Template:About/doc

This is a template documentation subpage for Template:About.
It contains usage information, categories, interlanguage links and other content that is not part of the original template page.

This template provides a {{hatnote}} at the top of a page summarizing its topic for the purpose of disambiguation from similar pages.

Usage of unnamed parameters

The first parameter of the template is a very brief summary of the current page's topic to contrast it from similar pages. It can be left blank to simply go straight to alternate pages.

Subsequent parameters are used in pairs to provide links to alternate pages which the reader may be looking for. Each pair consists of a very brief description of the alternate page in one parameter, followed by the pagename of the alternate page (without any link formatting) in the next parameter. If no pagename is provided, the default disambiguation page for the current pagename is linked instead.

Instead of a description of an alternate page, two special options can be used:

• The word "and" adds on to the previous alternate page description with a 2nd link (or default disambiguation page, if none is provided after the "and" parameter). This cannot be used multiple times in a row - maximum two links per description.
• The number "1" uses the standard text "other uses" as the description for a link, and works well as the last parameter when linking to the default disambiguation page. This is not necessary and does not work on the first alternate page, which will use the default disambiguation anyway if no parameters are provided.

Up to four alternate pages can be linked.

Examples

Link straight to the default disambiguation page with no descriptions

{{about}}

yields (on a page named Magic: The Gathering)

For other uses, see Magic: The Gathering (disambiguation).

Description of current page only, with automatic link to default disambiguation page

{{about|the set}}

yields (on a page named The Brothers' War)

This page is about the set. For other uses, see The Brothers' War (disambiguation).

Description of current page and manual description of default disambiguation page

{{about|the original set|other products and events}}

yields (if used within a page named Legends)

This page is about the original set. For other products and events, see Legends (disambiguation).

Descriptions of this page and an alternate page, with a link to the alternate

{{about|the initial printing of 1st edition|the second printing|Beta}}

yields

This page is about the original printing of 1st edition. For the second printing, see Beta.

Linking to an alternate page, skipping the description of the current one.

{{about||its creator known by the same name|Dakkon Blackblade}}

yields

For its creator known by the same name, see Dakkon Blackblade.

Two alternate pages using the same description, using "and" parameter

{{about||products featuring this ice age|Ice Age block|and|Ice Age (comic)}}

yields

For products featuring this ice age, see Ice Age block and Ice Age (comic).

Alternate page, followed by "1" parameter to use automatic link to default disambiguation

{{about||the later Phyrexian home plane|New Phyrexia|1}}

yields (if used within a page named Phyrexia)

For the later Phyrexian home plane, see New Phyrexia. For other uses, see Phyrexia (disambiguation).

Alternate page, followed by manual disambiguation link using "1" parameter for basic description

{{about||the set|Time Spiral|1|Time Spiral (disambiguation)}}

yields

For the set, see Time Spiral. For other uses, see Time Spiral (disambiguation).

Two alternate pages with separate descriptions

{{about|the card type|planeswalking beings|Planeswalker (lore)|the 1998 novel|Planeswalker (novel)}}

yields

This page is about the card type. For planeswalking beings, see Planeswalker (lore). For the 1998 novel, see Planeswalker (novel).

Three alternate pages, including an "and" parameter, followed by a default disambiguation labeled with basic "1" parameter

{{about||other game representations of time|Timing and priority|and|Time counter|times in the main story|Timeline|1}}

yields (if used within a page named Time)

For other game representations of time, see Timing and priority and Time counter. For times in the main story, see Timeline. For other uses, see Time (disambiguation).

Four alternate pages, including an "and" parameter

{{about||the plane|Ravnica|the novels|Ravnica (novel)|and|War of the Spark: Ravnica|other sets and blocks|Ravnica (disambiguation)}}

yields

For the plane, see Ravnica. For the novels, see Ravnica (novel) and War of the Spark: Ravnica. For other sets and blocks, see Ravnica (disambiguation).

Extra parameters

The `link` parameter

The link parameter can be used

{{about||the plane subtype|Foundations (plane)|link=Foundations}}

yields

"Foundations" redirects here. For the plane subtype, see Foundations (plane).

The `not` parameters

The parameters not, not2, not3 and not4 function like the unnamed parameters of the {{distinguish}} template.