what do you think of JS pop-ups?

[ktown]

hey all

i'm redesigning a pretty heavy content site - i'm debating on pop-up description windows using JS.

they ARE pretty annoying aren't they?
but what if used properly...

will they cause any cross-browser difficulties, or anything like that?

thanks~

[cfm]

I think they're pretty annoying. If they open when the user clicks a button that says "Open a Window with These Details," that's different. But for anything else...

[ktown]

thats actually exactly what i would be using them for - its a software company - they have many products - and for feature details & screen caps you would have to click a link for a separate windows (so they will know that its coming) it won't be one of those windows opening everywhere experiences... i'm just wondering on how buggy it is to try and do this.. i've never used pop-ups before - i've always stayed away from it

[cfm]

Hmmm... JavaScript support in browsers is a problem. You could add a "Troubleshooting" link that would say things like:

Our site uses JavaScript popups to provide information about our products. If the popups do not work in your browser, try enabling JavaScript. To enable JavaScript...

Get my drift? Additionally, some people hate all popups. You could also add a debug function where if the popup doesn't work, the same product page would open in the main window. Jeremy W. has some instructions on doing that from his post on Ensight.

[ktown]

alright compuwhiz7 thanks a bunch
i'll take a look at that article
i think i just might stay away from them all together - we have a lot of clients that still use dial-up - so... <sigh> ... thinks... thanks again

[cfm]

Dialup is a pain.

You're welcome.

[Jeff Lange]

I prefer to use Javascript with links that work with or without Javascript. example:

<a href="description.html" onclick="window.open('description_popup.html', '_blank', 'width=200,height=400,toolbar=0'); return false;">View Product Description</a>

Or something similar, or if you are using a server-side scripting language like PHP, you can link to product_description.php?id=4&popup=1, hope that helps.

Edit:

I see the link compuwhiz7 posted contained this info. [img]images/smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ktown]

hey! that might work

[cfm]

What might work? The thing Jeremy mentioned in his post or the thing Jeff mentioned? I hope it's the one Jeremy mentioned, 'cause I suggested it. No offense, Jeff.

[Webnauts]

The accessibility police recommends!!!

If a users browser doesn't support JavaScript, or the JavaScripts you are using, or if user has JavaScript OFF, will disable your visitor to access your content.

Avoid as far as possible JavaScript, to avoid running risks on
complications on the end users machines, or while goverment and other
employees are required to disable this feature, for security or other
reasons. Also there is a number of users who are very concerned about
security issues and disable this feature too.

To avoid these problems do the following:

1. Include in the head of your document the following script:

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!--
var newWindow = null;
function closeWin(){
if (newWindow != null){
if(!newWindow.closed)
newWindow.close();
}
}
function popUpWin(url, type, strWidth, strHeight){
closeWin();
if (type == "fullScreen" ){
strWidth = screen.availWidth - 10;
strHeight = screen.availHeight - 160;
}
var tools="";
if (type == "standard" || type == "fullScreen" ) tools = "resizable,toolbar=no,location=no,scrollbars=no,menubar=no,width="+strWidth+",height="+strHeight+",top=0,left=0";
if (type == "console" ) tools = "resizable,toolbar=no,location=no,scrollbars=no,width="+strWidth+",height="+strHeight+",left=0,top=0";
newWindow = window.open(url, 'newWin', tools);
newWindow.focus();
}
//-->
</script>

2. Replace your links with:

<a href="<A href="http://www.webnauts.net/cse_validator.html">http://www.webnauts.net/cse_validator.html" target="popUpWin" title="new window" onclick="popUpWin(this.href,'standard',600,400);return false;">Test</a>"

(Script produced with the popup generator of Accessify.com and slightly modified by myself).

[cfm]

Interesting, Webnauts. Although, I must admit, that it would be a little difficult for novices to implement. Eh?

[Webnauts]

Interesting, Webnauts. Although, I must admit, that it would be a little difficult for novices to implement. Eh? [img]images/smilies/wink.gif[/img]

I think it is described so well, that it should not be a problem.
They just need to replace the URLs. Or? [img]images/smilies/cool.gif[/img]

[cfm]

Good point, Webnaut.

Admittedly, I like to understand something before I implement it. Although I myself do understand your example, novices might not. (Shrugs.)

[jinx3]

I never realized that so many people turned off JavaScript, I haven't ever been concerned about that?!?!

According to W3Schools.com 13% of people have JavaScript turned off!
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

[Webnauts]

I never realized that so many people turned off JavaScript, I haven't ever been concerned about that?!?!

According to W3Schools.com 13% of people have JavaScript turned off!
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

I would not doubt that more than 13% of users disable JS. For example myself. But I am not included in this statistic! They did not ask me... [img]images/smilies/cool.gif[/img]