Template:N-start/doc

n-start is the initial component in a template series for numismatic succession boxes (for currencies, and potentially for coins and banknotes). It was modelled after the Template:S-start succession boxes, and modified to deal with currency specific issues. Each succession box is intended to describe the use of a single currency, including which currencies came before and after. Hopefully, it will be possible to describe a currency in a single table. Many examples are included below to help you. For further help, or if you believe there is a situation these templates can't handle, please contact Ingrid.

Templates discussed on this page
This template is to be used in coordination with the following:
 * Template:n-start: opens a new Wikitable
 * Template:n-before: for listing predecessor currencies
 * Template:n-currency: for listing a location where this is a currency
 * Template:n-circulates: for listing a location where this currency circulates
 * Template:n-legaltender: for listing a location where this currency is legal tender
 * Template:n-after: for listing successor currencies
 * Template:n-end: for closing the Wikitable

n-start
This template simply starts the table. There are no parameters.

n-before, n-after
These templates are for listing predecessor and successor currencies. Their parameters are similar. n-before creates a cell in the first row, and n-after creates a cell in the last row. n-after also ends the current row. The focus of the table is the middle column(s)&mdash;the currency referred to there will be called the "current currency". They have the following required parameters: It has the following optional parameters:
 *  : the currency used before/after the current currency. This is optional in the n-after box. If the current currency is still used, please omit this parameter.
 *  : the number of rows that this cell should span. This is useful when political situations change -- for example, when a country splits into two new countries. It is often used with.
 *  : in cases where the location for the current currency is not the same as the before/after location (because the name changed, or a political reorganization took place and two countries merged or split, for example), use this field to clarify which location the current currency was used in before/after. Do not try to list all locations where the before/after currency was used, only the ones that relate to the location specified in the current row.
 *  : if known, list the reason for the change, for example, becoming a colony, entering a currency union, etc.
 *  : if known, list the exchange ratio, in the form 1 = 1000 . If the ratio is 1 to 1, use "at par".
 *  : if special circumstances exist, this field can be used to explain them.

n-currency, n-circulates, n-legaltender
These templates are for listing countries/regions/colonies where this is the official currency (n-currency), this currency circulates (n-circulates), or this currency has legal tender status (n-legaltender). It has the following required parameters: It has the following optional parameters: Instructions on dates for   and  
 *  : the location where this is a currency. If several locations have the same use of the currency (same before and after, and same dates). If a monetary union, or region is listed, please include  .
 *  : the date when this currency was first used in this location. See instructions for dates below.
 *  : the number of rows that this cell should span. This is useful when political situations change -- for example, when a country splits into two new countries. It is often used with . Since the row end marker "|-" is included in the n-after template, when rowspan is used, it may be necessary to add extra row end markers.
 *  : the number of columns that this cell should span. This is useful in the special case when there are more than 3 columns (before, current, after), which can happen when a political change happens without a change in currency.
 *  : if additional style information is needed for this cell, it can be included here. This can be useful for changing cell borders.
 *  : if a monetary union or region is listed for  , please list the component areas here.
 *  : the end date. Leave this out if the currency is still used. See instructions for dates below.
 *  : if special circumstances exist, this field can be used to explain them.
 * Generally, only the year should be included. However, it is recommended that month and or day be included if the following criteria are met:
 * The life of the currency is less than 2 years (if the start and end year are the same or one year apart). It may make sense to include more detail during periods of rapid change (e.g., hyperinflation, unstable political status).
 * The date is in the future, or is within the past 5 years.
 * If the   date is 1 January
 * If the   date is 31 December
 * If the same year occurs in several places in the same box, but the events occurred on different days (e.g., many former republics of the Soviet Union gained their independence in the same year, but on different dates.)
 * When the complete dates are included, please follow these guidelines:
 * Please use the form ,   as in "18 January 1963" or   as in "January 1963".

n-end
This template simply ends the table. It has no parameters.

Examples
The following examples are taken from real situations, but their contents may be out of date. They are included here for illustration only and should not be assumed that their contents are correct.

basic
This is what a basic succession box looks like:

which was generated using this code:

basic, currently used currency
This one shows how to code for a currency that is still being used:

split
This one shows how to handle a split into several new currencies

complex example
This example shows a complex succession relationship.

complex example with four columns
This is a complex example. Note the use of "|-" to end the rows which do not contain a n-after template.





complex example with "empty" row
This example illustrates a workaround to the way that HTML handles rowspans. In this example, the fourth row does not have any contents that are not also part of another row. In an HTML (and therefore also wiki) table, that means that the fourth row would have a height of 1 pixel. Notice how style="height:40px" was added to the end of the third row (and thus the beginning of the fourth row, since the n-after template contains the row start marker).

style="height:40px"