Template:Rfc/doc

Usage


Use this template when making a request for comment. This template should immediately precede the signed (or just dated) text of the request. Do not begin the request with a wikilink; this may cause formatting errors.

Both the template and the request for comment itself should be placed in a discussion page related to the RfC topic; alternately, a new page dedicated to the RfC may be created.

Up to ten topics can be included in the same tag; i.e..

Within an hour or two after the edit has been saved, will add an rfcid parameter to the template, and will also add the discussion to the lists of RfCs that are indicated by the topic area parameters, e.g. Requests for comment/Biographies if the topic area bio was specified. Do not add rfcid without a value; do not choose your own value for the rfcid parameter, or re-use a value that is in use (or was previously used) on another RfC – instead, always let Legobot select a value. If you would like to add another topic area to the RfC after Legobot has already processed the tag, simply add the additional topic(s) to those already within the tag, before the rfcid parameter; Legobot will notice the addition and add the discussion to the new RfC topic pages.

Do not include any opening html tags (e.g., ) in the initial RfC statement unless its corresponding closing tag (e.g., ) also comes before the first timestamp, i.e., don't "straddle" the first timestamp inside html code, otherwise it may corrupt the entry of the RfC on the topic discussion pages.

If Legobot finds two or more templates on the same page which do not yet have an rfcid parameter, it is liable to assign the same rfcid to different RfCs, with the consequence that only one of them is publicised. If it is felt necessary to hold two or more RfCs on the same page, the discussions may be started together but you should add the template to just one discussion at a time, and wait for Legobot to set an rfcid on that one before you add an  template to another discussion.

If you find a page with two or more templates that have the same value for the rfcid parameter, remove that parameter from the  template which occurs first on the page, wait for Legobot to assign a fresh value, and check for further duplication.

If giving an example of the use of this template, do not use the construct  because the bot may consider that it is an actual RfC, and will add an RFC ID or remove the template entirely, as it sees fit. Instead, use one of the template-linking templates such as, as in which produces.

Note: It is a very good idea to let the section heading begin with "RfC" or "Request for comment", as for example "RfC: Past or present tense for television series?"

Expiry
The template does not provide a parameter for an expiry date. The bot will look for the first datestamp that occurs in the page text at any point after the template, and will treat that as the starting time for the RfC, and will remove the template thirty days after that time. If the template is added at the top of an existing thread where discussion has been going on for some time, it is important to add some text that includes the current timestamp between the  template and the first posting, so that the RfC runs its full thirty days.

Note to template editors
It looks to be the case that Legobot will fail to remove RfCs if there are any parameters on the RfC tag other than the categories and the rfcid parameter that Legobot sets. Be cautious when adding new parameters, even no-op parameters, as this may cause Legobot to behave unpredictably.