Editing Template talk:missinginfo

== Name ==
<code><nowiki>{{unknown}}</nowiki></code> seems a little vague. How about <code><nowiki>{{missinginfo}}</nowiki></code> or <code><nowiki>{{lostinfo}}</nowiki></code> or <code><nowiki>{{incompleterecords}}</nowiki></code> or somesuch? &mdash; [[User:It's dot com|It's dot com]] 01:28, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
:Hmmm... How about N/A? Or just missinginfo? {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 01:13, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
::Okay, I see that you went ahead and moved the template. That's probably okay in this case, but it's usually best to let the discussion age a little to give people a chance to weigh in. Also, when you add or change the template on several pages, "Another" is a poor edit summary, because it only makes sense in the context of the recent changes (which are temporary) and not in each page's history. &mdash; [[User:It's dot com|It's dot com]] 01:42, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
::: We both came up with same name independently of eachother so I figured it was established. Sorry about the edit summary, I figured it would save time... Though I could have just written "added unknown". <br>{{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 01:53, 4 April 2013 (UTC)

== Format and usage ==
Do we need this template? Do we really expect any of this missing information to ever be filled in? Even if we do, I think the format needs to be scaled way back. A large banner across the top of the page is too much considering the relative importance of the missing info and likelihood it will be found. &mdash; [[User:It's dot com|It's dot com]] 01:28, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
:I don't think we're very likely to recover any info, but I thought it was important to categorize the pages we need info for. Like having a wish list even though you know you won't get a GBA... grrr. It's good for organizational purposes. I'm going to ask TBC if they can recover any info and hopefully they will respond. Dates are relatively insignificant, but I really want to recover the files for all the scroll button songs. {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 01:46, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
::Please don't contact the Chaps on behalf of the wiki. Thanks. &mdash; [[User:It's dot com|It's dot com]] 01:59, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
::: I wouldn't claim to represent the wiki, just ask for "fan" sake or something of the sort. Oh, and an idea for an April Fools Prank&mdash;You could have the middle of words scramble themselves like that cool study where you still read them normally. {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 02:06, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
:::: That trick [[YouTube:TNStNUizxhE|doesn't actually work]]. &mdash; [[User:It's dot com|It's dot com]] 02:22, 4 April 2013 (UTC)
I agree with Dot com, it should be scaled back (and likely repositioned) so that it's noticeable but not front-and-center in every page it uses.  --[[User:Stux|Stux]] 15:02, 6 April 2013 (UTC)
:: Numero Uno&mdash;I just watched the videro, I think the trick's still cool though. Oddly, I could read the "alleviate uncertainties with a healthy dose of skepticism" sentence fairly easily. And, as wiki pages use fairly predictable syntax, I don't think spontaneity and lack of 3-letter words would be a promblem... As for Stux, I did scale it down... by like 10 pixels. As for repositioned, do you have a recommendation? {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 15:15, 6 April 2013 (UTC)
:::Making the template narrower is nice and all but it won't completely fix the issue: these templates cover missing information that may never be found. That means that these templates will permanently grace the pages in question and right now they are the first thing that's greeting the visitor to a page and taking away attention from the actual content.  So when I say it should be scaled back, I mean that its presentation should be subdued and it becomes something the reader notices as they're reading the page, later on.  So my suggestions are as follows: 
:::#Move the template itself lower down the page, perhaps past transcripts and into the references section.
:::#Split the notice into two: one for entire pages and/or sections (this one) and one for small, individual items (for example, if the year's just missing).  For those small ones the notice should look not much different than a footnote.
:::#Consider changing the notice color to something that blends in with the page (probably lighter colors for the fill and the border and/or thinner border).  I like the picture though! 
:::Now, these are all suggestions so I'm not saying all these things should happen but I strongly encourage you to explore them! {{-}}[[User:Stux|Stux]] 00:58, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
:::: Good ideas. Well, I'm not sure what "splice" the template means, and I'm not sure how to make it narrower, but I will move it to the bottom of the page like the stub template. How did you add pages to the Articles With Missing Info Category? I wanted to expand it. {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 01:04, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
:::::What I mean by splitting/splicing the template is making two separate templates for different purposes. The best example I can use to illustrate this are the content warning templates: {{tl|sightingslanguagewarning}} is a wide template, almost like your template (you can use its code to make your template narrower).  This is meant for use in sections or entire pages.  On the other hand {{tl|inlinecontentwarning}} is a small template used within text.  This is what I meant by a "footnote" type of template. Perhaps something a little bit smaller than that would be more appropriate.  [[Main Page 1]] ({{pl|l=http://www.hrwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page_1&diff=736079&oldid=736048&rcid=698636 see diff}}) would benefit from this small template, for example.  Hope this helps! {{-}}[[User:Stux|Stux]] 02:09, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
::::::: I tried the wide template and it's not working {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 02:20, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
{| style="background-color: #E3E2D1; border: 2px solid #666666; margin: 0.4em; padding: 0.5em; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: auto;"
|-
| [[File:Scholarly_Homestar.png|60px]]
| This article requires information that is '''no longer accessible'''. Our records are currently incomplete, but you could help the wiki by {{p|l={{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=edit}} '''contributing your knowledge'''}} on the matter. {{#if:{{{1|}}}|'''Missing:''' {{{1|&#123;&#123;&#123;1&#125;&#125;&#125;}}}|}}
|}
:Oh, I get what you mean. The reasons would be separate from the main template. I think that would be more distracting than this already is, considering all the in-line text I would have to write. {{User:Broncotroll/sig}} 02:28, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
::Almost.  If there's only 1-3 things then we wouldn't use the main template, just the miniature one.  IF there's a whole slew of things we'd only use the main template. --[[User:Stux|Stux]] 15:05, 7 April 2013 (UTC)
:::If this template is going to grace the bottom&mdash; and not the top &mdash;of pages for an indefinite period of time, perhaps we should format it like {{t|stub}}? {{User:Soiled Bargains/sig}} 22:24, 22 June 2013 (UTC)