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How to Post Shorter Links on the Forum

Started by TelePlay, November 26, 2016, 06:07:15 PM

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TelePlay

Just a quick reminder on putting eBay links into a topic post or reply.

In the past, there have been problems with really long links, that that word wrap two or three times in a post/reply.

With respect to eBay. everything after the item number can be deleted and the link still works. This is an eBay link with the added not needed code, everything to the right of the "?" including the "?"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907?hash=item3d2bb154bb%3Ag%3AJSkAAOSwal5YG7WS&nma=true&si=83YzQA5fL7xwyjeUNvzpXG2Z5UI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


Getting rid of the extra code looks like this


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907



The original code shown above with the extra stuff would look like this after being posted

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907?hash=item3d2bb154bb%3Ag%3AJSkAAOSwal5YG7WS&nma=true&si=83YzQA5fL7xwyjeUNvzpXG2Z5UI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


and it would look like this with the unnecessary code deleted

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907


I've been editing long links as I find them and when I do so, I leave the extra, unnecessary code in an edited post would look like this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907

?hash=item3d2bb154bb%3Ag%3AJSkAAOSwal5YG7WS&nma=true&si=83YzQA5fL7xwyjeUNvzpXG2Z5UI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


All that extra code is not need and could cause a problem. It is easily removed when creating a topic post or reply. If you feel uncomfortable about deleting the unnecessary code, do so and then click on "Preview." In the Preview screen, click on the link and if you did it right, you will be directed to the link in a new window (a new window opens up to show the linked page).

Thanks for your help. Any questions, please ask . . .

=============================================================

P.S.  Yes, using TinyURL is an alternative. It takes a few more steps to use but it can be used to make long links short, especially links to sites other than eBay, long links that can not be shortened or you don't feel comfortable shortening any links.


P.S.S  Another way to post a link, long or short, is to use the HTML (insert hyperlink) icon just above the composition box (second box from the left just above the imogees), place an "=" after the first "url" as such "url=" and then the link after the "=" like this

[url=PLACE LINK HERE]PLACE WORDS HERE[/url]

which would look like this

[url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rotary-Dial-Black-Desk-Telephone-Kellogg-Chicago-USA-/262726046907?hash=item3d2bb154bb%3Ag%3AJSkAAOSwal5YG7WS&nma=true&si=83YzQA5fL7xwyjeUNvzpXG2Z5UI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557][b]CHEAP [color=red]BLACK[/color] PHONE[/b][/url]

and the above line would look like this on the forum

CHEAP BLACK PHONE

twocvbloke

And if you keep going with the snipping of unnecessary clutter in the URL that ebay thinks it needs, you get this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262726046907

:)

TelePlay

Quote from: twocvbloke on November 26, 2016, 06:20:11 PM
And if you keep going with the snipping of unnecessary clutter in the URL that ebay thinks it needs, you get this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262726046907

:)

Yes, the description can be cut out but I didn't want to confuse my post, which I'm sure is already confusing, with that aspect of deleting eBay code. But, yes, you are right. That can be done but you lose the title or descriptor in the link.

WEBellSystemChristian

Quote from: twocvbloke on November 26, 2016, 06:20:11 PM
And if you keep going with the snipping of unnecessary clutter in the URL that ebay thinks it needs, you get this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262726046907

:)
Or, to be even shorter...

www.ebay.com/itm/262726046907

Checkmate! :D

Really, neither one is cluttered. Nice description, John! ;)
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

twocvbloke


TelePlay

Quote from: twocvbloke on November 26, 2016, 09:04:49 PM
Game, Set and Match:

E

Yeah, getting silly now I know... ;D

Wrong! Only check . . .

[url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/262726046907]00100000[/url]

_ or space (not underline as shown) is the first non-control ASCII character well; before "E" so, checkmate, I think.

Why do I feel like I'm in a dream on the set of The Big Bang Theory . . .  :o

Seriously, all fun aside, I was trying to keep it simple for the newer members who do not know of the history of issues caused by long links so they can help prevent such problems by posting shorter links.

I stayed at the minimum needed so members could get to a shorter link which would not cause problems with or by the forum software without requiring a degree in machine code . . .

So, if anyone got this far and is confused, just read the first post and all will be fine, I hope.

WEBellSystemChristian

Yeah, don't mind us competitive nerds! Now go to "Collector's Corner" or "CRPF Auction Contests" and read posts from some other competitive nerds! ;D
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

Greg G.

The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

twocvbloke

I only tend to use tinyURL if a link is about the length of a book and can't be shortened without mucking up the code it uses (whatever happened to webpages having all the code within the HTML or PHP script??), google maps & Streetview being the leading culprits for having to have a full URL for it to work... :)

Jack Ryan

Quote from: Brinybay on November 27, 2016, 12:32:54 AM
Why not just use http://tinyurl.com/

Because if I can't see where it points, I won't click it.

Yes, there is a preview function but it randomly disables itself.

Jack

TelePlay

Quote from: TelePlay on November 26, 2016, 06:07:15 PM
P.S.  Yes, using TinyURL is an alternative. It takes a few more steps to use but it can be used to make long links short, especially links to sites other than eBay, long links that can not be shortened or you don't feel comfortable shortening any links.

TinyURL link was given in the first post but as Jack Ryan said, the underlined hypertext used to give it does not let one know where the link is taking you, unless you want to inspect the outer HTML element, which would be this for the above hyperlinked text (clearly showing the hyperlink will take one to "//tinyurl.com/", getting this discussion deeper into the weeds when the point was just to get members to delete everything after the "?" including the "?" to make things work well.


The following is the html element for the above hyperlinked text,

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/" class="bbc_link" target="_blank">TinyURL</a>


This topic is open to any and all discussion of all things related to code and linking. However, the full intent was to provide new members and old members who never understood how or learned how to cut the unnecessary code out of a long eBay link to do so easily.


As another example of how to eliminate the minimum of unnecessary code to shorten a very long link, here is a recent eBay sale where someone got a very good deal on a side tone ringer, for a BIN of $20.

Before deleting unnecessary code,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Vintage-Antique-Phone-Ringer-Box-Western-Electric-Model-500-Metal-Parts-/371800446394?hash=item56910895ba%3Ag%3AcnUAAOSwEzxYOty4&nma=true&si=99i9%252F329zeAeq9bbQvYwHV0wCns%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


After deleting unnecessary code,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Vintage-Antique-Phone-Ringer-Box-Western-Electric-Model-500-Metal-Parts-/371800446394

?hash=item56910895ba%3Ag%3AcnUAAOSwEzxYOty4&nma=true&si=99i9%252F329zeAeq9bbQvYwHV0wCns%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


And after deleting both the unnecessary code and the item descriptor code,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371800446394


or by way of using HTML hyperlink code and the deleted descriptor text,

Nice Vintage Antique Phone Ringer Box Western Electric Model 500 Metal Parts

which, as Jack Ryan mentioned, does not tell one where the hyperlink is going to take them unless one inspects the code element (right click on the link and then select "Inspect Element" in the drop down box) before clicking on the link.

Jack Ryan

Quote from: TelePlay on November 27, 2016, 09:41:28 AM
or by way of using HTML hyperlink code and the deleted descriptor text,

Nice Vintage Antique Phone Ringer Box Western Electric Model 500 Metal Parts

which, as Jack Ryan mentioned, does not tell one where the hyperlink is going to take them unless one inspects the code element (right click on the link and then select "Inspect Element" in the drop down box) before clicking on the link.

If you hover over the hyperlink, most browsers will show the underlying link - often in the bottom left hand corner of the window.

In fact I always "hover" to make sure a link is what it pretends to be. Take this link as an example:

www.google.com

I realise this is drifting from the original post but I think it is important.

Regards
Jack

TelePlay

Quote from: Jack Ryan on November 27, 2016, 05:06:09 PM
I realise this is drifting from the original post but I think it is important.

Jack, not drifting at all in the subsequent discussion to the first post. I just learned something new. Hope others have as well. Lot easier to hover than to inspect the element of the link . . .

The first post had a specific intent but what followed is an interesting discussion that has very good points and warnings. I've used the hover on icons and images on other sites but never thought to use it on the forum, too trusting I guess, but not any more,

Mr. Bones

"Hover Twice, Click Once..." ;)

Best regards!
Sláinte!
   Mr. Bones
      Rubricollis Ferus

TelePlay

Quote from: Jack Ryan on November 27, 2016, 05:06:09 PM
If you hover over the hyperlink, most browsers will show the underlying link - often in the bottom left hand corner of the window. In fact I always "hover" to make sure a link is what it pretends to be.

"Hover" works well except for TinyURL links - which don't show where the link will take you, just shows the TinyURL code displayed.

For example, this link is to the Reply #11 above

http://tinyurl.com/z9gbsd8