Template:Location map/Creating a new map definition

Understanding map definition templates
The family of templates utilize any one of a set of map definitions. These are not forks but rather auxiliary pages and must have names following the pattern "Module:Location map/data/location" or "Template:Location map location", where location is the name of the area covered by the map. The template space is supported only for backward compatibility; all new map definitions should be created as modules. Important: If a new map has the same projection and boundaries as the old map (such as File:Iraq location map.svg and File:Iraq location map2.svg), a new definition should not be created; instead, the old definition should be used with the AlternativeMap parameter. To create a simple map definition module using an image of a map with an equirectangular Mercator projection:


 * 1) Create a new map image and upload it to Wikimedia commons or find an existing map on the same site.
 * 2) Create a module named Module:Location map/data/location, copy the content below into it and substitute the appropriate values.
 * 3) Create a page named Module:Location map/data/location/doc and follow the instructions under.

As an example of a map that uses an equirectangular projection, we use Module:Location map/data/Belgium. Please do not experiment using active templates.

Maps of this type will work for small to mid sized areas. Module:Location map/data/USA Alabama is another example of a map description that uses an equirectangular projection. Notice that the image of the country is not what most would expect.

Maps that use other projections, such as Module:Location map/data/USA, which uses an equidistant conic projection. require formulas which are used to calculate the  and   coordinates for the location mark. Understanding these formulas requires a familiarity with the subject and is currently beyond the scope of this discussion. Note that the formula for  evaluates to 0 for the left edge of the image and 100 for the right edge. Likewise, the formula for  evaluates to 0 for the top edge and 100 for the bottom edge.

Documentation
Here is an example of what a documentation page should look like: {{#tag:pre|

{{Module:Location map/data/doc|image=
 * examples=

Location map, using default map (image)


Location map many, using relief map (image1)


Location map+, using AlternativeMap


}}

}}

The following parameters are taken by Module:Location map/data/doc: All information about the map will be automatically taken from the map's definition itself.