Okay, let me ask it a different way.
May 1st, 2006, 12:27 PM
#1
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Okay, let me ask it a different way.
Do you <b>favor</b> or <b>oppose</b> Fodor's changing their server program so that when we type a URL, it is automatically converted to a link that hides all of the URL except the server name (<i>e.g.</i>, www.whitehouse.gov) so that
1. The URL doesn't overflow, forcing horizontal scrolling, and
2. We aren't forced to use tinyurl.com and wind up with a link that some people won't click on because the server name is obscured.
No personalities, please. Just yea or nay.
1. The URL doesn't overflow, forcing horizontal scrolling, and
2. We aren't forced to use tinyurl.com and wind up with a link that some people won't click on because the server name is obscured.
No personalities, please. Just yea or nay.
May 1st, 2006, 12:34 PM
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Some posters have registered opposition to "blind" URLs such as tinyurl.com produces, because they have a better chance of avoiding offensive content if the server name is exposed.
Allowing posters to define the link text would defeat the purpose.
Allowing posters to define the link text would defeat the purpose.
May 1st, 2006, 12:47 PM
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Oppose. I agree with laverendrye that their resources could be better used for other things--like reconfiguring the site to look & work like a NORMAL forum, like flytertalk.com. I hate this format.
May 1st, 2006, 12:47 PM
#9
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Not being a techie, I never gave it much thought.
Whatever is easiest to use, I suppose.
However, if one were looking for links and specific linkage and answers, just seeing what appears to be the home page of a huge site may make them think their question hasn't been answered.
Whatever is easiest to use, I suppose.
However, if one were looking for links and specific linkage and answers, just seeing what appears to be the home page of a huge site may make them think their question hasn't been answered.
May 1st, 2006, 12:53 PM
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g33kgrl - they don't have TIME to make the site work like flyertalk.com, or fix the search function. What I'm proposing would take ten minutes, tops.
ilovetotravel29 - the full URL would be "behind" the link, so clicking the link text would take you to the exact page reference. The link text would be the server name. Let's say I wanted to cite this thread somewhere else. I would paste the entire URL from the title at the top of the column:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34797822
All that stuff after the .com would be hidden, so the only thing that you would see would be www.fodors.com - but clicking on it would take you directly to this thread.
ilovetotravel29 - the full URL would be "behind" the link, so clicking the link text would take you to the exact page reference. The link text would be the server name. Let's say I wanted to cite this thread somewhere else. I would paste the entire URL from the title at the top of the column:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34797822
All that stuff after the .com would be hidden, so the only thing that you would see would be www.fodors.com - but clicking on it would take you directly to this thread.
May 1st, 2006, 01:03 PM
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I agree with ira and ilovetotravel. Plus, you can always mouse over a link and see its full URL in the browser status bar. Seeing just the domain name is misleading if the actual URL is for a specific page.
We had a similar issue with URLs in an internal search tool at my last job - when they're too long they force horizontal scrolling, and there's no good coding solution.
The interface solution we came up with was for URLs over X character length, put an ellipses in the middle so the user saw the domain and the end of the relevant page, such as http://www.fodors.com...tid=34797822. The full URL displayed in "popup" text when the link was moused over (not supported by all browsers though), and in the browser status bar. It was a compromise: ugly, but worked well enough...
We had a similar issue with URLs in an internal search tool at my last job - when they're too long they force horizontal scrolling, and there's no good coding solution.
The interface solution we came up with was for URLs over X character length, put an ellipses in the middle so the user saw the domain and the end of the relevant page, such as http://www.fodors.com...tid=34797822. The full URL displayed in "popup" text when the link was moused over (not supported by all browsers though), and in the browser status bar. It was a compromise: ugly, but worked well enough...
May 1st, 2006, 01:12 PM
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But ggreen - being able to see all or part of the fully-qualified document specification doesn't give a surfer any more information than just the server name does.
I could put up a site xxxx.com and have document names like Mona_Lisa.html or HerMajesty.jpg and you'd have NO IDEA what you were going to see. The xxxx.com in and of itself might give you a clue, however.
I could put up a site xxxx.com and have document names like Mona_Lisa.html or HerMajesty.jpg and you'd have NO IDEA what you were going to see. The xxxx.com in and of itself might give you a clue, however.
