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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : threads broken by long lines that are unbreakable
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| robert.rozee Guru  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2541 |
probably not the right place to post this, but hopefully Gizmo or Grogster will see it: the first page of the following thread is broken: https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?FID=16&TID=18965#256875 it has been broken by a single posting containing two long lines, each with no spaces or other 'breakable' points. when Firefox (and presumably other browsers) try to render this, it pushes out the width of the whole page to the total width of the offending line and as a result defeats any line-wrapping in all the other posts above or below on the same page. the solution: if the forum software sees an excessively long line that is unbreakable it should insert forced line breaks when the posting is posted - this should be fairly easy to implement. in the present case, could someone please go back and edit the two offending lines by adding line breaks? cheers, rob :-) Edited 2026-07-10 23:47 by robert.rozee |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3796 |
Amen. Or, as frequently is the case, someone posts a link for which everything including and following the "?" is unnecessary. I don't know how easy it would be to have the link stripped automatically. Otherwise, your suggestion of arbitrarily adding line breaks would be helpful. I actually think that the sizing in the thread indicated was broken not on the first post, but with long links as above some 10 to 15 posts down. Edited 2026-07-11 00:18 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| EDNEDN Senior Member  Joined: 18/02/2023 Location: United StatesPosts: 298 |
I usually give up and don't try to read the threads where this happens. It's too hard to make sense of the posts when everything is scrambled and pushed off screen like that. A lot of times this behaviour happens because pictures get posted that are too big. But scrolling way to the right, you can see it is because somebody posted a link that is too big. Edited 2026-07-11 06:07 by EDNEDN |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3316 |
Yes, this has been mentioned a couple of times before. In Ali Express links the "?" marks the start of that persons personal browsing history on AE so perhaps instead of just inserting a space there perhaps (TBS site software permitting) AE links could be truncated at the "?". . Edited 2026-07-11 08:02 by phil99 |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5185 |
If people dont use the Add Hyperlink button, and paste the entire URL, then how do we add line breaks without breaking the link? The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3316 |
I don't know if the following is practical but this issue is almost always with Ali Express links, sometimes posted just as text. Perhaps using the "Rude Word Filter" look for "aliexpress.com/item/" in text being posted and via the Add Hyperlink button, and search following that for a "?" then truncate the "?" and remainder of that block of continuous text. |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2541 |
even using the 'Add Hyperlink' button, a long link will still break a posting if it is pasted into the 'URL Text' field - and most folks do end up pasting the link into both field, myself included  handling it when the user is creating their posting may be the simplest option, placing line breaks in anything that is longer than, say, 72 characters. if it breaks a few links that is not the end of the world, as invariably someone else will add to the thread with a repaired link. cheers, rob :-) addendum: at the same time, modifying the 'Add Hyperlink' button so that the 'URL Text' field is always truncated to a maximum of 72 characters would be a good idea. Edited 2026-07-11 14:00 by robert.rozee |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5185 |
Thats a good idea. I can also add code so if the user tries to post a long link, it wont save and suggests they shorten it or use the add link button. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| EDNEDN Senior Member Joined: 18/02/2023 Location: United StatesPosts: 298 |
I think this is a case where nothing drastic needs to happen. Just make the displayable part of the link be short, and keep the whole unaltered part of the link and make it happen if somebody clicks on it. Even if somebody really, desperately wants to see the full link, The BackShed doesn't show it to them. They can pull it out of the URL of their browser if they really need it (after they click on the link). I bet just shortening what is displayed in the post handles everybody's needs. Edited 2026-07-11 14:49 by EDNEDN |
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