Template talk:Subject bar/Archive 1

Simplification of the table layout
Headbomb: I just saw your latest edit, and although it cleans up the code, it makes it a lot harder to make the structure dynamic when coding it as a template. For example, as a test I used only 1 portal, 1 book, and 1 sister project. The result was a very spread-out and unattractive table. The approach that I had used first allowed for that kind of flexibility. With each item wrapped up in a small, floating, embedded table, items could be added without having to keep count of columns or worry about spacing. If the lines got too long, they would wrap to a new line.

Because of this severely reduced flexibility, I am reverting the edit. Your code will still be available in the history, should we decide to revive it and find ways to improve upon it. (In fact, I will revisit my code and see if I can simplify a few things based on one of your changes.) If your concern simply involves the spacing between list items or between the icons and their links, we can probably handle that the "padding" property. –  VisionHolder « talk » 23:13, 1 February 2011 (UTC)

concerns
I like the idea of not having the floating portal boxes. But really even better would be to have every thing left justified and able to be put in a list (don't care one way or the other if we use icons or text).TCO (talk) 04:55, 1 July 2011 (UTC)
 * I know that the biggest issue with this template is that it's seen as mixing internal and external links. Honestly, though, I see portals, books, and sister projects all as internal links—part of Wikimedia.  (I also see them as distinct from traditional "See also" links.  Thus setting them aside at the bottom of the page with the equally inappropriately placed nav templates makes sense to me.)  To me, the concept of an "external link" means something outside of Wikimedia, not just a simple domain name change.  If our logins cross those boundaries, they are not "external."  Otherwise, simply using the traditional definitions, I agree that lists are the only way to properly display this information without messing up the page formatting and/or going against WP:MOS.  My only concerns are that it may create a lot of whitespace near the end of each article and encourage the unnecessary expansion of external links if the sister projects are the only reason for the creation of such a section.  The same goes for a "See also" section for internal links. –  VisionHolder  « talk » 05:14, 1 July 2011 (UTC)

Nice !
Pretty job !

--Nnemo (talk) 19:34, 5 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks. Glad you like it. –  VisionHolder « talk » 01:39, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Not always a good idea
Its use in this article is just toooo much. -- Alan Liefting (talk - contribs) 07:11, 24 August 2012 (UTC)

Spoken Wikipedia
Would it be possible to incorporate support for the spoken Wikipedia? Currently the spoken template looks like this:

Hawkeye7 (talk) 19:08, 9 February 2015 (UTC)
 * I don't see a reason why not. However, the code behind the template has changed significantly since I created it. Maybe Mr. Stradivarius can help. –  Maky  « talk » 19:50, 9 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Meh. Did it myself. If they don't like the look they can tweak it. Hawkeye7 (talk) 10:54, 20 February 2015 (UTC)
 * The article Attack on Pearl Harbor currently has two spoken files. Is it possible to reference multiple files? Thanks MisterBee1966 (talk) 09:24, 9 July 2015 (UTC)
 * Not currently. I am going to have a go at updating in so we can. Hawkeye7 (talk) 22:09, 13 July 2015 (UTC)

Wikidata
I'm not sure how to go about it, but would Wikidata be able to be added to this template? Graham (talk) 04:52, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

I think I figured out how to add it. Graham (talk) 23:13, 31 December 2015 (UTC)

Position in page
By WP:LAYOUTEL I have concluded that this bar should be positioned directly above any navboxes. Added this to the /doc. -DePiep (talk) 09:11, 21 March 2015 (UTC)
 * A wonderful way to organise the links! I must have missed for years. -DePiep (talk) 09:12, 21 March 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I saw something like it on another language wiki and found a way to adapt it. At first, people wanted to get rid of, but I'm glad it's managed to stick around and grow on people. –  Maky  « talk » 09:54, 21 March 2015 (UTC)
 * I concur; well done Maky! I just stumbled across the template and this way of organising sister projects is great when main body text is lacking (e.g. empty external links sections) to "support" separate floating sidebars. --HyperGaruda (talk) 21:39, 2 January 2017 (UTC)

Suppress rendering of Wikipedia books
Need some help in implementing Village pump (technical). I have simply add hide option in related templates as see here in cases in the future it is fixed.-- Moxy 🍁 15:46, 1 September 2019 (UTC)
 * ✅ * Pppery * it has begun... 16:05, 1 September 2019 (UTC)

Mix of internal and external links
Not sure it's a good idea. Portals belong in "See also", sister projects belong in external links. All the best: Rich Farmbrough  (the apparently calm and reasonable) 12:11, 10 May 2020 (UTC).


 * , I agree. And a portal bar is thinner:
 * See also: User:Timeshifter/Sandbox108. --Timeshifter (talk) 18:19, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * See also: User:Timeshifter/Sandbox108. --Timeshifter (talk) 18:19, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * See also: User:Timeshifter/Sandbox108. --Timeshifter (talk) 18:19, 24 July 2020 (UTC)

Wikibook link needs to end up with search results, and not at an image page
The wikibook link (Textbooks) below needs to end up with search results, and not at an image page. The redirect to the image needs to be stopped. Click the link below to see what I am talking about.
 * https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Special:Search/COVID-19

The redirect needs to be suppressed somehow.

See also: User:Timeshifter/Sandbox108. --Timeshifter (talk) 12:31, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * If I understand you correctly, you're saying that should be shown instead, rather than a redirect to COVID-19 (for this particular example)? ProcrastinatingReader (talk) 17:47, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * , yes, that would work. I would like that none of the searches in the subject bar template redirect to a single result page. --Timeshifter (talk) 19:13, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * well, that's what search engines sometimes do. I have renamed the page and have recommended it for speedy deletion. The creator did have a book article at that title; however, due to discussion on its talk page, the creator decided to pretty much blank the page leaving only the file image. Hopefully, when the title is deleted, the search will be more of a general search like this one.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 19:40, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks. The Wikibooks link is pulling up the search results list now:
 * https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Special:Search/COVID-19

Add 2nd break. "Find out more on Wikipedia's Sister projects". 3 lines better than 2 lines in narrower screens.
See: Module:Subject_bar.

Search for "Find out more on" in that module code.

Can a break be added just before "Wikipedia"?

This will help viewing as the screen narrows. And when people use larger text in their zoom bars. On uses of the template that use all or nearly all the project links, it keeps everything down to 2 rows, for more and more narrow screens.

See also: User:Timeshifter/Sandbox108. --Timeshifter (talk) 12:32, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 20:03, 10 August 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks. I have a question about the heading of this section. Why is the "3" dipping below the other characters in the heading? I am on a desktop PC in Windows 10 Pro. In Firefox browser. --Timeshifter (talk) 21:01, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes, it does that for me in Firefox and in Chrome, both of which use the default font. My IE, which I use to edit, does not lower the 3. It's probably because I use the Legacy Vector skin and set the Appearance gadget to "Vector classic typography (use only sans-serif in Vector skin)". That changes the default font, and that's the font that lowers the 3.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 21:48, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * It looks like I am already set with the Legacy Vector skin in the appearance tab of preferences. I just checked the gadget tab box for "Vector classic typography (use only sans-serif in Vector skin)". That moved the 3 up. Thanks. --Timeshifter (talk) 22:11, 10 August 2020 (UTC)

Lessen space between "Sister Projects" and the stuff to the right of it. 2 rows versus 3 rows
On my 21 inch monitor there are 3 rows:

I think that could be lessened to 2 rows. By reducing the white space between columns. Especially between "Sister projects" and the project links to the right of it.

A right-side border could be added to the cell containing "Sister projects". This would separate it from the stuff to the right of it. This would allow the white space to the left and right of the text in that cell to be lessened.

 

--Timeshifter (talk) 22:14, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: Usual replies - please sandbox/test this, but also see if there's a consensus. If no one says otherwise in a week (or so) and the sandboxing looks good, feel free to re-open this request. Primefac (talk) 23:21, 10 August 2020 (UTC)
 * I don't understand Lua:
 * Module:Subject bar.
 * I also don't understand how to add CSS to a table cell via this CSS page:
 * Template:Subject bar/styles.css
 * I only have a basic understanding of inline CSS. Not CSS stylesheets.
 * --Timeshifter (talk) 07:27, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but I'm not very adept at Lua either, so this appears to be way above my pay grade.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 20:28, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
 * It seems as though the number of rows and columns is also governed by the font size. At my largest font I see only two rows and five columns on my 24-inch monitor. At smaller fonts, the number of columns increases, and the number of rows becomes one at my second smallest font.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 20:51, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Is there a Lua forum on Wikipedia where I can ask for help?
 * On my 27 inch monitor it is less of a problem. At 120% of default font size it changes to 3 rows.
 * On my 21 inch monitor though there are 3 rows at the normal default font size. And I usually increase that font size to 120%.
 * 21 inch monitors are a common price-point monitor size. --Timeshifter (talk) 21:09, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
 * editors who are adept at Lua appear to watch WT:LUA, so if you ask there and add a pointer to this discussion, you will likely get results.  P.I. Ellsworth   ed.  put'r there 07:08, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I left a message there. --Timeshifter (talk) 10:13, 12 August 2020 (UTC)

(Unindent). Please see: Wikipedia talk:Lua. The section currently titled: "Need some Lua help for Template:Subject bar". See the added border in the testcases page.

The edit request is to copy that module sandbox change by ProcrastinatingReader to Module:Subject bar. --Timeshifter (talk) 12:15, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * fwiw, my technical implementation of the change per a request at wt:lua isn't necessarily my endorsement for the change. I'm indifferent about it overall. If the purpose is to get more stuff to fit onto less rows, I don't think this changes much; just resizing my window in the testcases I see perhaps a 0.5cm margin where 3 rows -> 2 rows. As for any aesthetic reasons, the biggest thing screaming poor aesthetics to my eyes is the big large "sister projects" link. ProcrastinatingReader (talk) 12:24, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * I agree. Can you make the "sister projects" link text smaller? --Timeshifter (talk) 13:30, 12 August 2020 (UTC)
 * - I see the changes you made here:
 * Module:Subject bar/sandbox
 * I assume the drop from 175px to 125px is for the left-side cell containing "sister links". Rather than specify a width for that cell could you set padding for that cell. That way it will adjust to whatever zoom level people have. I think it will also allow more items to fit on 2 rows. --Timeshifter (talk) 18:51, 20 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done I have a feeling this sort of change isn't going to be noticed/contested unless it's pushed through, and based on the testcases, it does reduce what now appears to be an unnecessary amount of whitespace in the box. While I personally feel like it should dynamically split the list of icons so that if it is put onto two lines they would be even, but I don't really care enough to pursue such a change. Primefac (talk) 21:12, 23 August 2020 (UTC)
 * , thanks. That is much better. I now see 2 rows at the default font size on my 21 inch monitor.


 * I noticed that "Sister projects" sometimes is on one line, and sometimes on 2 lines. I think a break between those 2 words would allow me to make the text size a level larger via zoom, and still have only 2 rows.


 * I noticed that it is on one line when I zoom up only one level on the 21 inch monitor. That is where it would make a difference to force it to be on 2 lines via a break between the 2 words. --Timeshifter (talk) 22:08, 23 August 2020 (UTC)

Sister project format
I find this a good template for organizing references to portals and sister projects. The only thing that I would like changed is the way the two rows are formatted. If the word "Portals" is going to be highlighted, and the first word in the row label, then I feel "Sister projects" should be formatted the same. For example:
 * Portals:
 * Access related topics
 * Sister projects:
 * Find more on this subject

It might just be my OCD that makes me think this, but thought I would submit the suggestion for you consideration.OvertAnalyzer (talk) 16:46, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

Edit request for Module:Subject bar
The Wikiversity logo was updated in 2017 to File:Wikiversity logo 2017.svg, but this module still uses File:Wikiversity-logo.svg. Please replace image = 'Wikiversity-logo.svg' with image = 'Wikiversity logo 2017.svg'. Thanks. GreenComputer (talk) 02:25, 14 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done – Jonesey95 (talk) 04:37, 14 December 2020 (UTC)

Update for mobile view per the TFD
Greetings and all interested people - Now that "Templates for discussion" here is closed, wondering when change will be done so that "Subject bar" will appear in Mobile view? Regards, JoeHebda (talk) 16:15, 31 March 2019 (UTC)
 * To clarify, this would consist of simply removing the line   from Module:Subject bar. Here's an example of this:


 * Here's Hawkeye7's scratch copy of Module:Subject bar, with the class navbox removed: (Same as, it will likely disappear in the future.)


 * Corresponding example of the current template:


 * --Pipetricker (talk) 18:24, 2 April 2019 (UTC)
 * It looks fine on Mobile but some of the images are overlapping the text. – Ammarpad (talk) 19:51, 2 April 2019 (UTC)
 * I have removed the navbox class from the module. Ping me here if you have any questions or problems. Note that one effect of the navbox class was to reduce the size of all text to 88% of normal. You might want to preserve that text size instead of showing larger text; please test and discuss. – Jonesey95 (talk) 20:11, 2 April 2019 (UTC)


 * To solve the Icon image overlap problem, when in "Mobile view" can the template "dot" be used instead? It is smaller and resembles a bullet to the left of each portal. Don't know if the template "knows" between desktop vs. mobile view? JoeHebda (talk) 02:55, 3 April 2019 (UTC)
 * , this whole thing needs to be redone as a div with some proper CSS. Maybe I have some time during the weekend to take a look at it. —Th e DJ (talk • contribs) 11:35, 4 April 2019 (UTC)

Could this change have had the unintended side effect of introducing extra gaps? I've noticed the authority control template will snap directly to regular navboxes, but this subject bar template does not play nicely with either. See screenshot. ―cobaltcigs 01:40, 5 September 2019 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry to revive such an old discussion, but this really ticks me off. Certainly, the extra gaps are not ideal. The best solution would be to continue this discussion to eliminate them. But the current situation is that amended the doc to say that subject bar should be placed  authority control because of the gaps. It does not actually solve anything – you'll still have the gap, just above and not below this template (see the screenshot above, the gaps are the same with regards to authority control and navboxes). But more importantly, I think it's unaesthetic, plain counterintuitive, and possibly a MOS:ORDER violation. We've agreed that authority control and other metadata templates (such as Taxonbar) should come dead last as this makes most sense semantically.


 * I propose that we reverse the order of this template and authority control in the doc and, if possible, work toward a solution that would also eliminate the gaps, which should go regardless of order. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 12:07, 19 March 2021 (UTC)
 * That's fine by me! Jay D. Easy (t&#8202;•&#8202;c) 18:37, 19 March 2021 (UTC)

Trailing whitespace
This template appears to end with a CRLF, so that subsequent navigation boxes are separated from it. See Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Reichenau for an exmaple. Anyone feel like finding it? ~ Tom.Reding (talk ⋅dgaf) 01:54, 10 April 2021 (UTC)
 * The problem is in Module:Subject bar, but I couldn't find/fix it.  ~ Tom.Reding (talk ⋅dgaf)  10:21, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

Bypass redirect?
Portal:Contents/Portals → Contents/Portals? — hueman1 ( talk •  contributions ) 06:56, 29 April 2021 (UTC)


 * ✅  ~ Tom.Reding (talk ⋅dgaf)  10:26, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

Wikivoyage
The voy= parameter leads to a search, then to a redirect. I believe that it should link directly to the article specified. Is there a reason it works the way it does? Nelson Ricardo (talk) 06:14, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

Better responsiveness
I've redone this module in the Module:Subject bar/sandbox to be more responsive and in particular to work better on mobile. Check out the results on the testcases page —Th e DJ (talk • contribs) 21:02, 28 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Do I need to give you TE? Looks fine to me. :^) I'll look at deploying this in the morning. Izno (talk) 09:47, 30 November 2021 (UTC)


 * Apologies from the sandbox sync: I was cleaning up the test cases in preparation for having Module:Subject bar call Module:Sister project links. I realize I have to do some refactoring of Module:Sister project links before doing anything over here.


 * Note that 's edits slightly changed the layout of the sister links. — hike395 (talk) 22:01, 30 November 2021 (UTC)
 * No worries. I'll take a second look to see if there are major layout differences. I don't anticipate it to be so. Izno (talk) 22:44, 30 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Could use a little more padding here and there and there are some cosmetic borders deltas but otherwise the support for small screens is preferable. Give me a minute to merge. Izno (talk) 22:49, 30 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Now live. Izno (talk) 00:42, 1 December 2021 (UTC)