Open link destination in new browser window

**gwh** · Oct 21, 2009 04:24

Hi everyone,

I've created a link but need the destination page to open in a new browser window. I know that I can use the target attribute but apparently this has been deprecated from Xhtml strict.

Can anyone tell me what the alternative to this is?

Appreciate any help.

**ralph.m** · Oct 21, 2009 06:35

JavaScript is the way to go. It only requires a simple script. If it is written well, the link will open normally if JavaScript is disabled.

You can also use jQuery. See this link for example (which is really designed for external links):
http://trevordavis.net/blog/tutorial...-a-new-window/

**Erik J** · Oct 21, 2009 07:42

One alternative is to use javascript to open "nofollow" links in new windows:

Code HTML4Strict:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title>Unobtrusive Javascript to Open External Links in New Windows</title>
<meta name="generator" content="PSPad editor, www.pspad.com">
 
<script type="text/javascript">
// Of course this would be an external script!
function relNofollow(){
    var links = document.getElementsByTagName('a');
    for (var i=0; i < links.length; i++){
        var link = links[i];
        if (link.getAttribute('href') && link.getAttribute('rel') == 'nofollow'){
            link.title = "Opens in a new window";
            link.onclick = function(){
                window.open(this.href);
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
}
window.onload = relNofollow;
</script>
 
</head><body >
 
<p>Using unobtrusive javascript to open all "nofollow" attributed <a rel="nofollow" href="#">external</a> links in a new window but not <a href="#">internal</a> links.</p>
 
</body></html>

**ralph.m** · Oct 21, 2009 08:29

Very nice Erik.

It's easily adaptable to links without nofollow, and is progressive enhancement at its best.

**RetroNetro** · Oct 21, 2009 11:24

There is this old article: http://articles.sitepoint.com/articl...ompliant-world

**felgall** · Oct 21, 2009 14:12

Remembering of course that yourvisitors have final control over where links open. For example I have my browser set to always open links from the same site in the same window/tab and links to different sites in a new tab regardless of what the web page recommends.

**ralph.m** · Oct 21, 2009 17:04

Originally Posted by felgall

Remembering of course that yourvisitors have final control over where links open.

Yes, it's just as well that visitors have the final say. I often open links in a new tab because I don't want to lose my place. The only reason I've ever wanted to know how to set links to open in a new window was because clients often insist on it, despite the trend away from this for usability reasons.

**felgall** · Oct 21, 2009 19:12

Originally Posted by ralph.m

was because clients often insist on it, despite the trend away from this for usability reasons.

The trend away from it means that the HTML way of doing it has been deprecated (ie flagged as obsolete) for the last 10 years.

**gwh** · Oct 21, 2009 19:17

Thanks for the info guys

**ralph.m** · Oct 21, 2009 19:45

Originally Posted by felgall

The trend away from it means that the HTML way of doing it has been deprecated (ie flagged as obsolete) for the last 10 years.

Yes, I realize that, and for good reason. I had a long argument over a recent site on this issue. The clients just didn't want to know about usability testing and all the rest--hence I had to find a solution to keep them happy that didn't use deprecated code. I guess it's like a patient not accepting the doctor's advice. It must drive doctors crazy.

User Tag List

Thread: Open link destination in new browser window

Thread Tools

Display

Open link destination in new browser window

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions