Template talk:Wpd

Should this template not open a new window like other external links do? That would be my recommendation anyway. Thomas Lerman 15:03, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

Technically the template produces an InterWiki link and so it does not open the link in a new window. --Steve 16:00, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I realize that it creates a link to another Wiki, but my opinion recommendation still holds. If I am doing research and wanted to check out another Wiki, I would not want to leave the Research Wiki site. I am curious about other people's feelings on this. If after discussion it stays the way it is, I will learn to not use it or right-mouse click to open in a new window. Thomas Lerman 16:07, 13 August 2009 (UTC) P.S. It seems that we want to keep people on the site, not drive them away . . . no matter if it is an interwiki link or not. Thomas Lerman 18:27, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

I use right-mouse so often, it is a habit-forming for me now. Dsammy 20:10, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

I remembered something... the off page link does NOT always work the way Thomas wanted. It stayed in the same screen rather than open up in in new window. Dsammy 20:26, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

I am not positive what you mean by "off page link". But if you mean that a link that is defined to open another window does not always do that, I have never seen that and would like to see it (other than if a browser has that kind of setting). Password 05:12, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

The community reached verbal consensus on this issue long before we had a MOS page. In fact, I believe it was back when we were still in Plone. The decision was for all links that lead outside FamilySearch to spawn a new window. I don't mind us having the discussion again, but until that initial decision is overturned, all external links (including those from templates) need to spawn a new window. It is confusing to users if we have some external links spawn a new window and others use the current window. In the meantime, the MOS needs to reflect this rule. Ritcheymt 19:43, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Case against spawning new windows for external links

This latest discussion started when I used the InterWiki feature to create this template that can be used to link to articles in Wikipedia. I feel that it has opened up the a bigger discussion about all external links in the wiki, which currently spawn new windows/tabs. I think this is a mistake. It used to be common practise, but for the past 10 years has been seen as poor design and now violates Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Opening up new browser windows is like a vacuum cleaner sales person who starts a visit by emptying an ash tray on the customer's carpet. Don't pollute my screen with any more windows, thanks (particularly since current operating systems have miserable window management). If I want a new window, I will open it myself!

Designers open new browser windows on the theory that it keeps users on their site. But even disregarding the user-hostile message implied in taking over the user's machine, the strategy is self-defeating since it disables the Back button which is the normal way users return to previous sites. Users often don't notice that a new window has opened, especially if they are using a small monitor where the windows are maximized to fill up the screen. So a user who tries to return to the origin will be confused by a grayed out Back button. --Jakob Nielsen, The Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 1999, No 2. Opening New Browser Windows

If your user wants to open the link in a new window, he or she can do so quite easily with most browsers; there is no need to force the issue. It's about leaving the user the freedom to navigate in the way that works best for him or her. -- Thanasis Kinias, 21 Apr 2002

See also Avoid forcing to open in a new window, John Britsios and Beware of opening links in a new window, Neil Turner --Steve 13:51, 8 October 2009 (UTC)