Template:Infobox soap character

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This template is used on approximately 3,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

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This template adds an automatically generated short description. If the automatic short description is not optimal, replace it by adding {{Short description}} at the top of the article.

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 {{Infobox character}} with {{Infobox soap character}} will preserve all information but add functionality.

The infobox includes a collapsible Family section, with expanded parameters that only appear if used. This portion of the infobox is intended to eliminate the need for additional relationship lists within articles. 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 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 usually noted in the lead of each article. If a parameter contains more than two entries, {{Plainlist}} should be used rather than line breaks (<br/>).

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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 for accessibility reasons. See Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility#Text for more information.
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" (using no superfluous or needless words) 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.

In-universe parameters

Shortcut

WP:RPSOAPS

The in-universe information 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 deprecated parameters "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

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

Parameter descriptions

Parameter	Explanation
name	Character name for display in header bar; defaults to PAGENAME, which may be preferred to keep header a reasonable size.
series	Applicable linked series name for display above main image.
portrayer	Performer name(s), in chronological order with years (not full dates) noted. Closed dates should be separated by an en dash –. Open dates (for actors currently appearing in the show) should end with —present per . Separate multiple people with line breaks ( <br/> ).
years	Years the character, not the actor, has appeared (not full dates), i.e. "1996–1999, 2001". Closed dates should be separated by an en dash –. Open dates (for characters still in the show) should end with —present per MOS:DATETOPRES. For multiple entries, use {{Flatlist}}.
first	Date, episode number or episode name of character's first appearance. Use {{Start date}} for dates.
last	Date, episode number or episode name of character's last appearance. Use {{End date}} for dates.
appeared	Denotes the date on which a single appearance character was featured in the series.
only	Denotes the episode in which a single appearance character was featured in the series.
classification	Can be former, present or future; regular, recurring or guest. Do not use "past" (see talk page discussion about the use of "former" instead of "past").
creator	Name of the writer who introduced the character. Only include sourced content; this is not necessarily the head writer at the time of introduction.
introducer	Executive Producer who introduced the character. If the character was reintroduced by a different executive producer, more than one name can be listed, with the year they were (re)introduced.
books	Novels that the character has appeared in (if any).
spinoffs	Spin-off series that the character has appeared in (if any).
image1	Primary image to illustrate the character; preferably current or most notable portrayer. Use bare filename (Filename.jpg) with no link; sizing defaults to 240px.
caption1	A caption explaining the image, including link to performer. A caption may not be necessary if a character has been portrayed by only one actor.
image2	Additional character image to illustrate an alternate performer in the role; displays at bottom of main box, before collapsible Relationship section. Use bare filename (Filename.jpg) with no link; sizing defaults to 240px.
caption2	A caption explaining the secondary image, including link to performer.
image3	Additional character image to illustrate an alternate performer in the role; displays at bottom of main box, before collapsible Relationship section. Use bare filename (Filename.jpg) with no link; sizing defaults to 240px.
caption3	A caption explaining the tertiary image, including link to performer.
species	To denote a character's non-human species, if applicable. To conserve space, this parameter should only be included in articles about non-humans (notable pets), which will be extremely rare.
breed	To denote a character's non-human breed, if applicable. To conserve space, this parameter should only be included in articles about non-humans (notable pets), which will be extremely rare.
alias	Any notable aliases or other names used by the character, including married names, when different to the name at the top of the infobox. All aliases should be credited or supported by a reliable source.
occupation	Character's most notable profession(s). The words "current" and "former" are not used, as works of fiction exist in a kind of perpetual present tense. Instead, durations can be used to clarify, if necessary.
owner	To denote a character's non-human species, if applicable. To conserve space, this parameter should only be included in articles about non-humans (notable pets), which will be extremely rare.
family	If there is a Wikipedia article for the main family the character belongs to, add it here.
parents	Names of the character's biological parents. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
adoptiveparents	Names of the character's adoptive parents. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
stepparents	Names of the character's stepparents. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>). Durations for stepparents are not required.
siblings	Name(s) of the character's sibling(s). More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
spouse	Name(s) of the character's spouse(s). Relations by marriage need only be noted if the relationship holds some notable significance for the characters in question. Durations are listed, any other qualifiers are assumed. Multiple marriages are listed once with additional years in the duration. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
children	Name(s) of the character's biological child(ren). It is unnecessary to note the parents, etc. that may establish the connection, as in: Junior Jones (son, via Mama Mia). More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
adoptivechildren	Names of the character's adopted children. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
stepchildren	Names of the character's stepchildren. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>). Durations for stepchildren are not required.
grandchildren	Name(s) of the character's grandchild(ren). More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
grandparents	Names of the character's grandparents. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
aunts/uncles	Names of the character's aunts and uncles. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
nieces/nephews	Names of the character's nieces and nephews. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
cousins	Names of the character's first cousins. More than two entries should be separated using {{Plainlist}} rather than line breaks (<br/>).
Holdover parameters from {{Infobox character}}: These parameters are supported to prevent data loss when implementing this infobox, but should be replaced by the appropriate new parameters.
Old parameter	Explanation
image	The old image parameter requires a link ([[ ]] ) and allows for divergent sizing; should be moved to new parameter `\|image1=`, without link.
caption	Caption related to old image parameter; should be moved to new parameter `\|caption1=`.

Tracking categories

Category:Pages using infobox soap character with unknown parameters (0)