lynx-dev Lynx removes spaces in URLs

[Bob Izenberg]

[ Message forwarded from un-subscribed address
  address@hidden ]

> Hi list,
> 
> I tried to send this to the list a few weeks ago or so, but it
> turned out one has to be subscribed in order to be able to post,
> and there was some other trouble.  Now I'm subscribed, so I'll
> post it again.  This means that the bug discussed below might have
> been fixed since then.  It exists in 'Lynx 2.8.3pre.4 (11 Apr
> 2000)'.  I'm using Redhat Linux 6.1 on intel x86 hardware, if
> that's of any use to you.
> 
> Okay, the problem.  I searched the list archives without finding
> any discussions about this, so here goes...  It seems that when
> viewing any html document (remote or local, doesn't matter) with a
> link URL containing spaces, they will be removed.  That is:
> 
> <a href=3D"path with/spaces in it/index.html">
> 
> Will be interpreted as "pathwith/spacesinit/index.html" by lynx.
> This is the URL it will show on the status line (in 'expert' user
> mode), and send to the server when one tries to follow the link.
> The major problem is that in its present state, lynx is unable to
> navigate several web sites (especially those with auto-generated
> directory listings) that I frequent, which is a bit annoying :-).
> 
> I think (I might be wrong) that the correct behaviour would be not
> to modify anything internally, and then quote spaces as "%20" only
> when needed -- in particular, in HTTP requests.  As far as I can
> see, this would work much better in every way than the present
> behavior.  Regardless of which behaviour is the True and Proper
> one, there is a problem here, so IMHO if it's not going to be
> fixed it deserves a compatibility option in lynx.cfg -- since
> there are a whole lot of convenient flags for broken html and
> stuff in there already.  But that's *my* opinion -- you're the
> experts :-).
> 
> On a side note, when viewing directory listings generated
> internally by lynx, such as on the local filesystem or on ftp
> sites, lynx "cheats" by writing links such as:
> 
> <a href=3D"path%20with/spaces%20in%20it/index.html">
> 
> ...  And therefore the problem mentioned doesn't occur.
> Otherwise, the situation would be a lot more serious :-).
> 
> Have a nice day,
> 
> //traal
> 
> --=20
> When in danger or in doubt -- run in circles, scream and shout.
>  ,--------------------------------------------------------.=20
> / Fredrik Mellstr=F6m  address@hidden   +46(0)31-183764 \
> \ G=F6teborg, Sweden   http://traal.cjb.net/   ICQ#: 5298311 /


-- 
Verio - The New World of Business - http://www.verio.com
e-mail: bizenberg @ verio.net  fax: +1 (512) 306-0702
voice: +1 (512) 306-0700
AUP:  http://home.verio.com/company/aup.cfm

; To UNSUBSCRIBE: Send "unsubscribe lynx-dev" to address@hidden