Creating Links

Dreamweaver provides a number of ways to insert hyperlinks into your web pages. You can:

• Type them directly into the Property Inspector.
• Use the Point to File button in the Property Inspector.
• Use the Browse for File button in the Property Inspector.
• Use the Hyperlink button on the Insert bar.

Manually Creating Links

When linking to another file in the same folder in your site, it's often easiest to simply type the file name directly into the Link field in the Property Inspector:

1. On your web page, highlight the text you want to convert to a hyperlink.
2. In the Link field in the Property Inspector, type the name of the file you want to link to.

3. Press Enter.

Tip:

By default, when a user clicks the link, the new page will replace the old one in the browser window. To set the page to open in a new window, select _blank from the Target menu below the Link field.

If the file you're linking to resides in a subfolder within the site, you need to include the subfolder (or subfolders) when typing the link (for example: paintings/picasso.htm).

It isn't necessary to specify the complete web site address (URL) unless you're linking to a page in a different web site. In that case, use the format: http://www.anothersite.com.

Pointing to a File

As the directory structure of your web site becomes more complex, you may find it easier to take advantage of Dreamweaver's Point to File feature, which lets you create a link using drag and drop:

1. On your web page, highlight the text you want to convert to a hyperlink.
2. In the Property Inspector, click the Point to File  button next to the Link field and, holding down the mouse button, drag the mouse to the Files panel.
3. As you drag, Dreamweaver draws an arrow between the Property Inspector and the Files panel. For each file you move over, the Links field in the Property Inspector displays the correct link.

4. Release the mouse button when the link you want appears in the Links field.

Browsing for a File

You can also browse to the file you want to link to by clicking the Browse for File button in the Property Inspector:

1. On your web page, highlight the text you want to convert to a hyperlink.
2. In the Property Inspector, click the Browse for File button  next to the Link field.

The Select File dialog opens.

3. Browse to the file you want to link to and click OK.

If the file is located outside the root folder of your website, Dreamweaver asks you if you want to copy the file to your site. Click Yes; otherwise, the file may not be included when you publish the site.