Link to an Attachment from Bubble Text

As you enter custom text in bubbles and Introduction/End frames, you can link to an attachment from this text. For example, you could use a web page linked at this level to provide a definition of a term. Linked text appears in the frame bubble in color and underlined. When a user clicks linked text while viewing a topic in the Player, the attachment is displayed. If the attachment is a package file, the file opens in its parent application. If the attachment is a web page or URL, it opens in a new, independent browser window.

Note: When a glossary term is used in a manually created bubble text link, no glossary link is created during glossary markup. That is, text used in manually created bubble text links is excluded from glossary markup.

The Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box of the Topic Editor provides the tools for linking to and managing the links to attachments from bubble text. When linking to a package file or web page, you can filter the display to include packages or web pages only and navigate through the Library folders to the specific file you want to link. When linking to a URL, you can type or paste a base URL and then follow links in the preview displayed in the results pane of the Insert Hyperlink dialog box to reach your desired target. The Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box also provides a preview of the linked attachment.

Like concept and frame links, a link to an attachment from bubble text becomes part of the parent document. If you then move or reuse the topic, the linked attachment remains associated with that text in the topic. Conversely, deleting the link to an attachment from bubble text in one location removes the link in all places where the topic is used.

To link to a package file or web page from bubble text:

1. With the topic open in the Topic Editor, navigate to the frame from which you want to link to a package file or web page.
2. Select the bubble text to be linked.
3. In the Frame Properties toolpane, click Bubble text link.
4. Click Create link.
5. In the Link to pane, select Document in Library.

   If desired, you can select Packages or Web pages in the Type field to further filter your selection.

6. Navigate the Library to the folder containing the package file or web page to which you want to link.
7. Select the desired package file or web page document.
8. Click OK or press ENTER.

Note: At step 4, you can also click Create new web page to create a new web page and link to it in one step. When you do so, you first specify the name of the web page and the Library folder in which it should be saved. The Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box then closes, and an empty web page opens in a new tab. After you complete the web page, you can preview its contents in the topic by reactivating the Topic Editor tab, selecting the appropriate bubble text, and again displaying the Bubble Text Link Properties dialog box as in step 3 above.

To link to a URL from bubble text:

1. With the topic open in the Topic Editor, navigate to the frame from which you want to link to a URL.
2. Select the bubble text to be linked.
3. In the Frame Properties toolpane, click Bubble text link.
4. Click Create link.
5. In the Link to pane, select URL.
6. In the Address field, type or paste the target URL.
7. Click Go or press ENTER.

   While selecting a URL, you can also enter a base URL and then follow links in the preview displayed in the results pane to reach your desired target.

8. Click OK or press ENTER.