Comments on: Where’s my target=”_tab”? http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/ 76design's blog Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:30:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Jason http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/comment-page-1/#comment-43798 Jason Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:14:08 +0000 http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/index.php/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/#comment-43798 I agree with Francois. Target="" attributes are no longer support and can be very frustrating for users. Users can do this themselves if they want it. Often it's used so that the user "doesn't leave the web page". But since a new window is opening they're attention is leaving, so for all intensive purposes they are leaving. Add to that if you're using a strict doc type you can't use target attributes at all. So here's another option. Use the rel="" attribute. <a href="#" rel="nofollow"> and then: $(document).ready(function() { $("a[@rel='external']").addClass("external"). .click(function() { window.open($(this).href); return false; }); }); This will add an "external" class to the link, which you can style and add visual ques that the link will open a new window. But I would strongly advise against forcing links to open in new windows or tabs. Any kind of unanticipated action is bad usability. I agree with Francois. Target=”" attributes are no longer support and can be very frustrating for users. Users can do this themselves if they want it.

Often it’s used so that the user “doesn’t leave the web page”. But since a new window is opening they’re attention is leaving, so for all intensive purposes they are leaving.

Add to that if you’re using a strict doc type you can’t use target attributes at all.

So here’s another option.

Use the rel=”" attribute.

and then:

$(document).ready(function() {
$(“a[@rel='external']“).addClass(“external”).
.click(function() { window.open($(this).href); return false; });
});

This will add an “external” class to the link, which you can style and add visual ques that the link will open a new window.

But I would strongly advise against forcing links to open in new windows or tabs. Any kind of unanticipated action is bad usability.

]]> By: Francois http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/comment-page-1/#comment-42507 Francois Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:52:04 +0000 http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/index.php/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/#comment-42507 Sorry guys. But the way XHTML is going "target=" attributes are no longer supported. I guess the philosophy is that (X)HTML is there to handle how the document is displayed, not to control the behaviour of the browser (or "user agent" as they call it). Sorry guys. But the way XHTML is going “target=” attributes are no longer supported. I guess the philosophy is that (X)HTML is there to handle how the document is displayed, not to control the behaviour of the browser (or “user agent” as they call it).

]]> By: Jeff Kirkland http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/comment-page-1/#comment-41337 Jeff Kirkland Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:03:47 +0000 http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/index.php/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/#comment-41337 It is so funny that you should write about this as I have thought about the same exact thing while working on a website recently. You mentioned in your article that "The Big 'M'" has made it their standard. Don't forget that Opera is the same way. I am a Firefox user myself, and wanted to note that while you cannot open a link in a new tab in the HTML code, with the advent of Firefox 2.0, the browser now has the ability to force all "target="_new"" links to open in a new tab instead. I know this because I use it myself so that I can keep everything in one nice, neat window. Hopefully though, while designing HTML 5, they will take advancements like tabbed windows into consideration and provide the necessary, needed support. Best regards and Happy New year!! It is so funny that you should write about this as I have thought about the same exact thing while working on a website recently. You mentioned in your article that “The Big ‘M’” has made it their standard. Don’t forget that Opera is the same way.

I am a Firefox user myself, and wanted to note that while you cannot open a link in a new tab in the HTML code, with the advent of Firefox 2.0, the browser now has the ability to force all “target=”_new”" links to open in a new tab instead. I know this because I use it myself so that I can keep everything in one nice, neat window.

Hopefully though, while designing HTML 5, they will take advancements like tabbed windows into consideration and provide the necessary, needed support.

Best regards and Happy New year!!

]]> By: Joseph Thornley http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/comment-page-1/#comment-41028 Joseph Thornley Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:01:55 +0000 http://76design.ca/shiftcontrol/index.php/2006/12/21/wheres-my-target_tab/#comment-41028 Travis, Great idea! Why not do it yourself? I'm sure it would catch on like wildfire. Travis,

Great idea! Why not do it yourself? I’m sure it would catch on like wildfire.

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