Comments on: Open New Window Still Has Usability Issues

By: Should you or should you not have links open in a new window/tab? | Web Development Blog

Fri, 14 May 2010 20:43:45 +0000

[...] Open New Window Still Has Usability Issues [...]

By: Birgitte Stær

Birgitte Stær — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:58:46 +0000

I came across this discussion looking for information on how I can make a www-hyperlink open in a new window/_blank from an uploaded pdf.
If the source-pdf is a bit heavy reloading it using the arrow is definately a problem. At the same time it is not possible to use the shift-command or rightclick to open the link in a new window from a pdf.

As long as links to the internet open from a pdf viewed in Acrobat or Reader the link will naturally open in the browser and therefore in a ‘new window’, which leaves the pdf itself open in the background. But if the pdf is uploaded to a server, links will not open in new windows. You will have to go back to the pdf using the arrow in the browser.

I recently uploaded a somewhat heavy pdf (9Mb) with many links in it. It loads quite slowly and that means a major problem concerning the links. Every time a link has been visited and you return to the pdf the pdf loads again. It takes way too much time.
It seems I have to tell people to download the pdf to their harddisc before visiting the links and that is not the most elegant or disirable solution.

Maybe in this forum you have a tip to solving this?
I produce the links in the InDesign-document or Acrobat which don´t seem to have any options for the links to open in new windows, and to my knowledge I have no access to the underlying scripts.

By: Zopim Blog » Blog Archive » Inline Chat Windows - Why Popup Chat Windows just don’t cut it

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:19:35 +0000

[...] fact is popup browser windows has usability issues and is considered by many to be a clumsy interface that will gradually be phased out. Google led [...]

By: Danni

Danni — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:21:22 +0000

An interesting discussion. IMO, opening certain links in a new window or tab IS necessary in some cases.

As always in ID, target audience (skills), context and business goals play a role. For example, you want to link to a different (partner) site but want your users to easily switch or return to your site when done there. Then in this case you would want to open a new window, so users can ‘find’ back your site easily. (Unfortunately, accessibility and performance aren’t factors often considered.)

Question – Is there a way to open a link in a new tab (FF and IE7) instead of a new window? And have this tab appear on top, instead of loading ‘in the background’. I think this would solve the taskbar cluttering problem, and the user will be more likely to see that a new window has opened, and also see the refering site.

Don’t expect users to know the keyboard shortcuts for openening a link in a new window/tab!

By: laurie

laurie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:36:06 +0000

Question for you all –
is there ever a reason for using a pop-up window? I saw earlier that pop-ups would work for opening a pdf or word doc – but what about blogs?

I was thinking that the user would want to remain in the blog while opening links in another window – but my co-worker strongly disagrees for much of the reasons highlighted above.

I welcome a weight in here. Thanks!

By: B Merrell

B Merrell — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:26:45 +0000

Oh, I see. So while it keeps traffic on the site if they keep the window open, it keeps them off the site if they’re trying to go “back” to it. That’s the reasoning I was looking for. Thank you.

By: Jermayn Parker

Jermayn Parker — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:20:57 +0000

Ok, personally I do not agree with that at all.
The only time you should open something in a new window would be a pdf and even then I would not agree with that.

Everything should stay in the one window, let the user (not us) decide when/ how/ if they open in a new window.
Read some more hear: http://germworks.net/blog/2007/07/02/usability-and-accessibility-the-foreign-legion-of-web-design/

By: B Merrell

B Merrell — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:01:12 +0000

I’m sorry. I’m simply asking if it’s reasonable to use new windows as a strategy for keeping traffic on a site. By making all external links open in a new window, for example.

By: Jermayn Parker

Jermayn Parker — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:09:51 +0000

@ B Merrell – what do you mean by your comments??

By: B Merrell

B Merrell — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:42:30 +0000

Can somebody speak to the concern of web designers to link externally with new windows? Does the practice really preserve traffic by keeping people on a site?