User:Magicwindsock/sandbox16
Welcome to Kovopedia's Manual of Style! This is where you will find our wiki's basic guidelines on editing, page creation, linking, nomenclature, and writing styles. Repeated violations of any of these guidelines after warnings may be considered blockable offenses. If you would like to see any content in this manual amended, or wish to have a rule clarified or established, create a thread in the Talk Page.
Basics
- Before you can contribute to Kovopedia, you must first register for a free account. To register, click here. If you are on PC or in desktop view, you can also click on "Create Account" in the top-right corner.
- Articles on Kovopedia must be written in a formal, encyclopedic manner. That is, informal or casual speech, exaggeration or dramatization, and word contractions (e.g. can't, it's, let's) should all be avoided when writing. Additionally, pages are to be be written in an in-universe perspective and avoid the use of "you". There may be exceptions where "player(s)" may be preferred for content detailing out-of-universe information, such as multiplayer mechanics or gameplay guides.
- It must be understood that some spoilers are entirely unavoidable without disturbing how the wiki is organized, so pages with spoiler-heavy content should be tagged with the Spoiler template for the benefit of readers.
- Media titles must be italicized and avoid stylization, such as the use of all lowercase or all uppercase.
- Additionally, titles that do not have an official English translation should be written in Romaji, with the exception of loan words. For example, Magical Vacation: Itsutsu no Hoshi ga Narabu Toki instead of Magical Vacation: When the Five Stars Align, and Uchū no Kishi instead of Knight of the Universe.
- Concerning canon, Kovopedia follows a tier of preference: Japanese canon > English localization canon > fan translations. By large, the original Japanese canon is preferred if any significant changes have been made in official localizations or fan-made translations. For this reason, it is preferred that citations of dialogue from any media via the Cite Game template are derived from the original Japanese versions. See Kovopedia:Canon for more details.
- All files uploaded onto Kovopedia must follow our established naming format:
File:(Media abbreviation) (Subject) (File type).file extension. For example:File:MS Atomic firebat Battle Idle Sprite.png. It is also paramount that all uploaded files are attributed to their proper copyright licensing and source. Generally, files from or related to media are Copyright. For sourcing, the file should be attributed to the website it was retrieved from with a link or to the user who retrieved the file themselves. - For disputes on a subject's coverage, it must be brought up in the article's talk page to discuss with the community and come to a consensus. Always sign your comments on a talk page by adding
~~~~at the end. This will automatically add your signature, comprised of your username and a timestamp.
How to Edit
Once you have registered for an account on Kovopedia, you are free to edit most pages, with the exception of those that are protected from editing by non-administrators. This often applies to pages that are high-traffic or fundamental to the wiki's structuring.
Editing on PC
To edit a page on PC, click on the "Edit" tab in the page's top-right corner. You can also edit an individual section by clicking on "Edit" right next to it. You will then be taken to the wiki's editor with all of the page's current formatting code. It is highly recommended to click on "Show preview" to see a preview of how the page will look before you submit your edit. Doing so will help identify anything amiss such as formatting mistakes. You can also use the editor's Summary bar to explain the changes you made. Click on "Save changes" once you are confident in your edit to apply to them to the page. If your edit is small, you may optionally tick the "This is a minor edit" box. Edits to individual sections can be noted by inputting /* (Section name) */ into the Summary bar.
Editing on Mobile
To edit a page on mobile, tap on the pencil icon at the top of the article. Tapping the pencil right next to it also allows you to edit individual sections. From there you will be taken to the wiki's editor with all of the page's current formatting. It is highly recommended to use the source editor as opposed to the visual editor, as the visual editor can potentially break a page's delicate formatting while the source editor retains the structure of a page's code. To switch between editors, tap on the eye or pencil icon in the editor's toolbar. If you are already on the pencil icon, then you are using the source editor.
Once you have made your changes, tap on the blue arrow icon in the editor's toolbar. You will then be taken to a preview of the page as well as the option to add a short summary for your changes. Before saving, be sure to carefully look over the page's preview. Doing so can help pick up on any formatting mistakes or anything else amiss. Once you are confident with your changes, click on "Save" to apply them to the page.
For users on mobile who prefer editing with the desktop interface, you can switch to the wiki's desktop view by scrolling to the very bottom of a page and tapping on "Desktop", or switch back using "Mobile view".
Wikitext
The markup language that the MediaWiki software uses is called wikitext, also known as wikicode. This is used to format how pages look and function. Some basic wikitext code includes:
| Code | Output | Notes |
|---|---|---|
'''Bold text''' |
Bold text | <b></b> also works, but ''' is preferred.
|
''Italic text'' |
Italic text | <i></i> also works, but '' is preferred.
|
'''''Bold and italic text''''' |
Bold and italic text | |
<big>Big text</big> |
Big text | |
<small>Small text</small> |
Small text | |
:Indented text |
Indented text |
Adding another : further indents the text. Each indent must be on its own line break to work.Indenting is usually used when responding to a talk page's discussion.
|
<center>Centered text</center> |
Generally only used for templates. | |
== Level 2 Header == |
Level 2 Header |
The largest section header that can be used on a page. |
=== Level 3 Header === |
Level 3 Header |
This creates a subsection header. Adding an additional = on each side creates a smaller subsection, down to level 5 maximum.
|
* Bulleted list item * On the same level ** Adding another asterisk creates a sub-level |
|
Each bullet point must be on its own line break to work. |
# Numbered list item # Numbers are automatically added in order ## Adding another hash sign creates a sub-level |
|
Each numbered point must be on its own line break to work. |
<!-- Comment viewable only in editor --> |
This adds a comment that is only visible in the editor and not on the saved page; this can be used to leave notes to other contributors. | |
<math>2 + 2 = 4</math> |
This inserts a math formula. This can be used to make calculations for gameplay mechanics.For help with displaying a math formula, consult Meta-Wiki's help topic. |
More tips on using wikitext and the MediaWiki software can be found on its wiki.
Templates
Templates are a feature that allows users to instantly transclude a predefined text or code onto a page. Templates are created in pages with the Template: namespace. If a template is edited, its change will be present on every page that uses that template. For that reason, templates are used for infoboxes, notices, tables, formatted links, and other such things.
Templates are transcluded onto pages by wrapping the template's name between two curly brackets. For example: to add Template:Expand to a page, you would type {{Expand}} without the "Template:" prefix. Template names are case-sensitive and must be spelled correctly to be displayed on a page.
Some templates also have additional parameters, which may be used to add information or alter the appearance of a template on a page. For example: the Expand template has an optional parameter where you can add a reason for why a page is a stub, which would be typed out as {{Expand|reason=Your reason here.}} Sometimes these parameters are required and other times they are optional.
A list of templates and their usage documentation, including codes to copy and paste, can be found in the Templates category. Please be sure to carefully read a template's documentation to know how to use it effectively.
Because templates are widely used and crucial to the wiki's structuring, template pages are locked to most editors for their protection. If you have suggestions for edits on a template, bring it up in its talk page or create a sandbox demonstration to show to wiki staff.
Linking to Articles
Linking to other pages on Kovopedia can be done by wrapping the subject's article title between paired brackets, [[like this]]. This creates a link to the page of the exact name entered; if no such page exists under that name, it will create a red link. As such, it is important to ensure that you are linking to the right page and that the link is properly spelled to avoid unnecessary red links. Links can have their displayed name changed by inserting a pipe between the page's name and the display name. For example: [[Will-o'-Wisp Academy|Magic Academy]], which becomes Magic Academy. This is especially helpful if a page title has a discriminator in it, such as the case with Protagonist (Magical Starsign). Typing [[Protagonist (Magical Starsign)|Protagonist]] will render the link simply as Protagonist.
External links can also be created by wrapping the site's URL and a display name between single brackets, such as [https://atlus.com/ ATLUS.com]. Display names for external links do not require a bar between the URL and name. External links should only be those that give additional information or further reading, such as official websites, interview or video sources, and some interwiki pages. External links to pirated content, extraneous websites, and anything considered to be self-promoting or advertising, are disallowed and will be removed.
| Code | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
[[Kovomaka]] |
Kovomaka | This will link to pages directly by the name entered. If there is no page with the exact name entered, it will create a red link. |
[[[[Protagonist (Magical Starsign)|Protagonist]] |
Protagonist | This changes the link's displayed name, but will still link back to the intended page. |
[[Gummy frog]]s |
Gummy frogs | Except for irregular plurals, adding a S at the end of a link will turn it into a plural. |
[[Magical Vacation#Gameplay|section link]] |
section link | This creates a link to a section in an article. The section's title after the hash sign must be identical to the one on the page for this to properly redirect. |
[https://brownie-games.co.jp/ brownie-games.co.jp] |
brownie-games.co.jp | This creates an external link. |
[[Wikipedia:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] |
MediaWiki | Wikipedia and other interwiki articles can be linked to this way without having to create a regular external link. |
Categories
Categories are specialized links that automatically sort a page into an index, called Category Pages. These are in the Category: namespace. Kovopedia has a standard set of general content categories as well as media categories for content by media title. These in turn have subcategories within them for more specified content. For example: Category:Characters in Magical Starsign is a subcategory that only lists characters that appear in that game.
Pages are automatically sorted into categories by typing [[Category:Category Name]]. Since categories are listed at the very bottom of a page, these should be added at the very end of a page following all content. Like regular links, these will link to a category by the exact name entered; nonexistent categories will create a red link.
Subject pages should only be added to general subcategories, as opposed to a broader content category. For instance, a character who appears in Magical Starsign should be added to Category:Characters in Magical Starsign, instead of Category:Characters. This helps keep the general content categories clutter-free and easy to lead users to their desired content.
If you want to link to a Category Page without adding a page to that particular category, add a colon in front of Category:. For example: [[:Category:Characters]].
Images
Just like linking to article pages, images that have been uploaded onto Kovopedia can be linked to and thereby displayed by wrapping the filename between double brackets. This requires that the File: prefix be added at the beginning of the filename, as uploaded files are kept in the File: namespace.
For example, typing [[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png]] will display the following:
Doing just this alone is not advised, as this displays the image at its full resolution and without additional rendering options. This would be entirely discouraged for much larger images. Fortunately, there are extra parameters that can be added to the image's link to change how it is rendered and displayed. These options are added after the image's filename and are separated with pipes |.
| Code | Output | Notes |
|---|---|---|
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|caption]] |
|
This displays the image at its full, original resolution. This is not recommended since images may be disruptively large or small.
A caption can be added as the last option in the image's link. This displays a caption when the image is hovered over. |
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|border|caption]] |
|
Both border and frame adds a very small border around the image.
|
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|thumb|caption]] |
|
Both thumb and thumbnail will work.
This adds a framed thumbnail of the image with its caption rendered within. The image will also be resized to fit the user's width preferences. By default, the thumbnail is anchored to the right side of a page. Thumbnails are the preferred format for displaying images in page sections. |
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|thumb|right]] |
|
Adding left will anchor the thumbnail to the right side of a page. left and center can also be used.
|
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|thumb|50px]] |
Images can be resized by specifying the size parameter by pixels. They can be downscaled and upscaled.
This will resize the image by width. | |
[[File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png|thumb|x50px]] |
Adding a x in front will resize the image by height.
|
To link to a file's page without displaying it, add a colon in front of File:. For example: [[:File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png]] which becomes File:MS Madeleine Portrait Sprite.png.
Images added to pages should be for illustrative purposes and relevant to the section or paragraph. For example: a character's Biography section could have a screenshot of a relevant cutscene. Unless used in a gallery, table, or template, images should always be formatted as a thumbnail, preferably with a short caption describing the image if required. Large images also need to be given a recommended size:
| Example | Size | Suggested for |
|---|---|---|
Infobox Images
Images can also be displayed in an infobox as an illustrative depiction of the page subject, such as a character's artwork, a game's cover, or a screenshot of a location. Infoboxes use the image= or imagecover= parameters to display whichever image is inserted there. As the template already renders the image itself, the image parameters merely require the image's filename without the use of brackets, the File: prefix, or additional options. A caption can still be added to infobox images, which will be displayed beneath the image.
Multiple images can also be added to an infobox by creating gallery tabs. This is achieved by replacing the image= parameter with images=, followed by {{Infobox Tabs}}, creating a template for tabs that can display multiple images in the infobox. Infobox tabs should only be used if a subject has multiple depictions, designs, or covers across titles. For example, Madeleine's design changes between Magical Vacation and Magical Starsign, and as such should have one tab for each available variation. The parameters for the Infobox Tabs template follow the order of media abbreviation, filename, and caption. Using Madeleine as an example, the image tabs for her Infobox Template are arranged as such:
{{Infobox Tabs
|''MV''|MV Madeleine Artwork.png|Artwork for ''[[Magical Vacation]]'' by [[Shinichi Kameoka]]
|''MS''|MS Madeleine Artwork.png|Artwork for ''[[Magical Starsign]]'' by [[Shinichi Kameoka]]
}}
Galleries
The best way to showcase many images on a given subject is to sort them into a Gallery section. Galleries display images and videos in organized rows of thumbnails without needing to be rendered. These are created by enclosing a list of images between <gallery></gallery> tags, which looks like:
==Gallery== <gallery> File|Caption </gallery>
Gallery sections should be placed near the end of a page, just after the Nomenclature section and just before any references sections. Images kept in a gallery do not need double brackets nor the File: prefix to display. Captions should be given to each image to briefly describe the image's subject, namely by indicating what type of file it is (such as an artwork or a sprite) and its original media. Following the AP style of writing, each image caption should forego a period at the end. If a subject's Gallery section exceeds 15 files, it should be split into its own page with the Gallery: namespace.
Creating an Article
These steps should be consulted before creating any pages on the wiki.
- 1. Does the page relate to the Magical Vacation series? A page about a character from a Magical Starsign or Kimi to Amigo, for example, would be acceptable; but a page about a subject outside of the franchise, such as a Mana/Seiken Densetsu series game or character, would not be. A good rule of thumb is to look for any wanted pages the wiki needs.
- 2. Make sure the page does not yet already exist on the wiki. Use the wiki's search function to check if there is already a page, including any alternate names or spellings of that subject. If a subject has another name or spelling, a redirect may be used instead.
- 3. Once you are certain that the page does not yet exist on the wiki, you can proceed to create it by searching for the subject by name and clicking on the creation prompt. Ensure that the article's title also fits with the wiki's Article Naming guidelines with proper capitalization and spelling. Clicking on a red link will also prompt page creation as well.
- 4. While it is not necessary to write an entire full page upon creation, it is good practice to at least add some content before saving it. Creating empty pages purely to fill a gap as a placeholder is discouraged. Adding something even as simple as a short descriptor is adequate enough; a page can be expanded overtime with editors' contributions. Pages that have little content should also have Template:Stub added to their header space at the very top.
Due to limitations with MediaWiki, users on mobile can only create new pages by tapping on red links. However, this limitation can be overcome by switching to desktop view, allowing mobile users to create pages via the wiki's search function.
Redirects
Redirect pages are used to link another term to its intended page, accounting for alternate names or spellings of a subject. If someone searches for that term or clicks on a link of it, they will instantly be brought to the intended page. Redirects are best used to avoid instances of a single subject having multiple pages. A redirect can be created like any other page, but by adding #REDIRECT [[PAGENAME]] as its sole content. These should also be left uncategorized.