sphinx: internal short reference to python class

Question

How can I achieve something like this in sphinx?

Creates a `ClassName`_ instance.

.. _ClassName: :class:`~very.long.path.to.ClassName`

I would like to have short links to long class/methods/etc references in order to make my documentation more readable.

Answer 1

The best way I've found so far to reduce the length of my python references is to use the current module directive:

.. py:currentmodule:: very.long.path.to.package

This is my :class:`~module_in_package.ClassName`. 

Answer 2

I had the same problem, but I finally got things to work using reST Substitutions . Try this:

Creates a |ClassName| instance.

.. |ClassName| replace:: :class:`~very.long.path.to.ClassName`