: If there is no data in source the 'default' tag will be used.

If 'source' property is not defined in infobox markup, the 'default' is used and 'format' is ignored.

If there is some data in source the format tag will be used to adjust the data. It can be used for adding icons, links, additional text or launching parser functions. Well, I agree that both tags are useful, but the aim of the infoboxes is simplicity and reducing the code. Suppose I want to add tags: Scenario A OUTPUT : 0

Now, I must replicate the "File:armySymbol" twice, while it could simply be a matter of doing:

Scenario B OUTPUT : 0

In scenario B, the format tag would change the presentation of the default tag, and the normal data-source.

Of course this seems simple and straight-forward. But what if someone uses a lot of complex formatting and parser functions. Scenario C:

This formatting will always have to be duplicated in scenario C, for no good reason. The fact that variables cannot be stored in a page is simply a limitation of templates that causes all sorts of problems.

That was my point.

P.S. Maybe using a shorthand parameter like $1 =, e.g. "soldiers" would reduce the code.