Managing Internal and External Links

Below you will find resources for adding tags and links to your content.

Anchor tags

An anchor tag creates a clickable text link that, when clicked, jumps to another section of your webpage. 

To create an anchor tag:  

  1. Navigate to the page where you wish to add your anchor tag.  
  2. Click on Pencil Edit on the page actions toolbar. 
  3. Click on the green Main Region button to check out the page.  
  4. Insert your cursor where the anchor should go. This is where you want your user to be when the companion link is clicked. 
  5. Click on the anchor icon Anchor 
  6. In the anchor id field, enter the name for your anchor. 
  7. Click SAVE. 

Now link to that anchor: 

  1. Highlight the text you wish to make clickable. This is the link that, when clicked, will take you to where the anchor tag resides. 
  2. Click on the insert/edit link icon Chain link within the toolbar. 
  3. From the anchor dropdown list, select the name of your anchor you wish to link. 
  4. Click SAVE. 

For a more comprehensive review, check create and link to an anchor tag in Omni's documentation. 

Dependency tags

When a file, image, and asset is created within Omni, it is assigned a unique identifier called a dependency tag - shown within double curly brackets {{}}.

Dependency tags help ensure items retain their link even if they are renamed or moved throughout the site. It’s important to remember, when linking to an internal page, you should use the file chooser and not a url link. This will insure you are using the item’s dependency tag and will be useful in helping to prevent broken links.

Dependency tags are managed with a dependency manager. They are assigned to all internal pages and files, but not to external links.

Heading tags

The H1 (or Heading 1) tag is the main title of a web page. This tag essentially tells search engines and web users what your page is about.

This tag/style should never be assigned to any content within the editable region of the site. You may see the option to select it (Heading 1) within the paragraph drop down menu (see below) but do not use it within your design.

Phone number links

In Omni, a telephone number may be made a link. When clicked it opens/calls the number using the user's default calling application.

  1. Within the editable region of your page, add the phone number in this format: 123-456-7890 
  2. With your text tool, highlight the phone number and click on the insert/edit link icon within the toolbar. The Insert/Edit Link dialog box will open.  
  3. Within the URL text field include “tel:” and the area code (+1). Should appear in this format: tel:+1-123-456-7890 
  4. Select Save to finish.

Email links

  1. Within the editable region of your page, add the email address in this format: FirstnameLastname@MissouriState.edu
  2. With your text tool, highlight the email and click on the insert/edit link icon within the toolbar. The Insert/Edit Link dialog box will open.
  3. Within the URL text field include “mailto:” and the email address. It should appear in this format: mailto:FirstnameLastname@MissouriState.edu
  4. Select Save to finish.

Adding a subject line to an email link

  1. Within the editable region of your page, add the email address in this format: FirstnameLastname@MissouriState.edu
  2. With your text tool, highlight the email and click on the insert/edit link icon within the toolbar. The Insert/Edit Link dialog box will open.
  3. Within the URL text field include “mailto:” and the email address and what you would like to appear within the subject line. This is how this will look: mailto:FirstnameLastname@MissouriState.edu?subject=Join us at Missouri State
  4. Select Save to finish.

Page and document links

URL protocol
When inserting an external url, you will need to include the appropriate protocol (http:// or https://).

Inserting an internal link on your page

Best practices for hyperlinks:
When writing the link text, be sure to describe what the user may expect to see when they follow that link. Try to avoid nondescript words and phrases, such as "click here".

  • Bad example: "Click here for more information"
  • Good example: "Find out more about our student support services"

To insert an internal link on the page: 

  1. Click on the green Main Region button to check out the page.  
  2. Highlight the text that you want to turn into a link. 
  3. In the toolbar, click the Insert Link Chain link button.  
  4. Click on file chooser File chooser button - a square with up arrow. to the right of the URL field. 
  5. Navigate to the page you wish to link.  
  6. Once you’ve chosen a page, select Insert. 

The URL link is assigned a unique value called a dependency tag. This assures the link remains valid if the file is moved or renamed. Omni CMS uses dependency manager to keep track of and link to internal files. 

Example of a dependency tag 

Other fields include: 

  • Title, which is the text that displays when you hover your cursor over the link 
  • Open link in, where you can choose if the link opens in a new window 
  • Class, where you can apply a style to the link 
  • Advanced tab where you can add HTML attributes 
  • Finally, click SAVE to place your link on the page.
     

Edit an existing link:  

Place your cursor in it and then select the insert/edit link icon Chain link from the toolbar. You can also click the Remove Link button, next to it.  
 

Linking to uploaded files

You may upload the following formats:  

  • Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) 
  • Adobe PDF (.pdf) 
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx). 

Filenames must not contain spaces or special characters (Ex: \ / : * ? " < > | [ ] & $ ,).  

Note: Omni CMS will allow you to change the name of a file during the upload process.  

  1. Navigate to the page where you wish to add your link. 
  2. Click on Edit Pencil on the page actions toolbar. 
  3. Click on the green Main Region button to check out the page. 
  4. Write the link to describe what your site visitor might expect to happen when they click on the link. For example: Download your guidebook to student services.
  5. Highlight the text you wish to make clickable.
  6. Click on the insert/edit link icon Chain link within the toolbar.
  7. Click on file chooser File chosen icon - box with up arrow within the toolbar
  8. If your file is currently within your _Files folder, you can select it and click Insert. 
  9. If your file is not currently uploaded, navigate to your _Files folder; leave your Access Group at its default; and either click +Add or drag your files from your desktop.
  10. Click Start Upload.
  11. Once your file is uploaded, click Insert. 
     
Note: To comply with Checkpoint (M) of the Web Access Policy, please include the following text on every webpage that links to an Adobe PDF file: 

You need Adobe Reader to view and print this document. 

 

Creating a button  

Button with red outline and black text

  1. Navigate to the page where you wish to add your button.  
  2. Click on Edit Pencil on the page actions toolbar. 
  3. Click on the green Main Region button to check out the page.  
  4. Click on the insert/edit link icon chain link icon within the toolbar.  

    To insert an external link on a page: 
  • Copy and paste the URL into the URL field. Please note: when inserting the URL, you will need to include the appropriate protocol (http:// or https://).  
  • Type in text to display (button text). 
  • From the Class dropdown, select “Button”. 
  • Click Save. 

    Insert/Edit Link dialog box

To insert an internal link on the page: 

  1. Click on file chooser File chooser button - box with an up arrow to the right of the URL field.
  2. Navigate to the page you wish to link.  
  3. Once you’ve chosen a page, select Insert. 
  4. Type in text to display (button text). 
  5. From the Class dropdown, select “Button”. 
  6. Click Save. 

Taking care of broken links 

DubBot is a tool available through web strategy and development that will test your site for broken links. This tool also checks for spelling, readability, and accessibility. You may request this service by contacting web strategy and development via WebPress@MissouriState.edu or 417-836-5271. 

For a comprehensive overview you may see Omni's document on how to insert and edit links into your document.

To request help related to this article, please see our Service Catalog.

Details

Article ID: 136966
Created
Tue 11/23/21 3:59 PM
Modified
Mon 9/25/23 1:33 PM