how do you replace the link path display?

[DannyB]

What is the bit of Javascript that changes the display of a links path from:

http://www.blah.com/blah1/blahblahblah.html

to something else like

Here you will find lots of blah blah blah!

down in the lower left of the browser window when hovering on a link?

I've seen it before but I can't remember where.

[bassrek]

You'd add something like this to your <a> tag

<a href="page.htm" onMouseOver="window.status='Here you will find blah blah.'; return true" onMouseOut="window.status='';">

I don't know if I speak for anyone else, but I personally don't like when sites do that; I feel as if they're hiding something. In Firebird, I have it set so that Javascripts cannot change the status bar.

[DannyB]

So how can I be more informative about the link. I hate when I follow a link and then feel lied to. what good is the name of a file to the user? wouldn't a title or description be better?

[bassrek]

I don't think you have to worry about the file name, just go with whatever convention works best for you as the site administrator. As for the link itself, the text within the link can be descriptive. Instead of 'click here' being your link, you can have 'click here to view my gallery of Picasso paintings'. You can also use the "title" attribute of the <a> tag.

<a href="page.htm" title="Click here to view my gallery of Picasso paintings.">My Picasso Gallery</a>

The text will popup over the link when you hover over it with the cursor.

[DannyB]

Originally posted by DannyB
...what good is the name of a file to the user? wouldn't a title or description be better?

Originally posted by bassrek
I don't think you have to worry about the file name, just go with whatever convention works best for you as the site administrator....

I'm not so concerned with the name of the file itself. My question more clearly restated is: why is it important to YOU, as the user, to be able to see the filename and path as opposed to a description in the status bar?

You feel that they are trying to hide something to the point where you've changed your settings to dissallow this action and I am really curious to understand it better. I had never considered that aspect before and if you feel that way then maybe others do as well.

[bassrek]

OK, I understand.

It's not so much the file name as the file type and the domain. For example, if I'm on a site and about to click on a link, I'll hover over it to see what kind of file it is. If it's an .exe, or if it's different from what I expected, I won't click on it. Also, if it's linking to a different domain from the one I'm on, depending where it's going, I might not click the link.

Don't get me wrong, it's not on every site. If it's a download site,then I'm expecting an .exe or .zip. On sites that I frequent, I won't look down there. It's mostly if I'm a new site that I'm not familiar with or someones' personal site I've never been to before.

Like I said, this is just a personal thing. There might not be anyone else here who cares.

[DannyB]

AHHHHH! now that does make sense. I do recall checking to make sure I'm not downloading anything or being thrown into a popup portal or something like that.

Thank you for your help.