Reader Poll
I had a request from my son to make linked articles appear in a new window, rather than sending readers away from the page. I am told by the WordPress FAQs that this is considered bad web etiquette these days, however. So, I'd like some feedback from readers before I start doing the open in a new window thing.
Personally, I always just right-click a link and open it in a new tab or window and rather dislike the sites that force a new window. So I really don't want to force that on readers unless there is a real demand for it. Please let me know in comments which you'd prefer. I'll consider the reader's preferences here, but I won't swear I'll be bound by them.
Side note: A couple of regulars are reporting some issues with the comment editor, but I am not able to replicate them on my end at all. Leave any feedback on issues about that here as well. It would help if I know what browser and operating system you are using as well. (It seems to be a Firefox issue at this point, but I can't get my Firefox to do it - but then, I am running Firefox in Linux, not in Windows.) I'm suspecting that this may be a Firefox-Windows conflict and nothing I can fix here at the site.
Geek Stuff | Gaius Sunday, 24 February , 2008
By NortonPete, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:20 am
Hey cool! I learned that if you right click you can bring the link up in a tab. I’m liking that, you can switch back and forth easier when making a comment. Learn something new every day. But remember, blood is thicker than water, when deciding what to do.
The problem with the formating a new paragraph I believe I have figured out at least for me.
I’m using XP and IE 7.0.5 something. In order to get a new paragraph I enter two newlines.
I have not tried the spell checker. Misspelled words are my trademark and I’m sticking to it.
By Jim, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:23 am
I prefer links to open in a new window, especially those in the middle of a post. There was a plugin, or code of some sort, that allows readers to choose which method they prefer, but I never tracked it down.
By NortonPete, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:25 am
A correct on the two newlines, as you see above two newlines gets two lines and one newline starts another paragraph. But I believe this was how it worked a few days ago.
One newline.
two newlines
By Maggie, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:26 am
@NortonPete -
Hey cool! I learned that if you right click you can bring the link up in a tab. I’m liking that, you can switch back and forth easier when making a comment. Learn something new every day.
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Same here! In the words of Johnny Carson to Ed, "I did not know that!"
Gaius … Whatever you decide is fine … but I’d like to play with this new knowledge for a day or so before you pull the rug out and shove a new one under me … ; - b
By feeblemind, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:29 am
Seems like I am seeing the new window thing more and more as of late. Being an old fuddy duddy and resistant to change, I prefer things the way they are, but I am more or less indifferent. I am running on Vista and the new window is always much smaller. On an annoyance level of 1-10, 10 being the level that drives you crazy, This is a one for me.
By Quilly Mammoth, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:32 am
I like links that open a new window. The Wordpress people really are geeks who live in their parents basement. They do good work but their netiqutte is ubergeek.I’m going to try the doble newline technique.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:33 am
I believe that the US now plans to wage an illegal war to invade Cuba in order to steal suntan oil and cigars. And Bushitler is illegally holding space aliens hostage (without trial) at Area 51 of Gitmo.
Oh…it’s not that kind of poll.
In that case - I vote that you do whatever you wish, Gaius.
By Woody, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:43 am
Personally, I always just right-click a link and open it in a new tab or window
If your a firefox user and have a three button mouse just middle click and it opens links in a new tab, its what tabbed browsing was made for.
By Gaius, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 10:57 am
I just learned something new, Woody. I should conduct reader polls more often!
(The right-click habit dates back to my Internet Explorer days. I’m booting up a Windows box right now to see if IE-7 supports that feature as well.)
By Gaius, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 11:05 am
Well, I guess that answers the question. IE-7 and Firefox both open the link in a new tab if you click your center button. (If you use a wheel mouse, as I do, the wheel is the center button, you can click it just like the other buttons.)
So there really is no reason to force the new window, I can leave it up to the readers. You can choose for yourself how you want your links to open.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 11:31 am
I prefer opening in a new tab (I use Firefox), but, like you, I usually right-click.
By terrence, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I use IE 6, and right click to choose "Open in a new window"…
By Quilly Mammoth, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 12:41 pm
rats!
By Jim, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 1:12 pm
I have no problem with a new window opening since they usually open minimized. You can quickly scan the link and get back to where you were before. The sites I hate are the ones that won’t let you leave when you click the <Back> button. That really pisses me off.
By wheels, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 1:29 pm
I use Firefox and Safari. Normally, I right-click (if I’m using a 2-button mouse) or control-click to choose new tab or new window. I prefer new tab most of the time, but not always.
By Thomas Pfau, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 2:18 pm
It is best to let the user decide. By default, the interface should do what’s expected. Without using a context menu (right click) or using some alternate keystrokes (middle mouse button, shift or control with a click) to activate a link, the user expects it to open in the same window. If you force the link to open in a new window, the user has no (easy) way of overriding that to open it in the same window.
By Gaius, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Yeah, that’s how I’m planning to leave it, Thomas. With browsers able to handle it by user’s choice, I’m not forcing the choice with no easy way for the user to override it. I’m also not risking sending someone off to a link that doesn’t easily let you back out - I hate those sites, too, Jim.
By bill-tb, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 2:35 pm
My browser takes care of all I need, right click new tab — I don’t see a problem. But you could create one if you choose a non-standard behaviour.
By Al, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Open new window - whenever I read, I just hold down ctrl (to open in a new tab) whenever I click a link
By clifto, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I prefer whatever you prefer. I’m in the middle-click habit and my personal preference is the new tab that generates.
By Sam, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 9:22 pm
Sounds like you have already made up your mind, but FWIW I prefer for links to open up a new tab in the browser. I use Windows XP and Firefox, and usually have two or three tabs open at once. I can’t get the spellcheck to work in your blog, but it works in some other blogs.Oh, and thanks for asking.
By Reader, Sunday, 24 February , 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Although my preference is a new tab/window, I agree that correct form is to default to within the same window, since most browsers already provide the ability to do a new tab/windows from the right-click menu. I’m actually so completely accustomed to it, that sometimes when I actually do want to open in the same window, I intentionally just left click, and then I am surprised if a new tab is opened, which is probably the overall paradigm being suggest by WP. I much appreciate the polling for opinion on this!
By Sarge, Monday, 25 February , 2008 @ 8:53 am
Ah, if only elections were this simple. My father misquotes me. I didn’t ask him to change this, I just thought it might help him bring in some new readership. Example: someone picks up a link to BCB and jumps to the page, then jumps away to another article and forgets the layover. It was more along the lines of a helpful suggestion. However, since it seems like more people agree with me, this is more an explanation than a passing of the buck…