User:Pee Tern/Sandbox/Template/Event list/doc

Purpose
The template allows a 1, 2, 3 or more column table of key events to be added to an article describing events over time. The template allows the easy addition of date stamped events, and the easy addition or insertion or removal of events as the article evolves over time without editors having to worry about table syntax, adjusting and balancing rows or columns, etc.

It produces a table consisting of pairs of dates and corresponding event descriptions, by default in 2 columns.

The number of date-event pairs in each column is automatically balanced by the template across the columns.

Within the date-event pairs, the width of the date versus the event description can be controlled. By default it is 15:85.

Automatic column balancing
While the template will handle missing date values at the start, that is the first date does not have to be date1, the template treats intermediate missing dates as though they exist for column balancing, and it does not allow for any text wrapped new lines within a date or event's text.

Expanding skeleton
The expanding skeleton is better to use if it is likely that more dates will be added in between earlier dates as the article is developed. No renaming of parameters is required each time a new date and event description is inserted.

Named skeleton
The named skeleton is better to use if the chronology is stable and clarity of date and event description relationships is required, with modifiable parameter layouts, for example for grouping events of the same type together for editing purposes but when appearing in the correct chronological order are intermixed.