Re: Another W3C strict query

Hello.......

You know, I'm going to sound very dumb here, but I'll take a chance. I've
heard it mentioned several times that it is possible to open a link in a new
window, by choice, but in all my years of using a computer, and about 2
years of designing websites, I've never heard of such a thing. And if I've
never heard of it, I'm imagining that a good many of the people that visit
my site don't know how to do it, either.

And, I know it has been mentioned that one should put instructions up on a
page to tell how to do this. However, the purpose of my site may be to
instruct visitors, but not to instruct them on how to use their computer. I
can't teach them everything, and don't believe I should have to.

Dusty


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew McFarland" <aamcf(at)aamcf.co.uk>
To: <hwg-basics(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 12:35 PM
Subject: 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
>
> --
> http://aamcf.co.uk/
>
>

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