Creating a Link to an Existing File on the Content Server

You can create a link to an existing content file (contributor data file or native document) on your site or another site in the content server.

To create a link to an existing file on the content server, perform these tasks:

1. Highlight the text (or image) that you would like to turn into a link.

2. Click the Create Hyperlink icon (Figure) in the toolbar.

   Create Hyperlink Icon

   
   

   The Link wizard is launched (see Link Wizard).

3. Select Link to a file.

4. Click Next.

   
   

   Note: You can step through the wizard faster by clicking the blue arrow to the left of the option you want to use. This automatically selects the option and moves the wizard to the next step.

   
   

5. Select Existing file from server, and click Next.

   The standard search results page on the content server is displayed, showing all content files that are available for you to choose. The site designer decides what criteria are used for the search query.

   See also Considerations When Creating a Link to a File.

6. Click Select next to the file you want to link to.

7. Choose the target section for the link. You can choose from the following options:

   • Use default website section metadata: If you choose this option, the hyperlinked content file will display in the Web site section as currently specified in the Web Site Section metadata field for the content file. If the site designer allows contributors to select the URL format of links, you must use an ID-based URL format (see next step).

   • Choose a website section: If you choose this option, the hyperlinked content file will display in the Web site section of your choice (in effect overriding the default target section of the content file). The section may be in the current Web site or another Site Studio site on the content server.

   • Link to the Content Item's URL: If you choose this option, the file will display exactly as it is stored on the content server rather than within the framework of the Web site. This is useful for linking to native documents such as PDF files.

   Click Next to continue.

8. Depending on the site configuration, you may be prompted to choose the URL format of the link:

   • Path-based URL: The link will contain a path to the target location. You have two choices for this type of link:

     • Absolute Path: Generates a full path; for example <!--$ssServerRelativeSiteRoot-->Menus/switched_region_CDF (where "<!--$ssServerRelativeSiteRoot-->" gets replaced with the path to the root of the Web site).

     • Relative Path: Generates a relative path instead of a full path; for example ../Menus/switched_region_CDF.

     Please note that this option is not available if you chose to use the default Web site section for the content file as the target section (see previous step).

   • ID-based URL: The link will contain the coded identity of the target location rather than the path-based name. You have three choices for this type of link:

     • Client Side Script Format: Uses client-side JavaScript to construct a link to the target location; for example, javascript:link('switched_region_CDF');.

     • Server Side Script Format: Uses server-side Idoc Script to construct a link to the target location; for example, <!--$wcmUrl("link","switched_region_CDF")-->.

     • URL token format: Uses a redirect on the server to construct a link to the target location; for example, ssLINK/switched_region_CDF.

   
   

   Note: You may not see the URL format page, depending on whether the site designer chose to allow contributors to make this decision. Ask your site designer for assistance if you are unsure which URL format to pick.

   
   

9. Click Options.

   The Link Target Options dialog is displayed.

10. If you want the link to open in a new web browser window when clicked, select the Open link target in new window check box, and then choose the target in the menu (_blank). You can also directly enter the name of the target in the text box if you want, but if it is not a valid target, the link will be faulty.

11. Click OK or Cancel to return to the wizard.

12. Click Next.

13. Verify the URL for the link.

14. Click Finish.