Template:Tlx/doc

Purpose and naming

Mnemonically 'Template link expanded'. After {{Tl}} Template link'.

This template takes another template-name and some associated pipe-tricked (numbered) parameters (or 'pass parameters'), and displays them as an 'example demonstration' of how the template-name template could be coded, literally. Its primary use is in instruction and documentation.
Specifics: Up to 11 pass parameters (numbered or nowiki-keywords) for the specified template are displayed as 'placeholders', and over 11 parameters can be displayed using a coded vertical-bar (as in "|..."). A keyword parameter can be used with equals code = or {{=}} or in nowiki-text: "<nowiki>size=10</nowiki>" or all parameters as a string in "<nowiki>" tags; see Examples at bottom. For more details, see this talk page.
Exceptions: If the intended template lists numerous/keyword parameters, then perhaps this template should really not be used, and just hardcode the usage with <code><nowiki>, for example: <code><nowiki>{{Anytemplate|arg1=23|size=250px|other parameters...}}</nowiki></code>. If a vertical display, with parameters on their own lines, is desired, this can also be laid out manually in this manner, or more rapidly done with <pre>...</pre>.

If given no additional parameters except 'template name' ({{{1}}}), it presents the same as the similar {{Tl}} macro template -- a blue link nested in curly-braces-- the same as a user would apply the template without parameters, but with a noticably clearer font and spacing on most modern browsers.

Comparatively, {{Tl}} will not take or display additional parameters, and for minor technical reasons, may be preferred for mere listing and referencing in long pages involving a lot of template expansions.

{{Tlx}} has a named parameter subst. Setting this parameter to any string of length 1 or greater will place the string "subst:" before the template name, linked to Help:Substitution. This is useful to indicate when a template should be substituted. For example {{Tlx|Welcome|subst=Y}} will display {{subst:Welcome}}.

Additionally, Tlx will take a 'named' parameter 'SISTER' to link interwiki to other sister projects such as one of these examples: '|SISTER=W:', 'Tlx|SISTER=M:', 'Tlx|SISTER=Q:', 'Tlx|SISTER=S:', allowing documentation or discourse about a template across interwiki boundaries. Small 'front end' Shell or convience templates {{Tlxw}} and {{Tlxm}} are typing-aid templates available at Meta for automatic substitution in discussions about templates on Wikipedia or Meta.