Ryan Lin wrote:
With the XHTML Strict DTD, forcing a new window to open for a link via
target="_blank" is not a valid semantic method anymore. I myself believe
that whether to open in a new or current window should be user decision,
not wed designer/developer. If I am using Strict DTD, the only way to
achieve opening the new window is through JavaScripts.
So what argument should I give to my clients not to use target="_blank"
? If I say that won't validate your page, they won't care. So any
non-technical argument that I can give to them?
That depends on the point you're trying to argue. Are you trying to
argue in favour of using javascript instead of target="" to get a new
window, or against the use of new windows in general? For the latter,
there are plenty of arguments against using popups and I suggest you
search the archives. In particular, I know I have personally refuted
ever single argument for popups in the past and don't particularly feel
like repeating that again.
If, however, you just want to use JS to sneak the popup past the
validator, then I think you're wasting your time. If you're using
popups, then getting approval from the validator is the least of your
worries.
There are a wide variety of JS methods you can use to create popups,
including these and their variations:
1. Using JS to add target attributes to links
2. <a href="..." onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">
3. Using unobtrusive JS to attach event handlers to links, which call
window.open() when activated.
Depending on the specific method used, using JS to create popups can
cause numerous problems. Of those, #1 is just hiding the target
attribute from the validator and basically misses the whole point of why
the target attribute was forbidden in the Strict DTD. However, compared
with the other 2 alternatives, it is the lesser evil.
Using the target attribute (either directly in the markup or adding it
with script) is a lot more user friendly than window.open(). Firstly,
it is significantly easier for a user to configure their browser to
ignore target attributes, than it is to override window.open().
(Personally, I do both, but disabling window.open() has some unfortunate
side effects on some sites).
The target attribute also allows the browser to notify the user that it
will open a new window. Safari, for example, tells the user in the
status bar when they hover over the link, and there are various other
methods available for other browsers.
So the question really comes down to how important validation is to you
and how much effort you're willing to put in to get the tick of
approval. Although I don't recommend popups if you can avoid them, if
you must use them, I recommend just using the target attribute in the
markup or, if the validator's tick of approval is really that important,
you can accept the fact that you're just lying to it, and if you want to
put in the extra effort, then add the target attributes using script. I
oppose any method that makes use of window.open().
--
Lachlan Hunt
http://lachy.id.au/
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