target="new"

cdc08x · 12-08-2005, 09:37 PM

I hope this is not a problem that many people before me can have asked about but...
if I do not use javascript, is there an XHTML-compliant way to make an anchor open another window? As well known, the attribute target="new" ir target="blank" is not accepted anymore by W3C standards!

badg0003 · 12-08-2005, 09:47 PM

You are allowed to use target="_blank", but only if you are using a Transitional or Frameset DTD. The Strict DTD will produce a validation error.

cdc08x · 12-08-2005, 10:23 PM

Thank you!
I'll read more about this...

Considering my first theme, that is accessibility, do you think I'd better abandon the Strict DTD compliance or keep it and use js?

gsnedders · 12-08-2005, 10:24 PM

I'd just keep it opening in the same window, let the user choose if they want it in a new window/tab.

Bill Posters · 12-09-2005, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Error 404

I'd just keep it opening in the same window, let the user choose if they want it in a new window/tab.

It's not always the case that the user knows the browser well enough to know how to open links in a new window.

Fwiw, there's some worthwhile reading over at this AccessifyForum thread.
http://www.accessifyforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4209

Jan · 12-09-2005, 11:17 AM

I've asked the same some time ago and was pointed to this excellent post:
http://www.youngpup.net/2003/popups

If you want to open a link in a new window (which in my opinion should be avoided), simply use

Code:

<a href="http://www.yourlink.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;">Your link</a>

Works like a charm.

Bill Posters · 12-09-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan

If you want to open a link in a new window (which in my opinion should be avoided), simply use

Code:

<a href="http://www.yourlink.com/" onclick="window.open(); return false;">Your link</a>

Works like a charm.

Not without a url argument in the window.open method it doesn't.

I guess you meant this…

Code:

<a href="http://www.yourlink.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;">Your link</a>

…but even then, it's not a particularly efficient approach if you have many off-site links. Unless you like making work for yourself.

God forbid we should ever have to do this for every new window link…

Quote:

Originally Posted by the linked 2003 article

Code:

<a 
  href="http://google.com/" 
  onclick="window.open(this.href, 'popupwindow', 
  'width=400,height=300,scrollbars,resizable'); 
  return false;"
>

There are a number of other reasons why, imho, that method falls short of how we should be handling this kind of thing today.

_Aerospace_Eng_ · 12-09-2005, 11:57 AM

Here is one way without using target="_blank" of course it requires JS but if JS is disabled the use just gets taken to the page anyways in the same window.

Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
function externalLinks() {
 if (!document.getElementsByTagName) return;
 var anchors = document.getElementsByTagName("a");
 for (var i=0; i<anchors.length; i++) {
   var anchor = anchors[i];
   if (anchor.getAttribute("href") &&
       anchor.getAttribute("rel") == "external")
     anchor.target = "_blank";
 }
}
window.onload=externalLinks;
-->
</script>
</head>

<body>
<a href="http://www.codingforums.com" rel="external">Coding Forums</a>
</body>
</html>

Jan · 12-09-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Posters

Not without a url argument in the window.open method it doesn't.

My mistake, sorry. This is what happens when I write in a hurry.

Nevertheless, I seldom use forced window links and I can imagine a method like this would be very tiresome in the long run.

Bill Posters · 12-09-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Aerospace_Eng_

<a href="http://www.codingforums.com" rel="external">Coding Forums</a>[/code]

Fine if you don't have many links to address and don't mind obtrusive js - or if not all your off-site links target new windows.

HWChicago · 12-09-2005, 06:17 PM

Hi,

I have something of a related problem. I have a link that I need to open in a new window. However, because of certain program limitations I can't use javascript. All I can do is use something on the order of _blank. Is there any way to control the size of the window that opens with this or any other html command?

thanks

_Aerospace_Eng_ · 12-09-2005, 07:00 PM

No you need javascript to control the window size.

HWChicago · 12-09-2005, 07:13 PM

bah humbug,

ok thanks for the heads-up, guess I can stop wasting my time on that one.

tim