$smwgShowFactboxEdit

Configuration parameter details:
Name	$smwgShowFactboxEdit
Description	Sets in which cases the factbox should be shown when editing a page
Default setting	See below
Software	Semantic MediaWiki
Since version	1.0
Until version	still available
Configuration	Facts display · Interface settings
Keyword	factbox

$smwgShowFactboxEdit is a configuration parameter that sets in which cases the factbox should be shown when editing a page. The configuration parameter was introduced in Semantic MediaWiki 1.0Released on 31 December 2007 and compatible with MW 1.9.x - 1.12.x..

The behaviour switches __SHOWFACTBOX__ and __HIDEFACTBOX__ can be used to control the display of the factbox on individual pages.

Starting with Semantic MediaWiki 7.0.0Released on 4 June 2026 and compatible with MW 1.43.x - 1.46.x. this parameter accepts a plain string value instead of the SMW_FACTBOX_* constants. The constant form still works but is deprecated and will be removed in Semantic MediaWiki 8.0.0Released on an unknown date and compatible with unknown versions of MediaWiki..1

Default setting

$smwgShowFactboxEdit = 'nonempty';

This means that the factbox is shown only if it has some content.

Available options

The option enabled by default is highlighted in bold.

• 'nonempty' (formerly SMW_FACTBOX_NONEMPTY) – Set that only those factboxes that have some content should be shown
• 'special' (formerly SMW_FACTBOX_SPECIAL) – Set that only those factboxes that also contain special properties should be shown
• 'hidden' (formerly SMW_FACTBOX_HIDDEN) – Sets that factboxes should not be shown
• 'shown' (formerly SMW_FACTBOX_SHOWN) – Sets that factboxes should always be shown

Changing the default setting

To modify the setting to this configuration parameter, add one of the following lines to your "LocalSettings.php" file:

Never show the factbox when editing

$smwgShowFactboxEdit = 'hidden';

Always show the factbox when editing

$smwgShowFactboxEdit = 'shown';

Show the factbox when editing only if it contains special properties

$smwgShowFactboxEdit = 'special';

Legacy constant form (deprecated since 7.0.0)

The constant form below is deprecated since Semantic MediaWiki 7.0.0Released on 4 June 2026 and compatible with MW 1.43.x - 1.46.x. and will be removed in Semantic MediaWiki 8.0.0Released on an unknown date and compatible with unknown versions of MediaWiki.. Use the string form shown above instead. It is documented here for wikis still running the constant form.

$smwgShowFactboxEdit = SMW_FACTBOX_NONEMPTY;

See also

• Help page on the factbox
• Help page on configuration parameter $smwgShowFactboxSets in which cases the factbox should be shown below a page
• Help page on configuration parameter $smwgFactboxFeaturesSets the behaviour of features related to the factbox