View source for Template:Seriesbox/Documentation

The {{T|Seriesbox}} template is used on the appropriate series page below the <code>Series:</code> namespace. Creating a <code>Series:Name</code> page is the same process as creating a game article, simply type in <code>Series:Name of the series</code> in the search field and hit {{Key|Enter}}, and select to create a new page. Then follow the instructions that appears with the help of the below documentation.

'''Syntax'''
<pre><nowiki>
{{Seriesbox|entries=
{{Seriesbox/parent|My Little Parent Series|}}
{{Seriesbox/row|[[The Game]]|2000}}
{{Seriesbox/row|[[Game 2: Electric Boogaloo]]|2004}}
{{Seriesbox/row|[[Game 3: Not Game 2]]|2014}}
{{Seriesbox/child|The Electric Boogaloo Spin-off}}
}}
</nowiki></pre>


'''Example'''

See [[Series:Game]], [[Series:Halo]], [[Series:Lego]], or [[Series:Lego Batman]].

The table is where the actual information is stored. It consists of two or more parts:

* The header. Besides holding the table together, the title of the sidebar resides here:

<ul><dd><dl><pre><nowiki>
{{Seriesbox|entries=
(content goes here)
}}
</nowiki></pre></dl></dd></ul>

* Main game row. A row meant for full game releases in the series:

<ul><dd><dl><pre><nowiki>
{{Seriesbox/row|[[The Game]]|2000}}
</nowiki></pre></dl></dd></ul>

* Child series row. Defines a child series of the current series, such as a spin-off series or subseries that connects specific titles:

<ul><dd><dl><pre><nowiki>
{{Seriesbox/child|Name of the child series}}
</nowiki></pre></dl></dd></ul>

* Parent series row. Defines a parent series of the current series:

<ul><dd><dl><pre><nowiki>
{{Seriesbox/parent|Name of the parent series}}
</nowiki></pre></dl></dd></ul>


'''General rules'''

* Games should be ordered on first PC release date (oldest to newest).
* If an expansion is standalone (i.e. does not require the base game to function), it should be considered a separate game and listed as a full title.
* Use the full title of the game when adding it to the list.
* Some franchises are too large to fit onto one table (ex. Star Wars). Narrow in on what sub-series a collection of games follow.
* A new game in a series should only be added in if it has been confirmed that it will be released on the PC (either Windows, OS X, or Linux).
* While not common, fan games and major mods for a series can be added in if it is worth mentioning. Ask a mod before editing it in.


'''Common issues'''
* Issue: Cover thumbnail is listed as text in the series table.
:* Solution: Refresh the cache for the series page (More -> Refresh).
:* Description: This is caused by PCGW not having generated and cached the thumbnail of the cover yet, which might take a couple of minutes. A refresh of the cache might help.

* Issue: Game includes a cover that isn't listed as a thumbnail nor as text in the series table.
:* Solution: Refresh the cache for the game page (More -> Refresh), and then the cache for the series page.
:* Description: This is caused by the game page not having updated its cached in a while, so the properties [[Property:Cover]] and [[Property:Cover filename]] haven't been set for it yet and therefor the series list can't retrieve the thumbnail.

* Issue: Game includes the series sidebar, but isn't listed in the large series table even after cache refreshes.
:* Solution: Verify that <code><nowiki>{{Series|xxxx}}</nowiki></code> is being used, with a pipe '''|''' between the series template call and the name of the series, and that a colon ''':''' is not used instead, and then refresh the series page cache.
:* Description: Mistakenly writing <code><nowiki>{{Series:xxxx}}</nowiki></code> with a colon ( : ) instead of a pipe ( | ) will result in the game page transcluding the relevant [[Series:xxxx]] page directly instead of going through the [[Template:Series]]. This will case the necessary [[Property:Part of series]] declaration to not be set, which will mean the game will not be seen as a part of the series.