More actions
{{Random old school/doc}} is a randomisation template which comes from a point in the development of wikipedia:template:random number before it depended on {{#time:U}}. To you, the user, it should still function much like {{random}}, so those instructions are included below.
Remember, however, that the instructions below are written for {{random}} and therefore you will have to substitute {{random}} with {{random old school}}. Also, there are currently, as of 23:33, October 21, 2013 (UTC), bugs with {{random}} that prevent it from randomising properly. Therefore, you may not see the example below change on page load.
This example, however, should randomly display a number between one and 52 for you:
{{random}} generates a random number, at least to the extent that non-mathematicians will be happy with the term "random", through simple markup. The number can be from 1 to whatever number you choose, up to 1000.
Syntax is straightforward:
{{random|1000}} = 977
This number will change every time the page loads.
Though this simple aspect is enough to power any number of functions — such as determining which random, numbered subpage to call on a page, the template does have additional sophistication, detailed at template:random on Wikipedia.
Example of calling forth a page[[edit source]]
If you type the following, you will get a different quote of the week on every page load:
{{qotw/{{#expr:{{random|52}} + 1}}}}Test it out by reloading this page several times. What you get below will be different on almost every page, though with a sample size of only 52, you're bound to get some repeats. The reason is because there are 53 pages in the following format:
{{qotw/n}}However, there is no {{tlx|qotw/0}}. Thus by adding 1 to the randomly selected number between 0 and 52, we ensure the choice will be between the numbers 1 and 53.
- Fifth Doctor: (confused by sudden teleportation) Would it seem rude of me to ask who you are?
- Paul Addison: (chuckling) That's the trouble with you fair-haired types. No resistance to the old sun's rays. Paul Addison, England coach. Pleased to meet you. Again.
- Fifth Doctor: Paul Addison? I don't understand ...
- Addison: (laughing) Put your hat on. Touch of sunstroke, I'll bet. Just try and relax and enjoy the cricket, old man. It's about time you made it. I thought we'd have to do the Closing Ceremonies before you even showed your face! Harper's had one hell of an innings. We've just celebrated his triple century.
- Fifth Doctor: Paul Addison! Of course. The Barcelona Olympics. 2060 AD.
- Addison: Welcome back to the real world, Doctor. Would you like milk with your tea?