Template:Infobox soap character/doc

Adapted from the generic Infobox character, this infobox has been designed specifically to address the particular needs of fictional characters from soap operas. The template supports all appropriate parameters of the generic template, so that simply replacing   with    will preserve all information but add functionality.

The infobox includes a collapsible Relationships section, with expanded parameters that only appear if used. The use of the collapsible Relationships portion of the infobox is intended to eliminate the need for bottom-of-the-article relationship lists. These lists have repeatedly been identified as unencyclopedic and detrimental to an article's quality and status by WP 1.0 standards. The collapsing feature allows for the preservation of notable relationship data in an accessible manner while conserving space and not negatively impacting the article.

The template also features the ability to present the Series name in a colored bar below the main image, hidden bars when fields below are empty, standardized image sizing and additional image parameters (for alternate performers in the same role only).

Usage
All parameters are optional, and will not display if empty. The "name" parameter will also default to PAGENAME if the parameter is not used; this is usually preferable to keep infobox heading concise, considering that full names (with multiple married names) are always noted at the beginning of each article. If a parameter contains more than two entries, Plainlist should be used rather than line breaks.



Formatting

 * To conserve space and improve readability, Common names (usually the article name) should be used for links in infoboxes. For example, Sami Brady instead of the piped link Sami Brady|Samantha "Sami" Brady DiMera.


 * Per WP:NOTBROKEN, proper redirects should be used when available rather than piping links directly; for example, use the redirect Pamela Stuart instead of the direct link List of One Life to Live characters (1980s)#Pamela Stuart|Pamela Stuart.


 * After formed consensus, all soap infoboxes will use the same color for consistency.


 * Small text is no longer used in infoboxes, primarily for easier reading by those with eyesight problems.


 * Per the Manual of Style, most photo captions are sentence fragments and should not end with a period. Only captions in the form of complete sentences require punctuation.


 * To keep infoboxes uncluttered and easy to read, the MOS also recommends "succinctness" &mdash; using no superfluous or needless words &mdash; when captioning photos. For the purpose of this infobox, that means:
 * Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis
 * not Nancy Lee Grahn currently portrays Alexis Davis.

Relationship parameters
The Relationships section of this infobox is collapsed by default to conserve space, and is a direct replacement for any and all other relationship lists within an article. These lists have repeatedly been identified as unencyclopedic and detrimental to an article's quality and status by WP 1.0 standards.

Inclusion and notability

 * Relations need only be noted if the relationship holds some notable significance for the character in question.


 * Character age is no longer used after formed consensus at WikiProject Television. This includes the previously used fields "age", "born" and "died". The age of fictional characters is fluid and any relevant age information can be described in the article.

Qualifiers and detail

 * Descriptions and qualifiers within parameter content are largely unnecessary because of the category names displayed in the infobox; for example, noting "father" or "sister" beside a listed name is discouraged because this information is made obvious by the categories "Parents" or "Siblings" and only clutters the box.


 * When listing children, grandchildren, etc., it is unnecessary to note the parents, etc. that may establish the connection, as in: Junior Jones (son, via Mama Mia).


 * The "deceased" qualifier should not be used as works of fiction exist in a kind of perpetual present tense.


 * Only include clarifications essential to understanding the information.


 * In summary, the infobox is intended as a collection of basic information and a navigational tool, not an abbreviated article. Filling it with endless trivial data defeats this purpose.