target link attribute

I have links to item records in our OPAC in various book
lists on our new
website.  I have the links set to open in a blank page, but
I would prefer
that each link doesn't open a whole new blank page--I want
to avoid a user
having window upon window (or tab after tab) open if they
are clicking on
mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link opens in a
new window, but
each subsequent link clicked on in the parent page opens in
that new
window, so basically your parent page remains open, but
there is one
window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads with each link
clicked on in
the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to accomplish this?
 


Thanks!  


Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Just give your target window a name, like
target="fred". The first  
time it is called it will open a new window named fred, then
 
subsequent pages opened to fred will reuse it.

Local browser settings can override this.

Thanks,

Cary

Cary Gordon, MLS
The Cherry Hill Company
http://www.chillco.com



On Mar 19, 2008, at 7:34 AM, Rachel Davis wrote:

> I have links to item records in our OPAC in various
book lists on  
> our new
> website.  I have the links set to open in a blank page,
but I would  
> prefer
> that each link doesn't open a whole new blank page--I
want to avoid  
> a user
> having window upon window (or tab after tab) open if
they are  
> clicking on
> mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link opens
in a new  
> window, but
> each subsequent link clicked on in the parent page
opens in that new
> window, so basically your parent page remains open, but
there is one
> window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads with each
link clicked  
> on in
> the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to accomplish
this?
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Rachel
>
> Rachel Q. Davis
> Children's Librarian
> Thomas Memorial Library
> 6 Scott Dyer Road
> Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
> 207-799-1720

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Rachel, 

In HTML to launch another web page from a link in a new
window or tab
effect is normally done through the use of target
attributes. In this
case the link anchor is <a href="URL"
target="_blank">link</a>.  W3C
standards reserve only four names for the target attribute
"_blank",
"_parent", "_self", and
"_top".  From a usability standpoint, you should
remove the "_blank" target attribute and allow
users to decide whether
they want a new window or not and have breadcrumbs on your
pages that
will take them back to the original page if they do not open
new windows
or tabs. 

If you still want the first page to open a new window or
tab, thus still
having a 'parent' window, and then have the links only open
in the
'child' window, you could have the <a
href="URL"
target="_blank">link</a> in the first
window and then remove the target
attribute from all links in the following pages. 

Some developers also use "_new" instead of
"_blank" as the value for the
target attribute to open a link in a new window, although
W3C standards
do not define that as a target name, thus browsers may
ignore it or
treat it as a synonym for "_blank".  Browser
settings can override all
of this, however.  

Another option is to use CSS for links
(http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/WD-css3-hyperlink
s-20040224/#the-target-new).

Although these documents are online, this is a draft, which
means it is
subject to change, and also unclear if they will, or already
are,
implemented by some browsers.  The only way to find out for
sure is to
test, but I am sure it's not supported enough to rely on. 

Best, 
Michael

------------------------------------- 
Michael Sutherland 
Web Services Librarian 
Montana State University Libraries 
P.O. Box 173320 
Bozeman, MT, USA 59717-3320 
Ph: (406) 994-6429 
msutherlandmontana.edu 


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounceswebjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounceswebjunction.org] On Behalf Of Rachel
Davis
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:35 AM
To: web4libwebjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] target link attribute

I have links to item records in our OPAC in various book
lists on our
new
website.  I have the links set to open in a blank page, but
I would
prefer
that each link doesn't open a whole new blank page--I want
to avoid a
user
having window upon window (or tab after tab) open if they
are clicking
on
mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link opens in a
new window,
but
each subsequent link clicked on in the parent page opens in
that new
window, so basically your parent page remains open, but
there is one
window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads with each link
clicked on
in
the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to accomplish this?
 


Thanks!  


Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Just give your target window a name, like
target="fred". The first  
time it is called it will open a new window named fred, then
 
subsequent pages opened to fred will reuse it.

Local browser settings can override this.

Thanks,

Cary

Cary Gordon, MLS
The Cherry Hill Company
http://www.chillco.com



On Mar 19, 2008, at 7:34 AM, Rachel Davis wrote:

> I have links to item records in our OPAC in various
book lists on  
> our new
> website.  I have the links set to open in a blank page,
but I would  
> prefer
> that each link doesn't open a whole new blank page--I
want to avoid  
> a user
> having window upon window (or tab after tab) open if
they are  
> clicking on
> mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link opens
in a new  
> window, but
> each subsequent link clicked on in the parent page
opens in that new
> window, so basically your parent page remains open, but
there is one
> window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads with each
link clicked  
> on in
> the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to accomplish
this?
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Rachel
>
> Rachel Q. Davis
> Children's Librarian
> Thomas Memorial Library
> 6 Scott Dyer Road
> Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
> 207-799-1720

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Rachel, 

In HTML to launch another web page from a link in a new
window or tab
effect is normally done through the use of target
attributes. In this
case the link anchor is <a href="URL"
target="_blank">link</a>.  W3C
standards reserve only four names for the target attribute
"_blank",
"_parent", "_self", and
"_top".  From a usability standpoint, you should
remove the "_blank" target attribute and allow
users to decide whether
they want a new window or not and have breadcrumbs on your
pages that
will take them back to the original page if they do not open
new windows
or tabs. 

If you still want the first page to open a new window or
tab, thus still
having a 'parent' window, and then have the links only open
in the
'child' window, you could have the <a
href="URL"
target="_blank">link</a> in the first
window and then remove the target
attribute from all links in the following pages. 

Some developers also use "_new" instead of
"_blank" as the value for the
target attribute to open a link in a new window, although
W3C standards
do not define that as a target name, thus browsers may
ignore it or
treat it as a synonym for "_blank".  Browser
settings can override all
of this, however.  

Another option is to use CSS for links
(http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/WD-css3-hyperlink
s-20040224/#the-target-new).

Although these documents are online, this is a draft, which
means it is
subject to change, and also unclear if they will, or already
are,
implemented by some browsers.  The only way to find out for
sure is to
test, but I am sure it's not supported enough to rely on. 

Best, 
Michael

------------------------------------- 
Michael Sutherland 
Web Services Librarian 
Montana State University Libraries 
P.O. Box 173320 
Bozeman, MT, USA 59717-3320 
Ph: (406) 994-6429 
msutherlandmontana.edu 


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounceswebjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounceswebjunction.org] On Behalf Of Rachel
Davis
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:35 AM
To: web4libwebjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] target link attribute

I have links to item records in our OPAC in various book
lists on our
new
website.  I have the links set to open in a blank page, but
I would
prefer
that each link doesn't open a whole new blank page--I want
to avoid a
user
having window upon window (or tab after tab) open if they
are clicking
on
mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link opens in a
new window,
but
each subsequent link clicked on in the parent page opens in
that new
window, so basically your parent page remains open, but
there is one
window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads with each link
clicked on
in
the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to accomplish this?
 


Thanks!  


Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

You also want to make sure the newly-loaded window pops to
the front.
You can get into a situation where you're changing the
window, but
it's behind the main window, so it might as well be not
working at
all.

I'd have to poke around how to do that from the parent
window, though.

T

On 3/19/08, Cary Gordon <listuserchillco.com> wrote:
> Just give your target window a name, like
target="fred". The first
>  time it is called it will open a new window named
fred, then
>  subsequent pages opened to fred will reuse it.
>
>  Local browser settings can override this.
>
>  Thanks,
>
>  Cary
>
>
>  Cary Gordon, MLS
>  The Cherry Hill Company
>  http://www.chillco.com
>
>
>
>
>  On Mar 19, 2008, at 7:34 AM, Rachel Davis wrote:
>
>  > I have links to item records in our OPAC in
various book lists on
>  > our new
>  > website.  I have the links set to open in a blank
page, but I would
>  > prefer
>  > that each link doesn't open a whole new blank
page--I want to avoid
>  > a user
>  > having window upon window (or tab after tab) open
if they are
>  > clicking on
>  > mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link
opens in a new
>  > window, but
>  > each subsequent link clicked on in the parent
page opens in that new
>  > window, so basically your parent page remains
open, but there is one
>  > window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads
with each link clicked
>  > on in
>  > the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to
accomplish this?
>  >
>  >
>  > Thanks!
>  >
>  >
>  > Rachel
>  >
>  > Rachel Q. Davis
>  > Children's Librarian
>  > Thomas Memorial Library
>  > 6 Scott Dyer Road
>  > Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
>  > 207-799-1720
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  Web4lib mailing list
>  Web4libwebjunction.org
>  http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/
>


-- 
Check out my library at http:
//www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

You also want to make sure the newly-loaded window pops to
the front.
You can get into a situation where you're changing the
window, but
it's behind the main window, so it might as well be not
working at
all.

I'd have to poke around how to do that from the parent
window, though.

T

On 3/19/08, Cary Gordon <listuserchillco.com> wrote:
> Just give your target window a name, like
target="fred". The first
>  time it is called it will open a new window named
fred, then
>  subsequent pages opened to fred will reuse it.
>
>  Local browser settings can override this.
>
>  Thanks,
>
>  Cary
>
>
>  Cary Gordon, MLS
>  The Cherry Hill Company
>  http://www.chillco.com
>
>
>
>
>  On Mar 19, 2008, at 7:34 AM, Rachel Davis wrote:
>
>  > I have links to item records in our OPAC in
various book lists on
>  > our new
>  > website.  I have the links set to open in a blank
page, but I would
>  > prefer
>  > that each link doesn't open a whole new blank
page--I want to avoid
>  > a user
>  > having window upon window (or tab after tab) open
if they are
>  > clicking on
>  > mutiple links.  I've been to sites where a link
opens in a new
>  > window, but
>  > each subsequent link clicked on in the parent
page opens in that new
>  > window, so basically your parent page remains
open, but there is one
>  > window on top (or tab beside it) that reloads
with each link clicked
>  > on in
>  > the parent page.  Can anyone tell me how to
accomplish this?
>  >
>  >
>  > Thanks!
>  >
>  >
>  > Rachel
>  >
>  > Rachel Q. Davis
>  > Children's Librarian
>  > Thomas Memorial Library
>  > 6 Scott Dyer Road
>  > Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
>  > 207-799-1720
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  Web4lib mailing list
>  Web4libwebjunction.org
>  http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/
>


-- 
Check out my library at http:
//www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Thanks to all who have helped me with the target link
attribute question I
posted earlier.

In the process of learning how to target links to always
open in the same
browser window (naming the new window, instead of using
target ="
_blank"), I am also learning that opening links in a
new window is
considered one of the "top ten mistakes of web
design," unless the link is
to a document or a large image.   I am wondering what the
general opinion
is about book lists that link to catalog records (which is
what I'm
working on.) 

Our staff frequently gets requests for books that I read at
story time, or
books that are recommended for reading aloud to groups of
young children. 
I am including a page on our site to story time books I have
read
organized by theme, with each title linking to its record in
the OPAC.  I
don't have the ability to edit the OPAC to provide a link
back to the
library webpage.  I know users can always use the back
button, but I would
think it would be more annoying to lose the library
site--and the book
list the user was looking at--than to have a new window pop
up showing the
book's record in the OPAC so it can be requested.  

If I click on a book title and find I am now in the OPAC,
and then I
request the book, I have to go through several steps in
order to return to
the library website and the list of books--it's not as
simple as just
hitting the back button once to return to the site.  It
would seem
preferable to engage in the activity of placing a request in
a separate
window so that the original book list is readily available
in the original
window if I want to refer to it, request another title, or
go to a
different page in the library's website.

So, in the case of links to catalog records in book lists
like this, do
others feel a new browser window is justified, or is it
better to require
the user to use the back button in order to return,
eventually, to the
library web page?

Thanks for your advice!

Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

Thanks to all who have helped me with the target link
attribute question I
posted earlier.

In the process of learning how to target links to always
open in the same
browser window (naming the new window, instead of using
target ="
_blank"), I am also learning that opening links in a
new window is
considered one of the "top ten mistakes of web
design," unless the link is
to a document or a large image.   I am wondering what the
general opinion
is about book lists that link to catalog records (which is
what I'm
working on.) 

Our staff frequently gets requests for books that I read at
story time, or
books that are recommended for reading aloud to groups of
young children. 
I am including a page on our site to story time books I have
read
organized by theme, with each title linking to its record in
the OPAC.  I
don't have the ability to edit the OPAC to provide a link
back to the
library webpage.  I know users can always use the back
button, but I would
think it would be more annoying to lose the library
site--and the book
list the user was looking at--than to have a new window pop
up showing the
book's record in the OPAC so it can be requested.  

If I click on a book title and find I am now in the OPAC,
and then I
request the book, I have to go through several steps in
order to return to
the library website and the list of books--it's not as
simple as just
hitting the back button once to return to the site.  It
would seem
preferable to engage in the activity of placing a request in
a separate
window so that the original book list is readily available
in the original
window if I want to refer to it, request another title, or
go to a
different page in the library's website.

So, in the case of links to catalog records in book lists
like this, do
others feel a new browser window is justified, or is it
better to require
the user to use the back button in order to return,
eventually, to the
library web page?

Thanks for your advice!

Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4libwebjunction.org
http://lists.we
bjunction.org/web4lib/

A couple of issues:

First, many browsers block popups.  Most are smat enough to
allow
popups from the same domain, but you might still run into
issues.
Popup ads are generally regarded with loathing.  There are
also
navigation issues with separate windows.  Many, many users
maximize
their windows.  In this case if that initial window isn't
constructed
carefully and you don't make sure to have it always gain
focus when
someone selects a link, it can be confusing as the links
appear to do
nothing, since they're changing the link but nothing is
changing in
the window they are looking at.

I do remember reading some reports way back that many people
were not
familiar with the back button which is why it was always
recommend for
people to have "outs".  Still not a bad idea, but
I seem to remember
some reports that suggest more people are comfortable with
the
navigation elements and tend to actually prefer bouncing
around.

In the end, I think pop up might be useful in this case, but
I do
wonder if the use you're imagining is going to be the case. 
Are users
really going to be going through the new books list and
requesting so
many books that opening another window will be quicker and
easier?  To
tell the truth, I'd try to do some very rough testing.  Make
up a
version of the booklist that does what you like.  Try to get
a variety
of people to try it out and watch over their shoulder and
see if they
have any confusion.  Don't tell them the mechanism and do it
on their
computers and any of the library computers.  Actual patrons
would be
ideal, but otherwise a variety of staff is good as well.

Jon Gorman
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