Linking to other pages instead of node doesn't work

Thank you for your help. I went through the Answer and found that the problem was fixed for the simple image only ddblock i had running, but that it did not fix the issue for the "read more..." button on my advanced slideshow. It appears that the URL field is not being recognized by pre process function. Instead, the "Read more.." link continues to point to the node of the view created for the slideshow itself.

I tried removing pager option to see if it made difference, but it did not.

I have attached my revised template.php file in case it helps.

Also, I am wondering if there is an error in your instructions below. I tried code both ways (with and without the [$result->], so that is probably not what is causing my problem. Forgive me if my point is ignorant, but I am a marketing guy who only plays coder on TV :-)

// add slide_read_more variable and slide_node variable
if (isset($result->nid)) {
$slider_items[$key1]['slide_read_more'] = l('Read more...', 'node/' . $result->nid);
$slider_items[$key1]['slide_node'] = 'node/' . $result->nid;
}

Change to:

// add slide_read_more variable and slide_node variable
if (isset(node_data_field_pager_item_text_field_url_value)) { *****did you intend to omit the [$result->] on this line?******
$slider_items[$key1]['slide_read_more'] = l('Read more...', $result->node_data_field_pager_item_text_field_url_value);
$slider_items[$key1]['slide_node'] = 'node/' . $result->nid;
}

Thank you for clarifying posting etiquette. I am sure I am making rookie mistakes as I get through this issue and appreciate your patience. I added code to template 50 tpl file per your instructions and uncommented the Showcase1 preprocess code. The Read More button is not even displaying and I think it has something to do with the code I have entered:

// add slide_read_more variable and slide_node variable
if (isset($result->node_data_field_pager_item_text_field_url_value)) {
  $slider_items[$key1]['slide_read_more'] =  l('Read more...', $result->node_data_field_pager_item_text_field_url_value);
}

When I added this code the Showcase1 code, the Read More button disappeared as well, so I reverted back to standard code for Showcase1 since it is simply a test slideshow to provide functionality down the road.

Here is the drupal message returned when I uncommented the preprocess lines per your instructions. It appears to me that the url field is working properly in node and view, but for some reason is not making it to the slideshow.

'ddBlock_Slideshow_Frontpage'
stdClass::__set_state(array(
   'nid' => '265',
   'node_title' => 'Cloud Sandbox',
   'node_data_field_slideshow_image_field_slideshow_image_fid' => '263',
   'node_data_field_slideshow_image_field_slideshow_image_list' => '1',
   'node_data_field_slideshow_image_field_slideshow_image_data' => 'a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";}',
   'node_type' => 'ddblock_slideshow',
   'node_vid' => '713',
   'node_data_field_slideshow_image_field_slide_text_value' => 'Instantly provision virtual sandbox environments pre-configured with popular vendor software for evaluation, testing and development.',
   'node_data_field_slideshow_image_field_url_value' => 'http://dev01epmcloud.hynotetest.com/provision',
))

I am displaying this slideshow within a node using the PHP code provided on your site. Could the fact that I am displaying within a node creating an issue?

Again, thank you for your assistance.

That worked! I had inserted the field value "node_data_field_pager_item_text_field_url_value" earlier before I posted. I didn't work at the time, but I believe it was because I was missing a "{".

I really appreciate the patience and respect shown for a non-coder in helping me resolve this issue. Now the the module is functioning properly, I may be in touch shortly regarding some paid services to help adjust theme. Is your site the best way to reach you for commercial services?

Thanks again!