Forum:CT Archive/New planet infobox template

Proposal
Hi everyone, I've only just discovered this wiki but I've been maintaining an Access database for a few years as a hobby that covers pretty much the same matter. Any way, here is my proposal for the planet template. It was based upon the older one already in use here and includeds additional data fields that I have found useful.


 * An additional point I would raise in support for this change is that in my expeiences with databases it is better to create the most flexible architecture from the begining and have a few blank spaces rather than make incremental changes over time and have to update every entry each time a new field is required.

Cheers, Shiaic 27 Dec 2005

Discussion
Hi Shiac. The major problem with this template is that we must design it to the lowest common denominator. There are very, very few planets for which we have all of this information. It wouldn't just be a few empty fields, it would be many. --SparqMan 22:29, 26 Dec 2005 (UTC)


 * I can appreciate that, but I just don't see empty fields as anything but an issue over aesthetics, and I think that this would only lead to people searching for the extra information to fill the blank spaces. For example, fields such as class (ie. Terrestial, Gas Giant, etc.) and atmosphere may in many cases not be written specifically (except for when it is an execption to the norm ie, Amonia Gas) but can still be included from inferance... If a human character is moving around without breathing apparatus, the atmosphere is obviously breathable, therefore Oxygen Mix.
 * In the Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopeadia CUSWE at theforce.net there are at least 400 planet entries with data for Length of Day and Length of Year so although there may be very few planets for which all of this data exists, there are very many that have most of it.
 * Also, the argument that this template upsets entries using the previous one is moot because I have been trawling through (and updating where I can) and have seen about 3 differant infoboxes in use anyway, and the ones currently linked to the Template:Plant are only slightly affected by the new template.
 * At the end of the day, designing it for the lowest common denominator is, in my opinion, just limiting the potential of this resource for fans and everyone else. Is there any input from everyone else on the issue? -- Shiaic, 27 Dec 2005


 * Shiaic, perhaps you haven't noticed that we have over 1,100 planets so far on Wookieepedia, with more each day. The 400 planets for the length data isn't even half of that. There are other fields, however, that we have no remote information on, and for most of the planets, we never will. The majority of our planets are short articles because they are only mentioned in passing or have very little offered in the way of details along the lines for which you are looking. For example: diameter, distance from Core, X-Y-Z coordinates. This doesn't even take into account the more simple areas (language, imports/exports, population) for which we have no source, and are likely never to have. Does that explain my concerns more clearly? --SparqMan 06:27, 27 Dec 2005 (UTC)