A web site uses links for the following:

• pages
• images
• files
• other web sites, etc.

If a link is broken, a visitor may click on a link and see a:

• 404 Page Not Found
• broken image
• file not found

To check for broken links on a Homestead web page or site, there are free online tools, as well as, some free downloadable programs.

Free Online Link Checking Tools

Note: Many free link checking services limit the number of links or pages that can be checked. Please read service terms and instructions carefully.

• Link Valet, click here
• LinkCheck, click here
• LinkScan, click here
• Other services as listed by Google.com, click here

Note:There are also HTML checkers that include link checking as a feature:

• Dr.Watson, click here
• Doctor HTML, click here
• NetMechanic, click here

Warning: These services analyze HTML code, and the SiteBuilder creates HTML pages using a style that is often incompatible with their "ideal" style. However, the Homestead style of HTML is what allows members to create pages with the Sitebuilder.

Free Link Checking Programs

You can download a free link checking program, such as Xenu (click here to go to download page), for a list from:

• download.com, click here
• webattack.com, click here
• directory of other freeware sites from Google.com, click here

Here is an example with using Xenu, a free program (click here to go to download page):

1. Download and unzip the Xenu program (for instructions on how to unzip files, please click here)

2. Open the program Xenu

3. In the file menu along the top of the program, click on File, and select Check Url.

4. In the new window enter your URL of the web page or site to check in the following format: http://www.homestead.com/[your_web_site_name]/

5. The program will check the files, and create a list of all the urls it is checking. Active links will appear in green, and broken links will appear in red.

6. If you would like to only see the broken links, then in the file menu along the top of the program, click on View and select Show Broken Links Only

Note: Using link checking tools with Homestead web sites will affect web site statistics and bandwidth usage.

(Please note that none of the above are official partners of Homestead, nor have we done any extensive testing of what they have to offer. Use of their tools and services must be undertaken at your own risk.)