Linking and Navigation > Creating links > Linking documents using the Property inspector and the Point-to-File icon

Linking documents using the Property inspector and the Point-to-File icon

Use the Property inspector and the Point-to-File icon to create links from an image, an object, or text to another document or file.

For more information, see Creating and modifying links in the site map.

To create links between documents using folder icon or link text box:

1	Select text or an image in the Document window's Design view.
2	Open the Property inspector (Window > Properties) and do one of the following:
	Click the folder icon to the right of the Link field to browse to and select a file.
	The path to the linked document appears in the URL field. Use the Relative To pop-up menu in the Select HTML File dialog box to indicate whether to make the path document-relative or root-relative, then click Select.
	Note: When you change the path type in the Relative To field, Dreamweaver uses your choice as the default path type for any future links until you change the path type again.
	In the Link field, type the path and file name of the document.
	To link to a document in your site, enter a document-relative or root-relative path. To link to a document outside your site, enter an absolute path including the protocol (such as http://). You can use this approach to enter a link for a file that hasn't been created yet.
3	Select a location in which to open the document.
	To make the linked document appear somewhere other than in the current window or frame, select an option from the Target pop-up menu on the Property inspector.
	_blank loads the linked document in a new, unnamed browser window.
	_parent loads the linked document in the parent frame or parent window of the frame that contains the link. If the frame containing the link is not nested, then the linked document loads in the full browser window.
	_self loads the linked document in the same frame or window as the link. This target is the default, so you usually don't have to specify it.
	_top loads the linked document in the full browser window, thereby removing all frames.
	Tip: If all the links on your page will be set to the same target, you can specify this target once by choosing Insert > Head Tag > Base and selecting the target information.
	For information about targeting frames, see Controlling frame content with links.

To link to a document using the Point-to-File icon:

1	Select text or an image in the Document window's Design view.
2	Drag the Point-to-File icon at the right of the Link field in the Property inspector and point to another open document, a visible anchor in an open document, or a document in the Site window.

The Link field updates to show the link.

Note: The open document or site-window file you point to will move to the foreground of your screen while you are making your selection.

3	Release the mouse button.

To create a link from a selection in an open document:

1	Select text in the Document window's Design view.
2	Shift-drag from the selection.
	The Point-to-File icon appears as you drag.
3	Point to another open document, a visible anchor in an open document, or a document in the Site window.
4	Release the mouse button.

To create a link using the site map and the Point-to-File icon:

1	In the Site window, display both the Site Files and the Site Map views by holding down the Site Map icon and choosing Map and Files.
2	Select an HTML file in the site map.
	The Point-to-File icon appears next to the file.
3	Drag the Point-to-File icon and point to another file in the site map or to a local file in the Site Files view.
4	Release the mouse button.
	A hypertext link with the name of the linked file is placed at the bottom of the selected HTML file. This method works well when you are building your site and you want to create links across the site quickly.

For information about displaying a site map, see Using the site map.