NVU Tip - Opening Image Links In New Windows

[troyzone]

Hi Everyone,

I've seen it mentioned many times throughout the forum that it's easy to make text links open in new windows in NVU, but image links are another story. I have noticed this as well.

For some reason, when you go to edit the properties of a link that is on an image in NVU, you don't get the same link properties page as you do with a text link, and your options are severely limited. It appears to be one of NVU's quirks. Almost every program out there has at least a few.

Because of this quirk, many people resort to editing the HTML source code directly and add target="_blank" to get each of their banners or other image links to open in new windows. This works fine and is one way to do it.

Working in the source code and adding the target="_blank" manually is actually good for practice with HTML coding, but if you want an easier way to do it then read on.

I recently discovered a workaround using NVU's Normal view for editing image link properties, rather than having to edit the source code directly, that will allow you to open these links in new windows.

Here's all you have to do.....

If you click on the image to be linked, you'll see a row of HTML tags near the bottom-left of your window. Simply right-click on the <a> tag and choose Advanced Edit, and you'll be presented with the same Advanced Edit window that you see when you're editing text links. You can then choose the Attribute "Target" and Value "_blank" and click OK. This will make your image link open in a new window.

That's all there is to it.

Also note that you can right-click on any of those tags listed in the bottom-left of the NVU window in the Normal view and manipulate them, not just the <a> tag.

This is a handy feature of NVU for when you have an item on your page with multiple tags associated with it. Using this feature, you can change any specific tag's properties without having to hope that the property page you want comes up when right-clicking on the item directly, or having to use the HTML Tags view to find the tag that way. It will also allow you to see exactly what tags are affecting a particular item.

If anyone doesn't see the tags I'm referring to displayed in the bottom-left corner of NVU for any items on their page, you have to make sure that the Status Bar is turned on. To do this, go to the View menu, then Show/Hide, and make sure that Status Bar is checked.

Some of you may have known about this method already, but I've seen so many postings over the past several months about this issue with NVU that I was sure at least a few people would find this tip helpful and thus worth posting here.

Ironically, I don't really use NVU much myself so I actually don't know the program all that well, but I was recently messing around with NVU while helping someone with an image link issue where their links were not opening in new windows. During the course of resolving this issue is when I figured out how to do it from NVU's Normal view.

I hope this helps some of the many NVU users that we have here.

Troy

[Skyrocket]

Hi Troy,

thanks for the tip, seeing as NVU has become the most recommended HTML editor in the forum it'll be good to see a few more NVU tips coming in from other users.

I'll leave it up to you, but it might be good to move this post to the Web Creation Toolkit and it could become the only thread in there that we ask members to contribute to.

Regards,

Jim

[Lori G.]

That is some good info Troy and a good idea to start a NVU help section.

I always use the HTML Tags to edit image links. If you click on the (a) in the lower left corner of the image you want to link, it will highlight that image. Then right click on the (a) and a menu will pop up. Click on link properties and then check the box for link to open in new window.

Lori

[shing]

That's a great idea! As much as I would personally like to learn html, with all we do in our daily lives in addition to phase 3, it's just not possible right now. So Nvu is especially important to learn. Especially these little tricks and tips. I believe Nvu also has a forum, but I'm not sure. However, with fellow phase 3ers, we know exactly what we need on a daily basis and can help each other better, I believe.

Shawna

[shing]

I found the Nvu forum.

forum.nvudev.org/index.php

We might want to add this to the web design and development page?

Shawna

[troyzone]

skyrocket said:

Hi Troy,

thanks for the tip, seeing as NVU has become the most recommended HTML editor in the forum it'll be good to see a few more NVU tips coming in from other users.

I'll leave it up to you, but it might be good to move this post to the Web Creation Toolkit and it could become the only thread in there that we ask members to contribute to.

Regards,

Jim

Hi Jim,

I agree about adding this post to the Website Creation Toolkit section if you like, in fact I was going to suggest it.

I'm not sure about letting people post in any area of the FAQ though...it kind of fails to be an organized FAQ and turns into another posting forum if that's the case. I was relieved when you put up the "please do not post here" notice in the FAQ as there were so many questions being posted there instead of where they should have been going.

Perhaps it would be better if people just posted in this board and then you put a copy in the FAQ if you felt it was worthwhile to do so, or perhaps we could have an html editor tips subboard here (not that we don't have enough boards already). Just another couple of ideas to consider.

Troy

[Skyrocket]

troyzone said:

Hi Jim,

I agree about adding this post to the Website Creation Toolkit section if you like, in fact I was going to suggest it.

I'm not sure about letting people post in any area of the FAQ though...it kind of fails to be an organized FAQ and turns into another posting forum if that's the case. I was relieved when you put up the "please do not post here" notice in the FAQ as there were so many questions being posted there instead of where they should have been going.

Perhaps it would be better if people just posted in this board and then you put a copy in the FAQ if you felt it was worthwhile to do so, or perhaps we could have an html editor tips subboard here (not that we don't have enough boards already). Just another couple of ideas to consider.

Troy

Hi Troy,

actually, when Sandra and I first planned the FAQ section we agreed that it needed to be a controlled space where information is posted by the Mod's for reference and that it wasn't to be used as a forum. So you're right and I agree with you on that it needs to remain a reference library for members to browse and take from it what they need.

I think we should have a sub-board for NVU Tips. I'll ask Erich to set one up for us and then when it's there either you or I can move this thread across.

Thanks,

Jim

[Erich]

skyrocket said:

troyzone said:

Hi Jim,

I agree about adding this post to the Website Creation Toolkit section if you like, in fact I was going to suggest it.

I'm not sure about letting people post in any area of the FAQ though...it kind of fails to be an organized FAQ and turns into another posting forum if that's the case. I was relieved when you put up the "please do not post here" notice in the FAQ as there were so many questions being posted there instead of where they should have been going.

Perhaps it would be better if people just posted in this board and then you put a copy in the FAQ if you felt it was worthwhile to do so, or perhaps we could have an html editor tips subboard here (not that we don't have enough boards already). Just another couple of ideas to consider.

Troy

Hi Troy,

actually, when Sandra and I first planned the FAQ section we agreed that it needed to be a controlled space where information is posted by the Mod's for reference and that it wasn't to be used as a forum. So you're right and I agree with you on that it needs to remain a reference library for members to browse and take from it what they need.

I think we should have a sub-board for NVU Tips. I'll ask Erich to set one up for us and then when it's there either you or I can move this thread across.

Thanks,

Jim

We now have a NVU Board under Website Help

Erich

[billcole]

just checking, i used your suggestion and added the target _"blank" in the code and even checked it in the advanced properties but when i click on the link it comes up fine, but when i click on the x to take it off there is no site, so i must be doing something wrong. http:www.homeofficehome.com/test.html. thanks................bill

[Skyrocket]

billcole said:

just checking, i used your suggestion and added the target _"blank" in the code and even checked it in the advanced properties but when i click on the link it comes up fine, but when i click on the x to take it off there is no site, so i must be doing something wrong. http:www.homeofficehome.com/test.html. thanks................bill

Hi Bill,

just seen your post and thought I'd point out that it should be target="_blank".

You have put the underscore ( _ ) before the quotation mark ( " ).

Regards,

Jim

[billcole]

thanks, bill

[billcole]

to make this work, where exactly would you put it. target"_blank". my link is opening but not in a new window. i even went into advanced edit and checked on open in a new window.thanks....................bill

[Skyrocket]

Hi Bill,

you would put this in the <a> tag.

So for instance, in the code a link would look something like this:

<a href="mylink.html">Click Here</a>

You would put the target="_blank" in the <a> tag like this:

<a href="mylink.html" target="_blank">Click Here</a>

I'm not sure how you would do it in relation to NVU, I only do this straight into the code, Troy or someone else may be able to direct you better as far as NVU is concerned.

Regards,

Jim

[shing]

Bill,

Take a look at this post from the top of this thread by Troy. I've been doing it the way Jim said - going into the source code and putting target blank in after the quotations. It works, but can be confusing. I've also done it by going to the top tool bar and clicking view, then insert, then html. Then I work in that code.

But Troy found an easier way. This is what he recommends:

troyzone said:

I recently discovered a workaround using NVU's Normal view for editing image link properties, rather than having to edit the source code directly, that will allow you to open these links in new windows.

Here's all you have to do.....

If you click on the image to be linked, you'll see a row of HTML tags near the bottom-left of your window. Simply right-click on the <a> tag and choose Advanced Edit, and you'll be presented with the same Advanced Edit window that you see when you're editing text links. You can then choose the Attribute "Target" and Value "_blank" and click OK. This will make your image link open in a new window.

That's all there is to it.

Also note that you can right-click on any of those tags listed in the bottom-left of the NVU window in the Normal view and manipulate them, not just the <a> tag.


Troy

Try it the different ways. I bet you'll end up liking Troy's easier version!!

Shawna

[cjh2801]

Troy,
I have tried your trick many times and it is a lifesaver and very easy. However, I added some buttons thru grsites.com button maker. It is a great tool to have but when I pull up the adv. edit box, everything else is there but the target. I tried typing it in but it would not work. How do I add a place so that I can have the link open in a seperate box?
Anybody, have a clue? Thanks! ;D

[troyzone]

cjh2801 said:

Troy,
I have tried your trick many times and it is a lifesaver and very easy. However, I added some buttons thru grsites.com button maker. It is a great tool to have but when I pull up the adv. edit box, everything else is there but the target. I tried typing it in but it would not work. How do I add a place so that I can have the link open in a seperate box?
Anybody, have a clue? Thanks! ;D

Hi Chris,

I am glad the NVU tip I had posted previously was of help to you. Are you referring to the Advanced Edit box in NVU brought up by right-clicking on an image? If so, then as noted in my original post, not all link attributes such as the target are available in this manner...this is why I had suggested right-clicking on the <a> tag in the status bar at the bottom instead and choosing Advanced Properties from there, as this will bring up a box with all of the link attributes.

Other than that, I'm not sure...as I mentioned at the end of my initial post, I don't really use NVU much myself, I just figured out that tip one night and posted it due to many past questions on the issue. Someone else who uses NVU more can likely give you better assistance with using it if you are having a particular problem.

It should not matter what program or source you used to get or make your images though...you would just save your images to your computer and link them to your web site in the same manner regardless.

Assuming you have your images saved to your computer properly, I would suggest reading through my original post here again and follow it step by step as it should apply to any images that you wish to hyperlink, no matter what you used to make them.

Also be sure to check out Skyrocket Jim's last post in this thread for how to edit the source code and insert the target="_blank" attribute for opening links into new windows if you wish to do it this way.

Troy