Links!!!!

1. 70

   Isabella Snowposted 16 years ago

   Ok, this just really, really, really bummed me out.
   
   Compusmart emailed me to suggest that I make my links open in a "new" window.
   
   Which I thought was an odd suggestion, considering I have always, ALWAYS chosen the "open in new window" option, because I dont want people leaving my pages.
   
   I know how to do this - I can do it in html with my eyes closed, so theres no way Im making a mistake here.  But, just to be sure, I went back through my latest hub and rechecked my 2 links.
   
   Guess what?? They are opening in the same window.
   
   I fixed it 4 times - and each time I published? No change. They open new links in the same window, no matter which option I choose. I tried the opposite, thinking maybe the commands are reversed. No difference. Opening in same window no matter what.
   
   Why???
   
   Im using Firefox, Im on a Mac - these things shouldnt matter so I am totally clueless, but I do know I dont really feel like searching 130 hubs to undo all my links.
   
   
   
   PS - What is the point of even having them possible to open in the same window? Who would actually want that???

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   1. 77

      Lissieposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I always do it that way - with inexperienced users they tend not to notice that another browser has opened so that they stay in that one - they tend to use the back arrow to navigate  back to your website - which of course won't work if they have have just opened a new browser.

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2. 70

   Isabella Snowposted 16 years ago

   Hmm. Ive just checked a few older hubs and those links seem ok - they open correctly.
   
   But my latest hub, no dice. I had to undo the links.
   
   I swear to God I did it correctly! And I tried it 5 times now.. Im on the same computer I was on when I made the last one with links.. so I dunno whats happened.
   
   

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3. 60

   SunSevenposted 16 years ago

   Yes it is the same case with me too, after I updated to the latest version of firefox. 2.0.0.9.
   May be they will fix it soon.

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4. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 16 years ago

   I think I've got that problem fixed now.
   
   However in my opinion, opening a link in a new window is a rarely a good idea.  Generally it just annoys and confuses the user.  It was a mistake in 1999 and still is today.

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5. 70

   Isabella Snowposted 16 years ago

   Ok thanks, I'll check it in a bit - dont have time to check it right now.
   
   I disagree that its a mistake today - todays surfers are more "intelligent" about the internet. If Im reading something and click a link that opens in the same window, it annoys the hell out of me off and I back up immediately.
   
   Which means people like me dont even see the new page, which would make linking to it pointless.
   
   So I guess the question is, which is the larger percent of people who surf their way to hubpages - people who  dont understand the point of a new window, or neo surfers who dont really surf that much to begin with?
   
   Thats the only way to know if its a mistake or not, really, isn't it?

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6. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 16 years ago

   People that really know what they are doing use the built in browser functionality to open in a new window, when they want to.  If you force the link to open a new window using the target attribute then you are taking away their choice.
   
   At the very least links that will open in a new window should be indicated visually, which is something we may do automatically at HubPages (if we continue to allow links to be forced open in a new window at all).

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   1. 70

      Isabella Snowposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm. Well, thats true, I guess. But I dont use the browser for that, I right click and open in a new tab. Then again, a lot of links I come across are set to open in a new window anyway and Ive not been right clicking so much lately, but thats a good point.

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7. 59

   casparposted 16 years ago

   At the moment I think my links in hubpages are set to open in the same window, because I know this is best for inexperienced users. 
   
   When I'm browsing myself, I generally prefer to have embedded links open up in a new window, and to make sure I always right click the link and choose open in new window regardless.

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8. 64

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

   I never thought about what it is like for inexperienced internet users, or the fact that I'm taking "choice" away.  I always open new links in new tabs by right clicking...so, I could assume others would do that as well, or have their browsers setup to do it.  It makes sense to want to make the "back" button more usable for the inexperienced users.
   
   I believe I'll stop clicking the "open in new window" option.

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