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Library
Web Design - Changing
Your Web Address? Coding for Automatic Redirection
When
a web page moves to another location, it's a good idea
to redirect patrons who are using bookmarks or web addresses
in email messages to the new address. This way, they
will not receive the infamous "Error 404- Page
not found" message.
You
can do this by putting coding in the <HEAD>
section of the old web page. This is what will redirect
your patrons to the new address.
Instructions:
- Open
the old web page in your HTML editor in a view that
lets you see the hard coding.
- Find
<HEAD>
in the coding and hit "Enter."
- Type
this text:
<META HTTP-EQUIV=REFRESH
CONTENT="0; URL=http://www.kdla.ky.gov">
(Make
sure to replace the example KDLA address with your
new page's web address.)
- Save
the document.
That's
it! Sometimes it's also a good idea to let your patrons
know that a webpage has moved. This way, they'll hopefully
change their bookmarks and not rely on the redirection
code each time they use the old address.
For
a seemingly complicated process, this is very simple:
- Open
the old web page in your HTML editor.
- Erase
all the content text and add text similar to:
Please
update your bookmarks to reflect our new address --
http://www.kdla.ky.gov.
You
will be directed to our new site in 10 seconds.
If
you are not redirected to our new address, click the
link below.
kdla.ky.gov
(Somewhere within your message, make sure to include
a hyperlink to your new webpage's address in case
redirection does not work.)
- Then,
switch to a view which will allow you to see the hard
coding of this page.
- Find
<HEAD>
in the coding and hit "Enter."
- Type
this text:
<META HTTP-EQUIV=REFRESH
CONTENT="10; URL=http://www.kdla.ky.gov">
(Make
sure to replace the example KDLA address with your
new page's web address.)
- Save
the document.
"CONTENT=10"
means that the old web page will remain on the screen
for 10 seconds before the patron is redirected to the
new web address, giving them the opportunity to read
your message about updating their bookmark. Although
you can change the amount of time, you need to keep
the number at least higher than five in order to catch
your patron's attention and allow them enough time to
read (and act upon) your message.
"HTTP-EQUIV=REFRESH"
will work in some browsers such as Netscape 2.0+ and
Internet Explorer 3.0+.
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