Knowledge Base

WD97: General Information About Hyperlinks in Word

Article ID: 159940

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q159940

SUMMARY

This article answers the most frequently asked questions about creating and using hyperlinks in Microsoft Word 97.

MORE INFORMATION

  1. When I type a file address with spaces in it, Word replaces the address with a hyperlink after I press the SPACEBAR. How can I finish typing an address that includes spaces before Word converts it to a hyperlink?

    Answer:

    To ensure that Word will recognize an address that includes spaces as a single hyperlink, enclose the address in quotation marks. If the address is not enclosed in quotation marks, Word creates the hyperlink when you press the SPACEBAR.

  2. How do I turn off automatic hyperlinks?

    Answer:

    To turn off automatic hyperlinks, do the following:

    1. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect, and then click the AutoFormat tab.
    2. Click to clear the Internet and network paths with hyperlinks check box.
    3. Click OK.
  3. How do I change the display text or image of a hyperlink once it has been created?

    Answer:

    You can change the display text or image for a hyperlink the same way you edit any text or image in your document. To avoid linking to or opening the file represented by the hyperlink, use the keyboard to select the hyperlink before you edit it. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. Click in front of the text or image.
    2. Press SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW to select the display text or image.

      NOTE: Press CONTROL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW to select whole words.
    You can now edit the image or type new text.

    For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    155773 WD97: Changing Hypertext Display Text Doesn't Change URL

  4. How do I remove a hyperlink without losing the display text or image?

    Answer:

    To remove a hyperlink without losing the display text or image, follow these steps:

    1. Right-click the hyperlink text or image, point to Hyperlink, and then click Edit Hyperlink.
    2. In the Edit Hyperlink dialog box, click Remove Link.
  5. How do I change the underlying Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a hyperlink?

    Answer:

    To change the underlying URL for a hyperlink, follow these steps:

    1. Right-click the hyperlink text or image, point to Hyperlink, and then click Edit Hyperlink.
    2. In the Edit Hyperlink dialog box, type or select a URL from the Link to file or URL list box.

      NOTE: By default, the Link to file or URL box limits the total length of a hyperlink to 248 characters.
    3. Click OK.
  6. How do I create hyperlinks to locations within the same document?

    Answer:

    To create a hyperlink to a location within the same document, use either of the following methods:

    Method 1: Use drag-and-drop functionality. To create the hyperlink by dragging, follow these steps:

    1. Save the document.
    2. Select the word, phrase, or image you want to use as the destination for the hyperlink.
    3. Click and hold the right mouse button, drag the selection to the new location, and then release the mouse button.
    4. Click Create Hyperlink Here.
    Method 2: Create a bookmark and then create a link to the bookmark. To create the hyperlink this way, follow these steps:

    1. Save the document.
    2. Select the text or image you want to use as the destination for the hyperlink.
    3. On the Insert menu, click Bookmark.
    4. In the Bookmark name box, type a unique name for the bookmark, and then click Add.
    5. Move the insertion point to the location in the document where you want to create the hyperlink.
    6. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
    7. In the Named location in file (optional) box, type the bookmark name. Or, click Browse, select the bookmark you want to use, and then click OK.
    8. Click OK.
  7. What is the difference between a relative and an absolute hyperlink?

    Answer:

    An absolute hyperlink jumps to the destination document using its full address; a relative hyperlink uses the address relative to the containing document's address, also known as the hyperlink base. For example, suppose that a document whose address is "c:\My Documents\1996 report.doc" has absolute and relative hyperlinks to a document whose full address (and absolute hyperlink) is "c:\My Documents\April\Sales.doc." The relative hyperlink will only contain the relative address to Sales.doc, which is "April\Sales.doc." Use a relative link if you want to move or copy your files to another location, such as a Web server.

  8. When I click a hyperlink in Word, I receive a message indicating that no program is registered to open the file. What do I do to open the file?

    Answer:

    You receive this message when Windows is unable to find the program associated with the type of document specified in the hyperlink path. This information is encoded in the extension of the hyperlink address. To view the hyperlink, turn on ScreenTips, and then position the mouse pointer over the hyperlink. (To locate this option, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the View tab.)

    To correct this problem, install the program associated with the document type specified in the hyperlink.

    The file name extension is the group of characters following the last period in the address. The table below lists some of the Office document types and their extensions.
    Document typeExtension
    Microsoft Access Database.mdb
    Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.xls
    Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation.pot
    Microsoft Project Schedule.prj
    Microsoft Publisher Document.pub
    Microsoft Word Document.doc

Additional query words: hyperlink field hypertext hyper link html space

Keywords: kbhowto kbualink97 kbweb KB159940


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