# Please, can links be in color?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [March 11, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494 "2002-03-11T04:48:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/21 "2002-03-13T19:56:53Z")

</div>

But from what I see in this thread, the unvisited links are still that faint color that is hard to see.

To change those link colors, do this:

In your postbit template, find this:

```auto

<p>$post[message]</p>

```

and replace it with this:

```auto

<p class="post">$post[message]</p>

```

Now in your headinclude template, add this:

```auto

.post a:link, .post a:active, .post a:visited, .post a:hover {
    color: #113274;
}

```

You can now replace the #113274 with a color of your choice.

That’s all you need. I’m outta here now.

---

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/22 "2002-03-13T20:32:29Z")

</div>

Thanks again for the help Anthracite. You realize of course that we will probably not customize the SDMB in exactly the same way that you have customized your board, so please don’t be offended if we don’t act on some of your suggestions.

I don’t know how it looks on other people’s monitors, but I don’t have any problem reading the unvisited links. Maybe the colour has been changed since you posted? I see in a post above Gaudere saying

> [@](#):
>
> We may tweak the color a bit, though.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/23 "2002-03-13T20:42:34Z")

</div>

If you are going to “tweak the colors” a bit, may I suggest using colors that aren’t all in the same palette, basically? The light gray of “visited links” and the dark gray of text and the dark navy blue of “unvisited links” are all in the same color range, so they blend together harmoniously, which is nice if you’re redecorating a room or putting together a killer three-piece suit for the big presentation, but not so hot if you’re trying to read a message board and figure out what’s a link and what isn’t.

Anything that contrasts better with gray would be good.

I’d even be happy with Bboy’s “mustard”. 😃 (Do you suppose it’s a secret color recipe, like with custom-mixed Dutch Boy paints?)

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/24 "2002-03-13T20:56:22Z")

</div>

Hear hear, Duck Duck Goose! If I had my druthers we would copy the colour scheme of the [Best Board Sample Board](http://bb.bbboy.net/sample). However other staff members have threatened me with physical violence if I move even just one step in that direction.

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**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/25 "2002-03-13T23:23:05Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Anthracite \*  
> \*\*But from what I see in this thread, the unvisited links are still that faint color that is hard to see.
> 
> To change those link colors, do this:
> 
> In your postbit template, find this:
> 
> ```auto
> 
> <p>$post[message]</p>
> 
> ```
> 
> and replace it with this:
> 
> ```auto
> 
> <p class="post">$post[message]</p>
> 
> ```
> 
> Now in your headinclude template, add this:
> 
> ```auto
> 
> .post a:link, .post a:active, .post a:visited, .post a:hover {
> color: #113274;
> }
> 
> ```
> 
> You can now replace the #113274 with a color of your choice.
> 
> That’s all you need. I’m outta here now. \*\*

What the heck are you talking about? What’s a postbit template? Where do I find these codes?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/26 "2002-03-13T23:32:40Z")

</div>

Rilchiam - do not look behind the curtain! For there you shall see the SDMB staff busily working away at the cogs and wheels that invisibly support a vBulletin message board. Such sights are not meant for mortal eyes. (P.S. Happy Birthday!)

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/27 "2002-03-13T23:41:04Z")

</div>

Running Netscape Communicator 4.06, I find that all unclicked links appear to be bright, shiny black, just like the text. These include the heading links at the top of the page (Straight Dope Message Board, Main, etc) and the ones in the page (Report this post to a moderator). On the old board, the unfollowed links were bright blue, and followed links were purple. This is not the case currently.

Rilchiam, I believe those instructions were intended for the admins to set the board code, not for the user end.

---

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**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/28 "2002-03-14T00:04:05Z")

</div>

Okay. Thank you, **Arnold** and **Irishman**. Are the SDMB staff related to the people inside a car who push the windshield wipers? (My mom loves to tell how she gave me that explanation when I was ~3, and I thoughtfully asked, “Do they work on Sundays?”)

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**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/29 "2002-03-14T00:41:08Z")

</div>

Ok, people who want brighter links:

1. Click “user CP”.
2. Go into “edit options”.
3. Scroll down to the bottom. You’'ll see a blurb that says “Style Set:  
You may pick a style set to browse with that may or may not override the default settings.”
4. Choose “BrightLinks” from the drop down there.
5. Save your setting.

I picked the standard bright blue for unvisited/purple for visited links.

For suitable liquid or monentary compensation, I might be induced to make up a style so eye-bleedingly garish that even Arnold could love it. 😉

For the default, unless a lot of other people complain, I’m keeping it the way it is. I _like_ harmonious blends. 😛 ::adjusts tasteful wool-silk cardigan::

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**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/30 "2002-03-14T00:58:58Z")

</div>

Irishman, I checked Netscape 4.07 and the links look fine. Are you still not seeing any link colors (even when you set the “brightlinks” option)? Your Netscape may be having trouble with the stylesheets. You know, they’re all the way up to Netscape 6.01 now. 😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/31 "2002-03-14T01:20:40Z")

</div>

That would be [Netscape 6.2](http://home.netscape.com/computing/download/index.html) for you Microsoft devotees.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/32 "2002-03-14T04:49:15Z")

</div>

[Test](http://www.hawaiicity.com/shopping/mousepads/images/mpad-red.jpg). This should be BrightLinks Bright. Hey, it is! Cool.

Thank you, Gaudere.

Like my shirt? 😃

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-can-links-be-in-color/97494/33 "2002-03-14T10:37:27Z")

</div>

Great job, Gaudere! That’s much better.

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