The "@" character in a hyperlink doesn't carry the complete hyperlink across

[still_one]

and one has to manually select and copy that link in the URL to access the link

Does anyone know how to allow the @ symbol in a hyperlink to carry the complete hyperlink across?

[Yonnie3]

1. Replace the symbol with ...

& # x 40 without the spaces

https://www.google.com/search?@

this URL had the & # x 40 without the spaces
https://www.google.com/search?@
but displays as a clickable @

don't preview the post as it will change to the symbol when posted and not work. I alos just found that if you edit the post you need to stick the & # x 40 without the spaces in again.

[Yonnie3]

3. It is all up to the poster

I don't know any way to take care of that as a reader.

I think I misunderstood your OP

[still_one]

6. No you didn't, you answered my question. Thank-you

[still_one]

4. Thanks Yonnie. Really appreciate it

[jberryhill]

2. What Yonnie3 said

Also, you will find this problem exists with spaces, parenthesis, and other special characters.

In the post above Yonnie3 provides you with the syntax for telling the software "I mean the hexadecimal code for the @ sign" which is 40.

If you run into problems with other characters, then you can look up the hexadecimal code using this chart:

https://www.ascii-code.com/

[still_one]

5. Excellent. Thanks

[Yonnie3]

7. Thanks for telling the rest of the story.

I often don't say enough for people to fully understand my message.

When I was younger I'd say too much.

[Make7]

8. You should use '%40' to encode it in the URL.

https://www.google.com/search?q=url+encode+for+@    (fail)

https://www.google.com/search?q=url+encode+for+%40    (success)


Using an HTML entity (@) as suggested in the replies above has a couple downsides:

• when you preview a post, it changes the HTML entity into the actual character which will break your link if you hit the Post button from the previewed page. You need to hit the back button on your browser before hitting the Post button.

• when you post it on DU the HTML entity will be changed into the actual character. Should you need to edit your post, you would need to go back and redo any HTML entities you used.


You can use URL encoding for other characters that break links here, just look up the hexadecimal code in an ASCII table.

[still_one]

9. Thanks

[Make7]

10. I have an old thread here about problems with links working on DU...

... unfortunately the formatting of the OP is all broken since they disabled some of the HTML allowed here after the hack.

It can be found in the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20151031114237/http://www.democraticunderground.com/12561695#tab-home

(that sometimes has problems loading - slow or stalled, so give it ten seconds or so)

[still_one]

12. +++

[Yonnie3]

11. That is indeed a better way.

Thanks.

I serviced Baudot (actually ITA2) teletypes and Hollerith coding/reading equipment when I was young. ASCII was a newfangled thing I had to learn when I began servicing the "modern" teletype machines. Then the 8086 processor challenged me with op codes and assembly language in the early 80s. There is just so much to keep up with, I'm relieved ASCII has stayed around.

[highplainsdem]

13. Two simple ways to deal with that problem.

One is to delete the @ symbol from the link.

The other way is to use the link button for text to link to the web address, including the @ symbol, with only the highlighted text referring to the link appearing in the message itself.

That works for links at Medium.com, for instance, and I assume for other websites.