Use of Links 
Use
The
repository framework supports linking between resources.
A link is a reference to
a resource (link target). If a link refers to a target that no longer exists,
it is a broken link.
Features
The repository framework implements two types of links; internal and external.
Internal links
refer to resources that are integrated in the repository framework. The
resources can be located in the same repository as the link or in another
framework repository. Normally internal links are broken if the target
resource is moved or renamed. However, a special type of internal link, the flexible link, can follow its target dynamically. If
the target moves or changes its name, the link remains intact and still points
to the right resource. The target of a flexible link must reside in the same
repository as the link itself. If the target is moved to another repository,
the link is deleted.
Flexible links are also called dynamic links, while normal internal
links are also called static links.
External links refer to resources that are stored in repositories that are not integrated in the framework. For example, a link to a resource on a web site that is not mapped to a repository manager is an external link.
Example
The figure shows both internal and external links.
Link 1, link 2 and link 3 are internal because they refer to resources within the framework:
●
Link 1 /repository/link1 points to the collection /repository/folder/subfolder
●
Link 2 /repository/link2 points to the resource /repository/folder/subfolder/file
●
Link 3
/repository/link3 points to a resource in another framework
repository /other_repository/folder/other_file.
●
Link 4
/other_repository/link4 is an external link because it points
to a URL that refers to an external web resource.
A web repository manager can map URLs to the namespace of the repository framework. In this way, external web resources become integrated in the framework and can be referenced with internal links.
See also: