Open in separate tab?

Elizabeth P

Hi Greg,
I've been meaning to ask you this for ages. This is about the only website I go to, that when you click on a link, it opens on top of the page, rather than in a separate tab. Is this something I can change in my settings? (Have looked but didn't see it). I end up closing the website accidentally all the time, because it's such a habit to close rather than go back. The more time I spend on YLF the easier it is to remember ... but still :). Or maybe it's something you could consider - I'm sure other fabbers have the same problem.

thanks!!

Elizabeth

11 years ago

Technical Support

6 replies

Latest reply was from Greg

Greg

Administrator

Hi Elizabeth,

It is actually currently possible to make a link open in a new page. Just ctrl-click (PC) or cmd-click (Mac). The problem with making links open in new pages by default is that it will force everyone to do that. There won't be an option to open a link inside the current window.

There is more detail in this thread:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-windowtab

I am curious about the sites you mention that open all their links in new windows. Can you give me some examples? Then I can take a look at what they're doing and maybe find a better compromise.

Greg

11 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I guess the most prevalent example in my life is facebook. When I click on an article, it opens in a new tab. Also gmail... when I click on the links for my notificaitons for posts here, it opens in a new tab. I close when I'm done reading.

I guess I don't get why this default is better. If you open a new tab, then you close to exit and are back where you started. If you don't, you hit back, and are back where you started. One click either way. But this way, if you close by mistake, then you have to reload, re-find where you were, etc. A lot more work. People reference other threads a lot on here, so I often skip over and check them out, then close, then swear

But obviously not my call... And I didn't know about the ctrl-click, so will try to remember that.

Thanks for the speedy response!

11 years ago

Greg

Administrator

I think people have different personal preferences about "new tab" versus "same tab". For some people it is annoying to have an explosion of tabs or windows.

But that's not really why we do things the current way. It is more about giving people the choice.

If we make the default "new tab", then that is the only option everyone has. There is no "ctrl-click" type shortcut for "same tab".

If we make the default "same tab", then some people can choose to open a new tab with the shortcut, and others can continue to get the same tab.

ETA... Are there specific links or places on YLF where the new tab option is more important to you? We do currently default to new tab in some places and there might be able to expand that to specific other places.

11 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Sorry Greg, I had to go out of town to a funeral for the weekend. Thanks for asking about specific situation, because really, it's one that gets to me. If I open a post by person A, and they link to anoher post by person B, or Angie, that is relevant. You go to the second post, and they have linked to person C. All a very relevant discussion, but now there are several things to read, and I want to comment on the original post while it's still relevant. I'd MUCH rather leave them open and come back when I can. By the time you go back, comment, it's a pita to retrace your steps to whatever things you wanted to read.

I love that when you do an Angie pic post, the items stay open - you can close the ones you don't like, then go back and get more details on the ones that are appealing.

But that's just me. Thanks for listening!

11 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I'm just seeing this thread and have been meaning to ask the same thing! As a web site developer, I don't personally know of any instances where someone wants to open a link (within text) in the same tab, especially if it moves them to a completely different site. I always force the new tab. But, I've never polled this particular forum for opinions...

11 years ago

Greg

Administrator

I'm worried folks here might think we're being stubborn about this. It is true that things have changed a lot since Jakob Nielsen originally said that opening links in new windows was extremely bad practice, and of course now we have tabs in browsers that help to manage to proliferation of windows.

So whenever this question comes up I take a look at a list of top sites that must have thought about the same issue. Here is what I found this time for links in content (i.e. NOT navigation links):

No links open new tabs:

External open new tabs, internal don't

http://www.buzzfeed.com/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/
Gawker Media sites
Facebook
Twitter

All links open new tabs:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Of course, not all sites are created equal and decisions by some on this list won't influence my thinking much. But I think that Vox's decision is interesting. They are a very new site with very thoughtful design.

One clear trend is that sites that are more like apps (e.g. Twitter) open new windows for external content. This makes a lot of sense and in future we will probably switch to opening new tabs in the more "app like" functionality on YLF. We already do this for store links from the Finds items, for example. We also currently open new tabs automatically for Angie's lists of fab finds, where we know people will be opening many links in a short space of time.

And I will repeat again the rationale for not always opening new tabs: Opening in new tabs takes away your ability to choose. What might change my mind about opening new tabs in general is argument that addresses this point in particular.

11 years ago

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