7. Linking Files

After creating at least two different webpages (HTML files), you can link them together. In Part 2 of this workshop: Your First Webpage, you learned how to create a simple link to CNN. When you link webpages you have created on your computer, however, it is easiest to use a different method.

Two Different Kinds of Links:

• Absolute Links: Like the link you made to CNN, absolute links include "http" and the full pathname of the file you want to link to. Example: "http://www.cnn.com"
• Relative Links: These are used for linking webpages created on your computer. They come in three varieties:
  • "file2.html" links to another file in the same folder/directory
  • "pages/file2.html" links to another file in another folder/directory inside the folder (in this case, the directory "pages")
  • "./file2.html" links to another file in the folder/directory above the present one.

DON'T SWEAT THE SYNTAX!

• As before, Claris Homepage takes care of the HTML coding. To link two files together, just follow these steps:

1. Type the text or insert the image which you want to serve as a link to the next page.
2.  
   • Example: "Additional information is available about linking."
3. Highlight the text you want to link. Example: Do this by clicking the mouse before the first word, and dragging to the end of the text. Alternatively, click once on the inserted image you want to link.
4. Click once on the link editor:
5. Click once on "Browse Files...":
6. From the dialog window, select the file you want the text to link to. In the example below, the file "linking1.html" is selected.
7. Click "Open." Then click on the Link Editor window's close box. You're done!
8. The final link for this example looks like this: Additional information is available about linking.

NETEQUETTE SUGGESTION: Don't use text like "CLICK HERE for more information" when you make links. Try to write webpages in language appropriate for normal writing. Some people consider "Click Here" links to be in bad taste, while others don't care. Some web design professionals consider these links very amateurish. Microsoft's website uses language like "Click Here" for links however, so who knows?!

Finally: CONSOLIDATE!

• When you have finished editing a webpage, from the EDIT menu choose CONSOLIDATE.
• This process will make sure all the images included on your webpage are saved in the same directory.
• You can choose to either save images at the same level as the webpage, or in a folder called "images."

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Course and Website by Wesley A. Fryer of Lubbock, Texas.
Site sponsored by WesTech Vision Inc.