Template:Date table sorting/doc

Dts (date time sorting) is used to correctly sort and display dates in a sortable table (see Help:Sorting).

What it solves

Normally, for proper sorting, dates must be entered in YYYY-MM-DD format. However, that format does not conform to the for date display. This template automatically creates the hidden key for sorting purposes whilst displaying the date in an alternative format (e.g. day-month-year).

Parameters

Dates

The year, month and day can either be entered separately or as a single date.

{{dts|year|month|day|BC}}

{{dts|date}}

1st parameter – Year (optional if month is given) Positive number (1 to 9999) represent years AD or BC (dependant on the fourth parameter). Negative numbers (−1 to −9999) represent years BC (without the fourth parameter). 2nd parameter – Month (optional if the day is not given either) Full month name – e.g. February Abbreviated month name – e.g. Feb Month number – (either zero-padded or not) e.g. 2 or 02 3rd parameter – Day (optional) Day number – (either zero-padded or not) e.g. 7 or 07 4th parameter – (optional) May be BC, AD, BCE or CE Used with a positive year number

1st parameter – the full date By default YYYY-MM-DD format becomes month-day-year format while other formats remain as input. Abbreviated months are accepted and are returned as input. Capitalisation and comma mistakes are corrected. A single number is interpreted as a year otherwise the date is accepted and interpreted according to the php date/time format (since the {{#time:}} parser is used). Certain limits (e.g. it won't go before 100 AD) therefore apply.

Examples

input style	input code	hidden sort key	visible output

Formatting

Using format produces a format that depends on, but is not necessarily equal to the format of the supplied date. This requires multiple calls of function #time, reducing the maximum number of calls of this template on a page in the worst case to 88, see below. The format parameter can take nine values.

Examples

value	function	input code	hidden sort key	visible output

Abbreviation

There are two ways of abbreviating the month name.

1. Directly input an abbreviated month name.
2. Use the abbr=on parameter.

Examples

abbreviation method	input code	hidden sort key	visible output

Additional sort key

In case two dates in a table are identical they may be ordered using the addkey parameter.

Examples

input code	hidden sort key	visible output

Wrapping

To turn off the suppression of word wraps, use the nowrap=off parameter.

Notes

Sorting for incomplete dates

Whole months or years

A whole year or month (and year) is sorted according to its first day.

Missing years

If the year is not specified, the date will be sorted as if the year were the current year.

Error handling

Entering an invalid date format will (generally) produce an error message such as the one below.

Calendar choice

The template is not capable of distinguishing Julian and Gregorian calendar dates. Also, it is not capable of taking a date in one calendar as input and outputting a date in the other calendar. Thus, to insure proper sorting, editors must either use one calendar for all dates, or pick a specific changeover date (for example, deciding that 4 October 1582 is Julian and all later dates are Gregorian); this would be done on an article-by article basis. Editors are also responsible for explaining to the reader whether the visible dates are Julian or Gregorian, if there is any possibility of confusion.

Linking

The template formerly linked dates automatically. To turn linking off the parameter link=off was used. In accordance with current guidelines linking is no longer supported. Please do not use this parameter. Please remove it from existing transclusions.

See also

• Template:Tim, since on Meta e.g. 09999 9999 induces numeric sort mode, "&" is prefixed to force string sort mode.
• {{sort}}, sorting by a specified key (also good for complicated numbers, e.g. scientific notation)
• {{sortname}}, full name sorting (using "last name, first name" as default sort key)
• {{tts}}, for sorting times in result tables of athletic events (only needed in certain cases - see template documentation)
• {{mss}}, for sorting times in tables of eclipses
• {{nts}}, for numbers