Comments on: Opening to a New Window – Why Isn’t the Target Attribute a Valid Tag? http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/2009/12/09/opening-to-a-new-window-why-isnt-the-target-attribute-a-valid-tag/ Bridging the gap between business and information technology Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott Cranfill http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/2009/12/09/opening-to-a-new-window-why-isnt-the-target-attribute-a-valid-tag/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 Scott Cranfill Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:58:12 +0000 http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/?p=121#comment-1031 Wait, is this within some sort of internal web app? That's an entirely different context, and in that case, it's very justifiable to open things in new windows. Wait, is this within some sort of internal web app? That’s an entirely different context, and in that case, it’s very justifiable to open things in new windows.

]]> By: Matthew Doyle http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/2009/12/09/opening-to-a-new-window-why-isnt-the-target-attribute-a-valid-tag/comment-page-1/#comment-1027 Matthew Doyle Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:30:15 +0000 http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/?p=121#comment-1027 I understand the theory around why it is not user-friendly, and normally I hate calling the problem a 'user error.' However, this is more of a problem that users do not know about opening in a new tab. The average user I deal with is not a tech person. When I present a new module to them, one of the most requested 'fixes' is to add the ability to pop up a click open in a new window. This is not just one user either, it's almost anyone I deal with. Is everyone of them wrong? The real fix is to provide a setting within the browser, perhaps in a wizard when you first start using it, with a question: Do you want links to pop up according to rules from the web site you are on, or would you like to manage navigation yourself? This way, it's a moot point. I understand the theory around why it is not user-friendly, and normally I hate calling the problem a ‘user error.’ However, this is more of a problem that users do not know about opening in a new tab.

The average user I deal with is not a tech person. When I present a new module to them, one of the most requested ‘fixes’ is to add the ability to pop up a click open in a new window. This is not just one user either, it’s almost anyone I deal with. Is everyone of them wrong?

The real fix is to provide a setting within the browser, perhaps in a wizard when you first start using it, with a question: Do you want links to pop up according to rules from the web site you are on, or would you like to manage navigation yourself? This way, it’s a moot point.

]]> By: Scott Cranfill http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/2009/12/09/opening-to-a-new-window-why-isnt-the-target-attribute-a-valid-tag/comment-page-1/#comment-1022 Scott Cranfill Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:16:34 +0000 http://blog.matthewdoyle.net/?p=121#comment-1022 <blockquote>Besides, when I link to a webpage outside of my domain, how often would we want the user to navigate away? It is not very user interface friendly in my opinion.</blockquote> You have it backwards. Opening new windows without the user's instruction to do so is what is not user-friendly. Users expect single-left-clicks on links to take them to a new page. Period. I understand the webmaster's desire to keep people on their site, but it is NOT user-friendly to have links open in new windows, regardless of where they lead.

Besides, when I link to a webpage outside of my domain, how often would we want the user to navigate away? It is not very user interface friendly in my opinion.

You have it backwards. Opening new windows without the user’s instruction to do so is what is not user-friendly. Users expect single-left-clicks on links to take them to a new page. Period.

I understand the webmaster’s desire to keep people on their site, but it is NOT user-friendly to have links open in new windows, regardless of where they lead.

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