Tech: Making those blue clickies

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 02:51 PM

It ain't rocket science. Just HTML.

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: GUEST,s,again
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 02:14 PM

it worked :)

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: GUEST,s
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 02:11 PM

here

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: radriano
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 02:44 PM

Now, now. Settle down, boys and girls.

Good points were made by most posters here. I tend to agree with Clinton but it's true that many people prefer simplicity and yes, even baby talk. What's with English posters saying "presie"(sp?) instead of "present" (as in a Christmas present)?

I've got a very good friend who is very intellegent normally but when he sends me an e-mail it's full of baby talk and the very annoying use of numbers in place of words. Instead of "for you" he'll write "4 you."

And, my very favorite pet peeve is e-mails or posts all in lowercase letters. Aargh!

Oh, yes, and then there's multiple punctuation, as in "I love Lawrence Welk!!!!!!!" C'mon folks, one punctuation mark is all you need.

Now, now, settle down yourself, radriano. Okay, deep breath. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and exhale.

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 01:01 PM

"quotation marks are optional"

Ah, just because the early MicroCrap browsers ignored them and thus do not implement the standards as defined, the other browsers have had to follow suit to be 'compatible'. Personally I find the quotes a great guide when skimming a large page looking for the links to edit something. If you start writing 'sloppy' code, you won't want to write 'correct', especially with XML...

Robin

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 12:43 PM

Ya ever stop to think that was MAYBE done on purpose?

heh

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 12:40 PM

Clinton, you misspelled 'cotton'. It is so infuriating. *G*

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Amos
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 12:40 PM

No reason they should if you are still using "cotten" for "cotton", Clint. However, I'll be tolerant of your bumptious superior attitude if you'll be tolerant of my saying "Blue clicky", which is perfectly acceptable in a community with many newbies in it (hyperlink-wise).

All that looks shambolic is not evil...


A

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:58 AM

Not at all Biil...

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:55 AM

ah, Clinton...the 'general population' and its foibles and flaws serve a very useful purpose...they help to make YOU feel superior!

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:52 AM

or, you can force a color

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:47 AM

I used to feel just like ClintonHammond about the "babytalk" issue, but gradually gave in and adopted the point of view articulated above by MMario.

Those who *know* how to make 'em and use 'em know that they're hyperlinks -- but to those who are not yet in on all the secrets, they're blue clickies.

However: while I have reluctantly begun to accept the usage "blue clicky," I still refuse to utter (or write) the word "thingy" in *any* context whatsoever!

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:47 AM

"the general poulation unders stands phrases like..."

The 'general population' also uses words like 'irregardles' (No such word... what they mean to say is Regardless)... and I don't much cotten to that either...

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:42 AM

links don't have to be blue...that is only the standard default. Almost no one bothers to go into 'preferences' and make links pink or green. (you can also choose to have them underlined ...or not)

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: MMario
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:26 AM

Clinton - I will disagree with you - both as someone who does continual phone support and as someone who works with many, many educators.

The trainers JUMPED on the term "Blue clickie" - it's understandable - rarely needs to be defined. 9 out of ten people understand what is meant by "blue clickie" the first time they hear it - especially when looking at a web page.

"Link" has less recognition value - and "hyperlink" almost *NONE* unless a person knows web design.

granted - this is not as it should be. But face it - the general poulation unders stands phrases like "blue clickie" and "down pointy arrow" more then they do "hyperlink" and "drop-down menu indicator"

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:10 AM

Also, start by NOT calling them "blue clickies"

Call it a Link... or a hyperlink

'Blue Clickes' sounds like baby-talk

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:07 AM

I'm glad that people jumped in to help on this. Some folks said exactly what I was *trying* to say, but having it put in other words undoubtedly made it clearer. Others added a critical observation or two that really helped.

Opening a new browser window for the site to which you want to link is an important tip; if it's not absolutely necessary, it sure makes the process easier. From there, it's just a matter of copying and pasting (for which you can use any of several methods).

I remember being really frustrated when I first tried and failed to "make a link," and I hope this helps others get past it quicker.

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Joybell
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 10:06 PM

Thank you PoppaGater. It was the gobbledgook that was throwing me. I'll study this thread and keep learning. Joy

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 09:53 PM

Here's my standard guideline, updated since I've learned a few tricks in my old age:

<a href="http://www.mudcat.org">Click here</a>

<a href="mailto:[e-mail]">Click to e-mail</a>

If you're posting links at Mudcat, the quotation marks are optional. I prefer not to use them, because they complicate the task of making links. Simple is better, I think. Fewer misteaks.

I find it's best to open a new browser window [CTRL-N] and navigate your way to the site you want to link to. Highlight and copy [CTRL-C] the URL (address) of the site, and then go back to your Mudcat message and paste [CTRL-V] the URL into your link. Be sure to include the http:// in that URL. The quotation marks are standard procedure, but most links work just fine without quotation marks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 09:43 PM

Sorcha, I think it was the 'make a link thing' that PoppaGator was talking about.

One of the things that put me off for a while about the linkmaker was that the instructions say "cut and paste this into your post", when in fact you should copy and paste. Once I realised that was a mistake and I copied, it worked fine.

There is also an easier way to copy and paste than what PoppaGator described. A single left click just after the URL will highlight it. Then you right click on it and select 'copy', then in the linkmaker where it says 'link URL', you right click again and select 'paste'. If the link is to a thread, I often copy and paste the name of that into the 'link text' line too, to save typing it.

Then of course when you copy and paste that line of gobbledegook into your post, you must be sure to highlight the whole of it, including the < and > at each end. Apart from testing the link on the linkmaker, I always preview my post and click on my link in there to make sure it is working properly before I post.

Jenny (who knew absolutely nothing about computers two years ago before I got one and joined mudcat)

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 07:37 PM

like this?

Subject: RE: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 06:34 PM

Yup...the http part is important. You can also use the Make a Link thing on the bottom of the page.

Subject: Tech: Making those blue clickies
From: PoppaGator
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 06:03 PM

I so often read posts that say "I can't make a blue clicky, so I can't refer you to [whatever]".

I had the same problem for a while, but finally figured out what I was doing wrong. Many months later, I realize that I might as well share:

My recurring problem was that I'd make a link, then test it, and get a "page not found," with a message to the effect that the computer was looking for my link *within mudcat.org,* and (of course) not finding it.

That would happen because I was not using the *complete* web address. For example, if you try to make a clickable link for "www.frets.com," the Mudcat LinkMaker will create a link that results in a failed search within the Mudcat site for the referenced page, exactly as described above. That won't happen when you supply a complete URL, such as "http://www.frets.com."

To capture a complete URL that will work in the LinkMaker, call up the page in question (using a new browser window will be easiest) and highlight the actual full address, which usually starts out with "http://." Hit {Ctrl}/{C} to copy, or use the mouse to select File / Copy.

Then paste the copied address into the appropriate line of the LinkMaker (using {Ctrl}/{V} or File / Paste). If desired, type in text at the other line -- this is optional. If no alternative text is provided, the link will display the actual address.

Finally, the LinkMaker will create a line of HTML code containing the desired address and also the alternate text, if any. Highlight and copy this entire line and paste it into your message.

The pasted-in code will look like a lot of gobbledegook in the window in which you type your message, but if you hit {Preview}, you'll see the link appear within your message exactly as it will appear on the forum, underlined in blue without the extra coding characters.

If this is NOT the problem for some of you (which I'm sure will be the case), provide details and ask for help. Somebody (maybe me, maybe someone else) will probably be able to provide the answer.

I want more of you to be able to provide working links!