Linking Material

There are several ways that you can create a link between text, images or other resources:

  1. From a chapter to a website or source outside of Pressbooks
  2. Within a chapter
  3. Between chapters

How to Link Text From Pressbooks to an External Source

Begin by identifying the text you want to link and:

  • Highlight the text
  • Click on the “link” icon in the tool bar
Screenshot showing to Highlight text and select the link icon in the text editor
Figure 3.6.1 How to link to external content

When the link icon opens,

  • Add the URL for the external source you want to link your text to
  • Click on the Add Link button.
    • Optionally, click the settings wheel icon to set the link to open in a new tab. This is typically only done if linking to external content and should be followed with a textual reference, e.g., [New Tab] to let readers know.
  • Be sure to Save this page.

Note: be sure that your URL includes http:// or https:// at the beginning of the address. If the address you’re copying into the URL field already includes http://, make sure the final address does not have two http://‘s.

Screenshot showing to click on an embedded link to select the pencil icon and edit it to verify it starts with http:// or http://
Figure 3.6.2 Verify link starts with http:// or https://

To check your link, click on the Preview  button (in the right-hand side menu) and click on the link as it appears in Book view (what readers will see).

Screenshot of chapter preview with link
Figure 3.6.3 Preview external link

How to Link Text Within a Chapter

To link text to other text or even an image within a chapter, you begin by adding an anchor.

  • First, place your cursor by the text or image to which you want to link
  • Then click on the anchor icon (in the third line of the tool bar).
Screenshot showing to place cursor and then select Insert Anchor option from text editor
Figure 3.6.4 Link within a chapter
  • Enter a word to describe your anchor (e.g., punctuation) in the Name field that appears and click the OK button.
Screenshot of where to add anchor name after selecting this option from the text editor
Figure 3.6.5 Create anchor name
  • This action will produce an anchor.
Screenshot showing anchor added to text
Figure 3.6.6 Anchor location

Finally make the link to the anchor:

  • Highlight the text that you want to link to the anchor
  • Click on the “link” icon in the tool bar
Screenshot showing to add link to text
Figure 3.6.7 Add chapter link

When the “Insert/edit link” icon opens,

  • Add # (pound sign) and the word you used to describe your anchor (e.g., #punctuation)
  • Click on the Add Link button.
  • Be sure to Save the page.

How to Link Text Between Chapters Within the Same Book in Pressbooks

Follow the same steps as above for creating an anchor and:

  • Go to the chapter that contains the anchor
  • Click the View Chapter link at the top of the page
Screenshot showing to select View Chapter to retrieve chapter link. Anchor link is added at the end of this to use to link to anchor on separate page.
Figure 3.6.7 Link between chapters
  • Copy the URL for the chapter

Next highlight the text that you want to link to the anchor

  • Click on the “link” icon in the tool bar

When the “Insert/edit link”  icon opens,

  • Add the URL for the chapter with the anchor with http:// (e.g., http://openbooks.macewan.ca/authorsguide/chapter/what-are-open-textbooks/)
  • After the forward slash (/), add # (pound sign) and the word you used to describe your anchor (e.g., #punctuation)
  • With chapter URL and anchor word, the final URL would be, in this example:
    • http://openbooks.macewan.ca/authorsguide/chapter/what-are-open-textbooks/#punctuation
  • Click on the Add Link button.
  • Be sure to Save this page.
Content adapted from “Linking Materials” from the B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide (archived version) by Lauri Aesoph and Amanda Coolidge. Images have been modified.

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

MacEwan Open Textbook Authoring Guide Copyright © 2019 by MacEwan University Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.