RE: [WSG] accessibility - opening new windows philosophy

[Drake, Ted C.]

I fall in line with Gary. I'm savvy enough to right-click on pdf links but when I forget to do it, I'm aggrevated by the browser having to load the reader software. I would be happy to have it open a new window.    This is for an intranet site, but I think the discussion is valid for all web sites.   I use this: return false;" instead of target="_blank".   Jeremy Keith recently spoke about using the class in the link to target a _javascript_ to add the behavior, leaving a nice, clean link.   Correct me if I'm wrong. By replacing the target with the script, we are bypassing the issue of screenreaders and portable devices getting confused with multiple windows.   Ted     From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gary Menzel Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 3:18 PM To: wsg@webstandardsgroup.org Subject: Re: [WSG] accessibility - opening new windows philosophy   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 This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any unauthorised use, disclosure or copying of any part of  it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or  any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error please delete it and notify us by return  email or by phoning (03) 8344 9370. ****************************************************** The discussion list for  http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ******************************************************