As you enter custom text in bubbles and Introduction/End frames, you can link to an attachment from this text. For example, you could use a web page linked at this level to provide a definition of a term. Linked text appears in the frame bubble in color and underlined. When a user clicks linked text while viewing a topic in the Player, the attachment is displayed. If the attachment is a package file, the file opens in its parent application. If the attachment is a web page or URL, it opens in a new, independent browser window. 


Note: When a glossary term is used in a manually created bubble text link, no glossary link is created during glossary markup. That is, text used in manually created bubble text links is excluded from glossary markup.


Use the Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box to link to and manage the links to attachments from bubble text. When linking to a package file or web page, you can filter the display to include packages or web pages only and navigate through the Library folders to the specific file you want to link. When linking to a URL, you can type or paste a base URL and then follow links in the preview pane to reach your desired target. A preview of the linked attachment appears in the Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box.


Note: An absolute URL represents the fixed location of a piece of content without regards to its context. A Relative URL is a shortened version of the full URL that only makes sense when used in context. The full URL is constructed by taking a Base URL (set in the General Content Defaults) and appending the Relative UR set when creating a hyperlink). Here is an analogy to help clarify. Let's say you asked me where my brother lives and I said "right next to my house". If you didn't know where I lived, this information would not be useful. However, if you did know where I lived, then you could find my brother's house by locating my house and then find his next door. In this case, my house is an example of the Base URL and "right next to my house" is an example of the Relative URL.


Relative URLs are useful when the content developer is not sure of the location where the content is to be deployed. They allow the content developer to link to content outside of the Library in the Developer.


The Base URL can be set in the Developer and can be changed, if necessary, in the Player Package after publication.


Note: If a Base URL is set in the General Content Defaults, you can enter a Relative URL (beginning with../) when inserting a hyperlink for a URL on the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.


Like concept and frame links, a link to an attachment from bubble text becomes part of the parent document. If you then move or reuse the topic, the linked attachment remains associated with that text in the topic. Conversely, deleting the link to an attachment from bubble text in one location removes the link in all places where the topic is used.


ProcedureTo link to a package file or web page from bubble text:

  1. With the topic open in the Topic Editor, navigate to the frame from which you want to link to a package file or web page.
     
  2. Select the bubble text to be linked.
     
  3. In the Frame Properties toolpane, click Bubble text link Bubble text link.
     
  4. Click Create link Create link.
     
  5. In the Link to pane, select Document in Library Document in Library.
     
    If desired, you can select Packages or Web pages in the Type field to further filter your selection.
     
  6. Navigate the Library to the folder containing the package file or web page to which you want to link.
     
  7. Select the desired package file or web page document.
     
  8. Click OK or press ENTER.

Note: you can also click Create new web page Create new web page to create a web page and link to it in one step. When creating a new web page, you first specify the name of the web page and the Library folder in which it should be saved. The Web Page Editor then opens a tab where you can create the new web page. After completing the web page, you can preview its contents in the topic by reactivating the Topic Editor tab, selecting the appropriate bubble text, and again displaying the Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box as in step 3 above.


ProcedureTo link to a URL from bubble text:

  1. With the topic open in the Topic Editor, navigate to the frame from which you want to link to a URL.
     
  2. Select the bubble text to be linked.
     
  3. In the Frame Properties toolpane, click Bubble text link Bubble text link.
     
  4. Click Create link Create link.
     
  5. In the Link to pane, select URL URL.
     
  6. In the Address field, type or paste the target URL.
     
    If a Base URL was set, you can enter a relative URL beginning with ../.
     
  7. Click Go Go or press ENTER.
     
    While selecting a URL, you can also enter a base URL and then follow links in the preview displayed in the results pane to reach your desired target.
     
  8. Click OK or press ENTER.

ProcedureTo create and link a new package from bubble text:

  1. With the topic open in the Topic Editor, navigate to the frame from which you want to link to a new package file.
     
  2. Select the bubble text to be linked.
     
  3. In the Frame Properties toolpane, click Bubble text link Bubble text link to display the Bubble Link Text Properties dialog box.
     
  4. Click Create new package to launch the Package Wizard and click Next.
     
  5. Browse to and choose the files/folders that you want to add to the package and click Next.
     
  6. Type a name for the new package and browse to a location in the Library where you want it saved (if you do not want to save it in the default location).
     
  7. Click Next.
     
  8. Choose a file in the package that is to be launched when the bubble text is clicked. Navigate through any folders contained in the new package, if appropriate.
     
  9. Click Next to finish.

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