Extensions

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Thomas_Lerman
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#21

Post by Thomas_Lerman »

I was wondering if that may be the case . . . while I was on Wikipedia, I was thinking I have seen that category before somewhere. I will check these out later. I too have been bouncing around MediaWiki, Wikipedia, etc. Here are the updated links:
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Extensions
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Template:Extension

I just hope we are keeping the extensions, templates, and styles straight in our mind. It seems like this has generate a little confusion. Templates can use extensions, other templates, and/or styles to get a task done, but does not necessarily do everything . . . if that makes sense. Anyway, got to run.
The_Earl
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#22

Post by The_Earl »

Thomas_Lerman wrote:I was wondering if that may be the case . . . while I was on Wikipedia, I was thinking I have seen that category before somewhere. I will check these out later. I too have been bouncing around MediaWiki, Wikipedia, etc. Here are the updated links:
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Extensions
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Template:Extension

I just hope we are keeping the extensions, templates, and styles straight in our mind. It seems like this has generate a little confusion. Templates can use extensions, other templates, and/or styles to get a task done, but does not necessarily do everything . . . if that makes sense. Anyway, got to run.
Templates are chunks of wiki text that can be added to documents automagically. The template parser is responsible for translating templates into wiki text. Templates use template parser syntax.

Extensions are special templates that run PHP code and generate wiki text. Extensions specifically do things that the template parser cannot, or should not do (like loops). Extensions look like Templates, except they do not have a wiki page, nor run in the template parser, but in the PHP code behind the wiki.

Styles are HTML that are sometimes included in wiki text. Styles can do cool things like move text around and change colors of things. Both extensions and templates can generate wiki text, and therefore styles.

The Earl
Thomas_Lerman
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#23

Post by Thomas_Lerman »

Thank you. Hopefully, this will help keep it clear for everyone.

I think one thing that may have sounded confusing was when you said, "Wikipedia uses templates to categorize templates and extensions." I believe I understand what you are saying. The extension (PHP) is not actually categorized via a template, but rather the documentation for the extension is. The style is actually what creates the multiple columns, not the template. Like I said, not enough sleep for me.
The_Earl
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Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:12 am

#24

Post by The_Earl »

Thomas_Lerman wrote:Thank you. Hopefully, this will help keep it clear for everyone.

I think one thing that may have sounded confusing was when you said, "Wikipedia uses templates to categorize templates and extensions." I believe I understand what you are saying. The extension (PHP) is not actually categorized via a template, but rather the documentation for the extension is. The style is actually what creates the multiple columns, not the template. Like I said, not enough sleep for me.
Yeah, you got it. My explanation was confused....

Thanks
The Earl
The_Earl
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Posts: 278
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#25

Post by The_Earl »

The Earl wrote:I had found some interesting translation template work on a user's page in Wikipedia. He was using #foreach to parse lists of language codes to auto-generate translation pages. I will have to find the pages again, as I didn't bookmark them. :(

The use of lists and #foreach was VERY elegant to build page frameworks. I would like to use #foreach to build out the articles and portals described at Talk:Meta:US_Structure.

Don't let #foreach derail the requests for the other parser functions, I will have to find the pages and defend #foreach once I have a chance. I just figured you would be interested, since you are discussing long lists of things.

Thanks
The Earl

FOUND IT!!!!


I didn't bookmark the pages, but I did put them into a thread here at the forum.
http://tech.lds.org/forum/showthread.php?t=835&page=3

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Suruena/i18n_%28en%29

The original thread discusses how #foreach could be used for translations, and why these templates are so blinkin' cool.

Similar functionality could build the portal space, or general gazetteer.

Anyway
The Earl
bolingbrokeba
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ParserFunctions

#26

Post by bolingbrokeba »

Just to be clear, here is the link to the ParserFunctions extension: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ParserFunctions

As Thomas mentioned, Wikipedia is also using an ExpandTemplates extension which we may find useful: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ExpandTemplates

It doesn't look like Wikipedia is using the LoopFunctions extension (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Version) which provides the #for and #foreach functions. That extension is not in a stable state, it's still in beta: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:LoopFunctions
Thomas_Lerman
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Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:54 am

#27

Post by Thomas_Lerman »

Yeah, I believe that I referred to the same pages for the parsing functions. I actually have not played around with the ExpandTemplates extension. I only referred to it through your request. I believe that The Earl also talked about it. It would be nice to get these installed, but they have not paid it to the top of the priorities yet.
bolingbrokeba
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#28

Post by bolingbrokeba »

The Cite, ParserFunctions, and ExpandTemplates extensions have been installed on the test wiki for testing now.
Thomas_Lerman
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#29

Post by Thomas_Lerman »

Glad to hear it. Can we get access to the test wiki? I look forward to the next sprint whenever that is.
bolingbrokeba
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#30

Post by bolingbrokeba »

The test wiki is only available on the church network, but may be available from the FH Library in the near future.
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