• Introduction
• Creating a named anchor
• Linking to a named anchor
• Linking to a named anchor using the point-to-file method

Introduction

Named anchors let you set markers in a document, which are usually placed at a specific topic. You can then create links to these named anchors, which quickly take your visitor to the specified position. In this way, you can link to specific locations on the same page or on another page.

Use anchors on long pages containing a lot of information. Create a list of the topics at the top of the page and link each entry to the topic on the page below. This tutorial is an example of such a page.

Note: Remember to use back-to-top gifs between the topics to allow the user to return easily to the list of topics at the top of the page. The back-to-top gifs are among your pre-formatted library items. Please review the tutorial on pre-formatted library items for more information.

A Frequently Asked Questions/FAQ page (such as our Webresources FAQ page) will also contain links taking the user from the question at the top of the page to the answer below.

Yet another example of using anchors is linking a faculty member's name on one page to his/her specific bio entry on another page containing bios of all the faculty members.

Creating a link to a named anchor is a two-step process. First, create a named anchor; then create a link to the named anchor.

Creating a named anchor:

In the Document window’s design/redesign view, place the insertion point /cursor where you want the named anchor.

Do one of the following:

• Choose Insert > Named Anchor.
• Select the Common tab in the Insert bar and click the Named Anchor button. Note: If you do not see the Insert bar, choose Window> Insert.

The Named Anchor dialog box appears.

In the Anchor Name field, type a name for the anchor. Anchor names cannot contain spaces.

The anchor marker appears at the insertion point.

Note: If you do not see the anchor marker, choose View > Visual Aids > Invisible Elements.

Linking to a named anchor:

This is very similar to adding a link. However, you will begin the link with a number sign (#). This tells the browser that the link is actually an anchor within the page.

In the Document window’s design/redesign view, select text or an image to create a link from.

In the Link text box of the Property inspector, type a number sign (#) and the name of the anchor. For example:

• To link to an anchor named “bio” in the current document, type #bio
• To link to an anchor named “bio” in a different document in the same folder, type filename.aspx#bio.

Note: Anchor names are case sensitive.

Linking to a named anchor using the point-to-file method:

Open the document containing the named anchor you want.

Note: Choose View > Visual Aids > Invisible Elements to make the anchor visible if you don’t see it.

In the Document window’s design/redesign view, select text or an image you want to link from. (If this is another open document, you must switch to it.)

Click the Point-to-File icon to the right of the Link text box in the Property inspector and drag it to the anchor you want to link to: either an anchor within the same document or an anchor in another open document.