nettiquite

**Chrisio** · Dec 28th, 2002, 07:03 AM

Hi all,
Im building a website that has thumbnails pictures in it, now what I need to deside is when clicked do I open the larger image in a new window or do I open it in the main window, cos I know that self opening popups and the like are generally frowned upon......any thoughts. Cheers

**Rick Bull** · Dec 28th, 2002, 07:53 AM

I'd go with keeping it in the main window, I find it very annoying when they open in another window. The other thing is if you have a server side scripting language is to have a control panel where people can choose whether they want certain links to open in a new window.

**mendhak** · Dec 28th, 2002, 12:09 PM

And I'd go with the new window. If there are thumbnails, I prefer having the larger image open in a new window, instead of having to go "backspace" after each image shows up, which wastes a lot of time, since the page has to reload for me.

Don't listen to Rick.

**Rick Bull** · Dec 28th, 2002, 02:43 PM

Hey, hey show a little respect will you

**mendhak** · Dec 28th, 2002, 04:10 PM

OK.

Please don't listen to Rick.

**riis** · Dec 29th, 2002, 03:48 AM

I agree with Rick. The reason for this is that in all browsers you have the option to open a link inside a new window or in a new tab. If I want it to be opened in a new window, I prefer to do it myself, not being forced by the HTML/JS.

**punkpie_uk** · Dec 30th, 2002, 04:25 AM

yeah, I agree...popup windows are annoying. If the user wants to open a new window he can hold shift and press the link (IE) or choose to open in a new window/tab (Moz/NS)

**mendhak** · Dec 30th, 2002, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by punkpie_uk
yeah, I agree...popup windows are annoying. If the user wants to open a new window he can hold shift and press the link (IE) or choose to open in a new window/tab (Moz/NS)

You're forgetting the most basic rule of thumb in web designing:

Users are stupid

Therefore, they won't know how to press <shift> and click the link.

Basically, the thumbnail page is similar to a central base page. By opening a larger picture within the same window, the page is gone. Take into consideration people with slower connections. They have to press back button and wait for the whole page to reload.

Check out any wallpaper website, and you'll see how it is.

**joeframbach** · Dec 30th, 2002, 09:10 PM

give the user the option.
make a set of radio buttons.
<form name=form1>
New<input type=radio value="yes" name=opt>
Same<input type=radio value="no" name=opt>
</form>

then make the links call a function:
<a href="javascript:showPic(picURL)"></a>

and make the function:
function showPic(what)
{
var winOpt=document.form1.opt.value
if(winOpt=="yes")
window.open(what,"newWin")
else
document.location=what;
}

have fun!

**punkpie_uk** · Dec 31st, 2002, 04:16 AM

yeah, users are stupid, I agree. But, you could set the target to _blank for all the links to open in a new window? There used to be a tag in the html spec that did this by default but I believe it's deprecated now.

You could use a bit of javascript to do it?

Code:

<html>
  <head>
    <title>Links Test</title>
        <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
           <!--
              function setTarget(){
	for (i=0;i<document.links.length;i++){		   	  document.links[i].target='_blank';
	}
              }
           //-->
         </script>
  </head>
  <body onload="setTarget();">
    <a href="http://www.google.com">http://www.google.com</a><br />
    <a href="http://www.cheese.com">http://www.cheese.com</a><br />
    <a href="http://www.foo.com">http://www.foo.com</a><br />
    <a href="http://www.bar.com">http://www.bar.com</a>
  </body>
</html>

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