Wikipedia:WikiProject Geographical coordinates/comparison

Comparison of Coordinates entry methods

Template Aspect	free format	{{coor}}	coor d/dm/dms	{{coord}}	{{coordinate}}
Status	unused in English Wikipedia, method prior to 2005	unused in English Wikipedia, was frequently used in other languages deprecated	used in English Wikipedia 2005-2008 deprecated	current standard in English Wikipedia (since September 2008)	current standard in de Wikipedia (since February 2008) deleted from English Wikipedia in September 2008
Sample	1° 2' N 5°12' W (more)	{{coor\| 1_2_N_5_12_W\| 1°2'N, 5°12'W}}	{{coor title dm\| 2\|46\|N\| 45\|30\|W\| region:ZZ_type:landmark}}	{{coord\| 2\|46\|N\|45\|30\|E\| region:ZZ_type:landmark\| display=title}}	{{coordinate\| NS=2/46/0/E\| EW=5/12/0/W\| type=landmark\| article=/}}
Strengths	easy to enter		Well known set of templates Data entered into template is validated (input validation) Less overhead (2-3 subtemplates only). Can be included numerous times in tables (an estimated 3880 times in discussed sample) partial support for microformat supported by google supports "name=" Frequently used (was)	One template for all input formats (dec/dms) dec/dms format can be set in user stylesheet well documented input validation recently added Frequently advocated supported by google supports microformat supports "name=" Frequently used uses of older templates are currently being migrated to this format using a bot	Data entered into template is validated (input validation) One template for all input formats named parameters for coordinates (NS=/EW=) named parameters for type/region/globe etc. Less overhead (5-10 subtemplates only). can display text/icons instead of coordinates support for elevation supports microformat supports "name=" Frequently used (in German Wikipedia)
Weaknesses	can't be parsed	coordinates need to be entered twice	type/region/globe/etc. parameters all gobbled up d/m/s are entered in separate fields to switch from dec to dms input, one needs to switch templates not supported by mediawiki	type/region/globe/etc. parameters all gobbled up coordinate parameters all gobbled up display=title, display=inline,title lengthy Many subtemplates (15-20). Its post-expand include size limits the number of coordinates that can be included in lists (689 times in sample discussed below) rounding problems for dms display d/m/s are entered in separate fields not supported by mediawiki	more verbose format (15-20% more to type) several subtemplates (5-10). Its post-expand include size limits the number of coordinates that can be included in lists (425 times in sample discussed below) not supported by mediawiki
Risks			A series of templates rather than one	Complex template	more to convert if adopted
Opportunities					Interwiki standardisation

Details on the coor at/title d/dm/dms set

Templates	Input format
Display	degrees	degrees/minutes	degrees/minutes/seconds
in title bar	{{coor title d}}	{{coor title dm}}	{{coor title dms}}
article and title	{{coor at d}}	{{coor at dm}}	{{coor at dms}}
in article	{{coor d}}	{{coor dm}}	{{coor dms}}

Samples	Input format
Display	degrees	degrees/minutes	degrees/minutes/seconds
in title bar	{{coor title d\|55.671667\|N\|12.525\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor title dm\|55\|40.3\|N\|12\|31.5\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor title dms\|55\|40\|18\|N\|12\|31\|30\|E\|region:DK}}
article and title	{{coor at d\|55.671667\|N\|12.525\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor at dm\|55\|40.3\|N\|12\|31.5\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor at dms\|55\|40\|18\|N\|12\|31\|30\|E\|region:DK}}
in article	{{coor d\|55.671667\|N\|12.525\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor dm\|55\|40.3\|N\|12\|31.5\|E\|region:DK}}	{{coor dms\|55\|40\|18\|N\|12\|31\|30\|E\|region:DK}}