Problem Displaying internally stored Hyperlinks on website

[AKBerg]

When I use the web site preview option, the hyperlinks that are linked to
files stored as HTM files on my computer do not display. Also during
development of a page the CTRL + function also does not display the page. The
hyperlinks to actual web pages or sites work fine. I've reviewed the
Troubleshooting hperlinks in Publisher help message, but I don't understand
what I need to use in the HTLM Fragment code box if that is the solution to
my problem. Currently I am using Publisher 2003. In the past I had version 98
and didn't have any problems. Can anyone give me assistance with this problem.

 

[DavidF]

Publisher 2003 handles external files in a different way than did Pub 98. To
use an external file in your 2002/2003 web you must upload the external
file yourself, and set the hyperlink to the internet address (URL) of the
file rather then browse to the original on your local drive. Read the
article about including external files about three down on this page for a
better understanding:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/articles/category/1922.aspx

I don't think the use of the HTML code fragment feature has anything to do
with your problem or the solution, but...let us know.

DavidF

When I use the web site preview option, the hyperlinks that are linked to
files stored as HTM files on my computer do not display. Also during
development of a page the CTRL + function also does not display the page. The
hyperlinks to actual web pages or sites work fine. I've reviewed the
Troubleshooting hperlinks in Publisher help message, but I don't understand
what I need to use in the HTLM Fragment code box if that is the solution to
my problem. Currently I am using Publisher 2003. In the past I had version 98
and didn't have any problems. Can anyone give me assistance with this

problem.

 

[AKBerg]

Thank you for your assistance. I'm sorry I put out 2 postings about the same
subject. Your article on "Including external files in a Publisher web" was
excellent and explained why it wouldn't open the files. I found the My
Network Places folder on my computer. It has 2 files (Network Setup Wizard &
Add Network Place) and 1 folder (Entire Network) on that directory. Are you
saying that I can store the external files in My Network Places and they will
be displayed when I activate the hyperlink to that file.

 

[DavidF]

AKBerg,

First of all, the articles I reference were written by the resident expert
David Bartosik MVP, not me. I just help out around here.

Secondly, as I read your posts again, I am unclear as to what "external
files" are not working when you preview your site. Please explain what kind
of external files are not working.

I also find myself wondering if when you say the links are written to files
on your local hard drive, if perhaps you are using master pages in your Pub
document. This can result in links being written to your hard drive. Master
pages should not be used in a web document. If you are, move all the content
off the master pages and get rid of them.

And then I think perhaps you don't understand the uploading process, so
maybe David's articles about uploading your site might help. Read these
three articles:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/articles/category/1921.aspx

DavidF

 

[AKBerg]

Sorry for the identity confusion. The external files I'm talking about are
external to Publisher. I am trying to design a small website for our 200
member neighborhood association. The files I'm trying to incoporate are a
Phone directory(Excel Document) and association bylaws (Word document). My
thought was by using a hyperlink to the document whenever the original
document was updated it would automatically be updated for the web site and I
would not have to make changes at several places. Thanks again for your
assistance and prompt replys. I'm trying not to be a pest.

 

[DavidF]

You are not a pest. One of the challenges when using these forums is forming
your questions with enough specificity, that someone can understand clearly
what the problem is. But half the time, if you know how to ask the question
well, then you know the answer...

Your idea is good, but won't work as you hope with Publisher. Publisher is
intended for static websites, and you are hoping to use a dynamic function.
You can still do what you want, but manually. You will need to upload your
Excel and Word docs to your website as the article about including external
files suggests. When someone clicks on the link, those files will start the
download process. If the user has Word on their computer, the file will open
in IE automatically. Thus, if you have uploaded your Word docs, and you have
written the link to the URL where the file is, and then try to preview your
site, you will see the Word doc. The same thing happens with PDF files if
the user has Acrobat Reader installed, but I don't know that Excel will...it
may just give the user the option to download and save the file to their
computer. I have never tried an Exel file. If you don't want the files to
automatically download and open in IE, then you need to ZIP them.

Then when your Word or Excel files change on your computer, you will need to
upload the new files to your site...no way to do it automatically with
Publisher.

Hopefully this answer is more clear?

DavidF

 

[AKBerg]

Thanks again for your prompt reply. Since Publisher does not accomodate the
dynamic situation I am trying to accomplish. One thing both Word and Excel
allow is storing documents as HTM files. This should allow anyone that does
not have Word or Excel open the documents. I also have a an older version of
Front Page, but I have never become as proficient with it as I am with
publisher. I might try creating the web site in Publisher and then importing
into Front Page prior to putting it out on the internet.

 

[DavidF]

I have heard of no one ever being happy with the results of importing Pub
web code into FrontPage. The code is way too different. As you have
FrontPage, you probably should go ahead and recreate your site in FrontPage,
and be happier in the long run than if you use Publisher. Publisher is a DTP
with very limited web building capability and is intended for small static
websites. You should read one more article by David Bartosik before you
decide to stay with Publisher. It is the first article on the page about
including external files:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/articles/category/1922.aspx

Alternatively, your Word docs can be imported directly into Publisher, or
just copy and paste into a text box. You could also copy and paste the Excel
content, table or otherwise onto a Pub page. Or simply post the Excel and
Word HTML files to a folder on your site, and link to them.

DavidF

 

[AKBerg]

Thanks for all your assistance. IT looks like I have 2 choices either go back
to Publisher 98 or step and learn FrontPage, which is probably the sensible
thing to do.