[edit] [purge] Template documentation

This template employs intricate features of template syntax. You are encouraged to familiarise yourself with its setup and parser functions before editing the template. If your edit causes unexpected problems, please undo it quickly, as this template may appear on a large number of pages. Remember that you can conduct experiments, and should test all improvements, in either the local /sandbox or your user space before changing anything here.

This template is a signpost. It is intended to be used on particularly active talk pages that attract commentary from inexperienced editors, and/or high levels of debate from everyone. It provides:

• A short introduction and appropriate links for newcomers.
• A reminder of policy to experienced Wikipedians.
• A list of links to the current talk page's archives.
• An optional archive search box.

This template should be used only when needed. There is no need to add this template to every talk page.

Usage

 {{Talk header}} 

To add this template to a talk page, just edit the talk page, and put {{Talk header}} at the top of the page (above existing conversations).

Talk pages that attract frequent or perpetual debate, articles often subject controversy, and/or recent-and-highly-visible topics are usually appropriate for this template. Calm talk pages do not need this template.

In accordance with Wikipedia:Talk page layout, this template should not be added to otherwise empty talk pages. That changes the "discussion" tab at the top of the page from a "redlink" into a "bluelink", which may mislead people into thinking there is discussion.

For more information on this topic, see the talk page for this template, including the talk archives and the TfD logs.

Parameters

Full syntax:

 {{talkheader|noarchive=no|search=no|arpol=no|wp=no|disclaimer=no|shortcut1|shortcut2|shortcut3|shortcut4|shortcut5}} 

• Up to five shortcuts can be added to the template, as unnamed parameters. For example, {{Talk header|WP:SHOR|WP:TCUT}}. They will display similar to the {{shortcut}} template, but within the Talk header message box.
• A search bar can be displayed to allow editors to search the archives of a talk page by using the parameter |search=yes. For example: {{Talk header|search=yes}}.
• For use on WikiProject talk pages, the parameter |wp=yes can be included to add "and anything related to its purposes and tasks." to the top line of the banner.
• When used on a talk page that has archives, links to those archives will be displayed automatically within this template. To switch this off, use the parameter |noarchive=yes. For example: {{Talk header|noarchive=yes}}. In order for automatic archive links to be displayed, archives must be named in the standard way. A link to the archive index is also displayed, if it is named "/Archive index". If no archives exist for the current talk page, or if archives exist but possess non-standard names, no archive links will be displayed.
• On user talk pages, |disclaimer=yes adds an additional banner which identifies the page as being originally from Wikipedia (and modifies the width to suit), matching the style of {{userpage}}.
• Additional policy content can be added to talk headers on user talk pages by adding |arpol=yes.

Hiding the template

If you would prefer not to see this template on any talk page, you can hide it from your view. You'll need to have a named account to do this.

1. Edit your user style page. (For the default skin: Special:Mypage/monobook.css)
2. Add a line: #talkheader {display:none;}
3. Save the change.
4. Bypass your cache.

Appearances variations

Be aware that this template will appear differently in different namespaces. In particular, in the article namespace, there is an additional box of "Article policies". That box does not appear when this template is used in any other namespace (including the template namespace) but may be optionally added with the |arpol=yes parameter. Here is what the template looks like with the "Article policies" box:

The test cases page shows other variations in appearance.

Template editing notes

Please discuss before making changes to this template. Unannounced action tends to lead to a flurry of editing. Differences in personal taste have lead to "perpetual tweaking" in the past.

You can use the sandbox as a "working draft" to propose changes. (Please do not include the sandbox in "production use".)

By design, this template appears differently depending on which namespace it is used in. One should remain concious of how this will impact your changes. In particular, the number of columns can vary, affecting text width for line wrapping.

There is a page of test cases for the various namespace appearances.

See also

• {{User talk header}}
• Wikipedia:Template messages
• Wikipedia:Template messages/Talk namespace
• MediaWiki:Talkpagetext