Shorten URL- How ?

[Parangles]

How can a very long URL be shortened and pasted as a link elsewhere ?
The only method I can find is using a site like "TinyURL" as a proxy which
includes its site name in the new URL .
Is there no software ? I can't find any .
Thanks,
Chris.

[doctorgonzo]

What is wrong with using TinyURL? There is a Firefox extension that means all you have to do to click a button and it's done.

The way these services work is by creating a database of links and generating a shortened link that the server can use as a lookup to the real link. A proxy server has to be involved.

[Parangles]

I see links posted here on this site that do not show any wording
in the link other that sometiimes one word, eg : here
rather than eg: http:// tinyURL/ here

[Statica]

Originally Posted by Parangles I see links posted here on this site that do not show any wording in the link other that sometiimes one word, eg : here rather than eg: http:// tinyURL/ here

That's because the post is made either with HTML tags on with the Bulletin board tag. For example

PHP Code:

<A HREF="http://www.pcmech.com/">here</A> 


or
{URL=http://www.pecmech.com}here{/URL} ... change the {} brackets to [ ]
When composing a new post, take your mouse over the various buttons, you should see an option to insert hyperlink.

[Parangles]

Thanks ! will check that out next time I post with a link.

Chris.

[Hi Ho]

I always power links with the UBB code (I think that's what it is). The second one Statica suggested. I don't see a reason to do all the extra typing with the HTML tags.

[enhanced08]

i use the HTML simply because i do websites and its like second nature to me now...