Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

How do you make MR forum links clickable?

4940 views
15 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
How do you make MR forum links clickable?
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 2:23 AM

Hi everyone.

This question just came up again on another thread so I thought I would post it here for wider consumption. What's the trick?

Please note that I am not asking about links to web sites outside of the forums. Those I can do.

Thanks

Dave

P.S.

Before anybody goes after me for not doing a search, I did do a search but I got the usual multiple hits that don't pertain to the topic. I'll be darned if I am going to read 50 posts trying to find an answer.

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 2:30 AM

Dave,

Another forum member passed this trick on to me (I was just trying to do a search to remember whom it was)

So, what I learned to do was to preceed the link with:

 left bracket>url>right bracket then paste your link and follow it with:

left bracket>forward slash>url>right bracket. Make all this without spaces.

and that makes your link "live" within cstrains dot com.

try it, you'll like it.

type [ then type url then type ] paste link here then type [ then type / then type url then type ]

It's tough for me to show an example because the http wants to make it into a link.

Ed

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,257 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 2:50 AM

Disregard, I’m having similar problems to show how as Ed did, Bang Head Bang Head basically I do the same as he does but for all external links.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 8:17 AM

Here's the example! I made a scan and entered the code as a photo so the internet doesn't read it as a line of instruction...

So, this is what your final link should look like. The instructions in brackets before and after the link will not appear in the post but it will make it "clickable" within the cs.trains site.

Whew! Ed

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 10:31 AM

Or, if you want the link to describe what the link is...

"left bracket" url= webpage address "right bracket" The text you want to appear "left bracket" /url "right bracket". The example shown below iS how you would type it, without the quotes around the first bracket. In actual practice, you would insert the bracket without the quotes. The "[" at the beginning is shown in quotes only to prevent the line above from appearing as a link. 

 

"["url=http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88.aspx] Model Railroader General Discussion forum[/url]

Model Railroader General Discussion forum

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 2:55 PM

Ed,

Thanks for that...just testingWink

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219241.aspx?page=1

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 10:22 PM

Ed and Marlon:

Thanks very much for explaining the process clearly. When it comes to computors I am one who desperately needs clear explanations, not the severely abrieviated "just do this..." ones.

Much appreciated. It will save me some time not having to post my little blurb about 'highlight,right click, select 'open link''.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 5:46 AM

I just copy and paste.

 

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, June 11, 2015 2:42 AM

BRAKIE:

That works for everything, except it seems any links which are to forum posts themselves.

The strange thing is that when you are writing the post and insert a link from the forums, the link shows in blue print suggesting that it should be clickable. However, when you actually submit the post the link no longer shows in blue and doesn't work.

Anyhow, Ed has given us the solution.

Thanks again Ed.

Steven Otte: Is anyone working on this problem? I hope so.

Dave

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, June 11, 2015 3:02 AM

Thanks, Dave.

I'm just passing on the hint as it was explained to me by a fellow forum member whom also was shown by someone else. Wish I could remember who... but when I figure that out I'll give credit. Either way it sure helps to be able to directly click to refer to another cs.trains post.

We could really use a forum "Quick-start 101 guide" that also includes a tutorial on posting PHOTOS!

Happy Railroading, Ed

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • 3,231 posts
Posted by NorthWest on Thursday, June 11, 2015 8:43 AM

Since this had stopped working, I'll do a couple tests.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/247876/2765514.aspx#276551

For some reason, the URL codes didn't work for a while after the new software was put in place. Glad it works again.

One Post Up

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Thursday, June 11, 2015 9:16 AM

Like This?

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/743/t/247899.aspx

 

(ok, that didn't work... here is the off site link that I really wanted you to see...)

 

 

BTW: There is a good video on there about Belmont Park Service this weekend.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, June 11, 2015 9:27 AM

You can also Bookmark the page for Firefox or Favorites for IE.. That way the discussion is in your web browser and easily found. I have done that with many discussions.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Friday, June 12, 2015 10:41 AM

Actually, the easiest way to do it, is to copy the website address, then, in the forum, click on the link icon (it looks like a little chain), then paste the address in the middle box of the window that opens.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Friday, June 12, 2015 11:06 AM

For most links, the link button does. Not on cs.trains links though. Then you need the [url] trick.

I only do the [url] when referencing trains.com forums! I use the link button on everything else.

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

NDG
  • Member since
    December 2013
  • 1,620 posts
Posted by NDG on Monday, December 21, 2015 5:02 PM

Thank You very much for the URL Tips.

 

 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!