Template talk:Infobox soap character 2/Archive 1

This page contains discussions moved from Template talk:Infobox EastEnders character. That template was merged with Template:Infobox EastEnders character 2 and then became Template:Infobox soap character 2.

Spin-off parameter?
Does anyone think it would be a good idea to add a "spin-off appearances" parameter to the infobox? It means we could add Civvy Street to Albert, Harry and Robbie in particular, but also use the infobox if we ever need it for the Slaters in Detention or Perfectly Frank characters. -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 00:37, 20 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't see why not. Go ahead. &mdash; AnemoneProjectors (zomg!) 01:49, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

Renaming
How complicated would it be to rename this as an actual infobox? Right now it's not showing up as such to some of the automated peer review apps, because it doesn't have the word "infobox" in it. Not a huge deal, but if it could be renamed, I'd recommend it. There will probably also be a sweep at some point to get everything at Category:Fictional character infobox templates to be more consistent, so it might save us some work in the long run. :) --Elonka 23:27, 27 May 2007 (UTC)


 * It's used about 400 times in articles... unless it's done all in one big go with AWB, it'll be a pain in the arse to do. -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 23:29, 27 May 2007 (UTC)
 * What about setting up a redirect to Template:Infobox EastEnder-character (or whichever name you want?) That way new articles would use the new infobox, but older ones could be converted. --Elonka 00:47, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't know how redirecting templates works, so I'll leave this up to one of the others (Gungadin or AP probably...) - though I have one comment - it would have to be Template:Infobox EastEnders character, with "EastEnders" instead of "EastEnder". -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 00:54, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Done. I've moved the page and checked the redirect, and the old format still works as well.  If you happen to modify any character pages, just change where it says "{{EastEnders Character" to "{{Infobox EastEnders character" (note the lowercase "c"), and it should work exactly the same.  :) --Elonka 05:24, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
 * In case you haven't yet noticed, I'm using AWB to update the template on articles. &mdash; AnemoneProjectors (zomg!) 19:57, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

Image caption
I have added an optional image caption to the infobox. In most cases this won't be needed, but it's a good idea in the case where multiple actors have played a particular character, to specify which actor is in a particular image. To use the caption, simply add the "caption" field to the necessary article. If the field is left blank, no caption will be displayed. This is pretty standard in most infoboxes that use images. --Elonka 22:37, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

Problem
Take a look at the characters who don't have an image in their infobox (Disa O'Brien for example) - the top bar that says "EastEnders character" is huge - can someone fix this? -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 22:09, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
 * That's down to the caption being added... I'll try to fix it now. &mdash; AnemoneProjectors (zomg!) 22:47, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Well I assume it's that but it all looks normal to me at the moment. I'll keep trying. &mdash; AnemoneProjectors (zomg!) 22:49, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Fixed. &mdash; AnemoneProjectors (zomg!) 22:52, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks. -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 22:52, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Introduced by
Does anyone think it would be a good idea to have an "introduced by" field as well as a "created by", because for many of the characters we cant be sure if they were actually created by the executive producers (as is being said in various articles), or the writers. We know that the execs make the final decision about what characters enter the series, but we dont know whether they were actually created by them in some cases. Gung adin  ♦  14:34, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes, that is a good idea :) anemone  |  projectors  14:43, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I just tried putting it in, but it wouldnt show up in the preview. Do you know what i'm doing wrong? Gung adin  ♦  15:30, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * It won't show up in a preview, you have to save it first, as the example given uses the stored version. anemone  I  projectors  15:44, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Ah, thanks :) Gung  adin  ♦  15:47, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Stupid thing still didnt show up. Would you fix it for me please? Gung adin  ♦  16:02, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh yeah, you also have to update Template:Infobox EastEnders character/doc for it to show up. I just did. anemone  I  projectors  16:06, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks. You know on infobox two, how do we get it to show the example box like on this page? Gung  adin  ♦  16:14, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Ive thought of some other fields I'd like to add.
 * "Axed by" (the exec who axed them)
 * Reintroduced by (if they make returns) or maybe we can change the first field to say "(re)introduced by" and have the names of all execs listed. SO for Bianca Jackson it would say (Re)introduced by - Leonard Lewis (1993), John Yorke (2002), Dierdrick Santer (2007)


 * What do you think? Gung  adin  ♦  18:16, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Maybe. Of course, the actor can axe the character in many cases. Yeah, why not? anemone  I  projectors  20:04, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I was only thinking it would be used for characters that were definitely axed, not those who left/died because the actor quit. However, there is a grey area for characters like Cindy Beale, Angie Watts and Kathy Beale. Michelle Collins quit, but two years later Matthew Robinson killed Cindy offscreen. She wasnt technically axed, but she was killed off against the actor's wishes. What should be done for cases like that do you think? Have a "Killed off by" field? Gung  adin  ♦  20:19, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Oh I don't know, it's getting complicated. Maybe only say who brought them in, not who got rid of them. Unless you can do something that looks good :) I like what you did with some "introduced bys", putting more than one name.

I'll have a think about it. I was thinking that we could only put it for axed ones. It will be fine for ones like Deano Wicks, who has just been axed by Santer, but then I thought of Sam Mitchell, who was axed 3 times, brought back 4 times, then left because Kim Mecalf quit. Maybe we could have a field like "Cause(s) of exit" so for Sam it would go Cause(s) of exit:

Axed by Leonard Lewis (1993) Axed by Corrinne Hollingworth (1996) Axed by Matthew Robinson (2000) Actor retired (2005)

Gung adin  ♦  22:47, 18 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Oh god, that looks too much. Also, lots of people will start adding stuff like "Cause of exit: Went to Brazil", etc. anemone  I  projectors  22:53, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Ok, maybe we should leave that field out then, but I'll have a think and see if I can come up with anything better Gung adin  ♦  23:05, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Question
Ok I moved everything. What do we do with this page Template:Infobox EastEnders character 2/doc? redirect it too, or just get it deleted? Gung adin  ♦  00:04, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I'll speedy it. anemone  I  projectors  00:16, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * The family bits look funny now! But it all worked :) anemone  I  projectors  00:18, 21 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Except we have a problem. The blue family bar seems to show up even when there is no family field. Like on Reg Cox. Can that be altered somehow? Gung adin  ♦  00:19, 21 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I was just coming to tell you about that. Also minor character infoboxes have too many blue bars! It'll be really complicated to get rid of the family bar because when the entire conversion is complete, members will be listed and the "family" field will be blank. Trust you to do something like this when I'm about to go to bed! anemone  I  projectors  00:21, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Sorry. Can you just undelte the doc, and we'll just keep it as two seperate iboxes until we can think of something. Gung adin  ♦  00:23, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Done. You can revert everything else now and I'll try to fix it tomorrow... Don't forget to put the "2" on Nick Cotton's box ;) anemone  I  projectors  00:27, 21 November 2007 (UTC)


 * No I wont. Thanks and night night :) Gung  adin  ♦  00:28, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Family field
Shall we delete it now it's been made redundant by iboxes 2 and 3? -Trampikey(talk)(contribs) 01:40, 10 April 2008 (UTC)