Re: Another W3C strict query

At 15:40 25/05/02 +0100, Hilma wrote:
<snip/>
>I still need a bit of convincing that i can;t keep my book open when my
>visitor checks a refernce.... :-)

Lets extend the book metaphor again.

When I am writing something I will probably check details in one or more of 
my books. Sometimes I will use book X to help me find details in book Y. 
Now, space on my desk is limited. I may decide to open both book X and book 
Y, or I may decide to close book X and open book Y. That is my choice, and 
I will vary it depending on what I am doing.

Suppose book X insisted on staying open. I would be less inclined to use it 
in the future, because it takes up space on my desk and doesn't behave the 
way other books do.

By forcing your users to open links in a new window, you are being somewhat 
like book X. It takes up resources on my desktop, and it doesn't behave in 
the way I'm used to. It is actually worse than that. If I close the `Book 
X' window after it opens the `book Y' window I lose the session history for 
the book X window. On the other hand, by not specifying a target for links 
from Book X I give my users the choice. They can left click to open in the 
same window, or right click (or option click or whatever) to open in a new 
window. As well as giving the user a choice the links now behave in exactly 
the same way as the vast majority of links on the web. People can navigate 
your site using the same techniques they have learned elsewhere, rather 
than having to learn new behavior for your site.

_Choice_ and _consistency_ are the two important things.

Andrew

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http://aamcf.co.uk/

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