How can I activate URL's in a text field?

[HugoFirst]

We have several users who are pasting URL's to planning documents in the description field of a change request.
The problem is that the URL's are treated as regualr text. We'd like to activate them so that clicking on the URL would open a new window with the target of the URL displayed.

We do have one field of type URL, but that is good for only one link. Some requests have many links and the description field is the most convenient field to receive them.

Any ideas?

[geoffcox · Accepted solution]

Instead of using a regular text field, you could consider using an html field, and then adding a business rule to find valid URLs in the field and turn them into links.

[HugoFirst]

This idea is very promising. In fact, I don't think I even need the business rule.

I went to the demo site and added an HTML field to a change request.
It looks like a text field with lots of widgets.

When I type text with a URL, it appears to activate automatically.
I can also click the HTML widget to insert a link manully.

Now for the rub, even though the links look active, clicking on them has no effect.
Can someone advise me on how to proceed from here? I think I must be missing something basic, but for the life of my I can't say what it is.

[geoffcox]

I tried it on the demo also, and after successfully inserting a link, I discovered that directly clicking on the link didn't work, but I could right-click on it and "open link in new tab (or window)".

[HugoFirst]

Which browser are you using?
The reason I ask is that I suspect that the HTML field does not support IE.
I'm using IE 8.