Links open in new window - good or bad?

[RedFish]

Opinions please:

Do you like web sites that have links which open in a new window? Or do you prefer the links to open in the same window?

I'm talking in particular about links to external sites, not the links for navigation within a site.

----------
My thoughts: if it's a site where I want to keep browsing, I appreciate external links that open in a new window. I know I could just use the 'back' button to get back to where I was. But sometimes the external site has other links that I want to check out, so I find it easier to have 2 windows open, so I don't lose where I started out.

So I often use the 'open link in new window' command if the external links aren't opening in a new window. Now that I'm designing my own site, I'm wondering if I should force everyone to browse my site the way I like it (i.e., use target="new" as part of the <a> link). Or if I should just use regular links and let people choose how they want to open them.

RedFish

[Bruce]

I prefer external links to open in a new window, but I just open them all in a new window myself anyway.

[niv]

target=_blank

[Dusty]

Ditto. Though I'll usually open all links in a new window anyway, it's nice to know if I every forget it'll do it for me.

[meow]

Originally posted by Hayama-kun
target=_blank
THANK YOU, HAYAMA! :rolleyes: :p

I don't always like when links to external sites open in new windows. Above all, I don't like when all links open in new widows. The worst is when ppl have a splash page. The only link on it is "enter". And that opens in a new window. Why would I want to keep the first page open?

Is there a way to force a link to open in the same window when I know it's coded to open in a new?

[RedFish]

Originally posted by meow

Is there a way to force a link to open in the same window when I know it's coded to open in a new?

The only way I know is very clunky. It works in IE or Netscape. Right click and choose Copy Shortcut (IE) or Copy Link Location (Netscape). Then you paste the address in the address bar and go to it.

RedFish, who would never have a link from a splash page open in a new window, that's just stupid

[meow]

BUHUUUÄÄÄÄÄ for that solution!:devious2:

I didn't mean you (about the splash page). Only a lot of ppl do have it like that and it irritates me no end.

Are you a herring?:D

[RedFish]

Originally posted by meow
Are you a herring?:D

:classic2:
red=color of hair
fish=pisces, also nickname from my father (I swam on a swim team)

[meow]

Good. I was afraid you were a red herring. :D

[Archbob]

I should do that with my freebie site....
but correcting 400 links isn't appealing.

[meow]

:confused: Huh?

[Mekhu]

You could also add a very small like 20 pixel height frame at the bottom that says "Click here to return to <company name>". I myself hate frames but I have seen this used, so then external links don't have to.

Mekhu

[LastActionHero]

Originally posted by Archbob
I should do that with my freebie site....
but correcting 400 links isn't appealing.

You should use some (text) editor which has the ability to search and replace from multiple files.

[Mekhu]

cutehtml is amazing for search and replace.

Mekhu