When posting informational reports or replying to other posts or questions, it is often helpful to attach links to other Internet websites. This makes it possible for us to share worthwhile information without having to “copy and paste” or to write out a long detailed synopsis of what we found on a given subject.
Unfortunately, our members are not all at the same level of computer understanding, and many of the computers are still running older operating and software programs that do not do a good job of capturing and posting links. Therefore, some of the suggestions included in this section may not be useable with your system.
**WEBSITE LINKS
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If you wish to post a link to a specific website, rather than just referring to the site by name or writing out “website.com”, here are the steps:
[ol]- Open the chosen website to link.- **At the very top of the page will be the “URL”…the website address. It will typically start with [http://www and will then continue with the rest of the name of the site. Click on this line to “highlight” it.[inline URL.jpg]
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Now, right click to bring up a menu of options.- Left click on “Copy” and you will have the website link “captured”…to paste into your post.- Open a new post or click on the “Edit” button on a post you have already put up…to bring up the “Advanced Editor” mode.- Position the arrow where you want the link to appear and left click to put the cursor there.- Now, right click to bring up the options menu again. - Left click on “Paste”…and your link will appear.[#000000]NOTES:
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Do not capture and paste a website address that is longer than 450 pixels wide. Just like pictures, websites that are too wide will extend beyond the normal boundaries of the available posting space. If you have a long website address to post, consider making a “Custom Link”. See the instructions later in this section.- Your computer or operating system may be versions that will not create “live links”. You may see only a string of the letters in the website address after you click on “Paste”, instead of a live link. A moderator can edit your post and make it a live link, or other members can copy your non-link and paste it into their browser window to bring up the site you share.[inline LINKS.jpg] CUSTOM LINKS
There are many uses for “Custom Links”. These are live links that are actual words rather than the string of numbers and letters usually associated with website addresses. They may be “Click Here”…”Link”…”Great Site”…”Pike Fishing Site”…”Tying Knots” or whatever.
Custom links are strongly recommended as a substitute for long website addresses that would be too long (over 450 pixels wide) to paste into a post. However, they also help readers to quickly get the gist of the website to which you are referring…or to motivate them to click on the link you have provided. Here are the steps to making custom links.
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Follow steps 1 – 6 above…right up to pasting the link in the post.
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Instead of pasting the actual website link, write out a short name for the link, as in the examples given. In this illustration, we will use YAHOO.
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Highlight the name: YAHOO
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Click on the “Create Link” button (circled in red) to bring up the screen. The highlighting will disappear from the name.
[inline “CUSTOM 1.jpg”] 5. 5. Highlight the letters http:// in the URL window (circled in blue)
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Holding the arrow over the highlighted letters, right click for the options menu.
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Click on paste. The URL from your website will appear in the URL window.
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Click on the “OK” button and your custom link will be complete.
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Post your message and then test the link to make sure it worked.](http://www/)