Insert external link to ckEditor

Does the button need to be outside the editor?

I created a simple plugin that works like this:
You create an element in your page and assign the code for your link to the value of the element.
The plugin grabs the value of that element when you click the button in the CKEditor toolbar and inserts it into the editor content area.

You put an element in your page like this:
<input type="text" id="link_code" value="<a href='http://www.YourDomain.com/'>Your Text</a>" />

It could be a hidden input:
<input type="hidden" id="link_code" value="<a href='http://www.YourDomain.com/'>Your Text</a>" />

Any element will work:
<div id="link_code"><a href='http://www.YourDomain.com/'>Your Text</a></div>

I can post the code if will work for your situation.

Be Well,
Joe