So somebody selects the text and clicks the ADD LINK button and types in “google.com”, tests the post and it goes to “http://theclientsite.com/google.com”
So why aren’t they adding their url to the http:// that’s already present in the popup window? Isn’t this really a case of users not actually reading the screen properly? Because, at the end of the day, there’s really no cure for this.
I think adding http would be safe as it’s very unlikely that if a link contains .com the user wanted to keep us within their own site.
I disagree. http is not the only protocol that can be used to create a link.
I agree that it’s their own fault. But when it happens repeatedly (and believe me, it does), can’t those who designed the system take another look?
I am also well aware that if you make things idiot-proof, the Flying Spaghetti Monster just creates a better idiot.
Also, the http:// that’s already there is also pre-selected. So if someone starts typing or pastes a URL without first clicking at the end of it, the http:// is wiped out.
And yes, other protocols would have to be taken care of but that should also be easy.
I don’t know enough PHP to try to write a plugin to do this but for me it would be something like:
When someone tries to insert a link:
a. check if the link contains a top-level domain: .com, .org, .net
b. if it does, ensure that it also contains a protocol
c. if a but not b, prompt the user that they should add this unless it’s REALLY a local, relative link
I’m open to the idea that this may be a stupid idea. But I’ve seen this mistake so often (twice today on different sites) that I can’t help thinking we can help people with a little code.
Thanks for your time,
Jim
This comes up now and again. The reason we don’t is … well, what if you wanted relative links? We try hard not to assume we know intent in these cases 🙂 If I want a link to be /about and not http://ipstenu.org/about, WP should honor me.
