Template:Scratchpad how to/doc


 * Note: For articles use the howto template instead.

This is the Wikipedia how to message box.

It can be placed on top of non-article pages where relevant. This usually means pages in the "Wikipedia:" and "Help:" namespaces, but sometimes how-to guides also exist as user subpages.

Usage
This template can be used as is. Like this:



But it can also take up to five shortcuts as parameters. It then displays a small shortcut box inside it. Like this:



Then it looks like this:

If you want to feed more than one or two shortcuts then the shortcut box becomes too high, which doesn't look good. Then we recommend instead placing a box directly below this template. Like this:

Technical details
If a page that use this template is in the Wikipedia or Help namespace, then this template adds Category:Wikipedia how-to.

If you want to just demonstrate this template on a Wikipedia or Help page, then you can feed " " to stop this template from categorizing.

There is an optional parameter sort-by which sets the category sort key:

where "Example" is replaced by the sort text. For example, if the how-to page is Producing maps with xplanet and you want it category sorted to appear under "X", then the template could be formulated as: