Using the LINK button to include a web address (URL) in a post .

This topic has hijacked two threads so it's reposted here so it can be discussed without distracting from another topic and can be more easily referred to if anyone wants to do that.

When you copy and paste a web address (URL) into a post on this forum it may or may not work as a clickable link. Generally, shorter URLs may work and longer will likely not but there's no fixed rule about how many characters make the cut-off point.

However, if you use the Link button under the edit window to insert a link it will *always* be clickable.

This is written from the perspective of using a laptop or desktop computer. If you're using a small device like a phone or tablet, the copy and paste techniques differ between brands and devices, so you'll have to adapt.

I'm using a Windows laptop.

1) Get your desired web page loaded up and displaying in your browser. This could be any page but the example used here will be a Youtube video.
2) Click in the address line of your browser. The address will expand to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnS5rDvI2pQ and be highlighted:

3) Press CTRL C (or right click and Copy) to copy the highlighted Youtube address.
4) Start writing your post in the EO forum
5) At the point where you want to link to the video, click the Link button under the edit window:

6) In the window that opens, use CTRL V (or right click and Paste) to paste the copied address into the URL/Address box. Youtube addresses are short and will fit in the box, but some others that you might want to link to are really long and will overflow the box. Don't worry about that, all of the address is stored.
7) In the Description box type a word or two, like "Link" or "Youtube link" - whatever is appropriate to context. It will look like this:

8) Click the Insert button. Some code that looks like this will be inserted into your post:

url=https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnS5rDvI2pQ]Youtube link[/url

9) Finish writing your post, Preview and Submit it as usual.
10) If you followed to this point, the link should look something like this:

This Youtube link shows how to use a boatloader on a camper.

The underlined words are clickable and will open the Youtube video.

It looks a bit daunting with 10 steps, but once you've done it a couple of times it's easy as.

Cheers