Help creating html file that will run upon click

[wong0043]

I have an image which appears in multiple pages linking to an external url.

I'd like to create an html file that will run upon opening and redirect to another site.     

Sort of on the lines of:

 <a href="https://URL" target="_Blank">

USE CASE:

When the url changes, rather than having to remember all the pages where I need to update the url link, I would prefer to change the url link once in this file and have all the images that use that url automatically use the new url.

Basically, I want to be "once and done" when updating the url link and have all images update to that new url.

Is this the right way to go about it?

[stuart_ryan]

Hi Mimi,

Linking to a site, and embedding an image, are two different things. In theory, if you were linking to an external site or file that you didn't want to embed, you could (in theory) do this. However, when you want to embed an image, the browser would be expecting an image file, not a HTML file that redirected to an image file.

With my web developer hat on, there are ways to do what you are looking for in a more supported fashion, but they require set up and infrastructure.

I would flip the question around and say if it is a single image (and you have the rights to use it) why you wouldn't host it in the courses as a file, or have your institution host it somewhere where the URL won't change? I think this would be a more supported way of doing things.

I did just go through and have another read and realised I may have misinterpreted, if the above is not the case, did you mean that you have an image that has a hyperlink to an external URL and you only want to change the URL that it links to, not the URL that you load the image from?

I look forward to hearing from you and then I can point you in the right direction.

Stuart

[wong0043]

Thanks for the speedy reply.   I misspoke - it's not an image but  actually a button that I created that links to an external url.

The button is saved as an image in my course files.   I initially set it up to hyperlink to https://url1   

The button appears multiple times across the site.   when the hyperlinked url changes to https://url2, rather than hunt for all the places I'm using the button and manually update the link in each place, I'd like to be able to change the url link in 1 place and have the url link from my button be correct for all the instances that that button appears.

Hopefully that is clearer.

[stuart_ryan]

Hi Mimi,

I did have a look and a play with this, while it is possible, it is not the best experience and could cause significant accessibility problems (so I would not recommend it). As you can see from the screenshot below, the HTML file (if stored in Canvas) would show the filename, and then iFrame the content in creating an unusual nesting.

Even when I tried to force this opening in a new window, it wouldn't play ball. So unless you had an external server to store the HTML file, you would be stuck with this solution. Hence I am inclined not to recommend it.

I would suggest a better alternative would be to look at a URL shortening service that allows you to change the destination URL (there are a number discussed at What URL shorteners allow you to change the underlying long link? - Quora  ).

Basically you would create a 'short url' that you could later go in and change the destination URL redirect, that would achieve what you are doing, I will note that you might want to check with your school's IT support to confirm they are happy for you to use such a service, and, they may also have a preferred one that they already support. They may also be able to provide a similar capability internally that they already have too, so it never hurts to ask.

I think the short URL would be the preferable option (certainly from an accessibility and user experience point of view), do you think that would work for you?
Look forward to hearing from you!

Stuart

[wong0043 · Accepted solution]

Hi Stuart – the use of a url shortening service is a brilliant idea! For whatever reason, I was focused on being able to maintain and change the url within Canvas.

Our university does indeed have a url shortening service they support and in doing some digging, it does indeed allow me to edit the destination url as needed.

So the solution for anyone else who might have this need and access to a url shortening service:

a. Use the shortened url and link to the desired / destination url

b. Link the image / button / text within Canvas to the shortened url

c. When the destination url needs to change, go to the url shortening service and edit the destination url to the new url

End result: the images/buttons/text links in Canvas now link to the new url

Thanks again for stepping in and helping. I really appreciate it!

[stuart_ryan]

Hi Mimi,

Great to hear and glad I could help out. The only other thing I would note is that you need to pick a URL shortener that does actually LET you edit the URL after creation, but other than that, you are on the money!

Glad we could get you sorted!

Stuart