Links

It is best to link text that describes the link destination.  This makes it easier for all users to scan page links and find what they need. It also is good practice for accessibility purposes.

For example:

• For our fall 2008 course catalog, click here.  (an example of a bad link)
• Fall 2008 course catalog.  (an example of a good link)

1. Select the text or image you want to become the link.
2. Click the "Insert/edit link" icon.
   You will see a pop-up window that prompts you for link information.
   Note: The "Internal" and "External" tabs, at the top allow you to choose a file/page from your Cascade site or the Web, respectively.

• For Internal links:
  1. On the pop-up window, next to the word "Link," use the Browse icon to pick an file from your Cascade site, to link to.
     1. You will be presented with the Folder List in Cascade.  Use the left-hand Folder List area to select your file.
        Note: Don't forget the "History" link on your Choose: Browse navigation bar; this can save you lots of time in selecting a file you just worked with.
     2. Click the file to select it.
     3. Click the "Confirm" button confirm your selection.
        Note: The "Please choose a File, Page, or Symlink" window will close, returning you to the "Insert/edit Link" window and you will see the path to the file and its System Name between the brackets, directly to the right of the Browse icon.
  2. The "Anchor" field is for creating a link to a place in the current page, not to a separate page. 
• For External links:
  1. On the pop-up window, next to the word "Link," paste the web address for the file that you want to link to, on the web.

3. In the "Target" field, you can choose if the link opens in the same window or a new window. Only choose new window if you do not want your visitor to leave your site (typically for an external link to a new page of PDF)
4. The "Title" field is for accssibility. Yo uwont need to type one here if you have made your link descrpitive
5. The "Class" field allows you to select a style for your link. Here you can create buttons, pdf icon links, etc.

Note: Use the "Unlink" icon to unlink hyperlinks.

Anchor Links:

Anchor links (called Bookmarks in Front Page) are hyperlinks that link, not to a new file, but to a place in a file.  These notes use them in the table of contents and in the back to top links throughout.

1. Before we create the hyperlink to a place in our web page, we must insert the anchor point (to the place that will be linked to).
   1. Place your cursor where you want the anchor point and click the "Insert/edit anchor" icon.
   2. From the "Insert/edit anchor pop-up window, type the "Anchor name:".
      Note: Anchor names must be unique to a page, are case sensitive and should not include spaces or special characters.  They should be preceded by the pound (#) sign.
   3. Click the "Insert" button.
      Note: You will see a small anchor icon where the anchor point was inserted.
2. Select the content that you want to become the hyperlink to your anchor point.
3. Click the "Insert/edit link" icon.
   You will see a pop-up window that prompts you for link information.
4. In the "Anchor" field, type the pound sign (#) and the name of your anchor point.
   Note: Anchor names are case sensitive.
   Note: Linking to an anchor in a different page is achieved by using the "External" link tab and including the URL plus the anchor name. 
   Like: http://www.csusm.edu/page.html#AnchorName
5. Click the "Insert" button.

Email Links:

Email links are hyperlinks that link, not to a new file, but to an email address.  When a user clicks an email link, it opens the email program on their computer and puts the email address in the To: line (it can also insert a designated subject in the Subject: line).

1. Select the text or image you want to become the link.
2. Click the "Insert/edit link" icon.
   You will see a pop-up window that prompts you for link information.
   1. Click the "External" tab:
      1. On the pop-up window, next to the word "Link," type (or paste) something like:
         mailto:email@csusm.edu
         or
         mailto:email@csusm.edu?subject=Your%20Subject
      2. In general, you will leave all other fields as they are by default.
      3. Click the "Insert" button.