| Editors Manual |
The purpose of this manual is to have easy access to the important templates needed when making new pages as well as being a place to discuss the need for new templates and categories. Discussions and/or questions should be written on the Discussion page and what we decide will then be added to the main page.
Note: This page is currently a bit out of date and will be undergoing a big update to structure the page better. Please comment on the Discussion page what you think should go into this manual.
Comic Indexing
Comics are indexed using the following two templates: Template:Comic and Template:Story
Template:Comic holds the main info about the comic such as Title, Volume, Issue No., Cover Date, Price as well as Cover information (link to cover image, cover credits and so on). See the template for more information on the various fields.
Template:Story holds all information regarding that particular story: Credits, Character appearances (including information like "first appearance", a short description, and "last" and "next" appearances of each character), Comments regarding the story and synopses. See the template for more information on the various fields.
Character Appearances
Character listings (linked and non-linked characters)
All characters should be in bold type which you get by adding ' three times before a text and three times after, like this '''bold''' (Note: If using the Character Link template the names will automatically appear in bold type)
Add one name per line and add colon : in front of each name.
- Examples using the Character Link template (Template:A):
- : {{a|Batman (Dick Grayson)}} results in: Batman
- : {{a|Batman (Dick Grayson)}} results in: Dick Grayson
- : {{a|Batman (Dick Grayson) | Batman III}} results in: Batman III
Please use the correct identity for the issue in question. The above examples should only be used in issues taking place during the time when Dick Grayson was operating as Batman. For appearances during his time as Robin use variations of {{a|Robin (Dick Grayson)}}.
If the link does not not appear to be active it might be that a redirect needs to be added. Follow the missing link and create a new page linking to the currently active page as in the example below.
- #REDIRECT [[Batman (Dick Grayson)]]
- [[Category:{{WhoCat}}|Robin I (Dick Grayson)]]
[[Batman (Dick Grayson)]] should be changed to the name of the page for the current identity of the character (for Dick Grayson the current identity would be Batman (his last superhero identity prior to the New52 reboot))
[[Category:{{WhoCat}}|Robin I (Dick Grayson)]] which indicated where the character should be listed in the Who's Who. The "I" after Robin indicates which version of the character it is. This is done to sort the characters chronologically in the Who's Who. If only one version of the character exists, the second line can be omitted.
The Character Link template is a new addition to the Guide and many indexes will have characters listed using regular wiki linking such as '''[[Nightwing (Dick Grayson) | Nightwing II]]'''. This is not incorrect but usage of the Character Link template is encouraged as it gives greater functionality.
Unlinked character are listed in regular wiki format as seen below:
- : '''John Doe''' [For an unlinked character]
Team listings (linked and non-linked characters)
Teams are named above the team members. Add ": " in front of the team name and ":: " in front of each member name.
- Example using the Character Link template (Template:A):
- : {{a|Green Lantern Corps}}:
- :: {{a|Arisia}}
- :: {{a|Kilowog}}
As with the regular character links old links using the regular format may appear in pages that have yet to be updated.
First appearance listings
If a story marks a character's first appearance add (first appearance) after the name and if it is a superhero or villain with a secret identity add both his "real name" and "first appearance" like this.
- : {{a|Robin (Dick Grayson) | Robin I}} (Dick Grayson; first appearance) [For a linked character]
- : '''John Doe''' (first appearance) [For an unlinked character]
Discussion Page
See the Help_talk:Character_appearances page for discussions about proper naming conventions in the DCU Guide
Chronological listing of last/next appearances
When adding last/next appearances for a character please follow these "rules" for consistency:
- All last/next appearances should be last/next chronological appearance in the character's timeline, which is not neccesarily the same as the publication order of the books.
- Do not add last/next appearances for appearances in the issue directly preceding or following the issue in question.
- For appearance in earlier or later issue of the same title use this format (with ? reprecenting the issue number):
: '''Character''' (last in issue #?) [For appearance in an earlier issue of the same title]
: '''Character''' (next in issue #?) [For appearance in a later issue]
: '''Character''' (in between issue #? and #?) [For appearance in between two issues]
: '''Character''' (last in flashback in issue #?) [For appearance in a flashback in an earlier issue]
: '''Character''' (next in flashback in issue #?) [For appearance in a flashback in a later issue]
: '''Character''' (in between flashback in issue #? and flashback in issue #?) [For appearance in between flashbacks]
: '''Character''' (in between flashback in issue #? and issue #?) [For appearance in between flashback and later issue]
: '''Character''' (in between issue #? and flashback in issue #?) [For appearance in between earlier issue and flashback]
Note that in the last two cases "issue" is used in front of both issue numbers to make it very clear that both appearances are not of the same type.
- Last/next appearances in other books should aside from the exeptions mentioned below use the same basic format as above with the addition of the title (and volume if more volumes exist) of the book like this:
: '''Character''' (last in ''Title'' Vol. ? #?)
: '''Character''' (next in ''Title'' Vol. ? #?)
: '''Character''' (in between ''Title'' Vol. ? #? and #?) [For appearances in between two issues of another title]
: '''Character''' (last in issue #?; next in ''Title'' Vol. ? #? and #?) [For appearances issue of current and another title]
: '''Character''' (last in ''Title'' Vol. ? #?; next in issue #?)
- For the very first chronological appearance of the character in a flashback (if this is not also the actual first appearance of the character) use:
: '''Character''' (chronologically earliest appearance in flashback)
- Flashbacks: In basic use the same rules as above exept add "flashback" to the mix, like this:
: '''Character''' (in flashback following issue #?)
: '''Character''' (in flashback preceding issue #?)
: '''Character''' (in flashback in between issue #? and #?)
: '''Character''' (in flashback in between flashback in issue #? and issue #?)
: '''Character''' (in flashback in between flashback in issue #? and flashback in issue #?)
: '''Character''' (in flashback in between flashback in ''Title'' Vol. ? #? and flashback in issue #?)
Wikifying the old DCU Guide
The old DCU Guide www.dcuguide.com now links to this one and all index pages automatically redirect to the entries on this version of the Guide should someone follow an old link somewhere on the web.
However, some profile and chronology pages from the old DCU Guide have not yet been wikified so those pages do not yet redirect. The profiles pages can be reached here and the chronology pages here.
In order to wikify the profile pages simply change the "who.php?name" part of the link to "who-wiki.php?name" and you will be taken to a new page that can be copy and pasted into the page linked to at the to of the page.
Unfortunately there is no easy way of wikifying the chronology pages so those need to be done manually.