"Volatile" URL links

[kaneohe]

Whenever I find some particularly interesting/useful topic online that might be useful in the future, I try and save it by copying and pasting the url. That usually works for the immediate past but on more than one occasion
(usually many months or a year or more later), I am unable to retrieve the
information and there is usually an error message of some sort.

What actually is happening? Is it a problem w/ my computer or something else? Other than copying and pasting the actual article itself (not just the url) what else would make it permanent?

 

[maddythebeagle]

I think it is from the site owner moving the info. to another page...you probably will just have to search the site again for the info...

 

[RonBoyd]

I know they say that things "on the web" are forever. The reality is not quite so definite. People remove, add to, move, or simply destroy things all the time. (For a variety of reasons -- not the least of which is unforseen legal problems.)

I learned long ago that if I believe something is worth saving, I save it right then and there -- printing some and merely "saving to file" for others. That way, I am in charge.

In any event, there is nothing wrong with your equipment -- situation normal etc. (with your expectations? well...)

 

[ladelfina]

Try putting the URL into Google's search and you may find a cached version (saved by Google).

To keep it "forever", you can do a "Save As.."/"Web archive" or print to PDF and save, if you don't want to physically print it out.

 

[W2R]

I may be too resistant to change, but I really dislike seeing URL's cited in environmental documents at work, and I never cite them myself. Even though the citation must specify "Accessed: (month), (year)", the URLs just seem so temporary, easily changed, and nebulous.

(sigh) Guess I am becoming a rigid old-fashioned fuddy-duddy these days.

 

[Goonie]

To keep it "forever", .........print to PDF and save, if you don't want to physically print it out.

That's what I do now, after experiencing the same problem as the OP. I use a neat little freeware program called "CutePDF Writer".

When installed it adds "CutePDF" to your choice of printers when you click on "Print" in the "File" menu. If you choose it, a "Save As" box pops up so you can name the file anything you want and/or add a date to it, then just click "Save" and you have a nice PDF copy of the webpage or article in whatever folder you want to save it to (My Documents, Downloads, etc).

Since I've been using CutePDF, I've saved countless reams of paper, and I don't have to rifle through stacks of paper and file-folders to find what I'm looking for.

 

[RonBoyd]

I use Internet Explorer as my Browser. A simple, quick method in that program is to simply "File/Save As." Try the various (4?) types of file created to see which you prefer. No muss, no fuss.

 

[ladelfina]

W2R, no, you're not a fuddy-duddy.. I see broken links all the time, even on news sites (usually smaller papers or TV news channels). One would think they'd take on the responsibility of maintaining their archives in an accessible, traceable manner (even if they eventually fall behind a pay wall, I think they have the duty to keep them tracked).

 

[kaneohe]

Thanks all for the advice. Now as long as I remember to save this the NEW way, I guess I'll be OK.