Template:S-start/doc

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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Template:S-start. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Template:S-start. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

S-start is the initial component in a template series for succession boxes. A succession box is the box you see at the bottom of articles that shows what the predecessor to the article you're reading is. For example, Robert I Baratheon has a succession box that shows who the previous and next kings are, as well as who preceded and followed him in various other titles he held.

Every succession box begins with s-start, and thus it is an essential component of the system. The purpose of this page is to document the whole succession system based on s-start and to provide instructions for the correct creation and editing of succession boxes. The page is divided into three large sections: the first one provides a brief overview of the succession templates and an explanation of the function of parameters; the second one gives instructions for the creation of succession boxes; the third section goes further into detail about the succession templates and gives examples of their use. Complete examples of succession boxes of varying complexity are given in the end.

Templates examined in this page

Template s-start is to be used with the rest of the succession templates. The following is a list of all succession templates:

• Template:s-start: Start a succession box
• Template:s-end: End a succession box
• Template:s-break: For creating breaks (a replacement for hard-coding "|-")
• Template:s-bef: For listing predecessors
• Template:s-aft: For listing successors
• Template:s-ttl: For listing titles and years
• Template:s-new: For new titles
• Template:s-non: For no successors
• Template:s-inc: For incumbents
• Template:s-vac: For vacant titles (predecessor or successor)
• Template:s-tul: For titular monarchs (legitimate but not ruling)
• Template:s-hou: For royal house/individual information
• Template:s-ref: For citations of succession boxes

The first five items on the list are the most basic for the creation of succession boxes; the others (with the exception of s-hou) are used as substitutes for one of the first five, depending on the circumstances.

Parameters

Most templates work in the same way: the template's name is written between double curly brackets, and the text or code of the template appears in the page. A basic difference of succession templates is that most of them require the editor to include names, titles, or other text that will be displayed in the boxes, and which is different every time.

Such text is inserted into the templates by means of parameters, fields separated from the template name and from each other with pipes ( | ). The function of parameters is to alter the appearance of the cells created by these templates, usually by adding specially formatted text or changing the text already present. Although some parameters simply accept the desired text and are told apart by their place within the template, many parameters have names, separated from the text by an equal sign ( = ); while in the first case empty parameters must still be included if before one with text, many (but not all) named parameters can be omitted if they are not used, irrespective of their position. Furthermore, some named parameters do not require text at all; the simple inclusion of their name will activate a feature of the template. Blank spaces may be inserted between the text and the pipes, equal signs, and double curly brackets, but this is not necessary and can sometimes even be confusing.

In the following example, "s-vac" is the name of the template, "abeyance" is a parameter without any text but its name, and "last" is a parameter with both a name and text, in this case enclosed in double square brackets (thus wiki-linked).

{{s-vac|abeyance|last=[[George Smith]]}}

Most succession templates accept parameters; the inclusion of some of them is essential for the correct function of the templates, while the inclusion of others is optional. The only templates from the list of the previous section that do not accept any parameters are s-start/start and end/s-end.

There are various types of parameters. There are parameters that allow for the inclusion of names, titles, and dates, both obligatory and optional. The row parameter allows for the creation of complex tables and is described lower in this page. And the title parameters change the text normally appearing in s-new, s-inc, and s-vac.

Instructions for use

There are many types of succession boxes, as the combinations of the various templates previously mentioned are virtually endless. We shall begin by demonstrating the use of simple boxes, and proceed with the analysis of more complex boxes of many lines and multiple titles.

Simple boxes

The very purpose of a succession box is to show the place of the subject of the box (the person—or other entity—whose article the box is in) in a succession of people (henceforth referred to as a succession chain). Because of this, most boxes include three people, namely the subject, their predecessor, and their successor.

The quintessential succession box consists of three cells, which go from left to right in the same order that the three persons' terms succeeded each other: the left cell names the predecessor, the middle one names the title of the subject and the years that mark their term in an office (the person's name is already mentioned in the article's title and is thus not repeated here), and the right one names the successor.

Simply enough, the creation of a box follows the same order. First comes the predecessor (template s-bef), the title and years follow (template s-ttl), and then comes the successor (template s-aft). It should not be forgotten, of course, that every succession box opens with the s-start template, and ends with the s-end template. Each command should be given its own line in the edit box.

Have a look at this diagram.

Enter the start field so that the program recognizes the table:

{{s-start}}

Enter the name of the predecessor:

{{s-bef|before=[[Enter predecessor here]]}}

Enter the title of the person on whose page you are working:

{{s-ttl|title=[[Enter title here]]

Also, enter the years during which they held that title (not necessarily in a different line):

|years=Enter start date here – Enter end date here}}

Enter the name of the successor:

{{s-aft|after=[[Enter successor here]]}}

Once everything is done, type:

{{s-end}}

This is an example of the technique, taken from the article of Aegon IV Targaryen. Writing...

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men]]<br>[[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]<br>[[Protector of the Realm]]

|years={{Date|172|184}}}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Daeron II Targaryen|Daeron II]]}}

{{s-end}}

...will produce this:

Note that the names of the predecessor and the successor and the name of the title are enclosed within double square brackets; this allows for the names in the box to link to their respective articles. Although it is strongly suggested that you do link the names in the boxes even if they do not have their own article at the time (resulting in a red link), there can be exceptions.

It is encouraged that you include the title-holder's dates of term or reign whenever possible; if a date is dubious or disputed, use the s-ref template to include references that will back up that date (see the relevant section for details).

Advanced boxes

Some characters have held multiple offices and/or titles in their life. As it would be unwieldy to create separate boxes for all these titles, we include all of them in a single succession box. Thus, each article has one box at the bottom, which is easier to manage and more aesthetically pleasing.

In some cases, succession boxes consist of many separate rows that are made up of the previous section's simple boxes, and thus their creation follows more or less the same rules; the only difference is that special care should be given to the placement and relative order of said simple boxes, as well as to the inclusion s-break (a template version of "|-") between the lines where necessary.

On other occasions, a person might inherit more than one title from a single individual, and/or pass multiple titles on to one person. It is also possible that someone might take over an office from two different people who had held it jointly until then, or join several different titles into one that will be inherited by a single heir.

For these, and other scenarios, it is possible to create succession boxes that can clearly show those connections by making use of the advanced features of the hereinbefore presented succession template model. The system for the advanced boxes is slightly different from the simple forms demonstrated in the previous section, and it relies heavily on the s-break template, as well as on the correct counting of the rows.

Counting the rows

Basically, the format is the following: if a box is taking up more than one row of the table, it can be specified how many rows exactly that will be by inserting a row parameter immediately after the template name (s-... field) and before every other parameter. That can be done by typing:

{{s-...|rows=Insert number of rows here|...}}

The number corresponds to the number of rows this name or title overlaps in regard to the other rows, as opposed to denoting a specific height for a cell. In other words, if, for example, all three cells of a line were given a "rows=2" parameter, the box would appear as if none of these cells was assigned a rows parameter at all, the comparative heights of these cells to one another being identical.

The titles in succession boxes are usually listed in the order of the granting of the title—beginning with the oldest titles held—but other schemes exist as well. All notable successive titles should be noted, though titles tied together permanently can be listed in the same cell and some subsidiary titles may be omitted altogether.

s-break (the "|-" character)

In theory, it is necessary for the box to work to place "|-" between every line of the box, even if every cell is restricted to its own line. However, "|-" is already imbedded into most of the templates, so it is no longer necessary to add it to boxes that consist of simple one-row lines, with the exceptions of templates s-vac and s-non: if a line ends with one of these templates, you need to place this character or the computer will not recognize a new row. Similarly, if a line begins with s-vac, the character must be placed before that row.

Still, things are different with more complex tables that incorporate multiple-row cells covering more than one lines each. Complex patterns are created and it is not always easy for the computer to display all the lines correctly. This is why s-break is so important in these cases, and although its placement is unneeded between many of the lines, it is much more preferable to use it redundantly in a table than to create a non-functional box, where it will often be difficult to locate the mistake.

That said, and even though it is a safe option to place s-break between every pair of lines in a box, it is naturally better to avoid such practices to the extent this is possible. Here follow a few simple tips that can limit its redundant usage to a minimum without leading to mistakes:

• When considering the placement of s-break, it is important to note the presence or absence of succession templates in a line. That is, a template for a multiple-line cell is always placed at the line from which the cell starts, therefore that line has a template for that cell while the other lines that share the cell do not. As a result, a line from which multi-line cells begin but into which no cell continues from a higher line has templates for all three cells and there is not any need to place the character before it unless this is necessitated by the presence of a s-vac or s-non template.

In the following example, note the lack of 's-break between the first and the second line and, more importantly, between the fourth and fifth lines:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before}}

{{s-ttl|title=|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before=}}

{{s-ttl|title=|years=}}

{{s-aft|rows=3|after=}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=|years=}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=}}

{{s-ttl|title=|years=}}

{{s-bef|before=}}

{{s-ttl|title=|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=}}

{{s-end}}

• When only the predecessor cell of a line stretches between the line in question and a previous one (it does not matter whether it continues into a lower line), s-break needs not be inserted between that line and the previous one. Similarly, if only the successor cell covers multiple lines and begins in a line above the one in question, then the s-break that could follow the concerned line's s-ttl parameter can be omitted. And the situation is even easier with a multi-row title cell (a rarer occurrence), as it is usually not directly affected by line changes. Generally, it is easier for the computer to separate the lines when only one template is missing from a row's three.

• Always use the preview button before saving. If you are not certain about the inclusion of a s-break, you can try removing it and then previewing the page; if a succession box has an error, that will generally be readily visible. Keep in mind that each line in a box ought to have three cells, each line and column should align perfectly, and the two side columns should have the same width, which normally is slightly smaller than that of the middle column (a 3 to 4 ratio).

Have a look at the following example. In its first iteration (left), s-break is used to separate every line from its previous and next ones. In its second version (right), s-break is used only as many times as it is necessary for the box to work properly: none. The result is exactly the same in both cases, and can be seen below the code.

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=Mary}}

{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=President of the Balkans|years=1982–1992}}

{{s-aft|after=William}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Nicholas}}

{{s-aft|after=Edgar}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=King of New Zealand|years=1990–1997}}

{{s-aft|after=Helen}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Richard}}

{{s-ttl|title=King of Southeast Asia|years=1990–present}}

{{s-inc|rows=2|heir=Lee}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=George}}

{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Borneo|years=2003–present}}

{{s-end}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=Mary}}

{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=President of the Balkans

|years=1982–1992}}

{{s-aft|after=William}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Nicholas}}

{{s-aft|after=Edgar}}

{{s-ttl|title=King of New Zealand

|years=1990–1997}}

{{s-aft|after=Helen}}

{{s-bef|before=Richard}}

{{s-ttl|title=King of Southeast Asia

|years=1990–present}}

{{s-inc|rows=2|heir=Lee}}

{{s-bef|before=George}}

{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Borneo

|years=2003–present}}

{{s-end}}

Analysis of succession templates

Here follows a detailed description of the succession templates, with information about the circumstances in which they are used and examples of their use in succession boxes. The five basic templates are not included, as their function is standard (see previous section) and their parameters are documented separately lower in this page.

The templates are analyzed in sections according to their place in succession boxes.

Predecessor/successor templates

These are the templates that are used to substitute s-bef and/or s-aft when a box documents a succession different from the usual format of "predecessor-subject-successor", like at the beginning or end of a succession chain and at a vacancy. The templates in this category are four: s-new, s-non, s-inc, and s-vac.

S-new

S-new is used instead of s-bef to signify the beginning of a new succession chain, where there is no predecessor before the subject for a specific title.

Simply using {{s-new}} will produce a plain "New title" cell. Using parameters can change this title: "creation" produces a "New creation" cell instead of the "New title" one, "party" produces a "New political party" one, etc. (see the template page for an exhaustive list). There is also a "reason" parameter, which gives the option of entering the reason behind the title's creation, using a short sentence.

Here follows an example of the usage of Template:S-new, taken from the article of Aegon I Targaryen:

{{s-start}}

{{s-new}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men]]<br>[[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]<br>[[Protector of the Realm]]|years={{Date|1|37}}}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys I]]}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

S-non

S-non is the opposite of s-new: it is used to signal the conclusion of a chain of succession, replacing s-aft in the box's successor cell. S-non fills the slot when a position is abolished, becomes extinct, or otherwise falls into permanent disuse. S-vac should be used instead if the line of succession resumes after a period of vacancy.

As the reasons for the end of a title are more numerous and possibly more difficult to describe than those for its creation, s-non is an open template, allowing for the insertion of practically any message (using the "reason" parameter, which cannot be omitted). It is preferable, however, that these messages are as short as possible, like "Abolished."

S-non must be followed by a |- character in complex tables, or error might occur in the display of these succession boxes. The use of this character is not necessary if a reason is given, as the use of a reason incorporates the use of the | character. The very first and last lines of each table are also excepted, as it is not necessary to add the character before the first line and after the last one.

Here follows an example of the usage of Template:S-non, taken from the article of the Bloodstone Emperor:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Amethyst Empress]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[God-emperor]] of the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]]}}

{{s-non|reason=Last emperor}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

S-inc

S-inc is used instead of s-aft to show that the subject is the current holder of a title, and that for this reason there is no successor to the title for the duration of the subject's term. There are incumbents for all succession chains that have not already ended, with the exception of those currently vacant.

One will normally use the proper s-inc template, {{s-inc}}, which will produce a simple "Incumbent" cell. There is the "heir" parameter, which allows one to include the name of the incumbent's heir (if any), as well as the "heir-type" parameter, where an heir's specific title or status can be stated (usually "Heir apparent" or "Heir presumptive").

Here follows an example of the usage of Template:S-inc, take from the article of Tommen Baratheon:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men]]<br>[[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]|years={{Date|300}}–present}}

{{s-inc|heir=[[Myrcella Baratheon]]|heir-type=Heiress presumptive}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

S-vac

S-vac may be used in place of either s-bef or s-aft (or both in the same line), and its purpose is to indicate breaks in succession chains, primarily vacancies. A vacancy is a length of time during which a title is unoccupied—for monarchs, such periods are known as interregna. Vacancies occur to most offices, although it should be noted that the short period that often passes between the end of the previous holder's term and the election/appointment of the next holder does not count as a vacancy.

There are two basic versions for s-vac, each of which requires a parameter. The version for the predecessor cell uses a "last" parameter, where the name of the title's holder before the vacancy can be filled, while the version for the successor cell uses the parameter "next". Furthermore, there are title parameters that change the message displayed ("Vacant"), depending on the specific circumstances: "commission" produces an "In commission" label and "suspended" produces a "Suspended" one, to furnish two examples (see the template page for an exhaustive list).

Apart from the standard edition of s-vac, there is also a pair of versions for the cases where title holders are unknown, and thus there are again missing links in the chains of succession, even though the titles were actually occupied at those times. In these occasions, the "last" and "next" parameters are replaced with "unknlast" and "unknnext" respectively, while the "unknown" title parameter ought to be used. This way readers can navigate unobstructed along even incomplete succession chains.

For all four versions there is also an optional "as" parameter, for changes of title names (see the relevant section lower in this page), as well as a "reason" parameter (preferably only used for vacancies), where a brief explanation for the vacancy can be entered.

Note that s-vac must in every event be preceded (when a predecessor cell) or followed (when a successor cell) by a |- character in succession boxes, because serious errors can occur in the display of these boxes if the character is omitted. The very first and last lines of each table are excepted, as it is not necessary to add the character before the first line and after the last one.

Here follows an example of the usage of Template:S-vac, taken from the article of Pycelle:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Merion]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Grand Maester]]|years={{Date|259|300}}}}

{{s-vac}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

Titles and offices

The only title cell template other than s-ttl is s-tul and it is used for titular titles or titles held in pretense. For other forms and functions of s-ttl, see the "Additional features" section.

S-tul

S-tul is used instead of s-ttl to signify that a title (usually a regnal one) is held by a person, but the power normally associated with it is not. This may take two forms: titular rulers and pretenders.

• Titular rulers are people who legitimately deserve a title yet are somehow incapable of securing it, as in the case of Janos Slynt, Lord of Harrenhal during the early years of the War of the Five Kings. Generally, a titular ruler's title will again be inherited by someone with power and remains only temporarily suspended. There is generally only one titular claimant to a title.

• Pretenders are people who may or may not have a rightful claim to a title, but regardless do not possess any legitimate authority. Examples of this include Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Daemon I Blackfyre, etc. Pretenders are not always successive, as titular leaders generally are, and there can be multiple pretenders at the same time (as in the War of the Five Kings).

S-tul is used for the above described cases because of its basic difference from s-ttl: the word "Titular" appears above the title in the displayed cell, and there are formatting differences as well. Apart from the obligatory "title" parameter and the optional but basic "years" parameter (as well as the omnipresent "rows" parameter), this template accepts no parameters.

Here follows an example of the usage of Template:S-tul, taken from the article of Janos Slynt:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Shella Whent]]}}

{{s-tul|title=[[Lord of Harrenhal]]|years={{Date|298|299}}}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Vargo Hoat]]}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

Additional features

As the purpose of succession boxes is to succinctly convey useful information to the readers, there exist parameters that allow the introduction of data into the boxes beyond the already examined capabilities of the succession templates. In particular, there are eleven parameters: the "as" parameter, which is used in predecessor and successor cells, and the "regents" family along with the "alongside," "creation," and "dynasty" parameters for the title cell. All of them are optional.

"As" parameter

The parameter as, which can be found in the s-bef, s-aft, and s-vac templates, is used to inform the reader of a change in the title's name from the previous or next holder. In these cases, even though the title retains more or less the same power and the succession chain is not interrupted, the title's name is different. As readers might be confused to see the title suddenly change during the course of a succession chain, the "as" parameter is used to prepare them for the impending change in both directions, added to both the succession box before and the one after the name change.

Please note that certain changes in title names, like the inclusion in a title of "Queen" instead of "King," or that of other gender-specific words, need not be clarified with the "as" parameter.

Here follows an example of the usage of the "as" parameter, taken from the article of Aurane Waters:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Mace Tyrell]]|as=[[Master of ships]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Grand admiral]]|years={{Date|300}}}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Paxter Redwyne]]|as=[[Master of ships]]}}

{{s-end}}

Which will appear like this:

"Regents" parameter

This is a group of six parameters, which are used exclusively in s-ttl in order to indicate regencies and other joint occupations of offices and titles. This characterization applies to occupation of the very same office, and not of similar ones. Each cell supports up to three regents, whose names can be inserted into parameters "regent1", "regent2", and "regent3" respectively; if there are less than three regents only the first one or two parameters need be used.

For each of the regents there is a corresponding parameter for the years during which they held the office jointly with the subject: "years1", "years2", and "years3". If a regent held the title during the entire term of the subject, however, no years are necessary. The order of the regents should be chronological, with the one assuming the office earlier coming first; if a regent held the office throughout the subject's term (no regency dates), that regent ought to have precedence.

Here follows an example of the usage of the "regents" parameter:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=Insert predecessor here}}

{{s-ttl|title=Insert title of person here|years=Insert years here

|regent1=Enter name or title of first (or only) regent|years1=Enter first regent's years}}

|regent2=Enter name of title of second regent|years2=Enter second regent's years}}

|regent3=Enter name or title of third regent|years3=Enter third regent's years}}

{{s-aft|after=Insert successor here}}

{{s-end}}

Which looks like:

"Alongside" parameter

The purpose of the "alongside" parameter, used in the s-ttl template, is to show that the subject has served in a parliament or congress for the same constituency, district, state, or other kind of electoral division, as long as that division traditionally elects between two and four representatives. The ultimate number of names that is filled in the parameter is equal to, or greater than, the number of the seats in the district in question minus one, and greatly depends on the length of the subject's term. There are no years for this parameter, and the names are only separated by commas; line breaks (<br />) can be used to improve the box's layout.

Here follows one example of the usage of the "alongside" parameter, using a made-up scenario of Alios Qhaedar being Triarch of Volantis:

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Malaquo Maegyr]]|before2=[[Doniphos Paenymion]]|before3=[[Nyessos Vhassar]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Triarch of Volantis]]|years={{Date|300}} –present|alongside=[[Parquello Vaelaros]]<br>[[Belicho Staegone]]}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

Which looks like:

S-ref

Template s-ref exists to provide notes and references related to the information in succession boxes.

S-ref supports up to ten sources/notes, which are entered as follows:

{{s-ref|Enter source/note 1 here|Enter source/note 2 here|Enter source/note 3 here| ... |Enter source/note 10 here}}

Only use as many fields as is necessary in each box. It is very important to note that s-ref already incorporates the function of template end, and it is thus unnecessary to use {{s-end}} to close a succession box when s-ref is used.

The notes and sources in s-ref are automatically numbered; they ought to be listed in the template with the order in which the information sourced, or to which the notes refer, is encountered in the box. The resulting numbers should be superscript next to the names, titles, and/or dates to which they refer—to do that, enclose a number in <sup> tags like this: ². (For numbers 1 to 3 one may also use the characters provided in the symbol box under the edit window.)