CZ:Proposals/Should we allow article specific subpages?

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The Proposals Manager will do so soon if and when the proposal or issue is "well formed" (including having a driver).
For now, the proposal record can be found in the new proposals queue.

Driver: Chris Day

Complete explanation

At present only subpages from a generic list of subpages can be created. The core of this proposal is to allow some subpages that are article-specific subpages. Since such a subpage would not be available as a choice in the list of unused subpages, it has to be designated in the metadata for a specific article.

To add an article-specific subpage to a cluster the "tab1 = " (or tab2, or tab3, as the case may be) field in the metadata page for the article needs to be edited to contain the name. Up to three different article-specific subpages can be designated at the moment.

CZ:Isotopes is an experimental article-specific subpage type currently being tested on Oxygen, Iron and Hydrogen. It is designed to be a tab-navigable subpage used on articles about elements that have a lot of specific isotope data.

Reasoning

Generic subpages such as "Catalogs" can be useful for storing data related to the article but the tab name for the subpage is not very specific for the kind of data available. The ability to create up to three specific subpage types will increase the usability of the article for casual readers who are not familiar with the articles structure. For example, chemistry students will be immediately be aware that one of the subpages has information relating to different isotopes if the tab is actually named Isotopes rather than Catalogs.

But why not make Isotopes a generic subpage?

Certainly this is possible but there are three reasons for not having all subpages hardwired as generic subpages. First, there is a timelag for authors to get new subpage titles approved this can be frustrating for authors. Second, by allowing authors to experiment with up to three unique subpages for an article we are fostering an environment that encourages creativity with respect to subpages. Third, the list of unused subpages that we currently have on the talk page could become massive if filled with rarely used but useful subpage types.

If any Article specific subpages starts to become popular it can always be upgraded to generic subpage status.

Implementation

This proposal has already been implemented for testing. The MSDS and Isotopes subpages are examples of two types of Article Specific Subpage that are currently being tested.

Discussion

A discussion section, to which anyone may contribute.

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