1. A method for supporting links within a document containing text, the method comprising: identifying representations embedded within a word processor document of links to sources external to the word processor document, the word processor document produced using a word processor program running on a computing system and configured to create, edit and display both text and hyperlinks within the word processor document; appending the word processor document to include initial content representations comprising all content of each external source; identifying a current validity status automatically for each identified link representation during creation of the word processor document, at an initial time of publication of the word processing document and at a later time after initial publication, the validity status comprising accuracy of the link representation, functionality of the link representation, accessibility of the external sources and content of the external sources; expressing the identified current validity status of one or more of the identified link representations using aspects of the document other than the identified link representations; and providing notification to an author and readers of the word processor document of the current validity status.