Web Team Procedures and Notes

This page is intended for use only by the Web Team.

Standards-Compliant New Window Links (aka popup windows)

Test of a completely accessible popup window with window size set:

1. BEST OPTION IN MOST CASES (because uses focus to bring new window in front of other windows):
   
   Ohlone College home page (new window) (uses windowname, window.open(), and focuses popup window)
   

   <a href="http://www.ohlone.edu/" 
    target="newWindow2"
    onclick="var w=window.open(this.href, this.target, 
    'width=400,height=400,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes'); 
    w.focus(); 
    return false;">Ohlone College home page (new window)</a>

2. Good but doesn't focus new window:
   
   Ohlone College home page (new window) (uses windowname and window.open())
   

   <a href="http://www.ohlone.edu/" 
    target="newWindow"
    onclick="window.open(this.href, this.target, 'width=400,height=400,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes'); return false"
   >Ohlone College home page (new window)</a>

3. Good but relies on global javascript file never changing and always being linked to:
   
   Ohlone College home page (new window) (uses windowname and function created in global JavaScript file; focus() is included)
   

   <a href="http://www.ohlone.edu/" 
    target="newWindow3"
    onclick="javascript:openwindow(this.href,this.target,'width=400,height=400,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');return false;">Ohlone College home page (new window)</a>

4. DO NOT USE THIS METHOD (target attribute is deprecated):
   
   Ohlone College home page (new window) (uses deprecated target="_blank" attribute of <a> tag)
   

   <a href="http://www.ohlone.edu/" 
    target="_blank"
    onclick="window.open(this.href, this.target, 'width=400,height=400,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes'); return false"
   >Ohlone College home page (new window)</a>

References

• Read this: New-Window Links in a Standards-Compliant World
• all about window.open()
• evolt.org: Links & JavaScript Living Together in Harmony
• A List Apart: Accessible Pop-up Links