Andreas Boehmer [Addictive Media] wrote:
Sometimes even web standards can be wrong. I do not think this discussion is
so much about personal preference as it is about the question whether this
particular web standard is correct or not. People who decide on Web
Standards can make mistakes. That's why standards change all the time. A few
years ago it was standard to have all links to other websites open in new
windows. Now it moves against this behaviour. There is room for discussion,
don't you think?
It's mad, is what it is.
target_blank is allowed under transitional standards.
if you adopt strict standards then adhere to them.
forcing a new window on a mobile phone or the forthcoming UA that
integrates with your optic nerve and projects the web on a virtual
screen is not sensible.
arguing about target_blank has been done, a decision reached and
standards set.
IIRC the original argument started when someone wanted to force a new
window *and* have code valid to xhtml strict standards.
I firmly believe that new windows should be the users choice and there
are no business cases for new windows that can't be done a different
way. I think they *should* be done differently if you want widest use
of your business application on the web.
However, if you're creating a desktop application for a closed usage
on an intranet? well why not have multiple windows spawning? - that's
what we expect windowed applications to do, but code to a transitional
standard, that allows for it.
I'm a pragmatic coder though and if the time and effort or commercial
budget are an issue and the client can't be persuaded that new windows
are a bad idea then I just change to a less strict standard and code
to that.
let's not argue for a change to the standards because we don't like
them, just choose one that allows the behaviour you want and
*understand* and *educate* clients on the why and wherefore...
;o)
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