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Link Targeting: Difference between revisions
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→Complex, Inconsistent Options
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== Complex, Inconsistent Options == | == Complex, Inconsistent Options == | ||
=== Divergence Between Web and Client Applications === | |||
Firefox allows links opened from documents (either via the "target" attribute or scripts) and links opened from external applications to be targeted differently, and exposes this all the way up to the user interface. The reasoning for the different implementation locations is related to the different link sources, and slightly different code paths, although eventually the decision to open in a new tab or a new window eventually propagates through a single interface (nsIBrowserDOMWindow). | Firefox allows links opened from documents (either via the "target" attribute or scripts) and links opened from external applications to be targeted differently, and exposes this all the way up to the user interface. The reasoning for the different implementation locations is related to the different link sources, and slightly different code paths, although eventually the decision to open in a new tab or a new window eventually propagates through a single interface (nsIBrowserDOMWindow). | ||
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The only case where this should be different is where an application requests a window with specific placement and size. This is often used by media viewers and other rich applications to show information, media content etc. Firefox already includes a control to force links opened in new windows via script with sizing and positioning features into new windows, regardless of the tab settings. This mode is not the default though and should be - it makes the "Force links targeted into new windows into new tabs" preference more useful, rather than exposing the user to web applications opened in windows that are oddly sized (either too large or too small, depending on the user's window layout). | The only case where this should be different is where an application requests a window with specific placement and size. This is often used by media viewers and other rich applications to show information, media content etc. Firefox already includes a control to force links opened in new windows via script with sizing and positioning features into new windows, regardless of the tab settings. This mode is not the default though and should be - it makes the "Force links targeted into new windows into new tabs" preference more useful, rather than exposing the user to web applications opened in windows that are oddly sized (either too large or too small, depending on the user's window layout). | ||
=== Poor Target Options === | |||
Firefox continues to offer the destructive "most recent tab/document in the most recent window" option, even though this is a rather dangerous choice. In practice, it is all too common for web applications with complex state to lose this when they are navigated away from. This can result in data loss for the user when they have to repeat a complex sign up wizard or re-enter an email. | |||
I refer to this option as the "destroy a random tab" option, because if you spend any amount of time away from the browser (e.g. writing a letter in Microsoft Word) and then click on a link in an IM window or in a mail client, you probably don't recall what tab or window was last selected. | |||
This was the justification for sending external links to new tabs in the first place. Given the lack of use for this target, it is my contention that it should be removed from the UI entirely. | |||
Some have mentioned the desire to have a tab act as a target for external links (so that all links could be sent to it rather than creating a lot of tabs when reading email, for example - this is one use of the "most recent tab/document" option), although I would argue that that's more in the realm of the extension space. | |||
=== Other Options === | |||
There are other extraneous or poorly worded options in the Tabbed Browsing section, but those are outside the scope of this document. | |||
= Solutions = | = Solutions = | ||