Gah. It seems, when you clink on a link in text, the forum defaults to opening that page in the same window, overruling what one already has open.
Now, I was just previewing a detailed reply which I'd spent ages composing, and a clicked a link to check it made sense, then closed the window.
As I didn't realise the window was the same window which housed my reply, I closed that as well (instead of pressing back on my browser), and lost the reply, which was immensely frustrating.
I would assume there's some way to change this in my profile, but I have no idea where that function lurks, and I can;t help thinking it's caught others out as well, so is there any way to make a universal change to open links in a new window/tab?
Sorry to be a pain, but it was such a helpful post, and it's now lost forever, and I'm a tad annoyed.
clicking on links
Re: clicking on links
I agree with you about opening windows and links. I've been banging on about it before.
This forum ALWAYS opens links in the same window - and it is annoying to me in the extreme. Other fora don't do this, so why should this one?
This forum ALWAYS opens links in the same window - and it is annoying to me in the extreme. Other fora don't do this, so why should this one?
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: clicking on links
Mick F wrote:I agree with you about opening windows and links. I've been banging on about it before.
This forum ALWAYS opens links in the same window - and it is annoying to me in the extreme. Other fora don't do this, so why should this one?
I had the same problem until I switched to Firefox. Now all links open in a separate window
Retired and loving it
Re: clicking on links
Not with my Firefox they don't.
AppleMac 10.5.8
Firefox 3.6.3
I have to hit Control/Click and then select a new window from the list to actually open a new window. I know it's not much to do, but why can't the Preferences take care of it? The forum - as it used to be - would open a new window. Why not this?
AppleMac 10.5.8
Firefox 3.6.3
I have to hit Control/Click and then select a new window from the list to actually open a new window. I know it's not much to do, but why can't the Preferences take care of it? The forum - as it used to be - would open a new window. Why not this?
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: clicking on links
PS:
Just tried it in Safari 4.0.5 and it opens a new window. I don't like Safari, much preferring Firefox, but if this "window thing" gets up my nose much more, I may go over to Safari!
Come on CTC Forum, get your act together and give us a choice!
Just tried it in Safari 4.0.5 and it opens a new window. I don't like Safari, much preferring Firefox, but if this "window thing" gets up my nose much more, I may go over to Safari!
Come on CTC Forum, get your act together and give us a choice!
Mick F. Cornwall
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Re: clicking on links
In cases like this I post with trepidation, hesitation, circumspection and diffidence 
(it's beging to sound like Just a minute 
Right clicking on a link offers me all sorts of options including open in new window, open in new tab ....
(it's beging to sound like Just a minute Right clicking on a link offers me all sorts of options including open in new window, open in new tab ....
Re: clicking on links
Yeah I know TC ......
It's just that this new thread has caught a raw nerve .........................................
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=21618
It's just that this new thread has caught a raw nerve .........................................
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=21618
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: clicking on links
Right clicking on a link offers me all sorts of options including open in new window, open in new tab ....
Centre clicking is better (if you can do it) as that just opens the page in a new tab without having to go to the unutterably rank extreme hassle of scrolling down a list and clicking again
Re: clicking on links
S'pose I'll just have to remember to ctrl-click on the Mac in future. Bah.
Re: clicking on links
This behaviour is recommended good practice (by the W3C). The reasoning is that it gives predictable behaviour, and gives the user complete control over opening new tabs/windows etc. I certainly prefer this model. Don't forget that a middle click will open a link in a new tab (on all of the systems I use, at least).
Re: clicking on links
AndyB wrote:This behaviour is recommended good practice (by the W3C). The reasoning is that it gives predictable behaviour, and gives the user complete control over opening new tabs/windows etc.
This is where I disagree.
Complete Control?
I want complete control, it that I want new windows on clicking on links - always, every time.
You like it the way it is. You have "complete control" in that the default setting gives it to you.
I don't like it. My browser is set to open new windows, but this forum ignores it and I have to hold Control down or Shift as well as click.
Big deal eh?
Why can't this forum do as I want it to? Other websites are ok, and even other forums. Not all, I grant you, but a bit of consistency wouldn't go amiss. Also my browser being allowed to do what I want wouldn't go amiss either.
These are computers. They are programmed to do what WE want. I should be able to program my computer to do anything. I have done all I can, but the forum software overrides it.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: clicking on links
This has been discussed before.
Opening a link into a new window or tab by default on left-click is against accessibility guidelines and is discouraged. It confuses (often newer or infrequent) users as the back and forward buttons no longer apply and they end up with loads of new windows/tabs with no idea where they were.
Navigating the web should be forwards through pages. If you want to open a link in a new window or tab use middle-click, right-click or whatever shortcut your browser/OS uses.
See http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day_16 ... ndows.html for a full discussion.
John
Opening a link into a new window or tab by default on left-click is against accessibility guidelines and is discouraged. It confuses (often newer or infrequent) users as the back and forward buttons no longer apply and they end up with loads of new windows/tabs with no idea where they were.
Navigating the web should be forwards through pages. If you want to open a link in a new window or tab use middle-click, right-click or whatever shortcut your browser/OS uses.
See http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day_16 ... ndows.html for a full discussion.
John
LEJOG 2009 - http://www.jochta.com/lejog/
Re: clicking on links
Mick F wrote:I want complete control, it that I want new windows on clicking on links - always, every time.
You like it the way it is. You have "complete control" in that the default setting gives it to you.
I don't like it. My browser is set to open new windows, but this forum ignores it and I have to hold Control down or Shift as well as click.
This is an issue with your browser - the forum is behaving exactly as it should.
Re: clicking on links
I agree. It's an issue with my browser.
It didn't use to be, but since the forum update, it is, as has been said before.
If I use Safari, I get what I want. Firefox won't, no matter what I set it as, but it will do on other websites.
As for moving forward through the pages, yes, I can see that. But when you click on a link, it's a reference point that you may, or may not, want to go to. It's a separate thing - a link to somewhere else, should you want to go there.
If you do go there, you probably want to come back to where you left off. The danger is, you'll close the linked window and loose where you were in the first place. Maybe you're in the middle of composing something, and you could loose all your well-thought phrasing. Very annoying.
I am aware of this problem, so I'm ok. Don't people realise that if a new window opened, you could see both pages at once? I know, before someone says it again, that I can force a new window, but I don't want to force it, I want it automatically.
I also know I won't win on this, but as long as people know that I'm not happy, I'm happy!
Protests are good things.
It didn't use to be, but since the forum update, it is, as has been said before.
If I use Safari, I get what I want. Firefox won't, no matter what I set it as, but it will do on other websites.
As for moving forward through the pages, yes, I can see that. But when you click on a link, it's a reference point that you may, or may not, want to go to. It's a separate thing - a link to somewhere else, should you want to go there.
If you do go there, you probably want to come back to where you left off. The danger is, you'll close the linked window and loose where you were in the first place. Maybe you're in the middle of composing something, and you could loose all your well-thought phrasing. Very annoying.
I am aware of this problem, so I'm ok. Don't people realise that if a new window opened, you could see both pages at once? I know, before someone says it again, that I can force a new window, but I don't want to force it, I want it automatically.
I also know I won't win on this, but as long as people know that I'm not happy, I'm happy!
Protests are good things.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: clicking on links
If you use the default Forum theme you'll note that I've made some concessions to the "open a new window" people: any external links are modified with JavaScript to open new windows/tabs (depending on your browser's settings).
Generally-speaking, the World Wide Web is supposed to open linked pages in the same window as the page containing the link. Without this default behaviour a typical web browsing session would result in thousands of open windows, and a big load on your computer.
From a "I want control" point of view, the current link behaviour is best. Those that want everything to open in new windows can either configure their browsers to do that, or hold down a modifier key on their keyboard when they click the link. So everyone can choose which behaviour they want, even on a link-by-link basis.
If I modified the forum code to open links in new windows all the time (as the old phpBB forum code did) then that behaviour is forced on all site visitors: a new window will be opened whatever, and you can't control it. This behaviour also ends up creating lots of windows and tabs, many of which may not be wanted at all. Which is why links that open new windows are officially frowned on by the World Wide Web consortium and accessibility experts.
The problem is defining when a link should open a new window, and when it shouldn't. The Forum software can't tell what your preferences are, so it defaults to the option that can be used by everyone.
It might be possible to have a user-setting, but it would require someone to write a fair amount of code to store the preferences and then apply them to the various different types of link.
(Personally I like the freedom to choose on a link-by-link basis whether I get a new window or not. I hated the old forum forcing new windows on me all the time.)
Generally-speaking, the World Wide Web is supposed to open linked pages in the same window as the page containing the link. Without this default behaviour a typical web browsing session would result in thousands of open windows, and a big load on your computer.
From a "I want control" point of view, the current link behaviour is best. Those that want everything to open in new windows can either configure their browsers to do that, or hold down a modifier key on their keyboard when they click the link. So everyone can choose which behaviour they want, even on a link-by-link basis.
If I modified the forum code to open links in new windows all the time (as the old phpBB forum code did) then that behaviour is forced on all site visitors: a new window will be opened whatever, and you can't control it. This behaviour also ends up creating lots of windows and tabs, many of which may not be wanted at all. Which is why links that open new windows are officially frowned on by the World Wide Web consortium and accessibility experts.
Mick F wrote:I know, before someone says it again, that I can force a new window, but I don't want to force it, I want it automatically.
The problem is defining when a link should open a new window, and when it shouldn't. The Forum software can't tell what your preferences are, so it defaults to the option that can be used by everyone.
It might be possible to have a user-setting, but it would require someone to write a fair amount of code to store the preferences and then apply them to the various different types of link.
(Personally I like the freedom to choose on a link-by-link basis whether I get a new window or not. I hated the old forum forcing new windows on me all the time.)