Template talk:Page numbers needed

A modification for the template

It's been discussed here that this template would be better if modified to have an added parameter that, by toggling it, you can choose if some references don't have page numbers, or not toggle it and it will say that all the article references are missing page numbers, like it does with the article and section parameters that you can toggle to show that. The discussion moved here. Vastmajority20025 (talk) 14:10, 14 December 2025 (UTC)

I don't think this is necessary. I doubt that it will get used (i.e., by anyone except Vastmajority). WhatamIdoing (talk) 22:22, 14 December 2025 (UTC)

What are you talking about @WhatamIdoing!? Obviously everyone is waiting for it to be used (๑˘ᴗ˘๑) Vastmajority20025 (talk) 09:32, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Perhaps everyone should be eagerly anticipating it. WhatamIdoing (talk) 21:44, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Yup, mhm. Vastmajority20025 (talk) 06:42, 16 December 2025 (UTC)

I think it will be tough to gain consensus for this, although you are welcome to try. One problem with it, is that if you have it set to all are missing page numbers, and then somebody adds a new paragraph to the article, including a citation with a page number, now the banner is out of date, and no longer true. The editor may not even know there is a template there, so some other editor would have to update the template param from "all" to "most".

I prefer the approach mentioned earlier at VPI to loosen up the wording so that it covers both the "all" and "most" cases:

This article cites its sources, but some or all of the citations do not provide page references.

Maybe this would give you part of what you want, and I think you'd have an easier time gaining consensus for it as it doesn't require a parameter and doesn't increase the burden on editors using the template. Mathglot (talk) 00:48, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Or This article cites its sources but does not provide sufficient page references?

I'm sympathetic to pedantry in these templates (see, e.g., Template talk:AI-generated#Disclaimer at start), but I'm not sure that this particular instance is necessary. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:39, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Yah, lots better; this has my vote. Mathglot (talk) 06:40, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Both recommendations are good actually. Adding this will able users to tag pages more concise, when talking about if the page's sources has page numbers, or not. Vastmajority20025 (talk) 09:32, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

Something like these might gain consensus. Let's wait for some other editors to weigh in and see what they say. Mathglot (talk) 09:46, 15 December 2025 (UTC)