How do I link to a specific point in a policy (Anchor Links)?

Issue

To understand how to create anchor links within a policy

Environment

RLDatix Policy Editor

Resolution

A hyperlink is a computer command that links one file or webpage to another file or webpage. As policies stored on PolicyStat are web-based, each policy is a webpage so they can be linked from one to another.

When creating hyperlinks within PolicyStat, users can link one webpage (or policy) to another. For more on the process of copying the URL of one policy and pasting into another as a link, see this article.  It includes more detail to be aware of when linking.

• How do I Link to another Policy, Website, or File from within a Policy?

The process of sharing links can be further expanded to not just link from one policy to another, but also to link to a specific section in the content of the linked policy.  This allows creating a table of contents at the beginning of a longer document so the sections below can be more easily accessed.
 

These links can be accomplished in one of two ways.

1. Anchor Link

   Anchor links are like bookmarks that can be placed within any content in the PolicyStat Editor. Once an anchor is established, it can be linked to from any location on the current page or other external pages. When the link is clicked, the user who clicks will be taken directly to the anchored text on the page. If the link is clicked from an external policy or page, the user who clicks will be taken first to the policy in question, then automatically to the anchored text.
    

2. Heading Deep Link

   Any text created in the Editor that uses Header formatting will be automatically assigned a heading deep link. Any user who clicks the deep link will be taken to the policy in question and automatically jump to the header within the content.
   
   For more on heading deep links, see this article: Can I share a link to a specific heading in a policy?

Create an Anchor Link

1. Locate where in the document you'd like the link to direct the user and click to place your cursor. 
2. Click the Anchor button in the Editor toolbar.
   
3. A pop-up appears. Provide a name for the anchor link, and click the green checkmark. Be sure to remember what you name the anchor as you will need it later.
4. The anchor point will now feature a red flag icon to mark the anchor.
   
5. Locate and highlight text elsewhere in the content such as a reference mark (linking to a footnote) or words in the text (linking to a section below). 
6. Click the Anchor Link button in the Editor toolbar.
   
7. In the pop-up that appears, select the name of your anchor and click the green checkmark to confirm.
   
8. The linked text will appear blue and underlined.

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Linking to Anchors Externally

The steps above describe linking to an anchor inside a policy. However, it may be necessary to link to an anchor from an external source (e.g. - Intranet page, another policy, a PDF, etc.). Doing so requires a few small modifications to the URL (web address) for the policy.

PLEASE NOTE: This requires an anchor to be present on a policy with a current status of Active.

1. Copy the URL (web address) of the policy.
   • To copy the URL, click the URL (and ensure it is all selected). Next, either press Ctrl + C on your keyboard or right-click with your mouse and select Copy.
2. Paste the URL where you would like it to go.
3. At the end of the URL, provide a # symbol (Shift + 3 on your keyboard) then the name of the anchor.
   • For example, this policy contains an anchor titled Test, and the final URL link to the anchor will look like this: