There is a flip-side to the "no new window" recommendation......
Many of our users are very computer illiterate and giving them too many options confuses them.
We do open our PDF documents in a new window and never have any complaints about it.
We DO get complaints, though, when things are too hard to use or if the page they were on "disappars" because we opened a "document" in that same window or if the file downloaded and they can't find it (happened regularly before we launched the PDF in another window).
We also get complaints from Mac users for similar reasons (because, apparently, the default behaviours that have sometimes been set up always just download files to one place and dont give the user an option of saying where they want the file - and then they can't find it).
I'm all for web-standards - but when a user base clearly has problems in dealing with a move to a "standard" then I would prefer to cater for my user base over the standard. There are always "exceptions" to every rule.
Regards,
Gary
On 8/16/05, Damian Sweeney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi Ted,
I would say let the user decide. Wherever possible I try to provide enough
information in the link itself so that the user knows what to expect and
can proceed as they wish. Many people will set up their browser to deal
with different file types according to their preference (open the document
in the browser, open it in the application, download the file). Opening in
a new window removes user choice. By providing a plain link you give users
the option that you use of `right-click - open in new window`. How do I
choose to open a new-window-link in the current window if that is my
preference?
The only time I open links (to web pages) in a new window is when I have
to place a link inside someone else's frame and I warn the user that I'm
doing it. I wouldn't use a new window for the downloadable documents you
are referring to.
Unexpected pdfs are annoying, especially for low-bandwidth users. So, I
would recommend something like:
<a href="" stuff (pdf format, 200kb)</a>
Include all the info in the link, if you can, for people who only read the
links.
Cheers,
Damian
> Hi All
>
>
>
> We've had a discussion at work about pdf documents and hijacking the
user's
> browser / making it more user-friendly. What is the general feeling
towards
> having pdf and other non-html documents open in a new window?
>
>
--
Damian Sweeney
Learning Skills Adviser (online)
Language and Learning Skills Unit
Instructional Designer, AIRport Project
Equity, Language and Learning Programs
University of Melbourne
723 Swanston St
Parkville 3010
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/ellp/
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/
airport.unimelb.edu.au/
ph 03 8344 9370, fax 03 9349 1039
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