How to link to webpages and other forum threads/posts

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How to link to webpages and other forum threads/posts

Post by RX-8 Owners Club »

There's a couple of ways to link to external websites or other threads/posts in the forum.

The first and easiest way is to just type or paste the website address into your post and the forum will do the rest for you, including highlighting it in blue and shortening the web address where required.
When the link is clicked, it will then open that webpage or forum thread in the manner they choose, or as they've setup in their browser. (See below)
For example: http://shop.rx8oc.co.uk/

Alternatively, you can wrap the web address with your chosen text when added to the first [ url ] tag.

As demonstrated: your chosen link text Which looks like this in your post editor:

Code: Select all

[url=http://shop.rx8oc.co.uk/]your chosen link text[/url]
If you're not sure if what you have done will work, then press the preview button before submitting a new post and have a look.

:idea: Also another tip if you want to open a link in a new tab/window right click on it and select "Open in New Tab", "Open in New Window" or you can press your middle mouse button (mouse wheel) to automatically open the link in a new tab.
Last edited by brix79 on Sun Sep 10, 2017 10:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Clarified wrapping links
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Re: How to link to webpages and other forum threads/posts

Post by warpc0il »

Advanced Linking to specific posts within threads

If you want to link to a thread on this forum you can just paste the url, with or without tags, as above and this will take people to the top of that thread.

However, you might want to link to a specific post within the thread, perhaps many pages from the beginning.

The trick here is to add &start=nn to the end of the url, which will take people to the nth post in that thread.

e.g. http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vi ... =2&t=35973
is the top of this thread but

Code: Select all

http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35973&start=1
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vi ... 73&start=1
means that they start reading from this post onwards.

Why 1, when this is the second post?
Either because it's the first reply or because computers count from zero.

In long threads it can be a bit awkward to count the posts so I tend to make an educated guess and then test using [Preview] and adjust up/down as necessary.

Another nice trick is to add the hilit to highlight specific words in the post you are linking too.

Code: Select all

http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35973&hilit=specific+words
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vi ... ific+words
Last edited by warpc0il on Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: URLW code no longer supported
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Re: How to link to webpages and other forum threads/posts

Post by warpc0il »

When posting links, especially to adverts you may have found with a search, take a look at the full url and make sure that it doesn't include your postcode or other sensitive information.

Here's an example from Autotrader

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... =10&page=1
which expands to

Code: Select all

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711131220555?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=sw1a2aa&make=MAZDA&price-to=6000&model=RX-8&sort=sponsored&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&radius=10&page=1
Full explanation here
viewtopic.php?f=41&t=75791
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Re: How to link to webpages and other forum threads/posts

Post by warpc0il »

Recent upgrades to the forum software mean that there's now an even easier way to link directly to an existing post.

Look at the post and notice the dog-eared page icon directly under the subject, float your cursor over and it will say "Post".
Right-click and you can copy the link for that post, ready for you to paste it into yours.

You can either just say, this post
viewtopic.php?p=499356#p499356
just pasted in Quick Edit

Or get clever and say, this post
using the Full Editor and link button

Code: Select all

[url=https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=499356#p499356]this post[/url]
Be aware that, if you're linking a post in a members-only thread to your post post in a general area, that non-members will see the link but they won't be authorised to follow it.

This can sometimes be frustrating/confusing but can also be used intentionally, e.g. you might link to a post in the Technical FAQ, to say "if you were a member then you'd find the answer here. :D
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