I can't help thinking we're fighting against one of the most basic instructions web users work with: "all you have to do with a link is click on it".
I agree that it would be useful if users knew the full capabilities of their software, let alone what their mouse can do. But I don't believe they do. I try to follow a fundamental rule, which is that external links should always open in a new tab or a new window. That way the originating site remains in background and can be found again somewhat more easily than having to know to click on the Back button. Yes, I've read that the Back button accounts for up to 30% of all clicks in a browser, but I've also read that 30% of users don't know what the Back button does. Users rely on the designers and developers to embed instructions in the code so that "it just happens". This was definitely a benefit to target=_new, _blank and _top. The only other way I can see to ensure users do what I intend is to provide explicit instructions: "left click to do this, or right click to do this". I've done this with text that messes up what a site looks like and I've tried putting them in tooltips. In both cases I've had feedback that the user "didn't notice" the instruction. If the aim of eliminating the target=_blank is to empower the user and not force them to do what a designer or developer wants then it succeeds. But if it aims to enhance the user experience, it fails. If it's about not confusing screenreaders then I think we're just swapping one form of inaccessibility for another. When it comes down to it, I think most people (and yes, that means people using IE) will just left-click on a link. If you want something particular to happen, you'd better code it in. Ricky > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nick Gleitzman > Sent: Sunday, 25 February 2007 4:14 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WSG] alternative to target="_blank" in xhtml 1.1 > > Gallagher, Robin wrote: > > > Users of the search engine on my intranet site wold like to > have the > > results open in a new page. Can anyone suggest a valid method to do > > this in xhtml 1.1? > > Umm... teach 'em how to use the software? A good browser > allows the choice of a new window - or tab - with a modifier > key added to the mouse click. If all else fails, or you tell > us that they're stuck on IE/Win, then right-click > Open in > new window. > > N > ___________________________ > omnivision. websight. > http://www.omnivision.com.au/ > > > > ******************************************************************* > List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm > Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm > Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ******************************************************************* > ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************
