Launching New Windows - Tips and A Summary

September 29, 2003 | 3 Comments

In Gorilla Web Tip #10 - Launching New and Pop-Up Windows I summarize the great discussion we had a few weeks back, as well as add some more of my thoughts and a few tips.

Thanks to everyone who was involved with that original discussion, it was a good one and for me put to rest some issues that have been popping up (no pun intended) for quite awhile now. I’ve never been a fan of the new window or the pop-up, but I’ve seen they can occassionally be good if done properly. For example, I feel my Song of The Week player is a good example of using a pop-up window to meet the needs of my users.

If you want to learn more, read Gorilla Web Tip #10 - Launching New and Pop-Up Windows.

Filed under: Web Development

Comments

1. huphtur said:

cool article.
i would recommend using the following code though:
http://milov.nl/474

Posted on September 30, 2003 07:49 AM | #

2. James Craig said:

Huphtur… using “return false” outright without checking the existence of the newly created window will cause the link to fail with many popup blockers. Instead use the function to determine whether or not the window has been created, then return true or false based on that.

See the demo and code example here:
Accessible JavaScript Examples.

Posted on October 1, 2003 08:12 AM | #

3. pete said:

i tend to disagree that users are getting more savvy and therefore the need for “target=_” no longer exists.

many of the people i tutor, or even my co-workers can barely operate a computer. I’d say 90% of those people are also convinced that the computer is out to get them.

my sites are large news aggregate based sites and i get a huge influx of one time visitors, etc.

the advanced users are smart enough to open links into a new tab instead of a new window if they’re using a tab capable browser. in fact they’re able to view content in any way they deem fit. it takes about 1.5seconds to cut and paste a link and 1second to navigate and click a link.

plus, many articles should be read at the source in a different browser. MANY MANY sites use scripting that prohibits you from using the “Back” button to return to the original source of the article. Most intermediate / novice users they don’t know how to get around this.

There should be a variable whereby the user determines how the target setting rather than the web site. In the end it’s their preference, not the prefernce of the web site that matters.

Posted on November 15, 2003 02:58 AM | #