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Bug 19221 - External links to open in new window by default
Summary: External links to open in new window by default
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: webplatform.org
Classification: Unclassified
Component: infrastructure (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Hardware: All All
: P2 minor
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Doug Schepers
QA Contact: public-webplatform-bugs list
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2012-10-02 18:33 UTC by JuleeAtAdobe
Modified: 2012-11-01 16:34 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

See Also:


Attachments

Description JuleeAtAdobe 2012-10-02 18:33:51 UTC
Set server-side value for external links to open in a new browser window. 

1. In edit source, add an external link & save edit.
2. On wiki page, click on link.
3. Link opens in the same window as the wiki page.

Expected: When pointing to new domain, link opens in new browser window, so I don't lose my place at webplatform.org

Actual: Clicking link opens external URL in same window.

See: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:$wgExternalLinkTarget

Workaround: I can't find one on the client side editor.
Comment 1 Chris Mills 2012-10-03 05:47:07 UTC
(In reply to comment #0)
> Set server-side value for external links to open in a new browser window. 
> 
> 1. In edit source, add an external link & save edit.
> 2. On wiki page, click on link.
> 3. Link opens in the same window as the wiki page.
> 
> Expected: When pointing to new domain, link opens in new browser window, so I
> don't lose my place at webplatform.org
> 
> Actual: Clicking link opens external URL in same window.
> 
> See: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:$wgExternalLinkTarget
> 
> Workaround: I can't find one on the client side editor.

Do we really want this? I am always a bit wary of automatic links opening in new tabs or windows, whether they are internal or external. From my experience, users still expect and are comfortable with new pages opening in the same tab, and then using the back button to get back. It is often confusing for them if we mess with expected behaviour.
Comment 2 Jonathan Garbee 2012-10-29 02:09:15 UTC
My coin toss decided that we should set external links to open in a new tab as Julee recommends.

Take the coins mind with a grain of salt though, it doesn't use a browser.

Expect an email to the Mailing List about external and internal links from me tomorrow (Monday, October 29th) since there are some things I would like to cover which could play into this.
Comment 3 Jonathan Garbee 2012-11-01 16:34:55 UTC
Looking at the links again I have noticed external links do have this little box with an arrow beside them.  Because of this I think that they should open in a new tab by default since that could be a visual cue to visitors that they would be leaving the site.  While normal links don't have this, they are cued that they open in the same place.