Sondra,

It's not possible to have a clickable link IN the post, but right below the block that you type your message in, is the two links for you to put your link in.
The first one (Optional Link URL) is where the actual link goes and the second one (Name of the Link) is where you put whatever you want to call it (such as a store name or so & so's website).
When you are done, hit 'Preview Message' and you should see it in the preview as 'Here is a link that might be useful:'
(See below link to our GW block lotto map.)
If all is well, then hit the submit button as usual.
Hope that helps!
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Block Lotto Map

You can put links in a post if you are willing to do just a little bit of HTML programming. This explanation is long but by reusing a single line of HTML code that you've saved, it's very easy.

There are lots of HTML tutorials online, but really, all you need is ONE line of HTML code that you keep in a .doc or .txt file on your computer. When you want to insert a link into a post, open your saved file, copy that line of text, paste it into the Message entry box, then replace the http link with the link you want to use, and replace the text label with the text you want to use.

How to create a link that opens in a new browser.

This is my favorite way to do it, because when the reader clicks on your link, a new browser will open, and the browser the forum is in stays open (you don't have to click Back to get back to the forum).

Click the link above. See that first line of HTML code? It starts with a left caret
and ends with
A>

It might appear on multiple lines on the screen, but it's one line of HTML code. Select it and copy it. You want to select that first character. Copy the selected text. Paste that line of text into a text file (.txt) or MSWord file and save the file. This is your HTML Easy Trick Cheat file.

To use this in a post, open your HTML cheat file. Copy that entire line of text. Paste it into the message entry box as you are composing your post.

Note that there is an http address enclosed in parenthesis in that line:

"http://www.pageresource.com/html/newwin.htm";

Replace that web address with the one you want to link to (make sure the two parenthesis are sill there -- you are only replacing the characters BETWEEN the parens), for example:

"http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/CBT/";

At the end of that line of HTML code, there is text that will appear as the clickable link; it has two caret characters "pointing" to it:

>Link to us!Replace that text with the label you want to appear in your post (make sure the two caret characters are sill there -- you are only replacing the characters BETWEEN the carets):

>How to Make Continuous Bias TapeNow, click the Preview Message button. In you preview, the link should appear like this:

How to Make Continuous Bias Tape

In the previewed message, does the link look like you want it to look? Now [very important!!!!] CLICK THE LINK in the PREVIEW MESSAGE to TEST IT. Does the web page you want open in a new browser window? If it doesn't work, make corrections in the MESSAGE posting area below the preview message. Click Preview Message again to test it again. When you are satisfied, click the Submit Message button.

In the Message entry area, you will see naked HTML code. In the previewed message, you'll see how it will look -- a clickable link -- and you can test it to verify how it will work in your posted message.

If it's not coming out right in your previewed message, you can always copy the line of HTML cheat code from your saved document and start again - don't drive yourself crazy if you don't have to. For multiple links, make sure that each HTML code line starts on a new line in the message entry area. Remember to click Preview Message and test your work.

CMC

Thanks so much for that explanation!