Template talk:Imdb name

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Film Portal
This non-article page is within the scope of WikiProject Films. This project is a central gathering of editors working to build comprehensive and detailed articles for film topics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
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For the old discussion about the development of this template, see this page

Contents

[edit] Piped link?

Acording to Thorpe, the IMDb article is located at The Internet Movie Database, not the Internet Movie Database [1]. The other IMDb template, {{imdb title}}, links to The Internet Movie Database. Shouldn't {{imdb name}} have the piped link removed to maintain consistency? ♫ Bitch and Complain Sooner ♫ 14:50, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

There's a mirror-image discussion of this at Template talk:Imdb title#Linked text. Per the comment there, unpiping the link on this template is probably the best way to make them consistent. —Whouk (talk) 08:10, 30 March 2006 (UTC)
Depiped. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 08:25, 30 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] New Category

This needs to go into Category:Film templates. Lady Aleena 22:05, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Format

I want to alter the template to include a link to IMDb. I propose:

[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm{{{id}}} entry on ''{{{name}}}''] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]

producing something like

I propose a similar alteration to Template:imdb title. Any objections?--Phil | Talk 11:46, Sep 21, 2004 (UTC)

I like it. --Ponder 12:56, 2004 Sep 21 (UTC)
Well, I too thought that when I first proposed this template, but Nunh-huh said something important [2]: "it would be better if it were all formatted as an external link instead of an internal link to Wikipedia's IMDB article and an external link. We don't really want 100s of articles pointing to our Internet Movie Database". And he's right. Would be wrong to directly connect all movie and actor pages to our IMDb article, because the what links here page would be overloaded.
But, there's a solution for that. We could create a redirect page to IMDb on an article Internet Movie Database references, and then we link to this page on the template. This way, all links to IMDb with the template would be under the same redirect page, and that way it'd be easier to differ from these template links to normal ones. What you think? — Kieff | Talk 03:20, Sep 22, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] imdb logo

Image:Imdb mini logo.gif Image:Imdb mini logo.gif

Well I thought it was a good idea, some editors changed it a bit. However, I dont believe it was a resource hog, considering it was only 537 bytes, and several of the stubs have images. Oh well. Who 18:23, 11 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Logo

Seeing as there was never any consensus that the logo should be removed (it was removed by one editor) I have reverted back to the version with the logo. Any opinions on this matter are welcome, but please do not remove the logo until a consensus is reached. Nick Catalano (Talk) 23:34, 30 May 2005 (UTC)

Unfortunately it is a resource hog and I agree with that editor. This has been in discussion for quite some time. See here for links to reasons and discussions why. K1Bond007 03:02, May 31, 2005 (UTC)
The link you gave does not provide reasons or disucssions. Please explain why this image should not be present? Mperry 22:36, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
Because it implies that Wikipedia is endorsing IMDB. Rhobite 01:51, 4 January 2006 (UTC)
How does the image imply that but the link does not? Mperry 03:18, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] name attribute

I propose we replace the {{{name}}} attribute with {{PAGENAME}} this proposal also includes changing Template:Tvtome person.

See full proposal.

<>Who?¿? 22:04, 26 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Interwiki

When the meta:interwiki map gets updated, we can change the link to [[imdbname:{{{id}}}|{{{name}}}]]. Dread Lord CyberSkull ✎☠ 07:32, 2005 August 27 (UTC)

ex: Jack Nicholson Dread Lord CyberSkull ✎☠ 02:23, 2005 August 28 (UTC)

I disapprove of the use of an interwiki link. It means you don't get an external link icon. This is confusing. Unless there's some way to get an external link icon, this should just use an external URL. I see no "abstraction" merit in using an interwiki link here - this template itself provides a central point to control the URL format. --KJBracey 17:25, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

I don't see a problem with that – after all, it is in the "External links" section, does have a (slightly) different colour than the rest of the text, and the text does say what the link is. People aren't as stupid as one might think, you know… ;-) Jon Harald Søby \ no na 15:11, 28 October 2005 (UTC)
It's not that people won't figure out what's going on, it's just that a lack of consistency lowers the perceived quality. (And are they different colours? I'd never noticed). There is a clear convention on Wikipedia for external links to have an icon, and as such a link without an icon will be initially assumed to be an internal one. As a casual Wikipedia user, I was puzzled for quite a few days as for what the strange significance of the lack of icon was, until I figured out that it was just an implementation side-effect.
Also, the icon is made more important by the fact that the template contains two links - one external and one internal. They should be vividly distinguished - it's not enough to say "it is in the External links section"; the other one isn't an external link!
My primary objection is that some sort of perceived behind-the-scenes "neatness" - ie using interwiki - should be ranked a lot less important than the user-visible presentation. If there's an easy way to use the interwiki and have the icon, then I'd be all for it, but if we have to make a choice – presentation is much more important. Maybe this discussion should be referred up to Wikipedia:Interwiki, where the use of interwiki as a general external link "template" is discussed. --KJBracey 16:00, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

Is this the final outcome at this point? The case was made at meta for adding this shortcut to the interwiki database based on it being used, and I added it based on that case (see m:Talk:Interwiki_map/Archives/2007/12#More_IMDb (which by the way is an interwiki link, Meta is not en:wp, it is a different wiki) where this was proposed. It's in there now, and it works. The template can be changed to use it, and if some sort of icon is desired, one can be given. We have loads of other links to external sources. I don't think I agree with this and would urge that the template be changed to use the interwiki link. Else why have them? Adding interwikis that are not used is a waste of time and effort in my view. ++Lar: t/c 11:18, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Format change with Imdb logo

  • The template has been changed by User:SuperDude115. I have reverted the edit because I would like some discussion before such a radical change.

The proposed change switches from a text format to a table format and would require editing of most of the pages using the template, which I think is a pain. Hektor 21:02, 30 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Proposal for new template layout

What do you think of that, should you give that a try? --SuperDude 01:54, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

I oppose. IMDb is popular, but not very accurate. I created the template for IMDb because it has an extensive information on various movies, so it is useful, but I don't give IMDb that much credit to make a special "box" like this to it. It's just... well, too special. IMDb is just another site, you see, so a basic external link is all we really need. ☢ Ҡieff⌇↯ 02:03, 30 October 2005 (UTC)
"Popular, but not very accurate"? Much like Wikipedia then :) Sounds like an ideal partner... But yes, I agree, I see no call to have any sort of special box, particularly one on every single film/actor page. It's just another reference source, and doesn't deserve anything more than a link in "External links". Indeed, for most articles, it will be one of the less informative links, below fan sites, official sites, etc. IMDb does get recognition enough to have a link to their Wikipedia entry on every link. --KJBracey 09:02, 30 October 2005 (UTC)
I oppose only because I think that the existing list item link is sufficient and fits well into the external link sections. The box does not fit well. — Mperry 16:50, 28 January 2006 (UTC)
With all due respect, IMDb's accuracy is much greater than Wikipedia's. That said, I also oppose because I think it looks a bit silly and would throw off some entries all throughout Wikipedia where the simple template has been used within dialogue.

[edit] Fun little external link icon

If you have a browser that shows the external link icon (Image:External.png) then you can set any IMDb links to show its own icon (Image:IMDb external.png)

Check out m:Help:User style for more info on CSS selectors.

Edit your "User:{your login}/monobook.css" (replace {your login} with your username) and add:

#bodyContent a[href *="imdb.com/"],
#bodyContent a[href *="imdb.co.uk/"] {
        background: url(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/IMDb_external.png) center right no-repeat;
        padding-right: 13px;
}

Once you save the page, you may need to hold Shift and click Reload.

Please see help on m:Help:User style

Do you see it here on this plain link?
or on this interwiki link?

[edit] Add icon

For visibility the following icon can be added:
Image:Exquisite-kmencoder.png

as is done in the Dutch version of this template. This would result in the following:

Ilse@ 14:26, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Links & formatting

I want to put template:Imdb disambig on the template:imdb pages, inside the noinclude, so people can find what they need without having to dig into the talk pages. Any objection? —wwoods 02:05, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] class="plainlinks"

This is conceptually wrong, as I've stated about Template:Imdb title. Unless there's been some change to the style guides I've missed, external links need an icon. Doubly so if it's on the same line as an internal link. I don't know why these templates are now locked, but someone please change them back. --KJBracey 12:52, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree, it must indicate it's an external link. Furthermore, it disrupts anyone who has set a custom icon for links to imdb. Lastly, it wasn't discussed, nor changed two other imdb templates. —Fitch 20:39, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

See my responses on the Talk page for Imdb title. I also downgraded the protection on that Template to Semi-protection. Ëvilphoenix Burn! 01:51, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Why don't you downgrade protection here, too? —Fitch 14:18, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
Done. I would have yesterday, but I got confused looking at the protect tab and saw that it was unprotected, but I was looking at the Talk page and not the Template itself. Duh. Ëvilphoenix Burn! 16:34, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
No problem. Sorry I sounded so confrontational, I should be more kind —Fitch 22:10, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] name = Name

What does that add  ? It seems fine without it. -- Beardo 14:06, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

It was necessary before the MediaWiki code allowed for IF conditionalss. It is still useful in case you have a page title like "Name (actor)". You'd use the name parameter in order to strip the "(actor)" from the IMDb link. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:52, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Thanks. So it's not necessary every time - just when we want to refer to someone by a name different to the article title. -- Beardo 02:16, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] IMDb Icon

I think it'd look quite neat to have a little imdb icon next to the text. Like this:

John Doe at the Internet Movie Database Image:Imdb.PNG

Does anyone have any objections to this? Lincalinca 14:29, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

  • Sounds good. ehudshapira 01:33, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
  • I don't think it's needed. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 01:53, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
  • Please, no. We've been through this before - read the talk pages for IMDb and title. KJBracey 15:04, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
Can you point to the exact location? All I found was "it's only used to generate link". I don't see the harm, it's a small decoration that makes IMDb links easier to identify in a glance. ehudshapira 00:04, 26 October 2006 (UTC)
  • I think it opens the door to have little icon decorations all over the place, which I think would be bad. If you would like to be able to identify IMDb links at a glance, I highly recommend the CSS alteration described at Wikipedia:IMDb#IMDb external link icon or just a few discussions above on this page. —Fitch 21:01, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Please add this

Since the page is protected. Best wishes, Travb (talk) 07:33, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Surely all of these can be combined into a single Template:imdb using parameters for name, title, episode, and company? ∞ΣɛÞ² (τ|c) 03:23, 12 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Incorrect upside-down filmographies generated by this template

the filmographies generated are a violation of WP:LOW. can it be changed, or should this template stop being used?

This template doesn't have anything to do with the filmography listings, it's just used to add a link to the imdb at the external links section of a page. If people use imdb to cut and paste someone's filmography, or otherwise copy the formatting from there, that's a different problem and you could mention it at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Films. Thanks. - Bobet 17:22, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
.. oops got confused. this doesnt generate any filmographies, read some wikicode wrong, sorry. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.13.40.254 (talk) 17:26, 10 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Please

Please add ca:Template:Imdb name, thank's.
Y Done --Philosopher Let us reason together. 19:31, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Problem and suggestion

Problem

The current IMDb templates (name and title) can't be used for referencing useful direct links inside IMDb, such as:

  • Document "Filmography by TV series for Richard Dixon"
@ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228960/filmoseries#tt0098833
  • Document "Episodes cast for 'Jeeves and Wooster' (1990)"
@ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098833/epcast

Because even using "id=0098833/epcast", the template will add a trailing slash that breaks the URL for IMDb. (Note: this sort of pages and template usages is also for sources in a References section or a <REF> note, not just the External links. The point would be to be able to make such links with the templates, thus centralizing and uniformizing most links to IMDb.)

Suggestion

To replace the current template segment:

[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm{{{1|{{{id}}}}}}/

With an optional param "nm" set outside the two others:

[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm{{{nm|{{{1|{{{id}}}}}}/}}}

This would allow a third, completely open-ended mode of invocation, such as:

* {{imdb name| nm=0228960/filmoseries#tt0098833 }}

A similar modification to {{Imdb title}} would allow to invoke:

* {{imdb title| tt=0098833/epcast }}

An alternative solution could be to remove the trailing slash from the templates, because you can link to an IMDb URL without the trailing slash, and IMDb will automatically redirect you to the slashed URL if necessary -- but that's usually to be avoided, because the automatic redirection can take time, overloads the target server (having all of Wikipedia links to IMDb generate a redirection would be a perf nuisance to them), and it doubles the browser's chances to timeout on the URL.

— Komusou talk @ 16:31, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Removing the slash is not a good solution. I'd go with the more complicated change of the template. thanks. --Steinninn 06:19, 6 September 2007 (UTC)
Per WP:TEMPTEST I've added the sandbox and testcases subpages. The current {{Imdb name/sandbox}} implements a solution to this problem. Visit {{Imdb name/testcases#Detail pages 2}} to see the results. – Conrad T. Pino 14:55, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] protected tag

{{edit protected}} I can't see any reason why this template shouldn't have {{pp-template|small=yes}} like {{imdb title}}. --Steinninn 19:50, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

Done. --- RockMFR 05:04, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Edit from sandbox request 15-Oct-2007

The current sandbox {{Imdb name/sandbox}} implements three new behaviors:

  1. Descriptions: Jaye Davidson with fashion! at the Internet Movie Database
  2. Retrieved on: Jaye Davidson at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  3. Detail pages: Biography for Jaye Davidson at the Internet Movie Database

The current sandbox is well tested in {{Imdb name/testcases}} with

{{Imdb name}} test cases above and
{{Imdb name/sandbox}} test cases below.

Thank you – Conrad T. Pino 20:45, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

//

Ah, well: when I reported the problem with deep URLs, I hadn't time to look at the code and propose something concrete, so I'm glad you picked up the slack and started it. But I see at least two problems with the current sandbox codes (I mean both {Imdb name} and {Imdb title}), probably three, so it'll need some discussing and tweaking before installing (that's why I'm removing the {Editprotected} for now). Let's see what I see:

1) The first one is really a minor point, but useful: the top of the template should change from:

<noinclude>{{Template sandbox notice}}</noinclude><!-- Begin {{Imdb name/sandbox}} -->[http://

To:

<noinclude>{{#ifeq:{{SUBPAGENAME}}|sandbox|{{Template sandbox notice}}
}}
</noinclude><!-- Begin {{Imdb name/sandbox}}
-->[http://

(There are indeed four lines, but it creates no whitespace and keeps the code easy to read.) This is so that the code can be fully copy-pasted anywhere, from sandbox to template and back and forth, yet will display the sandbox notice only when in the sandbox. (Currently, either the Editprotected admin would copy the sandbox notice in the live template, or would have to figure out that the top noinclude zone has to be deleted. And anyone trying a new sandbox would have to add it again, etc., it's not very practical.)

2) The second one is about the two switches, which is a lot of duplicated information and would be a problem to keep in synch long term, not to mention the waste of expand size and resource. The two switches can be merged into a single one that performs both the suffix of the URL and the prefix of the link label, with its lines such as this:

 |award|awards  = awards Awards for
 |biography|bio = bio    Biography for

(The extra spaces are inconsequential because it's folded to a single space, it just keeps the code more easy to read.) And the test should force lowercase of the input so as to become case-insensitive with a:

{{#switch: {{lc: {{{4|{{{select|}}}}}} }}

So that it'll work even if someone types "Bio" (or even "biO" or "BIO").

3) Now the more debatable part: I'm not sure a switch is a good implementation here, for various reasons:

  • 3.1) It'll require Editprotected changes for each new need because everything is harcoded in the switch. For instance, the two examples I gave of my problems with the template aren't solved by the current code, because {Imdb title} is missing the /epcast case, and {Imdb name} is missing the /filmoseries case. They can be added, but there are probably tons of other suffixes not handled yet that would need to be added one after another with long {Editprotected} waits.
  • 3.2) Even then, the case of /filmoseries#tt0098833 for a direct anchor inside a long list such as [3] can't be handled by the switch.
  • 3.3) As I understand it, a switch is a very resource-consuming thing because the whole code has to be transcluded and expanded before it is parsed; the switch for the {Imdb title} is huge; and the Imdb templates are transcluded on, what, thousands, dozens of thousands of pages? That could be a real hog, for a switch that's not absolutely necessary.
  • 3.4) For all of the above, I think it would be preferable to investigate code for a simpler, open syntax such as the one I was suggesting:
{{Imdb name| nm=0228960/filmoseries#tt0098833 }}
{{Imdb title| tt=0098833/epcast }}
This would wrap and override the id param and allow a completely free URL suffix, no more big switch that has to handle every possible case, give automatic upgrades because we can type any new suffix as param, a very small template size, and no resource drain. And as for the link label prefix, it would also make the "description=" param (whose name was a bit longish) essentially redundant, since we would set the whole label ourselves when we use an override:
{{Imdb title| tt=0098833/epcast | name=Episodes cast for ''Jeeves and Wooster'' (1990)}}

4) It doesn't change your additions with the "Retrieved". On this front, an extension could be to also add the standard archiveurl= and archivedate= from {{Cite web}}, because when an Imdb page is used as a reference to source a point, it's better to get from the start a stable copy of the revision we have retrieved and used as source, either from Archive.org if already available, or creating one on-the-fly with WebCite. But there's no hurry for such extension. Well, that's how I see it for now. — Komusou talk @ 18:40, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd like to begin with thank you, thank you, thank you! Response by points follows:
1) Concur on all points. The full copy paste in either direction is highly desirable. Please consider what we should do with "<!-- Begin {{Imdb name/sandbox}} -->" and trailing partner? I suggest dropping both comments.
2) Concur on all points. I will reimplement the switches as suggested while we resolve point 3 and it's descendants.
3.1) Concur on all points.
3.2) Comment – An additional #if with new parameter can provide desired function however that doesn't address the 3.3 and 3.4 resource issues below. Let's resolve those first.
3.3) Concur on all points. Given {{Imdb name}} and {{Imdb title}} use, both should remain light weight.
3.3.1) Should we consider {{Imdb name detail}} and {{Imdb title detail}} or similar with shorter names?
3.4) Comment – Adding "nm" and "tt" which partially duplicate "{{{1|{{{id|}}}}}}" content gives pause in:
3.4.1) new users undestanding the application programming interface
3.4.2) remaining light weight and
3.4.3) remaining robust (forgiving) when misused.
3.4.4) I want easy editing. Suggested "name" and "title" parameter use is both labor intensive and error prone.
Suggestion 3.3.1 above is also suggested here. I will take more time later to consider alternatives based on your suggestion and your response will pay a big part as I reconsider.
4) Concur on all points. Let's pick that up when we're done with the above.
Thank you once again – Conrad T. Pino 21:02, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Omission

Stephen Comey was an original cast member but is not listed on list provided (SteveComey (talk) 16:04, 21 March 2008 (UTC))

[edit] Isn't this template better?

Isn't this template better:

???

Kubek15 (Sign!) (Contribs) (UBX) 12:48, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

It's rather hard to tell, let's compare:
[http://www.imdb.com/{{#if:{{{1|{{{id|}}}}}}|name/nm{{{1|{{{id|}}}}}}|Name?{{urlencode:{{PAGENAME}}}}}}/ {{{2|{{{name|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}}}] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
[[Image:Animlogo2.png|12px]] [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm{{{id}}}/ {{#if:{{{label|}}}|{{{label}}}| {{PAGENAME}} }}] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]

What exactly is it that you think is better about this later template? Personally I don't like the image there. Also, if you put {{imdb name}} withought any parameter into an article, it will automatically generate an estimated link, witch can be used to more easily find the correct link. So I'd say, no change is needed. --Steinninn 14:20, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Seems to break some hitherto working lks

_ _ Changing the call in Jack Randall (English actor) from

{{imdb name|Id=1470232|name=Jack Randall}}
Jack Randall at the Internet Movie Database

(which seems to reliably generate http://www.imdb.com/find?q=Jack%20Randall%20(English%20actor)/;s=nm in previewing the article) to

{{imdb name|id=1470232|name=Jack Randall}}
Jack Randall at the Internet Movie Database

(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1470232/ ) seems to fix the problem of lk'g to the search (and getting wrong page) in spite of ID being provided, but there may be more than that going on than that. (An instability at IMDb??) I'm tempted to just revert the search feature, which, even if it never ignored the ID, endorses sloppy lks and encourages failure to do the research that is needed in light of frequently ambiguous actor names like this one.
_ _ If indeed the casing is the whole problem, it's a horrible trap for users, especially since it will sometimes work in spite of the casing.
--Jerzy•t 18:00, 9 April 2008 (UTC)