Forum:How to create optional parameters?

Ok my main issue here is that im making new templates for infoboxes and i just realized that i need to make some of the parameters optional as they dont correspond to every character article. The problem is while i know the general idea is to use "if" i cant seem to work it out in the right way. The form of template style is as so [] and the coding for it is set up like


 * - valign="top"


 * style="" | Race


 * style="width:15em;" |


 * - valign="top"


 * style="" | Birthday


 * style="width:15em;" |


 * - valign="top"


 * style="" | Age


 * style="width:15em;" |

Im not sure what im doing wrong as when i place the "if" the desired affect does not happen. leaving the label heading with either empty spots which i dont want or label heading with the {{#if: visible in the box. Im trying to make age and birthday optional, but thats not happening even with the optional parameters help page its still not working. {{subst:User:Salubri/subpageone}} 20:58, January 12, 2010 (UTC)