R2OK!

ColinB · Guest

If you want to paste a long web address (URL) into a post here but you find that the link itself is very long and which completely throws out page formatting in forums such as this (which I find annoying!), then here's an alternative method that's now standard in blogging, on Twitter, etc:

1. Copy the whole of the URL
2. Go to http://bit.ly (You don't have to sign up to use it)
3. Paste your URL into the text box and click the "shorten" button
4. Copy the shortened link text
5. Paste it into your post here.

There are lots of link shorteners now, but bit.ly is perhaps the most popular simply because it was the first. It's particularly useful for displaying URLs in page displaying on mobile browsers, etc.

What happens is that when someone clicks the shortened link, a request goes to bit.ly which then serves up the full address and re-directs to the appropriate page in your browser.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I've used tiny. url for years.

But of course there's a URL Link tool on this message screen, just cut'n'paste the long address and e.g. this is:

Lennon-McCoist bust up

or video highlights of:

Aston Villa vs Blackburn
_________________
-
John W

ColinB · Guest

Most people haven't got the hang of BBCode though, John!