Forum:Infobox: First variable

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Should the {{{{first}}} variable on {{Infobox Individual}} really be pre-linked as with navigation variables on {{Infobox Story}}? Isn't it better format to allow for prefixes like TV, PROSE and so forth? Or futureproof if two characters premiere in stories of the same name and different media?

Also, does the variable apply to everything or only characters with numerous appearances? -- Tybort (talk page) 02:07, March 13, 2012 (UTC)

Also, why is the same variable not automated like this for {{Infobox Species}}? Shouldn't it be consistent? -- Tybort (talk page) 21:01, March 24, 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for catching the inconsistency. They're now working the same way.

To answer your questions:

• I do think it's best for it to be automatically linking, and the prefixes really aren't important in this instance. The main reason is that it limits the "junk" — the tendency for people to add parentheticals like "(in audio)", "(on TV)", "(in comics)" or other things like that. This way it's one answer — locked down, automatically linked, automatically italicised, automatically stripped of its dab term. It should genuinely be for the first appearance only, and making it auto-linking ensures that it will be just that.
• No, you wouldn't use this on every person or species — only those who had multiple appearances. I'm not trying to be a smartass, but isn't it obvious that you would only use the variable when there's more than one appearance? If you're actually genuinely confused about this, I'll change the instructions. But I really didn't think people would put the exact same response for both {{{first}}} and {{{appearances}}}. Doesn't the word "first" imply that there are others?
• Don't undersand your futureproofing scenario — or, more specifically, why you think {{dab away}} won't handle that. If character A debuts in The Gathering (TV story) and character B debuts in The Gathering (audio story) the infobox can handle that. It'll just strip both of the dab terms, leaving behind a link to the proper Gathering that displays as The Gathering. Not sure what the problem is there, because you're not going to be looking at both characters simultaneously. You're only going to be looking at one character at a time, so you won't get confused. And chances are that you'll know you've clicked through to a character from a Doctor Who audio story, or to one from a Torchwood TV story. And you still have the power to mouse over the link and see the dab term. But, like I say, I don't think I fully understand your scenario.
  czechout<staff /> ☎ ✍ 01:54: Mon 26 Mar 2012