How to link without giving page?

[holden89]

Hi... I currently use FrontPage 2003 to design my website www.surfinthebay.net. I am currently designing a new layout, which has frames.

I have uploaded it to show you. www.surfinthebay.net/testing.htm. This will become the index page. Now, when you click on palm beach (left column) you can see the page it will go to. I dont want this to happen, because people can automatically go to that page without the left navigation bit. Also the link changes. I want it to stay www.surfinthebay.net.

What I want to know is if their is a way to link to other pages but not show people the link. I have seen sites that have 'link/#' but I have no idea how to do that.

If you know of any way, it would be very appreciated.

Thanks, Daniel

[djr33]

There is no way that I know of to just mask the address, but there might be. We can see if someone else has an idea on that.


Here are two methods that would work:

1. Javascript-- you can have a javascript setup... so... basically... that's where you've seen the # from, probably.
It'll be like this:
<a href="#" onclick="javascriptcodehere()">text</a>
If you leave it without an href, or that blank, it'll reload the current page, or do something different depending on the browser... not a good plan to leave blank.
Anyway.... then all you need is a javascript that will redirect to the next page... it'll be something like document.frame.something, but I dunno specifically. Surely google can find something like that for you. Look for "opening page in frame through javascript" or "redirecting page in frame...."


2. PHP
You can have your page as a php page... but this is more advanced coding.
The url your page would go to is like this:
http://surfinthebay.net/index.php?redirect=palmbeach

Then... in your index page, you'd leave as is, but just add something like this pseudocode to the top:

<?php
if ($_GET['redirect'] == palmbeach) { //this if checks what the address bar says... if it doesn't say "redirect=palmbeach", then it'll ignore this and skip to your code below.
     echo '<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0;url=www.redirecttothispage.com">'; //this outputs ("echoes") a redirect code
     die; //this will make the page stop loading, so all you get is white before the redirect takes place.
     }
?>
And put your regular html here. //it'll load if the above part didn't work, if the "redirect=palmbeach" wasn't part of the address....

The php is easier for me 'cause I know that... but the JS might be more what you're looking for.
Then again, if the url of the next page changes, maybe that's through php or the php would help you keep it connected to the right page.

That help?

[Twey]

Not possible. You can cause the links to load in the big frame, by giving them target="nameOfBigFrame", but it won't totally disguise the address.

It'll be like this:
<a href="#" onclick="javascriptcodehere()">text</a>
...
Anyway.... then all you need is a javascript that will redirect to the next page... it'll be something like document.frame.something, but I dunno specifically.

The first is a very bad idea, to use Javascript for something that can be accomplished via HTML, thus avoiding Javascript dependency.

You can have your page as a php page... but this is more advanced coding.
The url your page would go to is like this:
http://surfinthebay.net/index.php?redirect=palmbeach

That's rather useless. The user would still be able to go to this page directly, just as if it were a plain HTML page.

Hi... I currently use FrontPage 2003 to design my website www.surfinthebay.net.

Evidently. That page is pretty, and almost completely unreadable at a resolution higher than the "recommended" 1024x768. Never, ever use images as text. You can use an image for the background, and then use plain text on top of it; however, even that isn't necessary here. Just set the color and background-color correctly. Also, in the very rare event that you really do need to use an image as text, always provide an alt.
You try viewing this page in a text-only browser. It's almost completely unnavigable.

Get rid of those images, and make your page validate. I suggest you start from the top down, and take it one step at a time.

You've also used both a no-select-text script and a disable-right-click script (neither of which work on my browser, mind you) for no apparent reason. This could irritate users (who are you to say which parts of their browser they can and can not use?).

function MakeArray(n) {
	this.length = n
	return this
}

This is completely unnecessary. You can safely remove that function and use where it is called:

var monthNames = new Array();

The array will expand to the correct size as you add elements.

<meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-us">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">

It's much better to configure the server correctly than to attempt to patch over its misbehaviour with meta tags.

[holden89]

Hi, thanks everyone for replying...

I have a few questions... When you mean images, do you mean the link images? As in Palm Beach, Interviews etc? As for it being unreadable, how so? I have screens at school bigger then the recommended 1024 x 768, and it looks fine... Also what is a text-only browser? I have never heard of one, and nor have I used one? Unfortunately, I will never be able to get rid of the pictures...

Um, the last two codes you mention... I am guessing the third code is what to delete, replace with the second to last code. However what is the last little bit?

Also... the link you gave me to the validator site.. It says things about not being open or closed... I just follow the view in design in frontpage, and the code is done itself. Is it possible for you to explain a little about what some of them mean?

If anyone has any other ways to do the linking, very much appreciated. I am guessing I will have to just put the navigation on every page possibly... But I dont know. I might have to get rid of the frame all together...

Later added: I found this code... I dont know if it works though:
<a href="#" onMouseOver="window.status='Hello World'">Link</a>


Thanks heaps, Daniel

[Twey]

When you mean images, do you mean the link images?

Yes.

As for it being unreadable, how so? I have screens at school bigger then the recommended 1024 x 768, and it looks fine...

Well, at my resolution (1600x1200), I have to squint rather hard at the screen to make out what they say. They're far too small (and can't be resized, which is the main problem), and the font you used doesn't help either.

Unfortunately, I will never be able to get rid of the pictures...

Why on Earth not?

Also what is a text-only browser? I have never heard of one, and nor have I used one?

A text-only browser is, as the name suggests, a browser that can only display text, and usually runs in text mode using a console manipulation library such as curses/ncurses (*n?x) or conio (Windows). A common text-based browser is Lynx.

Um, the last two codes you mention... I am guessing the third code is what to delete, replace with the second to last code. However what is the last little bit?

Delete the third-to-last code, and where you see, for example,

monthNames = new MakeArray(12)

, replace it with, for example:

var monthNames = new Array();

The "last bit" is code you shouldn't need to have on your page. Only use <meta> tags if you really can't configure your webserver to send the correct headers (as is occasionally found in some of the worse free hosts).

Also... the link you gave me to the validator site.. It says things about not being open or closed... I just follow the view in design in frontpage, and the code is done itself. Is it possible for you to explain a little about what some of them mean?

Yes (although the validator usually explains pretty well), but don't worry about the ones below just yet. As I said, start from the top. This is because sometimes errors can cause errors further down the page.

[holden89]

I am pretty sure you are talking about the text images for the links. I will be removing them... Is the normal text ok? Tahoma, 8.5.

As for the images, I wont be deleting the images on that page, because the site is a fan site for a TV program here in Australia. We would be nothing if we didnt have images.

As for the links, I am thinking of leaving it as it is. Honestly, who is going to want to go to that page without the frame. Its not like they can do anything special.

Also, the reason I have disabled left and right click is because of the images. Lately many other sites have been copying our content and saying it is theirs. Also our exclusive interviews. As a part of the agreements we are responsible for the 'security' - lightly said - of the interviews. Thus meaning we have had to do this. If it was not for the certain people around we wouldnt have to do it.

I am still open to suggestions if anyone has any.

Thanks, Daniel

Feel free to swing by the site next week... www.surfinthebay.net. Youll see how I have decided to do it.

[Twey]

As for the images, I wont be deleting the images on that page, because the site is a fan site for a TV program here in Australia. We would be nothing if we didnt have images.

Oh no, of course. Images where images should be are fine. And... everyone knows Home & Away, don't they? I know it airs here in Britain, at least.

As for the links, I am thinking of leaving it as it is. Honestly, who is going to want to go to that page without the frame. Its not like they can do anything special.

Good idea.

Also, the reason I have disabled left and right click is because of the images. Lately many other sites have been copying our content and saying it is theirs. Also our exclusive interviews. As a part of the agreements we are responsible for the 'security' - lightly said - of the interviews. Thus meaning we have had to do this.

The only security you can apply here is legal security. Make a note at the bottom of to whom they belong, and that it is illegal to copy them. "Lightly" doesn't begin to cover the inadequacy of the "security" provided by these scripts. "Nonexistant" would come closer.

[Xiong Chiamiov]

Just a note as far as the original question. One simple way to mask where you are is to have a frame at the top (whatever address you want) that is 0 pixels, then everything else in the bottom frame. I realize there are problems with that, but, hey, it's a lot simpler than what y'all are sayin'.

[Twey]

It's already in a frame.

[Xiong Chiamiov]

It's already in a frame.

Nm then, different link. I was looking at the homepage, not the testing one. So what's the problem then?