# Opening links in a new window **URL:** \ **Category:** Redcloth\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439 "2009-08-26T20:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/1 "2009-08-26T20:19:08Z")
Hi, Short question: How do I create links that open in a new browser window/tab without resorting to raw HTML? Long question: So I want to have links like so: [This is a link](http://wherever.com) I’ve got some javascript that runs on every page after it is loaded and translates the rel=‘external’ into target=‘\_blank’. Stupid XHTML 1.0 strict doesn’t allow target=‘\_blank’ even though all browsers support it, so the javascript magic is purely so my html is validated against it. I know I can just put raw HTML in, but I don’t want to. There has to be an easier way, using the lovely RedCloth syntax. Help? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/2 "2009-08-28T13:23:38Z")
Em 26-08-2009 18:18, Asfand Yar Q. escreveu: > Hi, > > … > I’ve got some javascript that runs on every page after it is loaded > and translates the rel=‘external’ into target=‘\_blank’. Stupid XHTML > 1.0 strict doesn’t allow target=‘\_blank’ even though all browsers > support it, so the javascript magic is purely so my html is validated > against it. Hi Asfand, sorry I don’t know the answer, but I’m curious. Why do you need it to be validated as XHTML strict? The idea behind XHTML strict is to make your site accessible. Using Javascript per se makes your site innacessible (more than using target=“\_blank”), since Javascript is not standardized. And what do you mean by “all browsers”? Do you know there are console browsers, brailer browsers, cell phones, etc? Opening a new page is not always clear in all environments. It is easy to understand that a knew page is open when a normal person stands in front of a common desktop browser. But XHTML stricts aims at accessibility and that is why the target attribute is not allowed. If you are not concerned about making your site accessible to blind people or mobile users, than you should not be using XHTML Strict, in my opinion. Choose one that allows target attribute instead of using Javascript where you don’t need it. Or does your client asked the pages to be validated with XHTML Strict? If so, and if they are concerned about accessibility, the approach you are taking will not be accepted by it. But if the client just doesn’t know what XHTML Strict mean, then feel free to continue doing it that way. Rodrigo. ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/3 "2009-08-28T15:27:42Z")
In other words it’s not possible - that’s all I needed to know 🙂 If a person’s browser does not support opening links in a new window, then the link will simply open in the same window. In other words, by conforming to XHTML 1.0 Strict, the functionality is not reduced, just a bit of convenience goes away. But for the majority of my users’ browsers, the bit of extra convenience is added to allow the link to open in a new window. 2009/8/28 Rodrigo Rosenfeld R. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/4 "2009-08-29T09:09:34Z")
I’d say using Javascript instead of target="\_blank" is a good call. May I suggest, then, just using a CSS class to denote which should be external? Any JS library should be able to observe all A tags of a certain class and make them open in a new window. ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/5 "2009-08-29T11:31:13Z")
That’s actually a brilliant idea. I didn’t think of that. It makes perfect sense. I was using the guidelines of some article that said use rel=external instead of target=\_blank. On the other hand, having thought about what Rodrigo said, and read a few articles, I think I might just stop opening links in a new window anyway. It confuses or annoys users apparently. Thanks all 2009/8/29 Jason G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/opening-links-in-a-new-window/174439/6 "2009-09-03T13:18:38Z")
Hi 🙂 javascript is the better option. For the user-centre view, I’m pissed off by links that make new windows on the same site. If someone jumps me to a ‘side bar’, ‘note’ or ‘reference’, then I might prefer a new window if it is ‘substantial’ and a pop-up or overlay if it is a small description (for example). What if you are not sure about someone who is NOT me? You could bring up an overlay pop-up and ask if he wants links opened in a new window or as overlays and record that preference. Just a thought Take care, \_w\_/ 2009/8/29 Asfand Yar Q. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > 2009/8/29 Jason G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): > > > I’d say using Javascript instead of target=“\_blank” is a good call. May > > I aloha, \_w\_/