Forum:How to implement Custom Infoboxes?

Now, I'm relatively new to the wiki building scene, but I figure I should make some priorities first. While it isn't as important as many would think it is, I'm a stickler for neat Infoboxes. My problem? I'm not really fond of the default infobox that wikia has set up, and I'd like to utilize some other Infobox templates for my wiki here: http://omnipedia.wikia.com/wiki/OmniMundus_Wiki

So, not fond of the default infobox template wikia has to offer. Too bland and not quite detailed enough for my tastes. While it is reccommended to use the default, I'm just not too into it. The Infobox templates I am interested in making use of however, are the ones over at Wookiepedia here. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Infobox_templates

While they're not going to be total cut and pastes; going to have to edit some of the Information provided in the Infoboxes to suit my needs; they are what I'm looking for. My question is, how exactly do I implement custom infoboxes into my wiki?

Sergeant-Captain Scorps00:07, September 24, 2010 (UTC)

Hello! To add a new infobox, you will need to create a new page called "Template:Infobox (Your Name Here)". Next import the infobox you want to copy from Wookieepedia into your new template page. Finally, you can put it in your article by typing

Let me know if this helps! MontagnaMagica|Talk 01:03, September 24, 2010 (UTC)

I believe it will help. Thank you very much.


 * Note: - Just copying Wookipedia infoboxes will NOT work generally, like Wikipedia ones they use several other (sub) templates to create them and require css code adding to the sites MediaWiki:Common.css file (to create the look) and may require additional code for the collapsing function to work. (wikia change from time to time so what code is issued as 'standard' with a new wiki changes depending when it was created).
 * They (wookipedia) also have the documentation included the template page which includes a section for re-generating the infobox that is very confusing to update to create you own version. Seperate documentation as used on wikipedia has several advantages & Wikia now offer a cut down (simplified version) of the documentation template to place it on a sub page.
 * See also several recent posts in the forum here about infoboxes issues. And the Templates Wiki has a number of Wikia optimised / compatible versions of common template types. - BulldozerD11 11:46, September 24, 2010 (UTC)

This is all quite difficult to understand fully. Is it possible to use Wookieepedia's Infoboxes for my own or is there something more I have to do other than create a template pages to house them all? I've tried doing it for a Government Infobox, but most of the information seems to be screwing up on its own as I integrate them into my Wiki. Alot of unknown characters start appearing, and messages like "This page does not exist" start popping up. Speaking of which, how do I take care of redlinks?

Sergant-Captain Scorps23:04, September 25, 2010 (UTC)


 * Yes you can create them like Wookipedia but as i said above it involves more than one 'simple' template being copied. If you link to a page were you have tried to implement an infobox and are having problems its alot easier to explain/fix specific problems than talk in general terms, based on guessing the issues.
 * Redlinks are 'major feature' of wiki and indicate a page does not exist (sort of a note saying 'create me' for readers). But when pages are copied from other wikis/wikipedia the redlinks may not be very relevant (i.e are an item that is unlikly to have a page created for it as the subject is not directly related to the new wikis content/subject area) then they may be best removed from the page to clean it up (by deleting the link(s)). In edit mode remove the  (wiki code) that form the link, (only visible when in source mode if using the Rich Text Editor) - Help:Editing. Also terms that are relevant to the wiki subject should be linked so pages can be added later to define them. Any pages without links are dead end roads for readers. - BulldozerD11 14:00, September 26, 2010 (UTC)

Alright, I've made a Templat page for a Character Infobox. I plan on using this format: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_character

Only problem is that once I posted the page, the Template image changes to a seemingly default one that Wikia provided: http://omnipedia.wikia.com/wiki/Template:Infobox_Characters

Another thing is that I'd like to include certain factors from this Wookieepedia Infobox Template: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Template:Character_infobox such as Biographical, Physical, Chronological and Political Information. As well as the Background Colors format they've included; BG 1 and BG 2.

Speaking of Wookieepedia, I'd like to make eventual use of the Templates listed here whenever this problem is sorted out: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookieepedia:Template_messages/Infoboxes

The one that appears in my wiki however doesn't have the information that I put in there at all, and instead features a default Wikia Character Infobox with sub-categories seemingly pulled from a video game character Infobox.

Is this sufficient?

Sergeant-Captain Scorps 03:45, September 27, 2010 (UTC)