The Problem
When building out a test site where we might not have a lot of real content yet, we often want to create a bunch of quick links buttons so designers can get a feel for what content is going to look like. This is particularly important when you want to review several designs and test them on mobile.
What typically happens in HTML is that an anchor tag will be created with just a # in the link which tells the browser to create the button and make it work like a button but don’t actually link anywhere. If we could add that # to the link life would be great! However, the quick links and other button web parts have a validation in them that prevent us from just adding a #.
The Solution
First we add the web part to the page and add a link.
Then we type a # into the paste a link section. You will notice that the “Open” button never clears validation so it cannot ever be clicked.
If we type in a valid URL the button validation clears. If you are following along, don’t press open yet!
Now we just need to go back, erase our URL and replace it with the #. Our button remains clickable.
Now we have ourselves a beautiful, clickable button to nowhere, which really helps teams as they design sites and set placeholder buttons.
In conclusion, this is one extra step to make a button that goes nowhere. However, when you are testing design, it is really nice when you click a button and the browser stays right where you want it.
About the Author
James Cragle is a Collaboration Consultant at New Signature in our Southeast United States region. He is an expert and lover of all things SharePoint, and helps our customers develop and manage dynamic and intelligent workplace environments. In his free time, James is an avid hiker and has recently started experimenting with gardening.
