Hey, I'm relatively new here and I'm sure I've already gotten under the skin of
some of you. At the risk of cementing any such feelings and/or creating new
enemies I'd like to offer instruction on making user-friendly posts to the board.

It's a simple matter to copy and paste a link to some other page on the Web into
your post. The board software on the server does a fair job of interpreting your
intentions and usually does what needs to be done to generate a workable link when
presenting your post thereafter.

One thing the board software doesn't do is shorten up the representation of that
link when its a long one (maybe it's just a configuration error/oversight on the
part of the administrator(s)?). This can result in very long line lengths and
totally ruins the format of the thread for any page containing a post with a long
link.

When viewing such a page the user must side-scroll their browser window back and
forth to read the text. The nicest way to describe the viewing/reading experience
is "inconvenient". The best way is to say it's a pain in the ***. If you
agree with that assessment and have found yourself to unwittingly be the cause such
grief, read on and try what I'm about to say. You'll be a friend to us all
(maybe you can yet go back and edit "offending" posts)

I'll be showing you the entry code for the board software.

When typing in your post, at the place you want a link, type in (substituting your
own information in place of the black text below)

[b]paste_your_link_here]describe_your_link_here

The text composition line can become quite long but don't worry about that. Also,
make sure you cut and paste the complete link including the http:// stuff.

Hover your mouse pointer over this link so see an example.

If you've got javascript enabled for this site, you should have a "link" tool
button available above the text entry area. If you use that function and fill in
all the information you'll see it does for you what I've described above.
Many may find it's simply easier to type a couple extra characters than to move
their hand from the keyboard to the mouse and back, click a bunch of things and
wait for windows to pop up/down; and you'll not get away from typing in the
information anyway.

You can also use "..." and "..." here, and most every
similar site (it's the older and more accurate term).

Finally, try to take the time to preview your post and check the links to make sure
they work before you submit it.

Thanks a bunch.

 

Shaking the bush Boss, shaking the bush!!!



He means if you highlight a link then click the Globe/Chain Link button you can make a link outa da words.

 

EHHHHH what did you say? got any pictures to explain it better? TKS> WTF???

 

None of this is necessary if you learn how to use what's already in-place. [:'(]

 

piggy: I've taken a couple of small screenshots to show you but the server ain't takin' uploads at the moment.

mrsr71: It might not be necessary as such, but obviously some users haven't taken the time to do the learning. What's more, I've shown how to do it much more quickly and easily by simply typing in the few characters directly.

What's really unnecessary is quoting full text, much less quoting any and not directly addressing it. But thanks anyway for sharing your thoughts. I agree completely but not everyone has considered the implications (or maybe they just don't care). I merely sought to bring it to everyone's attention.

everyone: If you already know and use this information, it ain't directed to you.

 

glens i appreciate what you've done, cause i'm guilty of this just recently. Seems HD's accessories always have long links.

Having said that and following your directions to the letter, it didn't work! I tried editing and all that resulted is they added your words, link etc. Guess I'm just stupid [:@]

 

Easily put:

-Type what you want the link to say in your reply window. Example: Harley Davidson
-Open another browser window (or tab if Firefox).Go to the website and the page you want to link and then copy the URL. Right click/copy or ctrl+c
-Go back to your reply window and highlight the Harley Davidson text. Left mouse button/hold and move over text.
-Click the insert link button. Paste the URL into the enter URL window and click ok.

You Harley Davidson words are now a clickable link.

BTW you can also do the same thing with a picture to link a small pic to a larger size one. A little more involved in that though.

 

Some of these guys barley know how to turn a computer on, you want them to remember code? No offense!

 

I'll try to clear that up in the original in a minute. Don't put my (black) text_with_underscores in your link. Substitute your own information in the appropriate places.

 

well don't ask me how, but something worked. I used the link button and it seemed to help, the crazy thing was i deleted the link manually and just typed in "hd centerstand" and those words became highlighted. Neat

btw, i wasn't that dense, i put in my info where you told me to... I'm stupid but not that stupid

Once again thanks to all the suggestions, as i hate the long links or images that make you side scroll.