Posting links in threads

[orbanp]

Looks like that every link I put into a thread gets edited by the system.
It is either downright changed, or gets truncated.

Rule #7 states that "... Links to boating related educational material may be allowed..."

Just what are the rules?

The old system certainly was not so heavy handed.

Thanks, Peter

 

[GA_Boater]

Only minor changes have been made to the rules. So it isn't any more heavy handed now. Are you getting ****** for the website name? Like "*************.com"

What are you trying to link?

 

[southkogs]

You can also use the link button (looks like a chain link) in the advanced editor. It allows you to create a hotlink like THIS one.

 

[Fun Times]

Hi Peter, Since the hosts of iboats sells many of the same or similar boat parts that many other competitive websites sell, iboats would rather not promote any other type of advertising on their forums. Over the years as it became apparent that certain links were being placed on the forums for the same items that iboats sells, the hosts felt that it may be in their best interest to disable certain links by adding *** in place of the name of the competitor.

While the hosts of iboats did take into account that in disabling some links will make it more difficult for us all to be as helpful as we can with what we're trying to discuss before deciding to disable certain links, their preferred hope is that their loyal helpful members will take the extra efforts to try and show something similar that they would have on their website before going to another vendor....But at the same time, they don't mind us mentioning in general that someone else may have what is needed should iboats not have it to ensure that the end result is the member getting the accurate advice they need to safely accomplish their goals.

 

[orbanp]

Thanks for the replies.

I am familiar with the *********** substitution, but my altered links were not like that.
I did use the "link" button to embed the url.

One of the links was pointing to an article on the FD engines in LeeRoy's Ramblings. That link got truncated, instead of the article it pointed to the home page.
The other instance was a link to an online manual for a Mercury outboard. That link just got redirected to the iboats manuals page, no stars either.
I do not think any of those links was competing with the iboats stores, they were not offering any alternative purchases.
I also believe that the users of iboars are not stupid, and that they would only buy a manual if they want a permanent copy.

Maybe the system still has bugs in it ;-)

thanks, Peter

 

[GA_Boater]

Tried linking two ways. The first is using the chain link in the Advanced Editor, the second is using the Link by the camera, which shows at the bottom of the post.
[SUP]http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Outb...0articles.html[/SUP] LeeRoy's main index page.

This is just a random LeeRoy OMC link from his main index using the Advanced Editor;

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Lower_unit.htm

Using the Advanced Editor link allows more than one link to be added. The other link only allows a single link to to be added. There are differences and limitations in how links are posted depending on which link is clicked.

With the Merc manual, where did you try to link to? Is this the post about the manual? - http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ard-tiller-manual-start?p=8772538#post8772538 Can you cut and paste the manual link? Don't use any of the linking methods, just a straight cut and paste into a post. That way nothing should get converted, hopefully.

Thanks for helping, Peter. We'll try our best to get to the bottom of this.

 

[GA_Boater]

Trying one more thing - Using the Link by the camera to link to the lower unit article from LeeRoy that I used above.

EDIT - I think the same thing happened on this link that happened to you, Peter. The link below is to http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Lower_unit.htm. but when you click it, it goes to his main index. MMMMMMM If another Mod or Admin edits, you can see the link is to the lower unit at Leeroy's, not to the index.

 

[jbcurt00]

i've bookmarked specific leeroy pags before and my bookmarks have taken me to his main page too.

so it might be his server directing all links back to his main page instead the specified page.

that happens on other sites too sometimes. Maybe a filter or security measure, but his motor pages are easy enough to find from the main.

and like this site, if you only ever go to certain places, you're missing a lot of great info elsewhere....

 

[orbanp]

Hello GA_Boater,

Thanks again for following up!

Yes, that was the Mercury manual posting!

I did not realize that there are two different ways to add links to posts!
My links were at the bottom of the message, not in the text.
I always used the simple editor...

At first sight, it does not make much sense to have two differently behaving link buttons.
If there is a good reason please explain.

Thanks, Peter

 

[GA_Boater]

That's a good point about some websites, JB. iboats gets the blame for bad links when it's the site being linked. I don't know if that's the case here, but I have also had the same experience.

 

[southkogs]

Just thought I'd post ONE TO THE LINK that GA had in his post to see if it worked.

 

[GA_Boater]

It works properly using the Adv. Editor link, Kogs, but not when using the post link. It chops off after .com. :noidea:

 

[orbanp]

Ooops, forgot to add the Mercury link.

It was as follows: <http://1manual.com/Mercury%20manuals/Service_Manual_Index.html>

It seems to be working from here. I added the <> separators for clarity.

Thanks, Peter

 

[GA_Boater]

http://1manual.com/Mercury manuals/Service_Manual_Index.html

 

[GA_Boater]

Yep - The post link strips everything after the .com, just like Leeroy. This is either the way the destination website gives up the link or the way VB handles the link. Maybe Admin has some ideas when they come in tomorrow.