Guideline:Categorization
This page documents an BattleTechWiki editing guideline. |
This page provides guidance on using the categorization system in BattleTechWiki. The purpose of categories is to help users explore the BattleTech universe by organizing pages into a logical hierarchy based on key themes, locations, factions, and other defining aspects of the franchise.
Contents
Purpose of Categories[edit]
The goal of the categorization system is to organize pages in a way that reflects the structure of the BattleTech universe and franchise, enabling users to:
- Navigate the lore, such as factions, planets, and events.
- Find related topics efficiently (e.g., "Clan Invasion" or "Mechs by Weight Class").
- Explore franchise materials like novels, video games, and rulebooks.
Categorizing Pages[edit]
Every page should belong to at least one category that reflects its main topic. Avoid adding categories to talk pages, redirects, or user pages, unless necessary.
Place pages in the most specific relevant categories. For example:
- A page about the "Atlas" BattleMech should go in Category:Assault BattleMechs, not just Category:BattleMechs.
- A page about a planet like "Tukayyid" should go in Category:Systems and not directly in Category:BattleTech Universe.
- Avoid placing a page in both a category and its parent category.
Creating Categories[edit]
When to Create a Category[edit]
Before creating a new category, ask:
- Does it group a significant number of pages? For example, a category for Category:Nation States makes sense, but one for "Minor Battles" may not.
- Is a list more appropriate? Use a list if details or annotations are important, such as with a "List of known BattleMech Serial Numbers"
Naming Categories[edit]
Category names should:
- Be clear and specific (e.g., "Clan Wolf Characters").
- Use the established naming conventions, such as starting with "BattleTech" for overarching topics like (if needed).
How to Create a Category[edit]
1. Add the new category to a related page using [[Category:New category name]]
.
2. Save the page. The category will appear as a red link.
3. Click the red link to create the category page.
4. Add a description of the category and its parent category. For example:
```wikitext This category contains all pages about BattleMechs in the BattleTech universe. ```
Special Guidelines[edit]
Articles[edit]
- Use categories for defining traits only. For example: The page for "Operation EXODUS" belongs in Category:Star League Era Military Operations, not in Category:Events.
- Avoid categories with biased or speculative titles.
- If a category is named after a topic, ensure it groups all related content. On BTW we have made most categories about certain groups to be in the form of a "catch all" like category like Category:Federated Suns Related Categories.
Files[edit]
Images should be categorized based on their relevance, such as Category:BattleMech Images or Category:Product Images.
Examples of Useful Categories[edit]
- Category:BattleMechs
- Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations
- Category:Novels
- Category:Video Games
- Category:Nation States
Category Maintenance[edit]
- Use {{Category main article}} to link a category to its main page.
- Avoid cluttering pages with too many categories; focus on relevance.
- Regularly review categories for consistency and to remove unused ones.
See also[edit]
- BattleTechWiki:Category suppression
- BattleTechWiki:WikiProject Categories
- Information:FAQ/Categorization
For browsing[edit]
- Special:Categories (lists all existing categories alphabetically)
- Special:CategoryTree
- Category:BattleTechWiki categories