An HREF is a list of URLs (and optional targets) that are embedded into a QuickTime movie. Like clickable text, each is active for a duration which you specify.

Unlike clickable text, HREFs are not visible. HREF links can be invoked by the user by clicking anywhere on the screen. For example, clicking between 3 and 5 second of play time might open URL #1; clicking between 6 and 10 seconds might open URL #2.

Alternately, HREFs can be invoked automatically, that is, without the user clicking anywhere. That is, at 3 seconds of play time, URL #1 might open; at 8 seconds of play time, URL #2 might open.

• Click here to see an example of a movie with an HREF track that automatically loads new files.
• Click here to see an example of a movie with an HREF track that the user must click to load new files.
• Click here to see another example of a movie with an HREF track that the user must click to load new files. However, this time the movie includes a non-clickable text track as well, to guide the reader when to click.

As with clickable text, displaying movies with HREF tracks requires design decisions; see the discussion on embedding movies within frames for more details.

Techie Note: How The File in the Bottom Frame Opens

Using a text editor, enter the URL for the link you want to open from your movie. Use the following syntax:

<http://someURL.com>T<someTarget>

Note:

• Place angle brackets < > before and after the URL without other spaces.
• Place angle brackets < > before and after the target without other spaces.
• Capitalize the T (for target)
• Use the name of the frame you want in which the links to open.

If you want the link to open automatically, place a capital A in front, like this:

A<http://someURL.com>T<someTarget>

1. Select and copy the text you created in Step 2.

1. Open your target movie in QuickTime Player.
2. Set the start and end points for when you want this link to be active.
3. Select Edit>Add Scaled.
   
   A new text track will be created.

Right now, you have created a special format text track, but QuickTime won't do anything to it until you change its name. Here's how:

1. Select Movie>Get Movie Properties
   
   
2. In the left drop down menu, select Text Track.
   
   
3. In the right drop down menu, select General.
   
   
4. Click the Change Name button.
   
   
5. In the field that appears, enter HREFTrack.

   Warning: The name must be HREFTrack and must follow the exact mix of upper and lower case characters as you see here. Otherwise, your links won't work.

1. Select Edit>Enable Tracks
2. Click the HREFTrack to OFF.

1. Select File>Save As.
   
   
2. Save the movie as self-contained.

1. Embed your QuickTime movie into the appropriate frame.
   
   
2. Test your frameset to be sure everything loads and that you've allotted enough room to display all the material.