Discussion » Target="_blank"

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Posted by Grim..., 15:51, 8th October 2002:
 

Poll:

  • Matt should use Target _blank as it stops me getting lost
  • Matt should stop! I'm drowning in windows!
Cal has told me off for using target="_blank" in my links, so that a new page opens when you hit a link.
I think it is better like that. What do you people think?
Posted by cal, 17:02, 8th October 2002:
 
you should stop - there's no reason for it. people who want new windows can shift-click.
Posted by chandler, 17:08, 8th October 2002:
 
i agree with cal. but then again not everyone knows about SHIFT+click
Posted by chandler, 17:09, 8th October 2002:
 
sigh, I have been right clicking and then selecting New Window, for as long as I can remember. I am pleased that Cal has pointed out the shift+click thing, but I am also mad at the minutes or maybe hours I must have wasted doing it the long way round. :)
Posted by Grim..., 17:27, 8th October 2002:
 
You would have save more minutes if you just clicked on the link and it opened a new window =]
Posted by cal, 17:31, 8th October 2002:
 
if you don't add a target tag, then people can choose how to open it

if you add one as you do, people can't choose. it's a big usability no-no.
Posted by Grim..., 17:33, 8th October 2002:
 
I'll obviously stop anyway, it's your site, I'll do as you say, but I'm just interested...
Posted by ell, 18:52, 8th October 2002:
 
It's possible to write some funky javascript so that when you click a textbox or whatever, it parses all the external hyperlinks (anchor tags) in a page and sets their target property, so the user can toggle (in cookie preferences, or whatever) whether they want links to open new windows or not.

Personally, I agree with Cal, all links should NOT popup by default. You can always annoy your users by giving them a 'thwack' option like I do (opens every entry link in a new window).
Posted by Grim..., 21:09, 8th October 2002:
 
Hey, I'm winning the vote =]
Posted by jlittle, 21:30, 8th October 2002:
 
It's only a usability no no if you dont tell the user that it's going to open in a new window.

So I think that Grim should always put (opens in a new window) in brackets - or cal should change the script so if it has a target on it this should be inserted automatically :)

BTW. I didnt know about the Shift-Click thing either.
Posted by reitsma, 23:26, 8th October 2002:
 
shift click it.
Posted by ell, 23:35, 8th October 2002:
 
Newbies. :P
Posted by Sul, 23:39, 8th October 2002:
 
shift clicking is good if you can be arsed to do it. Right click and "open in new window" is much easier for the lazy user. I'm pretty sure I've suggested the 'Sul's Lazy User' standard before.

But to be honest, I take it for granted that the link will open in the same window unless, as James says, it's stated otherwise... which earns extra points on the SLU standard.
Posted by cal, 08:05, 9th October 2002:
 
ell: i was considering stripping out all target= attributes and then adding a "open all external links in a new window" preference. not sure if i will though
Posted by Grim..., 23:41, 16th October 2002:
 
--------------------
Posted by Cal
...it's a big usability no-no.
--------------------
Quite aside...
You use them on the 'Home Page' section of the IAmCal members page...
Posted by mattjacob, 02:15, 17th October 2002:
 
In regards to it being bad for usability, Jakob hates new windows. I love Jakob.
Posted by jeff, 09:51, 17th October 2002:
 
hell, now everyone does know about shift+click (or ctrl+click to open in a new tab if you're using netscape or mozilla) so lets stop forcing people to open new windows cos its bad mmmkaaay
Posted by arsepuppy, 10:12, 17th October 2002:
 
I didnt know about shift click....
Posted by Redmaiden, 12:50, 27th October 2002:
 
I take it for granted that links oopen in new windows. It's very annoying if they don't. I always add target="_blank". I didn't know about shift+click
I get annoyed when I'm stuck in frames - that is way bad mmmkay
Posted by Sul, 12:54, 27th October 2002:
 
I am appalled by the ammount of people who didnt know about shift-click. You use shift-click for so many nifty features in windows why didnt you just try it on a link in IE? You should all be punished for not knowing your browser! :p
Posted by jeff, 13:11, 27th October 2002:
 
yes. and as for being stuck in frames, people just shouldnt use frames. they are evil dirty things. ask any (good) proffessional web builder, they'll tell you how un-user friendly it is to force open new windows...
but then the whole thing is floored, windows is a piece of shit, damn crap interfaces...
Posted by Grim..., 08:59, 28th October 2002:
 
Off you go then Jeff, you write a better OS / Web Browser... =]
Posted by jeff, 09:52, 28th October 2002:
 
ok! *looks at cal pleadingly*
Posted by Redmaiden, 23:26, 28th October 2002:
 
umm if no one told me about shift+click then how was I supposed to know?
I'm not like some kind of computer god like you guys
Posted by chandler, 09:17, 29th October 2002:
 
exactly. not all of us are sad enough to consider computer manuals as bedtime reading.

Shift Click is never a combination I tried.
Posted by Grim..., 09:19, 29th October 2002:
 
Wow - the vote is pretty close =/
Shift click children. Even I hate pop-ups now =]