90,866
edits
Template talk:Wpd: Difference between revisions
→Case against spawning new windows for external links
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
:Technically the template produces an ''{{wpd|InterWiki}} link'' and so it does not open the link in a new window. --[[User:CottrellS|Steve]] 16:00, 13 August 2009 (UTC) | :Technically the template produces an ''{{wpd|InterWiki}} link'' and so it does not open the link in a new window. --[[User:CottrellS|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. [[User:Thomas Lerman|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. [[User:Thomas Lerman|Thomas Lerman]] 18:27, 1 September 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. [[User:Thomas Lerman|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. [[User:Thomas Lerman|Thomas Lerman]] 18:27, 1 September 2009 (UTC) | ||
::I use right-mouse so often, it is a habit-forming for me now. [[User:Dsammy|Dsammy]] 20:10, 29 September 2009 (UTC) | ::I use right-mouse so often, it is a habit-forming for me now. [[User:Dsammy|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. [[User:Dsammy|Dsammy]] 20:26, 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. [[User:Dsammy|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). [[User:Thomas Lerman|Password]] 05:12, 30 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). [[User:Thomas Lerman|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. [[User:Ritcheymt|Ritcheymt]] 19:43, 6 October 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. [[User:Ritcheymt|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 [http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/ violates Web Content Accessibility Guidelines]. | |||
<blockquote>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!<p>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. --{{wpd|Jakob Nielsen (usability consultant)|Jakob Nielsen}}, [http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html The Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 1999, No 2. Opening New Browser Windows]</blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>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. -- [http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-validator/2002Apr/0100.html Thanasis Kinias, 21 Apr 2002]</blockquote> | |||
See also [http://www.webnauts.net/new-window.html Avoid forcing to open in a new window], [http://www.webpronews.com/user/john-britsios John Britsios] and [http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/new-browser-windows.shtml Beware of opening links in a new window, Neil Turner] --[[User:CottrellS|Steve]] 13:51, 8 October 2009 (UTC) | |||