Template:Gutenberg author/doc

This is a documentation subpage for Template:Gutenberg author.
It may contain usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page.

This template uses Lua:

Module:Gutenberg

This template is used on approximately 10,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

This is a template to generate links to Project Gutenberg authors. This template should be used exclusively for AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, TRANSLATORS, and persons with similar roles in book production. To link directly to a BOOK, use Template:Gutenberg book.

The template can be used three ways, with |id= to name, number or empty for Wikidata

id = name

{{Gutenberg author | id=James,+Henry+(1843-1916) |name=Henry James}}

produces this URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/author/James,+Henry+(1843-1916)

displayed like this

Works by Henry James at Project Gutenberg

id = number

produces this URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/113

displayed like this

Works by Henry James at Project Gutenberg

id = <none> for Wikidata

this works on pages that have Wikidata items and have (P1938) defined, but otherwise works using id = number above

'id = name' will go to an author search result page.
'id = number' will skip the author search result page and go direct to the author page. This is preferable.

Process

Go to the Project Gutenberg web site.
Using the online catalog, search for the author you want to link via the template.
Find the author listing, such as: Harrison, James A. (James Albert) (1848-1911)
Edit the Wikipedia page and add in the Gutenberg author template.
You now have three choices: The 'id' can be either the author name, the author number or be defined in linked Wikidata (and which otherwise works the same as providing a number directly). By using the name it will go to a search results page. By using the number it will go direct to the author page. The later is preferred, unless the author has works spread across multiple authors (such as an illustrator or translator).
If using author name, set the 'id' variable equal to the author's name in this format: Lastname,+Firstname or however the name appears in the Gutenberg website, usually lastname followed by comma and then the rest of the name. The plus "+" are required; if spaces are used, the URL won't work. Although it's possible to use a bare template with no ID parameter since it will default to the article title, this is not recommended as articles on Wikipedia are continually renamed for disambiguation purposes and it's safer to lock in the desired ID.
If using the author number, set the 'id' to the number Gutenberg uses for that author. The number can be found by clicking through to the author page which will have a URL like http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/113
You may also set the 'name' variable in the template to equal the author's name how you wish it to appear, such as: James A. Harrison or James Albert Harrison. The 'name' is for Wikipedia display purposes only.
Dates in the ID should be avoided unless needed to narrow the search results. This is because the dates in the Gutenberg database may be incorrect and will change in the future thus potentially breaking the URL. Nevertheless, it's better to add the dates if they are needed to narrow search results. Even better, find the author ID and use that instead.

Examples when id is a name

On Jonathan Swift:

produces:

Works by Jonathan Swift at Project Gutenberg

On Henry James:

produces:

Works by Henry James at Project Gutenberg

This shows how dates are used to narrow results of a common name.

On Ephraim Douglass Adams:

produces:

Works by Ephraim Douglass Adams at Project Gutenberg

This demonstrates a 3-word name.

On German Sims Woodhead:

{{Gutenberg author | id=Woodhead,+G.+Sims,+(German+Sims),+Sir

produces:

Works by German Sims Woodhead at Project Gutenberg

This demonstrates a complex name (use of "Sir"). Other complex names include royalty. The only way to know how its structured is by looking at the Gutenberg database first.

On Edward Thomas (poet):

produces:

Works by Edward Thomas at Project Gutenberg

This demonstrates how a common name can match multiple people. To narrow the results add the dates:

produces

Works by Edward Thomas at Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately sometimes the birth-death dates on Wikipedia don't exactly match those on Gutenberg.

Note: A partial name, such as {{gutenberg author | id=Jon | name=Jon}} will generate a list of all authors with "Jon" anywhere in the name.

Template:Gutenberg author/doc

Process

Examples when id is a name

See also