Template:Redirect category shell/doc

This template may be used to add from one to seven appropriate redirect category (rcat) templates, along with their parameters, to redirects. Additionally, this template automatically senses and categorizes protection levels. For more information, see the page below and follow the "Manifold sort" category link above.

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}}.