Template:Autotranslate/doc

How to convert a template

Before you apply this template, first you have to prepare the template.

Pick a template

—See for example Template:Cc-by-1.0 before changes.
First you have to pick a template to autotranslate.
In this documentation, we will name our "selected template" as: Template:Template name

• See Commons:Template i18n for a list of templates needing translation or translated.

Create a layout template

—See for example Template:Apache/layout.
You must create a layout template, named Template:Template name/layout, to contain the layout of all language versions of the template. The easiest way to do this is to copy a layout template of a similar template.
This template should not add any categories when transcluded.

Convert existing language versions

—See for example Template:Apache/en.
All versions must be subpages of Template:Template name, and his name must use the appropriate prefix, as used on Wikipedia when adding a new language –ISO 639 language code–. For example, Spanish subpage must be named Template:Template name/es
Usually the English language link to the main template –Template:Template name–. That is incorrect, point it to the Template:Template name/en subpage.

Each language version of the template should be checked and converted to use the layout template –Template:Template name/layout–. Start with the English language version and compare it to the current template.

Note that everything that is not supposed to be included together with the template, like {{translated tag|cleanup}} or {{documentation}}, must be inside a <noinclude> tag.

Here is the syntax you must use for Template:Template name/<prefix>.

{{Template name/layout
|text=<translated text of the template>
|lang=<prefix>
}}<noinclude>
{{translated tag|license}}
</noinclude>

Create a documentation page

—See for example Template:Apache/doc.
Create a documentation page at Template:Template name/doc. This documentation page should include some code for creating language versions of the template. {{TemplateBox}} has a |il8n=autotranslate option which provides a standard explanation of how to localise an autotranslated template.

Convert the main template

—See for example Template:Apache.
The last step is to enable the template. Be sure to check everything before you enable the template. You can cause a really big mess! To enable the template, put this code in the template –Template:Template name–.

{{Autotranslate|1={{{1|}}}|2={{{2|}}}|3={{{3|}}}|base=template name}}