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Chapter 2: Hyperlinks
To create a hyperlink you use the <a> tag. The syntax is:
<a href="URL">Link text</a>
In the browser, Link text will be displayed with the special hyperlink formatting, usually a blue underline. When the user clicks the link the browser will navigate to the location specified by URL. You can also use an image for the link by inserting an <img> tag within the <a> tags:
<a href="URL"><img src="linkimage.gif" /></a>
In both cases, the mouse pointer changes to a hand icon when over a link in the browser. In either case it is important to include the http:// part of the URL:
<a href="http://www.coffeecup.com">CoffeeCup Software</a>
Many links on a Web page are often to other pages on the same Website. If the target page is in the same folder as the current page, then the <a> tag needs to include only the name of the target page:
<a href="privacy.htm">Privacy policy</a>
If the target page is in a different folder on the same Website, then the
link must indicate the file location:
<a href="docs/privacy.htm">Privacy policy</a>
To link to an anchor in a Web page, put the anchor name at the end of the URL separated by a pound sign (#):
<a href="http://www.coffeecup.com#AnchorName">CoffeeCup
Software</a>
You can also link to an anchor that is in the same document as the hyperlink. In this case use just the anchor name, preceded by #, as the URL:
<a href="#AnchorName">Link text</a>
You can use a hyperlink to let the user download a file onto their computer. All you need to do is specify the file name as the href attribute. This link, for example, will let the user download the specified ZIP file:
<a href="SourceCode.zip">Download source code</a>
Please see the sidebar Links to Other File Types for more information on downloading files
You can create a hyperlink to any kind of file--images, word processing documents, Excel spreadsheets, ZIP files, executable program files, and so on. What happens when a user clicks a link depends on the file extension, which identifies the type of file.
If the file is another type, the user has the option to download it or to, in most cases, to open it. For downloading, the user will be permitted to select the download folder. The opening option is available only if the user has the associated application installed, such as Microsoft Word for files with the .doc extension. If the user chooses the Open option, the file is downloaded to a temporary folder and then opened.
You need to be aware that security software will sometimes block the download of certain file types that can be used to spread viruses. This is often the case for executable program files (.exe extension) but can be applied to other file types as well.
Anchors
You also use the <a> tag to create an anchor, using the name attribute instead of the href attribute:
<a name="AnchorName">Text to be anchored</a>
Each anchor name must be unique within the document. Text that is anchored is not displayed in any special way. You can create an "empty" anchor by simply not including any text within in <a> tag:
<a name="AnchorName"></a>
Anchors function the same, however, whether empty or not.
CoffeeCup Software started in a real Coffee House 1996. Our first program was the HTML Editor. Over the last 10 years we have created a lot more Web Design & Flash Software. Our philosophy has always been to create software and services so you can make better Websites. We are dedicated to helping you by offering extraordinary support so we can succeed together. Consider us a partner and a friend, because we really are about Fresh Software and Warm People.
