diff --git a/src/model.js b/src/model.js
index 88c724a7..aca6c1e3 100644
--- a/src/model.js
+++ b/src/model.js
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@ my.DocumentList = Backbone.Collection.extend({
 // * format: (optional) used to indicate how the data should be formatted. For example:
 //   * type=date, format=yyyy-mm-dd
 //   * type=float, format=percentage
-//   * type=string, format=link (render as hyperlink)
 //   * type=string, format=markdown (render as markdown if Showdown available)
 // * is_derived: (default: false) attribute indicating this field has no backend data but is just derived from other fields (see below).
 // 
@@ -236,6 +235,15 @@ my.DocumentList = Backbone.Collection.extend({
 // field. This provides support for a) 'derived/computed' fields: i.e. fields
 // whose data are functions of the data in other fields b) transforming the
 // value of this field prior to rendering.
+//
+// #### Default renderers
+//
+// * string
+//   * no format provided: pass through but convert http:// to hyperlinks 
+//   * format = plain: do no processing on the source text
+//   * format = markdown: process as markdown (if Showdown library available)
+// * float
+//   * format = percentage: format as a percentage
 my.Field = Backbone.Model.extend({
   // ### defaults - define default values
   defaults: {
@@ -278,9 +286,7 @@ my.Field = Backbone.Model.extend({
     },
     'string': function(val, field, doc) {
       var format = field.get('format');
-      if (format === 'link') {
-        return '<a href="VAL">VAL</a>'.replace(/VAL/g, val);
-      } else if (format === 'markdown') {
+      if (format === 'markdown') {
         if (typeof Showdown !== 'undefined') {
           var showdown = new Showdown.converter();
           out = showdown.makeHtml(val);
@@ -288,8 +294,16 @@ my.Field = Backbone.Model.extend({
         } else {
           return val;
         }
+      } else if (format == 'plain') {
+        return val;
+      } else {
+        // as this is the default and default type is string may get things
+        // here that are not actually strings
+        if (val && typeof val === 'string') {
+          val = val.replace(/(https?:\/\/[^ ]+)/g, '<a href="$1">$1</a>');
+        }
+        return val
       }
-      return val;
     }
   }
 });
diff --git a/test/model.test.js b/test/model.test.js
index f4a4c623..b7a0e3d8 100644
--- a/test/model.test.js
+++ b/test/model.test.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ test('Field: default renderers', function () {
     x: 12.3,
     myobject: {a: 1, b: 2},
     link: 'http://abc.com/',
+    link2: 'Some text then https://abc.com/',
     markdown: '### ABC'
   });
   var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'myobject', type: 'object'});
@@ -55,11 +56,16 @@ test('Field: default renderers', function () {
   var exp = '12.3%';
   equal(out, exp);
 
-  var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'link', type: 'string', format: 'link'});
+  var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'link'});
   var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
   var exp = '<a href="http://abc.com/">http://abc.com/</a>';
   equal(out, exp);
 
+  var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'link2'});
+  var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
+  var exp = 'Some text then <a href="https://abc.com/">https://abc.com/</a>';
+  equal(out, exp);
+
   var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'markdown', type: 'string', format: 'markdown'});
   var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
   // Showdown is not installed so nothing should happen