Editing Dwarf Fortress Wiki talk:Diagram

=== Replacing {{tl|diagram}} ===
==== I like what you're doing here ====
I agree that {{tl|diagram}} needs a replacement, and I'm happy to see the work you've done on this. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)
==== Improvements ====
The tiles display more evenly, the color system is cleaner, tileset support is really cool, getting away from regex is great, and character codes save needing to use a character table. I really like what I see here. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)
==== Problems ====
Since the syntax is not backwards compatible (in particular, [#f00] does something different now), the wholesale replacement of {{tl|diagram}} is difficult. If it is not replaced entirely then diagrams will continue to be created using the previous template (since people tend to copy what they see on a page). [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

It is too complicated. The purpose of {{tl|diagram}} is to have a diagramming system that's so easy anyone can use it without having to read documentation. Proper use should be clear from just seeing it used. The z-levels and variables are neat features, but they compromise this purpose. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

It has hotkeys. The only people that are going learn the hotkeys are people who read the documentation. The end product is something that looks like an image, so most visitors will interact with it as if it was an image. So multiple z-level diagrams effectively become systems for tricking editors into thinking they've delivered more information than they actually have. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

Since this is no longer a template, [[Special:WhatLinksHere]] can no longer be used to inspect (and possibly correct) the usage. Since the complexity has increased there is a greater need to be able to do this. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

{{tl|RT}} still exists, and its use is still being encouraged. Nobody should have to go through that. ): [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)
==== A (slightly ambitious) feature wishlist ====

* It should enable the full-scale replacement of {{tl|diagram}}.

* It should render as a single image. This makes it possible for people to download it and use it outside the wiki.

:* The image should be indistinguishable from a DF screenshot (it looks like you've already got a handle on this part).

* By default, the person viewing the diagram should have control over the tileset used to render it. There should be a tool by the diagram to allow people to change it.

:* It should be possible to override this default.

:* This setting should persist across the wiki as an account setting, a user script, a cookie, or something else.

:*It should be possible for a tileset maker to upload their own tileset to the wiki and configure all diagrams to display in their tileset (by default) without editing any other pages.

* It should be possible to override the color scheme to match in-game color by uploading a <code>colors.txt</code> file, with the same user customization capacity as tilesets.

:*With the same cutomizability and scope.

* Graphics set support.

:*{CREATURE_TOKEN[:TEXTURE_TOKEN]} (or some other syntax) should inspect the active graphics set to look for a graphic, and fall back on inspecting NS:CREATURENAME/raw to see what the correct character  and color are. The {{tl|CreatureInfo vxxx}} boxes (and all other diagrams) should be able to show people the same image they see in the game using their own configuration.

:*With the same cutomizability and scope.

What do you think? [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] ([[User talk:VengefulDonut|talk]]) 12:13, 24 July 2014 (UTC)