How to Automatically Copy a URL & Paste it Into a Form Field
Copying a URL (commonly known as a web address) into a form field is handy when creating an online profile, or sharing a link with others. Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly speed up the time it takes to copy and paste. If you have previously used the keyboard to copy and paste, such as with word processing software, then these shortcuts will be very familiar to you. There are two different ways to copy a URL from an active link, including one that does not require you to visit the linked website.
Instructions
-
-
1
Right-click on the active link. Select "Copy Link Location" from the displayed menu. The URL has now been copied to your computer's clipboard.
-
2
Alternately, left-click on the link to visit the URL. Once the page has loaded, click within the address bar at the top of your browser. This should highlight the entire URL. If it does not, press Ctrl-A to select the entire address. Press Ctrl-C to copy. The URL is now copied to your clipboard.
-
-
3
Click within the form field. Press Ctrl-V to paste. If the URL was entered into the form field correctly, you should see the entire URL displayed exactly as it was within the other links. Double-check to make sure that you have not cut off any characters by mistake. Even just a single missing letter or symbol can render a link inactive.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Links without the "http://" prefix will not work correctly. Simply typing "www.example.com" will result in a broken link. Make sure that you copy the entire link exactly as it appears.
Resources
- Photo Credit adress bar image by Wiktor Osiecki from Fotolia.com