You'll find out why later this week, but inquiring minds (mine) would like to know, when you click on a link, would you rather it open in the same window, or a new one?

edited because I can't spell and obviously need more caffeine

New one.

Definitely a new window, and speaking from a web design point of view I always encourage clients to look at that solution wherever it's viable because it makes their site more "sticky" if a user doesn't have to navigate completely away from their site to get the external info they are linking to.

Definitely a new window.  When I add links to my product description pages they're always set to open in a blank page.  I use IE 8 so I have tabbed browsing (so does FireFox) and that way I can always switch between pages easily.

New

I vote for new window, also.

Now, normally, when I click on a link here in the forums, I click the middle mouse button to open the link in a new tab (I'm using IE7), so I would like it if that continued to work, too.

Honestly, I have no idea how to break that, Captain Jack, so, I think you're good for now, LOL.

So far, the "New"s have it ;)  I figured as such, but wanted to make sure.  Feel free to keep leaving feedback, folks :)

Quote - Honestly, I have no idea how to break that, Captain Jack, so, I think you're good for now, LOL.

Sometimes when the link isn't embedded as an HTML anchor but is a re-direct to a JavaScript routine, IE won't open it as a new tab.

However, in the (unlikely, it seems) event that that were to be the case and it wouldn't open in a new tab, I absolutely would want it to be a new window. That way I don't lose my place on the page I came from to go look at the new page.

I get lost easily... :biggrin:

:lol:  gotcha ;)  Well, as I haven't used javascript in years, you should be good ;)

I don't like to open in a new window, but I do prefer to open in a new tab.
DPH

new window  works well for me  thanks

Quote - I don't like to open in a new window, but I do prefer to open in a new tab.
DPH

If your browser is tab dependent, and you've set your browser to open a link in a new tab when "New Window" is coded in the link, it will open in a new tab.

Quote - I don't like to open in a new window, but I do prefer to open in a new tab.
DPH

I believe you set your preferences in Mozilla to do that.

Whatever, I like to keep things separate, but I don't like a proliferation of windows either.
DPH
PS: When are you going to tell me whether my render was approved or not.
;=D

?  What render, David?  I gave you an answer on the only one you sent me.

Yo said that you'd check with the admins whether a black censor box would be permissible  to cover the titty, but that it'd take a few hours, and that you'd get back to me.
DPH

And I sent you a reply on that...actually within minutes.  Did you check your spam folder? 

You don't actually say what sort of links you are talking about, but it makes a big difference. If I'm just browsing around a website, I don't want every page to open in a new tab/window, I want the web pages I'm navigating to to replace the current page.

But when I click on a link to a particular product, or gallery image maybe, then I want the page I came from to go to the background, so a new tab/window would be in order.

In other words, I don't believe there is a single answer to the question. it depends on the purpose of the hyperlink. You need to be a little more specific.

By the way, the "open in new window" function in XHTML is intended to allow the user to specify whether the link will open in a new window, or in a new tab. This is controlled by the user's browser preferences, not directly specified in the link attributes. I'm pretty sure the hyperlink target attribute to force a new window is deprecated in XHTML.

(edit) some redundant info here due to cross-posting. Never mind.

Quote - You don't actually say what sort of links you are talking about, but it makes a big difference. If I'm just browsing around a website, I don't want every page to open in a new tab/window, I want the web pages I'm navigating to to replace the current page.

Basically, I'm going for uniformity, at least here in the Poser area.  I'm not going to "ruin" the surprise coming (hopefully) this weekend, but for instance, some of the links in the header open in a new window, some in the same.  Those are the kinds of links I'm wanting info on.   When I'm linking to things in-forum, I prefer to actually make them open in a new window, because I hate clicking on stuff in-forum, and having to go back just to right click-open in new window, ya know?  But, that's just MY preference.  I want to know what you guys want :)

New window.

It depends on the context.

Here in the Rosity forums for example, I would hate it if clicking on a link in a post caused it to open in the same window. On the other hand if I'm clicking on the "search" or "My Gallery" links, stuff that takes me to whole new category, I would prefer it to open in the same Window. I can always right click and open in a new window if I want that.

@JenX - thanks for the (veiled) clarification! I think I'm more or less with you on my preferences.

Are you just talking about forum links? When you say "header" do you mean the links just below the Poser Forum banner and the Marketplace banner? If so, my preference is new window.

@Les - Nothing about the whole site is changing, so the search stuff will stay the same, so you're fine :)

@IsaoShi - Yes, Header is all the stuff above the forum, but under the Poser Forum banner.  :)

I'm with the hoad, a new TAB

Quote - And I sent you a reply on that...actually within minutes.  Did you check your spam folder?

The first time, yes, but not on my second query about the render.  On that you said that you'd need to consult the admins, and that a reply would take a few hours.
DPH

Quote - > Quote - And I sent you a reply on that...actually within minutes.  Did you check your spam folder?

The first time, yes, but not on my second query about the render.  On that you said that you'd need to consult the admins, and that a reply would take a few hours.
DPH

This is after.  I did send you the reply.  resending now to keep this on the actual topic.

Quote - I'm with the hoad, a new TAB

As I stated before, there's no way for me to code anything to open a new tab.  YOU have to set your preferences in your browser for things that are set to open in a new window to open in a new tab.  It's usually set that way by default.

As a matter of interest, forcing the user's web browser to open a link in a new page/tab is number 9 on a well-known list of The Ten Worst Mistakes in Web Design.

I agree that it should be high up there, and I try to avoid it in my own web site designs. But there are times when, for the majority of users, it's really the user-friendliest thing to do.

Please, Mr W3C, don't send the boys round....

New window.

My current Vista Window please... prolly wont be able to afford the new Window 7 when it comes out   :unsure:

New Window

I use Opera, left-click=same tab right-click=new tab. I prefer having the control rather than pages opening a new tab by default. Sometimes, I'm through with the page and want to open the new content in place, other times, I want to leave the current page/tab open and have the link open in a new tab. IE & FireFox offer the same functionality so personally, I'm not sure why a change is needed.

Hah! I just discovered that it's the same with OS X Safari... Click to open in current tab, Cmd-Click to open in a new tab. I never realised that.

Now I know how to use my browser properly, my preference would always be to have hyperlinks open in the same window, in accordance with the W3C standard. if I want a link to open in a new tab, it's my choice, and it's easy.

The point of the standard is that a web author should not force any particular browser behaviour on the user; they should decide how they want to use it. But it does depend on the user learning how to use their browser properly.... like I just did!

New tab thank you.
 

new tab on all 3 of my PC's at once.
insane giggling

Quote - As a matter of interest, forcing the user's web browser to open a link in a new page/tab is number 9 on a well-known list of The Ten Worst Mistakes in Web Design.

I can see a point there. Same window is always the safest bet, because than you still have the option to right click and open a new window. If the link automaticly opens a new window you don't have a right click option to force it to open in the same window. Still there are many times where a new window would seem more logical and convenient, e.g. clicking a thumb in a gallery.

New tab.  Will new window default to that in a browser that offers tabs?

"Still there are many times where a new window would seem more logical and convenient, e.g. clicking a thumb in a gallery." 

True, but even there, the choice should be up to the user. I would definitely object to links being forced to open in a new tab. Hopefully the people asking for that realize that they have that  option already, either by default or a simple browser setting. We should be adding to choices, not removing them. Perhaps a better alternative would be a little education, posting a sticky with the new tab options for the major browsers. H opefully this isn't one of those done deals. 

new window preferred -  but sometimes this falls prey to  my pop up  blocker . I personally can adjust my pop up blocker -
some people who are not currently on their own private machines  ( at the ofice maybe?) might not be able to adjust pop up blocker.

New window definitely.  I use Firefox and have it set to open "new windows" as a new tab.

@Klebnor: what you are asking for (new tab, if supported by the browser) is an option that you can set in your browser preferences.

But as a web developer as well as a user, I'm definitely with lmckenzie on this... same window, giving the user the choice.

Quote - New tab.  Will new window default to that in a browser that offers tabs?

I have Firefox set to open new "windows" as new "tabs".  I don't know what browser you're using, but in Firefox it's under Tools>Options>Tabs.  I would assume IE 7 or 8 would have something in it's options to do that as well.  IE 6 doesn't offer tabs IIRC.

If you force a link to open in a new window, then there's no way for those who want to open it in the same window to do so.

If you code the link without a target, everybody can open the way they want.

If, for whatever reason, you want to make this a site feature then follow Google's example and make it a per-user setting - you can set Google to open search result links in the same or a new tab. 

You can't please everyone, Jen - but you're a moderator, you know that already. :-)

Sure, there are sites which call for links opening in a new window to be a hanging offence, but in this age of tabbed browsers I don't see that as a problem. My own preference (see my signature) is for links which branch away from the topic of the page to open in a new window, and links which are on-topic to re-use the same window.

I use Opera, where I have the choice of making any link open in the same window, in a new tab, or in a new window regardless of what the webmaster coded, so I don't really care. LOL

Ah EnglishBob, another Opera user, excellent taste. As for hanging, being a Pastafarian, I would go for flogging with al dente.  My take is that the power of a configurable interface is that it allows the user to customize his/her experience starting from a consistent baseline. The value of standards is that you know that pressing F1 will bring up help in virtually any application. Having the ability to map that to Ctrl-H let's you choose to stray if that fits your needs.

Individual websites, IMO are no different than individual applications in that respect. It's great to be able to customise your browser but there should be a set baseline so that one does not have to guess/remember/try to figure out what the result of clicking a link on any given site will be. Given the democratic and flexible nature of the web, people can and will do all sorts of things that vary from (IMO) sensible standards but that doesn't mean it's a good thing - a painful admission from someone who has written his share of  ummh, unique interfaces for applications :-)

I agree that it's not a "problem" per se*,* just nano irritant compared to the many real problems so I won't be bringing out the noodle of 9 tails, lest they enjoy it and start demanding sauce and bread sticks.

Pastafarian choke

:lol:

A member preference setting would be nice, but not everyone would know where it was or even if it existed. Folks are still posting "bookmark" messages to threads they want to follow years after the subscribe link was added. ;)

So I guess we're back to fighting over what the default setting should be. Noodle o' nine tails at the ready...

I would prefer a new window, but to be honest, I bet if that was the default it would irritate many  (most?) people.