Chapter 14
Organizing Information With Hypertext
askSam Concepts in this Chapter:
• What is Hypertext?
• The Hypertext Dialog
• Setting Hypertext Links
• Deleting a Hypertext Link
• Executing a Hypertext Link
• Returning to a Previous Link (Back and Forward)
• Modifying the Appearance of Hypertext Links
• Creating Hypertext Menus
• Creating Hypertext Documents
What is Hypertext?
Hypertext can help you better organize your information. It can simplify tasks and reduce the number of mouse clicks or keystrokes you need to navigate through your information.
Hypertext lets you link a word or phrase to information in another location. By simply clicking on a Hypertext Link you can jump from one Document to another; jump from one file to another, run reports, execute any menu command, or go anywhere on the Internet.
askSam's Hypertext feature has two main uses:
· Create Hypertext Databases - Use Hypertext Links to turn your information into a fully searchable, easily navigable database. It's a great way to publish information on a network, a CD ROM (using the askSam Electronic Publisher), or the Internet (using the askSam Web Publisher).
· Hypertext Menus - Create Hypertext Menus with the files and commands you use most often. Click on a Hypertext Link to open a file, run a report, or jump to a specific Document.
Setting A Hypertext Link
The askSam Hypertext function lets you link a word or phrase to a Bookmark, another askSam Document, another askSam file, a Report, an Entry Form, a Menu Command (such as FILE -> PRINT), or any Internet
address (URL). After a link is defined, clicking on the word or phrase will jump to the location, run the report, add the Entry Form, execute the Menu Command, or start your browser and access the site on the Internet.
Whether you're creating a Hypertext Menu or setting up a Hypertext Document, the process of setting a Hypertext Link is the same:
To Set a Hypertext Link:
1. Select the text or graphic that you want to link.
2. Choose DOCUMENT -> SET HYPERTEXT LINK (or press CTRL+K).
The Set Hypertext Link Dialog Box will appear.
From the Hypertext Dialog Box you can:
OPTION ACTION
Browse Button Choose the Browse button is you want to set links to Bookmarks, Documents, Entry Forms, Searches, or Reports in another askSam file.
Bookmarks in the Current Sets a link to a Bookmark in the current Document (see the WorkingDocumnent With Documents chapter for information on setting Bookmarks).
All Bookmarks in File Sets a link to any Bookmark in the current file
Another askSam File Sets a link to open another askSam file. If the file you want to open is not listed, choose NEW to choose from a list of your askSam files.
Document Name Sets a link to any Document names you've entered in the file (see the Working With Documents chapter for information on naming Documents).
Entry Forms Sets a link to any defined Entry Form. Clicking on this link will add a new Document to your database using the selected Entry Form.
Reports Sets a link to a report in the current File. Clicking on this link will run the report.
Stored Search Sets a link to a Stored Search. Clicking on this link will execute the search.
Menu Commands Sets a Link to any askSam menu command (such as FILE -> PRINT).
Clicking on this link will execute the menu command.
External Application Defines a link from askSam to an external application (like Paint or Notepad). You can also set links to open Word documents, or display graphics. If the External Application you want is not listed, choose NEW to display a dialog that will let you browse for the application.
HTML URL Sets a link to an Internet address (URL). Clicking on the link will open your Web browser and display the Web page (assuming you are connected to the Internet). If the URL you want is not listed, choose NEW to display a dialog that will let you enter any URL.
3. Define what the selected text will link to.
4. Choose the OK button after you've defined your link.
The selected text is now linked. By clicking on it, you execute the Hypertext Link.
NOTES:
1. To edit an existing Hypertext Link, select the linked text (or place the cursor in the linked text), and choose DOCUMENT -> SET HYPERTEXT LINK (or press CTRL+K). The Hypertext Dialog will
appear. Redefine the link and choose OK.
2. You can set the format (font, font size, and color) in which Hypertext Links are displayed by modifying the Hypertext Link style. Choose FORMAT -> STYLE, select the Hypertext Link style,
and choose the MODIFY button. Details on editing styles can be found in the chapter on the askSam Word Processor.
Setting a Hypertext Link to an External Application
Links to external files are useful for viewing pictures, displaying graphs, or opening other file types from askSam (such as Word documents or PDF files).
1. Select the text or graphic you want to link.
2. Choose DOCUMENT -> SET HYPERTEXT LINK (or press CTRL+K).
The Set Hypertext Link Dialog Box will appear.
3. Expand the “External Application” folder.
If your application is already listed, you can simply select it and choose OK to set the link. Otherwise:
4. Choose NEW…
The “Set Hypertext Link External Application” Dialog Box will appear.
5. Enter the path and name of the application you wish to start in the “Executable” field. In the “Parameters passed to executable” field, enter a file name or other parameter to pass to the application when it is opened.
NOTE: If you wish to open a specific file and the file type is associated with an application, you can simply enter the path and file name in the “Executable” field. Since the file type is associated with an application, the application will automatically be opened when you click on the link. For example: if on your computer, PDF files are associated with the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you could enter “c:\my documents\brochure.pdf” in the “Executable” field.
6. Choose the OK button.
The selected text is now linked. By clicking on it, you start the application you selected. When you exit the application, you remain in the same askSam Document.
Setting a Hypertext Link to a URL (Internet address)
Defining a Hypertext Link to a URL lets you create links from your database to Web pages on the Internet.
To Create a Hypertext Link to a URL:
The easiest way to create a link to a URL is to simply type the URL, for example www.askSam.com. When you press the space key after typing the URL, askSam will automatically set a link to the URL.
If you wish to link a text to a URL, for example linking the text “askSam Systems” to the URL ()kxwww.askSam.com, you would then need to do the following:
1. Select the text or graphic you want to link.
2. Choose DOCUMENT -> SET HYPERTEXT LINK (or press CTRL+K).
The Set Hypertext Link Dialog Box will appear.
3. Expand the HTML URL folder.
If the URL is already listed, you can simply select it and choose OK to set the link. Otherwise:
4. Choose NEW…
The “Set Hypertext Link HTML URL” Dialog Box will appear.
5. Enter the URL and choose OK.
The Hypertext Link is set. Clicking on a URL link in askSam opens your Web browser, and if you are connected to the Internet, the Web page will be displayed.
NOTES:
1. In addition to setting links to Web pages, you can also create a hypertext link to an email address. You can set such a link by typing an email address (for example: info@askSam.com) and pressing space. Or, you can use the Hypertext dialog and type in mailto:info@askSam.com. When you click on a link to an email address, it opens your default email application and creates a new message to the address. This can be a useful feature in an address database or email directory.
2. If you type in a URL and press space to create the link, to edit this URL you need to delete and re-type it, or select the linked text (or place the cursor in the linked text), and choose DOCUMENT ->
SET HYPERTEXT LINK (or press CTRL+K). The Hypertext Dialog will appear letting you edit the URL.
3. You can turn off the ability to auto-link URLs by choosing TOOLS -> OPTIONS, and setting the
“Automatically check for URLs when typing” option to NO.
4. HTML URLs remain in tact when you export from askSam to HTML format, or when you publish an askSam database on a Web server using the askSam Web Publisher.
Deleting a Hypertext Link
There are two ways to remove a Hypertext Link.:
· Delete a Hypertext Link by deleting the linked word or phrase from your Document. Select the word or phrase and press the DEL key.
· Delete a Hypertext Link but leave the text by selecting the linked text (or placing your cursor in the linked text), and choosing DOCUMENT -> CLEAR HYPERTEXT LINK.
NOTE: To select (highlight) a Hypertext Link, use the keyboard, not the mouse. If you click with the mouse to select a link, you execute the link. Also, only select the link or part of the link. If a selection includes unlinked text, the CLEAR HYPERTEXT LINK command is not available.
Executing a Hypertext Link
To Execute A Hypertext Link Using A Mouse:
1. Move the mouse cursor onto the linked text or graphic (by default Hypertext Links are displayed as bold, blue, underlined text).
When you point the mouse cursor at a Hypertext Link, the mouse pointer changes to a pointing finger, and the Status Bar displays a message telling you what clicking on the Hypertext Link will do.
2. Click the left mouse button.
To Execute a Hypertext Link using the Keyboard:
1. Move the cursor onto the linked text or graphic (by default Hypertext Links are displayed as bold, blue, underlined text).
2. Press CTRL+ENTER (or choose VIEW -> HYPERTEXT LINK).
When you execute a Hypertext Link one of the following things will happen depending on the type of link you defined:
TYPE OF LINK ACTION
Bookmark in the Current Jumps to another position in the current Document.
Document
Bookmarks in File Jumps to another Document in the current file (to the line containing the bookmark).
Another askSam File Jumps to the first Document of the selected askSam file.
Document Name Jumps to the first line of the named Document.
Entry Forms Adds a new Document to the database using the Entry Form.
Reports Runs the report.
Stored Search Executes the search.
Menu Commands Executes the menu command.
External Application Starts the application and passes any parameters you define.
HTML URL Opens your Web browser and displays the Web page (assuming you are connected to the Internet).
NOTE: When you click on a Hypertext Link to another file, askSam tries to open the file in the directory where the file was located when you set the link. If the file, directory, or drive is not found, askSam looks for the file in the directory of the active file.
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