Ask Greg: Opening a new tab for links? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Greg: Opening a new tab for links?

Patty

Veteran

I don't know anything about computers or the internet but I have noticed on other forums that links in a thread open in new tabs and I like it. Links in YLF open on the same tab making it tidy at the top of the screen but annoying if I want to go back and look/read some more and refer back to either or both pages.
But then again I don't know if it's just me and how I browse or if it's a computer set up on my end or if it's even worth asking but is it possible to have links open another tab?
Just wonderin'.

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from ButterflyLady

qfbrenda

Veteran

With the browser I use, if I click on the link and hold the control key (ctrl) at the same time, it opens in a new window. You might try that and see if it works for you.

Queen Mum

Veteran

or you can right click the link and choose "open new window"
That way you don't have to set down your coffee to open links

morethanbeige

Veteran

Thanks qfbrenda! I just tried this and it works great. I can open the link in a new window or a new tab.

Diana

Veteran

On a Mac, it's the command (apple) key (plus click) to open a link in a new tab.

But, Greg, I actually also prefer that links open in new tabs by default so I'm adding my vote for this request as well.

rosee

Veteran

I vote "can we do this, please?!" -- but thanks for the above advice.

Maya

Veteran

Wait, do we mean external links, or links within YLF? I would find it profoundly annoying if links within YLF opened a new tab, but I agree it would be handy to have external links open separately.

Patty

Veteran

To external links only.

Marley

Veteran

I really have no idea what you guys are talking about - thats how computer illiterate I am! (embarrassing)

Greg

This is a tough one. All the user research I've seen says that more people prefer links to open in the same page. Not everyone of course, but more people on average. In fact, in web design circles opening new windows/tabs is generally thought of as a kind of cheap trick to keep people from leaving your site.

But that's just research and does not apply to everyone or all sites. One might argue that the YLF forum is different and opening links in new windows would be better.

But here is the real issue...

As it is today where external links open in the same window by default, people can control-click (command click on the Mac) to force it to open in a new window. People have the choice. This was mentioned earlier in the thread.

On the other hand, if I *do* make external links open in new windows by default there is no way for a user to override that and make them open in the same window. There is no control-click (command click) option for "same window".

So the only solution would be a per-user setting where you decide the behavior for yourself. This is possible, but tricky because we'd want to treat internal and external links differently. I do actually have this on my list because it has come up before.

BTW, here is one article that says the above in a bit more detail.

http://www.smashingmagazine.co.....w-windows/

Lisa

Veteran

I'm not great with computers but I do like having the option to right click within YLF to open a new tab on my own versus having the computer always open new windows on me.

Charmian

Veteran

Just wanted to cast a vote in the opposite direction: I would prefer if the choice to open links in a new window were left to me.

Persisted per-user sounds like a great feature to have in general (not just here), but until then the status-quo seems good to me. Though ... doesn't the UX community generally believe that more configuration options isn't necessarily better?

Patty

Veteran

I shoulda known there would be some kinda democratic free will ergonomic psychology paper written on the subject LOL.
My simple little brain goes--
" Ooo look I can go to a new place!
*Click* >new place , new tab<
Ok want to go back to were I was...
*click* choice of YLF or shut off new tab. (<-----hey look--choice and freedom of navigation!)

I just associate a link to a new place I guess--it makes sense to me that way and my original YLF tab is always shown, just waiting for me. As it is I find I'll have sometimes two or three at the same time--yeah--somehow that's a short attention span to loose myself in back clicks and bookmarks--I NEVER said I was efficient!!!!
I thought it might have something to do with 'hits' on your site--you get lots of them the current way--if that even matters in the internet world at all.

While I'm whining and cheezing---Greg can we have a back to top button on the menu and thread pages?

@(Brenda--that's like magic!!!!)

Patty

Veteran

It just occurred to me that I'd hate to make navigating difficult for Michelle more than anything!!!! If this works best for her then let it stand!!!!!!!!

Greg

Patty, yes, I'll slip "back to top" into the next minor update in a week or two.

I assure you that not opening new windows has nothing to do with hits. That's not how we roll.

As I said (in a very long winded way) the main reason is that default to opening new windows takes control away from the user because it eliminates the choice of opening new windows or not.

I would love to know how using the control-click trick works out for you. If that turns out to be sufficient, then I will make the per-user setting a lower priority (making place for something else on my list ).

Beth

Veteran

I'd love links to open in a new window (not a new tab). We live about three miles beyond the limits of true high-speed internet and must use an aircard. Simply closing a window is much faster than having to reload the prior page.

And while the control-click option does work on a Mac, I find it a little more cumbersome than the right-click option on a PC. To open a new window, you must control-click (vs. option-click to open a tab). That necessitates using both hands, which is tough when the cat is sleeping on your arm.:)

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I have to admit from my perspective the fewer tabs are open the better, or I have to engage in this conversation with my laptop every time I close the internet

me - exit internet
pc - this tab or all tabs
me - all tabs
pc - are you sure you want to quit
me - yes I'm sure I'm sure, just close!!!!!

The fewer conversations I have with my pc on a daily basis the better.

Charmian

Veteran

@Beth, on a Mac with multi-touch, you can also do the two-finger click thingy and select "Open in a New Tab" on the dropdown that appears. Actually, that's how I do it.

Aida

Veteran

Another vote for having the choice (on a PC here); if I want a new tab I use Ctrl, if I want a new window (never happens, way too cumbersome for me) I can use Shift.

Beth

Veteran

Charmian, how did I not know this? Thanks! Now I won't have to disturb the sleeping cat on my arm. Thomas Kitten says thank you:)

Charmian

Veteran

@Beth, I didn't know about Ctrl-click, so we both learned something new!

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I get very confused because if you click on a link on YLF, it *doesn't* open in a new tab, whereas the other two forums I visit every day open links in new tabs! It doesn't take much to get me confused.

I know I can right click, but I'd prefer it to be automatic (for links to external sites and links to another YLF page - I don't get how you can flip between them properly if you only have one at a time?)- although I know it's not all about me!!