Editing Template:Shortcut/doc (section)

== Usage ==

The characteristics of the ''box'' graphic are determined by which of the family of shortcut templates are chosen. For example, the ''policy shortcut'' box has the word ''policy'' on it for use on policy pages. The graphic alignment of the box depends on the whether it's a ''shortcut'' or a ''shortcut-l'':
*{{tl|shortcut}} – right-aligned box
*{{tl|shortcut-l}} – left aligned box
*{{tl|policy shortcut}} – ''shortcut'' that also says "policy"
*{{tl|Ombox/shortcut}} – ''shortcut'' that embeds into message boxes

This template should not be used for articles in the main namespace, because the graphic produces an unavoidable self-reference.

# Insert the shortcut template. 
# Create a redirect page. Name the page after your shortcut name.  Include the namespace name in both the shortcut name and the redirect page name. For example, substitute your own shortcut name as the title of the page, and substitute the proper namespace, then add the REDIRECT as the top-line on your redirect page:
#:<code><nowiki>#REDIRECT [[</nowiki>''Namespace'':''Title of page with''#''Optional very long section name'']]</code>
# Verify operation.  Note that shortcut templates should display in all capitals, but operate without all capitals.

'''Notes'''<br />
Shortcuts are used mainly on user pages and talk pages in reference to the Wikipedia, Help, and Portal namespaces. These templates inform about the shortcuts available to the page they are on. For example, [[GA:SHORT]] redirects to [[GoArch:Shortcut]] and therefore, GoArch:Shortcut renders a shortcut box listing GA:SHORT.  It is a self-reference that is normally avoided in the main article namespace.

The point of these templates is not to list every single redirect for a page (indeed, that's what "[[Special:WhatLinksHere|What links here]]" is for). Instead, they should list only one or two common and easily remembered redirects.

For policy pages, one can use the {{tl|policy shortcut}} template, which takes up to ten (10) shortcuts as parameters. Be careful not to use a ''policy template'' on a guideline or essay.