Policy:Categories
The PokéFarm Wiki uses Categories to provide an organized system of navigational links to all its Pages and Files. Categories contain pages and files that can be easily classified by a set of defining characteristics, without having their content limited by them. Using the Wiki’s Categories, readers should be able to quickly search and locate the information they need, as well as being able to find directly related information about their search topics.
Category Types
In order to maximize efficiently within the Category system, the PokéFarm Wiki uses four types of Categories: Image Categories, Page Categories, Parent Categories, and SubCategories. Each Category type is defined by both what kind of page they categorise, and the method in which they do so.
Image Categories
Image Categories exclusively categorise image files. Image Categories should never, under any circumstances, contain files that are not considered to be images. For the categorising purposes on the Wiki, all types of images are still considered to be the same (e.g. sprites, official art, screenshots, etc.), and all types of image formats are acceptable (eg. gif, png, jpg, etc.).
- Every Image Category must have an "(Images)" classification placed at the end of its title e.g. Category:Class Banners (Images).
Page Categories
Page Categories are used to sort and categorise pages used on the Wiki, usually using their informational content and level of completion as classification criteria. Because each page is unique in it’s informational content, Page Categories tend to be used as more of a navigational help rather than a type of classification. Page Categories are also used to group pages that need special attention, e.g. Category:Pages with Missing Information.
Parent Categories
Parent Categories are used to categorise other Categories. Parent Categories are used categorise groups of categories, that although can stand on their own, are all similar enough to each other that they can be grouped into a larger Category. Parent Categories can be used to categorise any kind of Category, regardless of their own unique classification criteria.
SubCategories
SubCategories are used to categorise pages already belonging to another type of Category. If a category is determined to be too large or general in its classification criteria, it can be broken down into multiple subcategories to better classify its contents. SubCategories can contain any kind of file or page format recognized by the Wiki.
Category Criteria
All Categories used on the PokéFarm Wiki must abide to each part of the Category Criteria in order to be able to be incorporated as an official Category. The Category Criteria is to be used as the official guide to making a Category, and must be incorporated into each and every category.
Naming Categories
The name of a category needs to be concise and short, but still be able to clearly classify what belongs inside of it. Category names need to limit unnecessary information as much as possible; lengthy titles take longer to read and process, which would defeat their purpose.
Additions to Categories
Each time an page or file is added to a category, the edit summary should contain a brief, but relevant, explanation as to why that page belongs its new category. Through this explanation process, future editors should be able to better understand what kind of pages belong inside categories. Failure to include a reason when classifying a page may result in administrative edit rollback.
Over Categorisation
Pages should never belong to more than three categories. If a page can belong to more than three categories, the categories which best classify the page should be used. If enough pages are shown to be part of too many categories, new categories (or subcategories) should be created.
New Categories
As PokéFarm changes, the PoéFarm Wiki must adapt to it. As new features are incorporated to the site, the Wiki and its categories must be able to be changed and edited to incorporate new information. In order to create or remake a category a certain procedure must be followed, it is a follows:
- New Category proposals should be requested on the appropriate talk pages. Category remake proposals should be requested on the old category talk pages, while new categories can be requested on either this page’s talk page, or any other appropriate talk page.
- Category requests should clearly explain why a new category is needed, and should include at least two examples of pages that would belong to the new category. If no page examples can be provided, it must be explained as to why that is.
- An official Wiki Editor must approve and add the new category to the official category listing before it can be incorporated into the Wiki. Editors may ask questions, present issues, or reject requests as they see fit. Multiple users are encouraged to contribute to a talk page in order to express their opinions on the presented request.
- Once a Category is granted approval, its requester may create the new category page. The new category page should follow all category criteria, and must clearly explain its unique classification criteria on its page.
- After the category page is created, pages may be added to it.
