Help:Cargo: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "The Cargo MediaWiki extension is designed to enhance MediaWiki's capabilities by providing a structured way to store and query data within wiki templates, particularly useful for managing data in infoboxes or similar structured data representations. Cargo stands out as a powerful tool for those looking to leverage MediaWiki not just for content but for structured data management, offering a balance between complexity and usability for wiki administrators and developers...") |
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*Parser Functions: | *Parser Functions: | ||
#cargo_declare: Defines the schema for a table, placed within the | #cargo_declare: Defines the schema for a table, placed within the noinclude part of a template. | ||
#cargo_attach: Specifies that a template adds rows to a table declared elsewhere. | #cargo_attach: Specifies that a template adds rows to a table declared elsewhere. | ||
#cargo_store: Stores data into a Cargo table, usually within the | #cargo_store: Stores data into a Cargo table, usually within the includeonly part of a template. | ||
==Features== | ==Features== | ||
Revision as of 21:54, 29 August 2024
The Cargo MediaWiki extension is designed to enhance MediaWiki's capabilities by providing a structured way to store and query data within wiki templates, particularly useful for managing data in infoboxes or similar structured data representations.
Cargo stands out as a powerful tool for those looking to leverage MediaWiki not just for content but for structured data management, offering a balance between complexity and usability for wiki administrators and developers. Its integration with MediaWiki's templating system makes it particularly useful for creating dynamic, data-driven content within wiki environments.
Functionality
- Data Storage: Cargo allows data to be stored in database tables, which can be either within MediaWiki's database or in a separate database for performance or security reasons. This data is typically derived from template calls, where each template invocation can define a row in a table.
- Querying Data: Users can query this data using SQL-like syntax through special pages or parser functions provided by Cargo, like #cargo_query. This allows for dynamic content generation based on the data stored.
- Parser Functions:
- cargo_declare: Defines the schema for a table, placed within the noinclude part of a template.
- cargo_attach: Specifies that a template adds rows to a table declared elsewhere.
- cargo_store: Stores data into a Cargo table, usually within the includeonly part of a template.
Features
- Data Types: Cargo supports various data types including simple types like strings, dates, and numbers, to more complex ones like hierarchies, coordinates, and wikitext.
- Special Pages: Cargo includes special pages like Special:CargoQuery for direct querying and Special:Drilldown for interactive data exploration.
- Integration with MediaWiki: It integrates seamlessly with MediaWiki's existing structure, allowing for data to be linked with pages, categories, and other MediaWiki features.
- Customization: Through settings like $wgCargoDefaultStringBytes or $wgCargoMaxQueryLimit, administrators can control how Cargo behaves in terms of data storage limits or query performance.
Advantages
- Ease of Use: Compared to other extensions like Semantic MediaWiki, Cargo might be simpler to install and use for basic to intermediate data management needs within MediaWiki.
- Performance: By potentially using a separate database, Cargo can help in managing performance issues related to data queries, especially on large wikis.
- Flexibility: Its design allows for complex data structures and queries, making it suitable for wikis where structured data management is crucial.
Community and Development
- Development: Cargo has seen contributions through programs like Google Summer of Code, indicating active development and community involvement.
- Support: There's community support through forums, documentation, and the MediaWiki extension repository, where users can find help or contribute to its development.