Template:Redirect category shell/doc

Purpose

This template supplements the redirect categorization that is presently done by the {{This is a redirect}} template or by adding rcats individually to redirects. This template is the direct result of discussions about the benefits and the shortcomings of the This is a redirect template.

Usage

An unnamed parameter, |1=, has been introduced in this template and works as follows:

{{Redirect category shell|1=
 {{rcat 1}}
 {{rcat 2}}
 {{rcat 3}}
 {{rcat N}}
}}

...or more simply:

{{Redirect category shell|
 {{rcat 1}}
 {{rcat 2}}
 {{rcat 3}}
 {{rcat N}}
}}

"N" represents the highest number of rcats that can be used in this template, and at this point, I'm not sure there is a limit other than what might be a wikimarkup ceiling.

A second unnamed parameter, |2=, has also been introduced. This gives this template the same "help" functionality that is used in the This is a redirect template. If a second pipe is placed directly after the first pipe, then Category:Miscellaneous redirects will be populated:

{{Redirect category shell||
 {{rcat 1}}
 {{rcat 2}}
 {{rcat 3}}
 {{rcat N}}
}}

This leaves the first parameter empty, and editors who monitor the Miscellaneous redirects category will come to the redirect and check/add/subtract rcats as necessary. And, of course, this template will also populate the category if no rcats are initially added, as in:

{{Redirect category shell}}

Notes

This is still undergoing tests. The existing This is a redirect template can remain in its present form as, in some cases, a simpler choice for editors. This new template can also be used for future tagging of redirects. It needs only one parameter, |1= for as many rcat templates that are needed. The following still needs work:

Embed flaw

• In order to see the same textual format that appears in the This is a redirect template, the |embed=yes parameter must be used in each rcat, e.g.,

{{Redirect category shell|
 {{R from move|embed=yes}}
 {{R from alternative spelling|embed=yes}}
 {{R printworthy|embed=yes}}
}}

And yes, I do consider this a "flaw", because editors should not have to add a redundant parameter each time they add an rcat to this template.

Testing has confirmed that the embed flaw can be eliminated. To do so entails a major edit to each and every rcat template. An example of the needed change can be viewed at {{R from incorrect name/sandbox}}.