Condensing Web Links

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

I note that we have had several cases recently where actual web links are so long that they spill off the screen (yes I am just as guilty as others ).  Just wanted to check with the moderators that its OK to condense them to a few words.  Another forum for which I am a moderator does not allow this for various reasons.

[grahame]

I note that we have had several cases recently where actual web links are so long that they spill off the screen (yes I am just as guilty as others).  Just wanted to check with the moderators that its OK to condense them to a few words.  Another forum for which I am a moderator does not allow this for various reasons.

It would be hypocritical of me to insist on long links when I (and others) routinely shorten links to make them readable. I think I can guess some of the "various reasons" you describe, and I would request that anyone shortening links gives a realistic and truthful description of (or name for) what is being linked to.  Indeed, the very first words of the agreement that everyone makes when they sign up are

You agree, through your use of this forum, that you will not post any material which is false ....

and posting up something with an unrealistic piece of link text would be false material if ever I saw it!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, I do it all the time, in my posts with links to various news items, Rail Accident Investigation Branch reports, etc.

I simply insert the link into some relevant text, such as 'the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)', or 'RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) report'.

[SandTEngineer]

Gentlemen, thanks for your responses.  As you say I think you have probably guessed the reasons why I raised this

[Chris from Nailsea]

This question has been raised again (quite rightly, as there has been no guidance on the Coffee Shop forum as to how to actually shorten such links in posts). 

So:

First, you find on the web the particular document, image, report or whatever that you want to guide our readers towards: let's call that link "xxxyyyzzz" for this example.  Some of those web addresses can be fearsomely long - as SandTEngineer has pointed out. 

You therefore post your item out on the forum, but need to include a more user-friendly version of the link to your source, within your post.

If you are linking to a document or webpage, select a relevant wording or phrase within your post, and highlight it, using your mouse left click.  Then click on the Insert Hyperlink icon in the row above all those smileys.  This will appear in your edit box (without the spaces):

[ url ] [ /url ]

Go to the first of those boxes, insert an equals sign = after the letter 'l' and paste your link - thus, in our example (again, without the spaces)

[ url = xxxyyyzzz ] [ /url ]

If you are linking to an image, click on the Insert Image icon in the row above all those smileys.  This will appear in your edit box (without the spaces):

[ img ] [ /img ]

Simply paste your link between those boxes - thus, in our example (again, without the spaces)

[ img ] xxxyyyzzz [ /img ]

I hope this helps with your posting, but if anyone has any problems, please do ask me for help - either by PM or e-mail.

Chris from Nailsea.