Constant Content

I know there is a strict taboo about adding links within articles, or even as a footnote, but I have several subjects I'd like to cover which would require downloading specific files in order to accomplish the tasks outlined in the articles.

Let's say you're creating a bootable installation CD for Windows XP, but your computer came preloaded with Windows and all you got with it was a recovery CD. Well, it's possible to do a clean install of XP, but you'd need to download a few files from the official Microsoft website to do it. Let's be honest - just adding a file name to a search box will net you a few thousand results, and the one you need could be buried fifteen-plus pages down.

I doubt the policy will change about links any time soon (probably not ever), but there could be creative ways to let the customer know to add the files as hyperlinks. Would it be against policy to add the entire link minus the www and putting a footnote telling the customer to add it when posted or printed, or would that be something for the short summary? The reason I hesitate about the first option is because if the article is bought for usage or unique rights, the customer isn't supposed to alter the article in any way.

Most Microsoft downloads and how-to pages have associated Knowledge Base articles such as KB123456. Maybe check and see if a Knowledge Base article is available and reference it? Such as, "The file is available from the Microsoft.com Web site and is described in depth in Knowledge Base article KB123456."

You could link to the download page and not the actual download. That's what I would do.

You can include URLs in documents. I do all the time. You just can't make them active hyperlinks.

So "To download this file, visit www.blablabla.com" is fine...as long as the link is just text and not actually a link that you can click on.

Our guidelines specify that we do not accept content with website address/links. We accept only URLS without the http://www prefix. The remaining part of the address may not be hyperlinked.



Thank you,
Ed

Thanks everyone... I guess I'll have to try Celeste's idea first. I have added just the website name without the www or http:// in several articles, but was curious about specifics. There are some software fixes which require downloading specific files such as dll's and upgrades. Dll files are especially a pain because most search engines will return hundreds of links which are for registry scanners and other useless (and expensive) programs. There's also the little problem of file versions. It is possible to download ten-plus files and still not get the one you need (I've done this quite a few times in the past).

Barry, I try to avoid them but agree with you that some tech articles need them.

I have an article still up, I think, called Recovering a Hacked Website. It has a link to a google review form that is essential for the article if you want to check it out. I did just that - removed the http://www part and it went through ok.