[Sigia-l] Usability of launching new browser window?

[Jeff Lash]

> As a user, 
> perhaps I'm in the minority but I really hate having to use the back
> button very much.

Know the user. Know that you are not the user.

> I don't like having to take the extra step of telling the browser to
> open the link in a new window in order to force the scenario outlined
> above.

So, because you don't like this, you assume that all users don't like it and
want to make them adapt to your preferences?

> The caveat is that it would be nice for each link to open in
> the SAME second window, rather than each link opening a new window
> (Again, this only applies to the particular scenario of browsing
> recommended links, but that's a fairly common scenario).

Something like this is often used on "link" pages; often you'll see three
choices -- Open links in the same window, Open links in a new window, Open
each link in its own new window. This is discussed on the link I provided
earlier <URL: 
http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day_16_not_opening_new_windows.html> and
recommended as acceptable solution, so long as you leave it OFF by default.

> I don't buy the argument that opening a new window makes using the
> back button impossible. The first window is still there at the main
> site and still has it's history before that intact.

That's quite obvious to you, but not to everyone. I've seen many people
frantically look for the "old" page, yet are unable to find it and give up.

> If users are getting more savvy, they know that.

Who are these "users"? Everyone in general? A specific site audience? What
evidence do you have that they do or don't know that?

> And if developer's follow  Zia's
> recommendation to offset and size the new window it's even more
> obvious that that's the case.

Ziya's quick response neglected to consider the specifics of the situation.

If you open a new window using standard HTML by using target=_blank, you
have no control over the size of the window or its placement. Its size is
dictated by the size of the current/original window. So, if someone's window
is maximized (on Windows), and they click on a link that launches a new
window, the new window will be maximized, and the back button will appear
grayed out, because the new window was superimposed over the original one.
This is acceptable only if you can say with confidence that your users will
not be confused by this. (I consider myself quite "savvy" but have been
confused by this many times. Of course, I'm understand that I'm not
"typical" of all users.)

If you want to control the size/location of the new window, you have to use
a Javascript link. Obviously, this type of link will not work for non-visual
browsers (Lynx, etc.) and for anyone who has JavaScript turned off.

So, while Ziya's solution is good in theory, in practice, it exposes other
problems. The additional suggestion to include a "reference/link back to the
opener window" and to "communicat[e] between the windows" is also only
effective if the new window is a page on your site which you have control
over.

The original message stated: "I'm looking for guidelines about the
advisability of this practice, in terms of user experience. Do detractors
consider this an accessibility issue, or just an annoyance?" I provided
guidelines and answered that it is both an accessibility issue and an
annoyance (to some). The responses to my post did not provide guidelines or
practical, more-effective alternatives.

As I said originally, there are cases where it may be appropriate or
required for links to open in a new window. Before doing that, though, you
need to understand the implications that these changes will have on people
other than you. In most cases, the problems associated with opening new
windows outweighs the benefits.

.jeff.