Topic: target="_blank"

Using target="_blank" is a serious pain. If I want something to open in a new window, I will most certainly shift-click or wheel-click myself. I can understand why web authors want to make the choice for me (or more exactly, for the basic user), but it's really irritating.

Can we get normal links in punBB ? Or should I keep customizing my punBB to remove those nasty "_blank"s ? big_smile

Re: target="_blank"

why is it irritating? it doesn't stop you from wheel clicking it but it does stop users from being taken away from the forum accidentally by external links

Re: target="_blank"

Because it forces you to open the link in a new window.

With a normal link the way it was intended, when I click a link, the page appears in the same window, and I have *the choice* to open it in a new window, but I'm not forced to it.

Re: target="_blank"

analogue: target="_blank" is gone forever in 1.2.

"Programming is like sex: one mistake and you have to support it for the rest of your life."

Re: target="_blank"

Rickard wrote:

analogue: target="_blank" is gone forever in 1.2.

Every feature I request is already in 1.2. Can't wait for the official release big_smile

Re: target="_blank"

analogue wrote:

Because it forces you to open the link in a new window.

With a normal link the way it was intended, when I click a link, the page appears in the same window, and I have *the choice* to open it in a new window, but I'm not forced to it.

Rickard wrote:

analogue: target="_blank" is gone forever in 1.2.

I remember from an earlier discussion that Pun v1.2 was going to use javascript to implement new window links instead of target="_blank".

Most of the new-window javascripts I've seen, give a corrupt URL if you try to explicitly open them in new windows (e.g. with a context menu:open-in-new-window). And they don't give you a choice.

The discussion was a while ago though... maybe this issue was taken care of differently? Is there an admin option to turn new window links on?

(I'm interested in this because I'm finishing a new version of the javascript I use to automatically set external links to open in new windows.)

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Re: target="_blank"

i think they just open in the same window...

8

Re: target="_blank"

The only javascript that is used is to open the help file in a new window when you click on the help links for bbcode. All other links operate normally.

Re: target="_blank"

Paul wrote:

The only javascript that is used is to open the help file in a new window when you click on the help links for bbcode. All other links operate normally.

Thank you for that, we don't want more JS big_smile

10

Re: target="_blank"

What happened to the thread that discussed this?  The JavaScript code for opening links in new windows (XHTML compliant) was posted.  Did you delete that thread?  I can't find it.

11 (edited by D9r 2004-12-06 03:22)

Re: target="_blank"

Found it: http://punbb.org/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=21767#21767

12 (edited by ShawnBrown 2005-01-03 17:40)

Re: target="_blank"

analogue wrote:

...Or should I keep customizing my punBB to remove those nasty "_blank"s ? big_smile

I finally finished the update of my new windows JavaScript. It's context-sensitive and creates (or removes) new window options on the fly. I have it running on this site...
http://independenceave.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=10
(on the left, below the menu: "External links use new windows: yes/no".

The script can also be used to suppress PunBB 1.1.5's new window links or add standards-compliant ones to PunBB 1.2 or 1.1.5 with a single line in the template.

If anyone wants to use this script, let me know and I'll post it. I think I'm going to release it as GNU LGPL.

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13

Re: target="_blank"

Connorhd wrote:

it does stop users from being taken away from the forum accidentally by external links

im with connorhd with this, i think its good to have external links open ina new window cuz if someo ne clicks on a link and continues surfing when they close that window they will come back to the forums, where they started and dont have to back track thought the history to get back to the forum.

Re: target="_blank"

Gizzmo wrote:
Connorhd wrote:

it does stop users from being taken away from the forum accidentally by external links

im with connorhd with this, i think its good to have external links open ina new window cuz if someo ne clicks on a link and continues surfing when they close that window they will come back to the forums, where they started and dont have to back track thought the history to get back to the forum.

That's a marketer's wish. If someone wants to get back to the forum, he simply uses the back button of its browser, as it was intended.

When a link open a new window, I have an automatism: I close the old window to keep only 1 browser (with tabs) on my desktop. And I can't get back to the website which opened the link in a new window.

15 (edited by Gizzmo 2004-12-08 06:25)

Re: target="_blank"

maybe there should be a option in the forums. that actavites a javascript or adds the target attribute to off site links.

16

Re: target="_blank"

In Sarafi (mac) - command-click link - it opens in new tab
With other tabbed browsers, i would think the same is possible, no?

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Re: target="_blank"

yes but its very easy for users not so good at browsing to click a link and "lose" the forum

Re: target="_blank"

Connorhd wrote:

yes but its very easy for users not so good at browsing to click a link and "lose" the forum

Their loss. I'm not about to make PunBB a lesser product just to please some people's wish to "keep visitors" on the website longer. The new web is all about putting control in the hands of the visitor, not the web designer.

"Programming is like sex: one mistake and you have to support it for the rest of your life."

19 (edited by Ludo 2005-01-05 10:55)

Re: target="_blank"

Rickard wrote:

The new web is all about putting control in the hands of the visitor, not the web designer.

The new web must also take in consideration that some simples visitors do not know that a right clic make open a new window. So, in fact, it makes these visitors go out of the site. Where is their choice in that? Do they really choose to go out? Wich control do you give when you're obliging people to go out of the site?
It deals with knowing what we want our web site to become: either a site for specialists (who know the right clic to open a new window) or for novice on the internet.

Ludo,

Re: target="_blank"

So what if they leave the originating site? If a person clicks a hyperlink, it would seem obvious that he or she wants to navigate to that URL. What's up with this hysteria with keeping people on the site?

"Programming is like sex: one mistake and you have to support it for the rest of your life."

Re: target="_blank"

The "target=_blank" attribute on a link causes accessibility issues for some users with disabilities.  When you do that, you break the "back" button on the browser, because there is nowhere to go back to - the page opened in a new window (or tab).  That can also cause confusion for novice web users as well.  However, even the most novice web user knows how to use the "back" button to get back to the forum. wink

If you really feel that you need this "target=_blank" attribute, then why don't you (on an individual basis) go into the code and figure out how to add it just for your forum?  Why make Rickard change his program?

Re: target="_blank"

dhdesign wrote:

The "target=_blank" attribute on a link causes accessibility issues for some users with disabilities.  When you do that, you break the "back" button on the browser, because there is nowhere to go back to - the page opened in a new window (or tab).  That can also cause confusion for novice web users as well.  However, even the most novice web user knows how to use the "back" button to get back to the forum. wink

If you really feel that you need this "target=_blank" attribute, then why don't you (on an individual basis) go into the code and figure out how to add it just for your forum?  Why make Rickard change his program?

Exactly.

I don't get this famous marketers argument which tell us they loose a visitor if a link doesn't open in a new window.
In my case, you loose me WHEN you open a new window, why ?  silmply because as soon as the new window appear, I automatically close the old window to keep only one, and because of that I have NO way to get back to the first site. With a normal link, I can use the back button or the history.