In simplest terms, talkback allows a user (user1) to direct the attention of another user (user2) to a discussion on a specific talk page.
One benefit of this tool is to maintain the flow of a discussion on a single user's talk page, rather than having to switch back and forth between talk pages in order to make sense of the conversation.
Two examples of the use of this template are:
If you receive a message from a user, you can notify the user that you have responded to their message on your own talk page.
If you create a topic on your talk page, you can notify a user that the discussion might need their attention.
Usage
In this discussion, it is assumed that you (the sender) are user1 and that user2 is the recipient.
First message
Place this template under a new section at the bottom of user2's talk page.
To use this template to direct the attention of another Wikipedian to your talk page:
Go to the recipient's talk page. User talk pages start with "User talk:" prefix.
On the top of the page, click on "New Section" button/link. It should look like this:
In the "Subject/headline" box, type "Re: " and the subject of the original discussion.
In the message section, enter one of the following (remember, you are user1):
Simple form: This is the simplest way to use this template: {{Talkback|user1}}.
More accurate form: This form has an additional parameter which takes the reader right to the section in which the discussion is in progress: {{Talkback|user1|section}}
Recommended form: This form is complete and recommended. It adds a timestamp: {{Talkback|user1|section|ts = ~~~~~}}Instead of five tildes (~~~~~), you can enter any date and time.
Save the page.
Wikipedia will notify user2 of having a new message in their talk page. When they visit their talk page, they should see your notice and (hopefully) follow the link to your user talk page.
Example
For example, this code:
== Re: Testing on Wikipedia ==
{{Talkback|Sandbox|Testing on Wikipedia|ts = ~~~~~}}
Generates:
Re: Testing on Wikipedia
Hello, Talkback. You have new messages at Sandbox's talk page. Message added 12:49, 13 April 2012 (UTC). You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{Talkback}} or {{Tb}} template.
NOTE: This example says "Hello, Talkback" only because this page is for Talkback. In real use it would have the name of the recipient: "Hello, user2".
Shortcut
Instead of manually typing out the username parameter, you may use {{subst:Mytalk}}, which automatically inserts your username.
Second message
So, what if you had another reply for the same user in the same topic? In case you think that the recipient has not visited your user talk page since you inserted the {{Talkback}} notice, simply do nothing. On the other hand, if the discussion continued and you think the recipient must once again read what you have posted, you can simply do one of the following:
Do nothing. Most of the time, Wikipedians keep their correspondents' user talk pages in their watchlists and will see when another reply is posted.
Update the ts parameter. Simply edit the recipient's user talk page and replace the time and date in the ts parameter with a new time and date (or with ~~~~~). This will notify the user.
Add another {{Talkback}} in the same section under the first one. However, the recipient user might find this obtrusive.
Pointing to other talk pages
To have the links point to a non-user talk page, you must include the full talk page link.
Do not insert this template in a section header; use it on a line by itself
Announcing your conversation policy
If you are going to use this template, please consider putting {{Usertalkback}} on the top of your own talk page. It generates:
You may also use {{Usertalkback|you=watched}}, which tells your visitors not to use {{Talkback}}. It generates:
NOTE: These examples say "{{Talkback|Talkback}}" only because this page is for Talkback. In real use they would show your own username: "{{Talkback|user1}}". Where the first example says "{{Talkback|your username}}", it would appear just like that: The "you" there is addressed to the person reading the notice that the Usertalkback template will put at the top of your User Talk page.
You might, however, like to make a custom message using {{mbox}} or {{notice}}.
{{Talkback}} – the original, large "you have new messages" notice to put on other users' talk pages
{{subst:Mytalk}} – invokes the talkback template and automatically fills in your username
{{Talkbacktiny}} – a somewhat smaller version of {{Talkback}}
{{Interwiki talkback}} – a "you have new messages" notice to put on other users' talk pages for interwiki purposes
{{Whisperback}} – a less obtrusive template than {{Talkback}}, with more features and without the box
{{You've got mail}} – like {{Talkback}} but to notify of an offsite e-mail
{{Please see}} – similar to {{Whisperback}}, but notifying others of a topic they may wish to participate in
{{WikiProject please see}} – similar to {{Please see}}, but for use on WikiProject talk pages
{{Discussion notice}} – an alternative to {{Please see}}, similar to {{ANI-notice}}
{{Usertalkback}} and {{Userwhisperback}} – notices for the top of one's own user talk page, so as to inform your interlocutors of your user discussion preferences
{{FYI}} – icon box to give a visual hint to readers of talk page items
{{Notified}} – disclosure indicating that a notification has been posted on another page
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