Thread:Aftenshnoshnikr/@comment-11227880-20130805232502/@comment-6003396-20131001053232

It looks like you were trying to copy the raw code (or maybe the entire tables while in visual mode?) while there is already an existing template for the user boxes. A template is basically pulling all of the correct code from a different page so that there is no need to clutter up the page itself.

The template name is followed by two open brackets:. Looking at the Userbox templates as an example, certain values are entered into the template like the type: Pyromancy, Weapon, Armor, Ring, etc.; and then the name of the weapon/spell/armor itself (these are actually page names – they are used for the links); and then there is an optional entry for an image if one doesn't exist that matches the page name or if a different image is desired. Needless to say this all requires that you are very intimate with source mode. Honestly I think visual mode is a hindrance (I've long since disabled it) – the preview button fills its role nicely.

There are many different things that can be done with templates and this is only one such example. Some have different input methods that require more than just the pipe to separate them. It's a little difficult to explain in text, so the best way to learn about it is to do what Cain and Volknur suggested: mess around with them yourself by looking at existing code (look at your own user profile in source mode to see what Cain did), and by browsing the many wiki help pages. Here are a couple of relevant ones: Help:Template, Help:Table, Help:Extension:ParserFunctions. Hope this helped.