Template:Talk header preload/doc

This template is a signpost. It may be used on user talk pages to attract commentary from inexperienced editors, while supplying an automated preloaded message in their comment. Unless specified otherwise, the preloaded title will contain the editors' username, and the message body will be signed, as not including such is common amongst inexperienced users.

This template provides:

• A short introduction and a link to start a new discussion.
• A list of links to the current talk page's archives.
• An optional archive search box.
• Options to provide a preloaded subject/heading and/or a preloaded message body.

Usage

Add {{Talk header preload}} to the top of your user talk page.

When used on a talk page that has archives, links to those archives and a search box will be displayed automatically within this template. To switch the archive links off, use the parameter |noarchive=yes. For example: {{Talk header preload|noarchive=yes}}.

To hide the archive search box, use the parameter |nosearch=yes, as with {{Talk header preload|nosearch=yes}}.

You can change the introductory message to use any name with the |user= parameter. So for "Example's talk page" use |user=Example.

Preload options

You can configure the template to automatically add a preloaded heading and/or message body when the user clicks on "Start a new talk topic". The default preloaded message will read:

Subject/headline: Hello from {{subst:currentuser}}
Message: YOUR MESSAGE HERE ~~~~

This combats two common problems with new users and talk pages – not leaving a heading and signing their comments. Both preloaded values can be customized.

To use a different preloaded heading/title, use the option |preloadtitle=Custom title. You can simply put |preloadtitle= to disable the preloaded title option.

For a preloaded message, link to the page that contains the message, e.g. |preload=User:Example/Talk page preload. Again, simply use a blank value for the parameter to disable this option, as with |preload=. For reference, the default preloaded message is at Template:Talk header preload/preload.

You can turn off the preload feature altogether with |preloadno=y.