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The Mayfield Handbook of Technical & Scientific Writing
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Help: 4.5

Creating a Link: How to Insert a Reference Link into a Word Processing Document

This feature is useful to anyone reading and analyzing a word processing document electronically. While reading the document, an instructor or reviewer can insert a reference link into the document and send it back to the writer. When the writer reviews the paper and sees the link that has been inserted, he or she can simply put the cursor anywhere in the link and run View Handbook Link, and the Handbook will immediately open to the appropriate page.

Steps to Create a Handbook Link

  1. Open your word processor.
  2. Open the word processing document into which you wish to insert a reference link.
  3. Open your browser and go to the Handbook using Open Handbook via one of the following:
  4. Windows Users
    Mayfield Toolbar
    Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H
    Customized icon button

    Macintosh Users
    Command + Option + H
    Handbook alias

  5. Using the table of contents, the index, or a hypertext link within the text, go to the page of the Handbook you would like to reference.
  6. Now, return to the word processing document, but DO NOT CLOSE OR MINIMIZE YOUR BROWSER; leave it open in the background.
  7. Place the cursor (blinking vertical bar or I-beam) at the point in the document where you want the link to be inserted.
  8. Run Create Handbook Link via:
  9. Mayfield Toolbar (Windows users)
    Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G (Windows users)
    Command + Option + G (Macintosh users)

  10. Notice the link that has been inserted. It should be a word or phrase surrounded by ## delimiters--for example, ## Word Order ##. The text will be bold, and green if your monitor is using color.
  11. You can return to the browser (Alt + Tab, Taskbar, or Macintosh Finder) and go to a different topic. As long as the browser and word processor are running, you can create as many links as you like. Always remember to save the word processing document, since the reference links are editable text just like the rest of the document.
  12. NOTE: Because reference links are not write-protected, it is possible to edit or change a link without realizing it. Be careful to avoid making such changes because this will create invalid links.

TopLinks

TopLinks is a list of the most commonly used reference links. Using TopLinks is the easiest way to insert a link, since you don't need to actually navigate to the Handbook page with your browser. You can Copy and Paste or "drag and drop" the links from the list right into your document.

Steps to Use TopLinks:

  1. Open the word processing document into which you wish to insert a reference link.
  2. Place the blinking insertion point at the point where you want the link to be inserted.
  3. Open the TopLinks file that is formatted for your word processor, and locate the reference link you want to insert.
  4. Select the link and copy it. Return to the word processing document into which you wish to insert a reference link. Paste the link where you want it to be inserted.
  5. Alternatively, you may be able to drag and drop the links if your word processor supports it. Select the link and drag the selection from the TopLinks list to the point in the document being edited where you want the link inserted. Word processors vary in how they implement "drag and drop." You may need to hold down the Option key (Macintosh) or Control key (Windows) to copy, rather than move, the selected text. Or you can select and copy the link in the TopLinks list, and paste it into the document being edited.
  6. Remember to save the document after inserting the link.

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