Template:Imdb name/doc

imdb name is a specialised form of imdb. It is the preferred template for use with people, be they actors or crew members. If you want to make a link to any other type of IMDb record — company, title, whatever — you will need to use the base imdb template.

Usage
Usage could not be simpler.

Just cut and paste the following onto pages: == External link ==

Then, insert the IMDB number after  but before   and you're done!

Just to explain the fields
 * The  number is the purely numerical string which follows the letters   in an imdb.com URL, such as:
 * You should include any leading zeros. For instance, David Tennant's is 0855039.  Only by putting the whole string, including the initial 0, into   will you have a working link to DT.
 * You should include any leading zeros. For instance, David Tennant's is 0855039.  Only by putting the whole string, including the initial 0, into   will you have a working link to DT.


 * There is a "hidden" variable of  here.  It assumes that the name of the actor/crew memeber is the same as the name of the page.  In well over 99% of cases, this is true.  Very occasionally, though, you'll run into a person whose name is disambiguated, like Andrew Collins (critic) or Adam Smith (director).  In these cases you'll have to add the name field manually, as in

Past iterations
Earlier versions of this template did not have a default value for. Consequently, you a value had to be placed in the  field. Typically, this was done in the following manner: The use of the magic word  automatically places the page name into the field. Alternately, some editors took the time to actually type out the actor or crew member's name in the  field.

Neither is necessary anymore. But it's also not harmful. Hence, you will still find this usage on many hundreds of pages.

Earlier versions also failed to include a preceding asterisk. However, pre-pending asterisks were removed by bot on 12:33, May 22, 2012 (UTC) across the wiki. This template now behaves like other external link templates. Using a prepending asterisk will now produce an obvious stylistic error.