Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

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Tom T.
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Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Tom T. »

Noticed this in the sticky, SOME SITES YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO ALLOW.

Tried to post the URL of the primary source of the list of ad agencies, which was

Code: Select all

http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/thirdparties/details.html 
However, it kept turning it into
http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/ ... tails.html

.... which doesn't get you to the desired page, "thirdparties/details". Is this expected behavior?

Code tags are a crude work-around, but saw that making it a named hot-link works fine, so did that at said sticky. But for the times when we actually want to post URLs here (vs. breaking them to foil spammers, SEO, etc.), is there a way to fix this, or is this intentional?
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Alan Baxter
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Alan Baxter »

Instead of copy/paste, use right-click > Copy Link Location. That works for me.
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Tom T.
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Tom T. »

Alan Baxter wrote:Instead of copy/paste, use right-click > Copy Link Location. That works for me.
http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/ ... tails.html

It looked like it would work in the first preview, but previewing again (= actual posting) produces the same result.

I don't understand the difference in methods, Alan.
Copy from a text doc on which I have the URL stored (so I don't have to go back to the actual site every time), and r-click > Copy Link Location both do the same thing: They copy the URL to (in this case) the Windows Clipboard. Then the Paste command does the same thing in either case -- pastes it into the Compose box -- hard to see why the results would be different.

If you have time, care to try both, using that URL?
Save to a text doc (from the Code tags or from "a named hot-link" in OP).
Then try composing a message, copy URL from your text doc, paste it in, and preview a couple of times.

Then try your way, saving location directly from "a named hot-link" in OP, then paste to Compose, preview a couple of times.
Does it still work?

Any idea why the difference, if so?

Thanks for your time.
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Alan Baxter
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Alan Baxter »

I may have read your first post too quickly. Apparently you want the whole link to be displayed in your posting in such a way that it can be read and copied without right-clicking the truncated link. I don't know how to do that other than the two techniques you described already:
- Code tags
- Using the full url as the name of a named hot-link
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Tom T.
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Tom T. »

Alan Baxter wrote:I may have read your first post too quickly. Apparently you want the whole link to be displayed in your posting in such a way that it can be read and copied without right-clicking the truncated link.
Actually, I would like the whole URL to be displayed so that someone could click on it and go there, as links are supposed to do. Like this:

http://www.example.com

That works, because the board doesn't truncate it. (OK, it redirects you to
http://www.iana.org/domains/example/
which also works, though example.com is my default ping target for testing and benchmarking network stuff -- oops, O/T. :oops:)

No copying required, and in both cases, the full URL previews correctly in lower left when mouse pointer is hovered.
read and copied without right-clicking the truncated link
Which still doesn't work. If you r-click the truncated Yahoo one, or the example further down in this post, you get the shortened part - the part in blue -- only. Paste it, and that's all you get.
They all go hand-in-hand: The board limit (I assume) prevents the link from pointing to the correct destination; from previewing destination correctly onmouseover; from being copied to clipboard or document correctly, etc.

One more example, chosen for its length, and not with any political implications :D

Code: Select all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_ ... ries,_2012

*It Worked* on the first Preview. I. e., the entire URL was underlined, and in blue, even though there were ellipses ... to shorten it. And clicking it took you there.
But on second Preview, it broke as above. WT-????

There must be a configurable setting for length of URL links, and the fact that longer ones get broken on the *second* preview or posting appears to be a bug in the forum sw -- since the shorter, non-truncated examples above still work, even after repeated previews and then posting.
I don't know how to do that other than the two techniques you described already:
- Code tags
- Using the full url as the name of a named hot-link
Should this be reported to Giorgio as a bug, or to phpBB?
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therube
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by therube »

[URL] tag:

Code: Select all

[url=http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/thirdparties/details.html][/url]

Code: Select all

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_2012][/url]
gives you ...

http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/thirdparties/details.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_2012

... and nothing seems to be broken?

I'm guessing that it is certain "phrases" in a URL that are objectionable & so are self-moderated?
I've seen similar on other (non-phpBB) boards.


Separately, there must be a length limit to plain text "urls" at which point they display truncated with "..."'s but are valid when clicked. That seems to be standard fare with phpBB.

---

The Copy URL+ extension enables you to copy to the clipboard the current document's address along with additional information such as the document's title, the current selection or both.
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Tom T.
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Tom T. »

therube wrote:[URL] tag: <snip> ... and nothing seems to be broken?
OK, thanks, but that seems to be an unnecessary work-around, especially since shorter ones, like example.com, don't require it.
You'd think either all URLs would need the tag, or none would. :?:
It's not at all intuitive; quite the opposite.
I'm guessing that it is certain "phrases" in a URL that are objectionable & so are self-moderated?
Hard to see what was objectionable in either - a link to Yahoo Privacy Policy or to a WP article.
therube wrote:Separately, there must be a length limit to plain text "urls" at which point they display truncated with "..."'s
What is the limit, and why?
but are valid when clicked.

*That* was the problem: the truncated plain-text URLs were not valid when clicked.
This still seems to be a bug IMHO, but as there's a work-around with the tag... (shrugs)
therube wrote:The Copy URL+ extension enables you to copy to the clipboard the current document's address along with additional information such as the document's title, the current selection or both.
Thanks, but creating the links wouldn't be an issue *if* pasting the plain-text URL worked.
With the suggested way, it's still paste + select > URL tags. Easy enough.

The add-on looks interesting, but for creating one's own hyperlinks, the document's "official" title isn't always what's wanted. Another way to "roll your own" is Texter.

I have it set so that u+enter gives [url=

ue (mnemonic: "URL end")+enter gives [/url]

Easy to add name of link, but it just occurred to me that the whole thing can be done in one keystroke shortcut. Just made it:
un (mnemonic = url, named)+enter = Name

Paste actual URL over that area, and name of link over "Name" (or type it). Going a bit O/T here, but so far, it says that it's saved me 144,036 keystrokes.
Should have thought of that long ago, as I've long used it to create hyperlinks where HTML is permitted:

h+enter = <a href="http://xcom">Site</a>

And of course, everyone chooses their own, easy-to-remember hotkeys.
Unfortunately, it's Windows-only.

Anyway, thanks for your time. IMHO, "short text links working" and "longer text links not working" = bug. YMMV.
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Alan Baxter
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Alan Baxter »

Tom T. wrote: If you have time, care to try both, using that URL?
Save to a text doc (from the Code tags or from "a named hot-link" in OP).
Then try composing a message, copy URL from your text doc, paste it in, and preview a couple of times.
I see it now. Just previewing the message an extra time or quoting it causes the incorrect shortened link to be used instead of the original one. I'm sorry I didn't follow your directions earlier.

If I recall correctly, phpBB used to preserve the links correctly when being quoted or previewed a second time. Looks like a new bug to me. I'll provide steps to reproduce right here too:

Steps to reproduce:
Note that this link is clickable, http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/ ... tails.html
even though it's display is abbreviated to

Code: Select all

http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/ ... tails.html
Now quote this post with the quote button.
Actual result: The link is mangled and becomes unclickable.
Expected result: The link is still clickable even though it's still displayed in its abbreviated form.

I'm sure this used to work. Even editing a post doesn't work correctly anymore. What a pain! Since we haven't had a response from Giorgio, I'll report this via PM.
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Alan Baxter
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Alan Baxter »

Alan Baxter wrote: Note that this link is clickable, http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/ ... tails.html
And now it's mangled. Bug confirmed.

Edit: Verified that this problem does not occur in the Mozillazine forums. They may be using an older version of phpBB. Quoting and previewing http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... #p11382959 maintains the clickability of the link even though its display is still shorted.
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Giorgio Maone »

Alan Baxter wrote:What a pain! Since we haven't had a response from Giorgio, I'll report this via PM.
I'm afraid I cannot be very responsive ATM, since I'm in the middle of a relocation and my ISP is taking an excessive time to activate the new DSL line (using my super-expensive mobile connection right now).

Please bear with me and keep being awesome as always, thank you!
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Alan Baxter
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Alan Baxter »

No problem. Thanks for the reply. I'll be patient until it's fixed.
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Tom T.
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Re: Truncation of URLs is breaking the links

Post by Tom T. »

Alan Baxter wrote:...I'm sorry I didn't follow your directions earlier....
"If all else fails ... " ----- ;)

KIDDDDDDDING!!!! ----- :D

Thanks for confirming and reporting to Giorgio. We'll work around it in the meantime.

@ Giorgo: No worries, Boss! The Team Is Tough! 8-)
... and we'll explain to users any delays in matters requiring escalation to the top.
Happy New Year! (no expensive reply required, LOL)
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therube
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Board Truncating Links

Post by therube »

Board Truncating Links

(I know this was discussed before but I'm not finding it.)

Anyhow, like: http://forums.informaction.com/viewtopi ... 953#p34953

(Heh. Even that link I just typed above may end up be broken. Won't know till I Preview or Post.)

It is not obvious when posting if or when a link is being broken.
A user may not notice the breakage at all.

Assume it is the board doing this.

In any case, it should stop ;-).
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therube
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Re: Board Truncating Links

Post by therube »

Test

sticky-list

OK: http://polarblau.github.com/stickySectionHeaders/

OK on Preview: http://polarblau.github.com/stickySecti ... ticky-list

Code: Select all

http://polarblau.github.com/stickySectionHeaders/sticky-list
On Preview, it will display with ellipses (if that's the correct word), but the link is still valid.

Though after Submit, the link breaks, totally.
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Giorgio Maone
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Re: Board Truncating Links

Post by Giorgio Maone »

It seems to be a well known phpbb3 issue, and frankly I cannot see any reasonable solution that doesn't involve excessive messing with the original code.
A work-around is suggested here, i.e. wrapping long links in tags.
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