Scope and format[]
Clearly (judged from the list already in place) the property can contain more than one word. Users need guidance (preferably on the form) on whether the property can contain two or more sets of words, such as "Billy Jones III" and "Sir William Jones" and how they should be connected - semicolons? — Robin Patterson (Talk) 11:58, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
- This is a multiple value property. That is, if you have William; Henri Phillipe, you will get a hit if you query just William. You will not get a hit if you use a query expression and only Henri. When I say query I don't mean search. Wiki search is unaffected and if you put in Henri Petain you would get a search hit even if the alternative name had Henri Phillipe.
- This is documented on the form using an internationalized message. Search for warning on the internationalization page Genealogy:Multilingual messages. Eg. the note for address is fm-address warning. Semicolons separate all multiple value properties. The only exception to this is notes and sources properties that are intended to have free text including wikitext links. Since these easily could have semicolons, the delimiter is <new note> (also documented on form). There has been some flux in which properties are allowed to have multiple values or not- so the form may not indicate all the ones that allow multiple values. Anyway, a comprehensive help file is needed for all properties so that a novice may click a question mark and get a pithy statement about what they can do with the property, and not get landed in an immense document about the theory of encoding genealogical data. EG: Help:Alternative names property Limit: 3 or 4 sentences. ~ Phlox 15:41, 27 July 2009 (UTC)