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akuta akuta
 
M$1 January 14, 2009 12:27 AM

Would you like to see hyperlinks automatically open in a new tab/window? (read for more information)

When I create sites, I typically always code any submitted links to open automatically in new windows/tabs. The purpose of this is not the oldschool reason of keeping the person on the page but to prevent the visitor from LOSING your page while trying to navigate the external site.

Some sites put framed bars (think Google's cached page header bar), but I myself find them cumbersome and ugly for the visitor.

So, would you rather have the page open up in the current window/tab or open up in a new window/tab? I bring this up because this is something I'd find heavily useful here on Mahalo and didn't want to just submit a suggestion without getting a wide consensus of what the majority of the users feel.

The most convincing answer gets the tip, regardless of which side you take.

Edit : Remember, this is directly related to ONLY Mahalo. Not the web in general. This is why it is in the suggestions category. I'm also referring to ONLY to links that the users provide (i.e. in the question, answer or sources). (Also clarified title by incorporating "tab")
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Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

brianbush brianbush
 
 January 14, 2009 01:47 AM
For many sites, links referencing something external open in a new window, internal links replace the current view. I realize this does not jive with the zeitgeist, but is pretty common practice, especially for link hubs.

I suspect a vast majority of your users—and perhaps the least vocal—will prefer the window spawn behavior as well. As much as it may rankle the more vocal folks.
Asker's Rating:
• Although I had a hard time deciding between your answer and the alternative, in the end it comes down to the fact that this is a site that should follow "the norm" for link hubs as it is essentially a reference portal.


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clarusvisu... clarusvisu...
 
January 14, 2009 12:36 AM
Web standards say that it should be the user who decides what links open in a new window. Therefore, forcing a link to open in a new window is bad form and should be avoided. If I want a link to open in a new window, I can manage that just fine myself, thank you.

Many users feel the same way--they want to be in control of their own browsing experience, and forcing links to open a certain way takes that away from them.
Source(s):
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/01/should-links-open-in-new-windows...
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html (old, but good)


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akuta akuta
 
January 14, 2009 01:24 AM
However, the question wasn't related to what web standards were. I am not refuting your statement, just pointing out that my question is directly about Mahalo (which is why it is in the suggestions category). :)

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clarusvisu... clarusvisu...
 
January 14, 2009 01:30 AM
My answer wasn't really about the standards, but about WHY the standard is the way it is. Users want to be in control of their browsing experience; they don't want the web page to dictate things for them. That's why in Mahalo, and in general, it's a better idea to let links default to the same window. After all, it's a lot easier to open in a link in a new window that is programmed not to do so, than it is to keep a link in the same window when it's programmed to open in a new one.

Know what I mean?

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akuta akuta
 
January 14, 2009 01:57 AM
Oh, I totally get what you're saying. In any other circumstance I would agree with you; however, with Mahalo it is important to keep the original page open on its own simply because the links are typically provided as references.

Again, my view does not negate the validity or potential for best answer for your response.

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clarusvisu... clarusvisu...
 
January 14, 2009 02:04 AM
That's where the difference comes in. It's easy for someone to open a link in a new window/tab if they want. But it's difficult for someone to make a link open in the same window/tab that's programmed to open in a new window. That's the difference, I think.

Another argument that can be made is that it's a good idea to get users used to controlling that aspect of links. Once it's wired into users' heads to do X if they want the link to stay in the same tab, and Y if they want it to open in a new tab, they will get used to it, take care of that on their own, and then there is less of a problem with giving users what they want, from the designer's side.

Of course, this is only possible if links are not pre-programmed to open in new tabs/windows because, again, it's trivial to force a link to open in a new window, but it's a lot more complicated (relatively speaking) to force a 'new window' link to open in the same window.

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akuta akuta
 
January 14, 2009 10:59 PM
I actually came very, very close to choosing your answer as the best answer as you gave enough support for your point of view; however, in the end it was brianbush's comparison to a link hub (which Mahalo is close to resembling with it's informational pages linking to external sites and many sources/references linking to external pages) that swayed me. I was literally on the verge of hitting submit and changed my mind at the last second. I wish I could give you part of the "best answer," but unfortunately can't. I look forward to more of your answers to my random questions. :)

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arous arous
 
January 14, 2009 12:37 AM
I would always like to see EVERY link open in a new tab. I don't see why browser developers can't program a feature like that in already.
Source(s):
My two cents...


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mrgunn mrgunn
 
January 14, 2009 12:39 AM
I'd rather have the choice. Ctrl-click on Firefox opens a new tab while keeping the existing tab focused. This makes it easy to pick a couple links you want to follow but don't necessarily want to detour to immediately.

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clarusvisu... clarusvisu...
 
January 14, 2009 01:30 AM
I agree; I middle-click links in Opera to open them in new background tabs.

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shakespear... shakespear...
 
January 14, 2009 12:41 AM
A new *window*? Never. A new *tab*? Only when I say so. When a web site chooses to open up a new window/tab, it is because they want to keep you "sticky" (i.e. you close the window, you're still at Mahalo in the original window). When I open up a new tab, it is because there may have been multiple things I want to explore on that page and I don't want it taken away from me at the first click.
Source(s):
Been programming for the web for....lord, 10 years now? I'm old.


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akuta akuta
 
January 14, 2009 01:22 AM
The problem with delimiting new window vs new tab is that only the latest browsers support tabbed browsing. Unless a novice user of an older operating system has somehow managed to stumble upon a browser the likes of Opera or Firefox, tabbed browsing is unavailable to them which is why I included "new window."

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elly2222 elly2222
 
January 14, 2009 12:59 AM
I think there should always be a new tab. I think the nature of Maholo makes this the best fit. The whole point is that you get to look at several answers and compare them. Having a new tab open when you follow a link allows you to:
1) Easily stay on the Answers page you are looking at, since you usually will want to return to it.
2) Refer back to the material on the linked page when reading the answers page and vice verca.
3) Most importantly, to compare different links. The whole point is to be able to easily and conveniently compare many people's answers. If each link has its own tab, that makes it much easier. Especially since, if comparing answers, you might need to look back and forth several times to really see the differences. If each linked page has it's own tab, it would be really conducive to this process.

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akuta akuta
 
January 14, 2009 01:24 AM
I think you actually read the question for what it was, and I thank you. This was in reference to Mahalo directly which is why it was in the suggestions category. :)

What inspired the question was a link was posted in a question I was answering to which I clicked... Half expecting it to open in a new tab... and immediately clicked back and middle clicked the link to open in a new tab.

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ibdense ibdense
 
January 14, 2009 01:08 AM
Most of the time I prefer a new tab or window.

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