Wikidata-based templates get their information from Wikidata instead of using local parameters. This reduces duplication making content easier to maintain. Based on the feedback from a translator, it seems that Wikidata-based templates are commonly used in Catalan Wikipedia. Editors can just add {{infotaula persona}} without any parameters on Uma Thurman page and get an infobox full of data extracted from Wikidata.
When translating an article with Content Translation the tool tries to map the source parameters to the target template. For the case of Wikidata templates this means that some parameters may be overriden by the local information that was added in the translation process. In these cases, it would be preferred for Content Translation to just add the Wikidata-based template without any parameters.
To properly support templates that use Wikidata:
- One of the challenges to investigate is whether it is feasible to identify which templates are Wikidata-based in order to apply a custom strategy of adaptation (i.e., not adding parameters). This may require support in TemplateData (T69659)
- Template based on Wikidata should render all the parameters that are coming from Wikidata in CX, in the same way as it will appear when article is published. This may require RESTBase-API support for Wikidata id
As shown in the example below (tested by translating "Uma Thurman" from English to Catalan in production), currently parameters from the source template are added to the translation (there is also a separate issue making parameters not being properly adapted, T199308):
