Template talk:GeoCompass

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[edit] Replacement of the old compass-table

I've noticed the editor of this template has been going around replacing all instances of the old compass table with this one without discussion on any of the articles. I am mainly knowledgeable about the UK sites that are having their old compass tables changed around. Whilst appreciating the effort that has gone into writing this new template, I and other UK editors have some major concerns about the design and deployment of it: (a) First, the edit summary does not always disclose what is being done; (b) Sometimes it is claimed that the old compass table is faulty without it being clear how or in what way this is the case; (c) The new (geo)compass table is much larger, overwhelmingly so for many of the cases that are being used in the UK, and the old compass table was compact and more neat. I would like an undertaking that no more changeovers are made until this is discussed on an appropriate forum (e.g., WP:UKGEO to obtain a consensus on this.) Additionally, some changes were made to articles which were being actively discussed for FAC status, and the undiscussed editing in of the new compass table would have a bearing on the comments made.

My own thoughts are that no more changeovers be done until the new template is sufficiently customisable to yield aa identical an appearance to the old template as possible (i.e., if the old coding was faulty, then fix it, not make the whole appearance different so that it becomes much larger, mostly taken up by a large graphic in the middle cell.) Also, my thoughts are that if we are obliged to use this new template if we want a compass table, it would be far better to not have any kind of compass table in most of the articles, instead providing the information shown in it by writing in the text only. Thank you.  DDStretch  (talk) 08:14, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

I absolutely concur with these points. I appreciate the effort, but it seems that this template is somewhat overbearing, and dare I say, over the top. I think a simplified version is required and proper consultation with the editing community. Jza84 13:50, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

The {{compass-table}} template appeared only on UK and Canadian pages, including on all the major communities in my area of Ontario. I could not trace out how it arrived here or who introduced it, but it was misbehaving on all pages. By this I mean that it was overwriting text on the screen or invoking the horizontal scroll bar and pushing text off the side at one or two words per line. I could not fix the appearance of it on these pages. Nor could I find any page where it was not exhibiting such behaviour. If I had found such a page, I would have copied its "fix" back to my sources and left it at that. I also found {{simple-compass-table}}, which, while it did not misbehave, was simple to the point of ugly and did not allow for cross-quarters (NE, NW, SE, SW). Since I started this, I found also {{Geographic Location (8-way)}}, which allows for 8 directions, does not misbehave, etc, and is located on a lot of pages. Perhaps you would want to use it? But on my city pages, like Kitchener, Ontario, the {{compass-table}} was also getting used to indicate general layout of neighbourhoods or districts within the city, without recourse to a full map, but just in a general sense. This use did not mesh well with {{Geographic Location (8-way)}}. So, ... I am trying to build a better mousetrap. It should allow for 8-way directions from any named point, internal or external to the point. It should use brief variables (NE, not "northeast"), allow for indication of routes (via highway), not throw alignments off, etc. This was my very first template effort. It took 3 days. Any suggestions? I agree the graphic is large -- every box is linked to every other and it needed to be kept square. Perhaps I can make it "nest"? Or is {{Geographic Location (8-way)}} so overwhelmingly popular that I should just give up?? BeeTea 18:26, 13 July 2007 (UTC)