Fixing broken links (URLs)Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:10 pm

Edson

first of all, I am not sure this is the right place for the topic so please moderators feel free to move it around.

in another posting seen by me today our friend gai was complaining of a broken link (URL) posted by some other member. well, I had this problem too until I came across a short arcticle in macworld (may 2007, pg. 82). the problem is basically this: someone includes a lonng URL in a message but it does not work when the recipent clicks on it.

there are at least 2 ways to fix the problem:

put angle brackets at either end of your URL, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0847829111/ref=s9_asin_image_2-serq_g1/104-0558921-7878330?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=IX4IR2YE2FQ73&colid=88S78WLBIDW3&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=02HB2KF8R69K4JQ9VVW1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=279438701&pf_rd_i=507846
visit a web site that converts long URLs into short ones, like the one below, which is a short reference to that long URL produced by the site TinyURL.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2kdwjs

what i did is very simple. as i have the TinyURL.com link on my personal toolbar in firefox, while on the site i wish to refer to, i just click on that link and that takes me to TinyURL.com. getting there the short link is already awaiting me. all i have to do is paste it on the message i want to send.

hope this tip is of some help to you all.

regards

edson

Gaieus

Edson,

This is not good at all like this. First of all this way the link is not clickable at all. Secondly, it keeps its length and you need to scroll crosswise, too.

So besides what you are suggesting (which works - until that tiny url company works), the best is to use the [url]tags provided in the text box you are writing. This way your long URL would look something like tis: "[url=http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0847829111/ref=s9_asin_image_2-serq_g1/104-0558921-7878330?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=IX4IR2YE2FQ73&colid=88S78WLBIDW3&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=02HB2KF8R69K4JQ9VVW1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=279438701&pf_rd_i=507846]Click here[/url]" (where "click here" can be any text of course).

On the other hand, the post you are quoting was about a link not wholly visible (some ... was inserted instead of the entire link) which is due tothe forum software being smart enough to display only as long of an url as long there can fit in - and add the rest to it when you click. Certainly there are some browser that misinterpret these "shortened" URL-s and does not work well. That's what the above method is for.

I hope it is OK as I tried to explain it?

Cheers

Edson

@gaieus said:

Edson,

This is not good at all like this. First of all this way the link is not clickable at all. Secondly, it keeps its length and you need to scroll crosswise, too.

So besides what you are suggesting (which works - until that tiny url company works), the best is to use the [url]tags provided in the text box you are writing. This way your long URL would look something like tis: "[url=http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0847829111/ref=s9_asin_image_2-serq_g1/104-0558921-7878330?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=IX4IR2YE2FQ73&colid=88S78WLBIDW3&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=02HB2KF8R69K4JQ9VVW1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=279438701&pf_rd_i=507846]Click here[/url]" (where "click here" can be any text of course).

On the other hand, the post you are quoting was about a link not wholly visible (some ... was inserted instead of the entire link) which is due tothe forum software being smart enough to display only as long of an url as long there can fit in - and add the rest to it when you click. Certainly there are some browser that misinterpret these "shortened" URL-s and does not work well. That's what the above method is for.

I hope it is OK as I tried to explain it?

Cheers

gai,

i hardly understood your second paragraph. let me say two more things.

i should have said that putting the URL between brackets works for email messages. i am not sure about the forum software. perhaps just using what the forum software offers is a good idea but the URL remains huge.

however, the short URL works perfectly with the forum software. and never mind TinyURL, it was just an example: there are many other sites like that. in case it is not working or it goes out of business, just go to another one.

Gaieus

Edson, I know the pointed brackets work in emails - but emails are html based and this software is BBCode based so instead of using a <something> code, it uses a [something] code. That's why the long URL you posted, does not work here. If you paste it without the brackets like this:
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0847829111 ... d_i=507846
it will work because the php script (which this forum uses) will add all the html tags needed for the link to be clickable - plus it will "shorten" the link so it fits in the width of the page.
So if the link I (re)posted now does not work for you, it is an exceptional thing - but can happen. Try it, please!

And when answering, notice those code links above the text area - they will insert anything for you that can be inserted here.

Edson

gai,

it worked perfectly. thanks.

edson