UI issue: URL disappears if you decide to customize the link

[cosmocanuck]

This has been a "gotcha" for me forever, I finally have a moment to report it.

Maybe it's just me, but when I try to add a link to some text, I often reach a frustrating little scenario where the URL I've typed or pasted in disappears. Specifically, when I hit the "gear" to find the "Open in new tab" checkbox. Here's the steps:

1. I highlight some text to make into a link.
2. I click the Add/Edit Link menu button. A box appears with a text field, an "Apply" button and a "Link options" button.
3. I enter the URL in the field.
4. Now I remember I want to ensure that this link opens in a new window. So I click the little "gear" icon to the right of the box.
5. I invariably don't notice that the URL is gone now and needs to be re-entered. I just click the "Open link in new tab" checkbox. Then I hit "Add link".
6. In frustration, I see that the text is still plain text. No link was added.
7. I remember what I should have done and go back in a second time.

So, if I'm intending to open a link in a new window/tab, I need to ignore the URL field, which is screaming at me, UI-wise, to put something in it... and only add the URL on the secondary screen after clicking the gear. Otherwise, I'll always be entering the URL twice.

Not too intuitive, yes?

This is usually the only reason i dive into that more detailed window, and this happens to me all the time.

Is there any way that a URL entered into that field in the first popup window, can be retained in the URL field of the more detailed window seen after clicking the gear?

Or, heck, just add the "Open in new window" checkbox to the initial window as well, under the URL field?

[carladgibin]

Hello,

That's the first time I've heard about a problem like this.

I followed the steps you had posted on the top and I found no issue.

In my opinion the problem can be between your Theme and the WordPress version that you're using.

I'd suggest you to try 3 possible solutions below:

1. Try to change the Theme to a WordPress native Theme like 'Twenty Fifteen' or 'Twenty Forteen' and do the steps to add a new link again to see if the issue still happen.

2. Make sure that the Theme that yo've been using is 100% compatible with the WordPress version that you have inslalled. If it's not, you should use an oldest WordPress version.

3. Try to update your wordpress version to a newest one.

If it doesn't help you I'd advice you to ask your question again at the support page:
​https://wordpress.org/support/

I hope this repply be useful!

Kindly,

Carla

[boemedia]

I tested this today and the problem doesn't seem to occur here. It happened when I forgot to include the ​https:// part and started with www first. I recommend closing this ticket, as it doesn't seem the problem exist (anymore).