Many people who regularly post on Ebay discussion boards have experienced the frustration of writing html code for someone else to copy and use, for example in their signature file, and having it convert into an actual link that the user can’t copy. The usual work-around is to insert some spaces or turn around the ‘<’ so it becomes ‘>’ in the html code. It usually takes several posts and back and forth to convey the message and make things work so that the user gets the code they need.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve posted html with the ‘<’ and ‘>’ spaced out. Trying to explain what to do to a person who doesn’t know html can be difficult.

There is an Easier Way to Post HTML!!

You can replace certain characters with substitutes and “trick” the board into displaying the html without making a link out of it. This is especially helpful when trying to teach someone html, or give them a ready made signature that they can copy and paste into settings. But ‘<’ and ‘>’ have special meaning to web browsers and will not display on the screen. To display these characters, browsers can substitute two code words.. &lt; and &gt; which, when substituted, will display correctly.

How do you make that show up without turning into a link?

You can do it by using a special html code. This is very simple to learn, not many people on the discussion boards know it:

Every time a ‘<’ shows up in the code, replace it with a ‘&lt’. You don’t even need to replace a single ‘>’.

So to display: <a href=”www.blahblah.com”>Cool Website</a>

just type this in your post:

&lta href=”www.blahblah.com”>Cool Website&lt/a>

With that 2nd little piece of code as it displays in the discussion board, just a copy and paste is all that is needed. Your fellow board members will thank you for your new easy-to-understand communication!!

Here’s to your future success posting helpful HTML on the boards!

Please vote yes below if you think this guide was helpful- I appreciate it!

This article remains copyright 2006 BrickSale.