URL Links... Frustrating forum software bug...

nfbr · Post by **nfbr** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:12 pm

Any chance someone who looks after the coding/development side of the forum can fix a silly little bug which is quite frustrating?

Whenever a user clicks on a link i.e. This one: http://www.google.co.uk It takes them away from the site in the same tab.
Being a user of probably 12 or more other forums, none of the other forums do this, so on here, when I find a link I wanna view, I click it, it opens in the same tab, I finish what I'm reading/looking at and close the tab, then think... Ah nuts. Just closed the Z4 Forum...

Yes, I know I can right click and select 'open in new tab', however, I'm forgetful and don't remember to do that on here due to being so used to using the other forums I frequent.

From what I know, it's a simple bit of coding in the main forum software, depending on how basic the forum software is, There's probably even a tickbox option for it somewhere in the forum admin panel.

P.S. I just discovered; oddly enough, if people use the URL coding properly like this: Google - It actually opens in a new tab? WTF?

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:13 pm

Interesting... On my iPad that opens a new tab in Safari

thepits · Post by **thepits** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:14 pm

It's nothing to do with the site, that's the way that mircosoft works

- just remember to Right click the link, for the option to open in a new tab or window

T2FFN · Post by **T2FFN** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:15 pm

I think thats a local preference, so set within the users browser preference rather than within the website itself.

It will also depend if the link is recognised as a link.

nfbr · Post by **nfbr** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:15 pm

Re-Read - I had to make an edit! If the [ URL ] [ / URL ] codes are used, It doesn't open in the same tab... Very odd.

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:16 pm

On my Android tablet it also opens could be a setting at your end?

nfbr · Post by **nfbr** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:18 pm

nfbr wrote:Yes, I know I can right click and select 'open in new tab', however, I'm forgetful and don't remember to do that on here due to being so used to using the other forums I frequent.

thepits wrote:Right click the link, it will give you an option to open in a new tab or window

There's always one...

Swiftly wrote:On my Android tablet it also opens could be a setting at your end?

Macbook Pro running both Chrome and Safari - Both do it. the non-coded link opens in same tab, the coded link opens in new.
iPad Mini - Running Chrome - Same as above
Window PC - Running Chrome and I.E. - Same as above

Android may have something set in their o/s to always open links in new tabs, although that'd be pretty annoying if browsing a normal website.

thepits wrote:It's nothing to do with the site, that's the way that mircosoft works

As c**p as Microsoft are, I'm currently at home using my Macbook pro on Google Chrome

thepits · Post by **thepits** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:26 pm

@ nfbr - you using IE?

nfbr · Post by **nfbr** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:30 pm

thepits wrote:@ nfbr - you using IE?

lol - Only for Testing purposes. My machines at work (PC and Mac Mini) both have about 5 or more different web browsers for testing purposes.
Contrary to popular belief some of our customers do actually use I.E. Clearly they are more into cars than ICT.

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:36 pm

Okay, that opens in the same tab on safari now. You need the url tags on here, no biggie though ?

thepits · Post by **thepits** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:38 pm

they use IE as it comes with their standard mircosoft installation

I'm using IE 11 at the moment

- it works for me [most of the time

] but I do have a few alternatives if necessary [and I know a few workarounds

]

markeg · Post by **markeg** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:14 am

I set the value within the url code, as in [ u r l = www etc ] linky [ / u r l ] then it opens in a new tab....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Post by **srhutch** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:22 am

markeg wrote:I set the value within the url code, as in [ u r l = www etc ] linky [ / u r l ] then it opens in a new tab....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

As above, it all depends how the post was created as to whether it opens a new tab or not.

If you just write www.xxxxxxxx then it uses the existing tab, using the Utd code opens a new tab.

nfbr · Post by **nfbr** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:45 am

srhutch wrote:
markeg wrote:As above, it all depends how the post was created as to whether it opens a new tab or not.
If you just write http://www.xxxxxxxx then it uses the existing tab, using the Utd code opens a new tab.

This is all well and good but it relies on the forum users knowing how to code their links (which 90% either don't or can't be bothered). I'm pretty certain phpBB has a setting to automatically code any URLs that users enter?

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:17 am

That's a fair point - if it can be automated then I guess that makes life easier. Drop the boss (sp3ctre) or one of the other mods a PM. Otherwise I'm sure one of them will comment soon.

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