Embedded links should open in a new page by default

[altenbach]

When embedding links in a post, we have a choice of opening it the same window or in a new window.

Here are some use cases for each selection:

(A) Open link in a new window:

• We want to point to a page containing additional information (e.g. LabVIEW help, a manual, a vendor site, etc) that helps in understanding the current post.
• We want to point to other posts related to the current discusssion but also want to stay on the current page.
• ...

(B) Open link in the same window (current default):

• The question does not belong here and should continue elsewhere (duplicate post, offtopic posts, etc). No need to stay on this page.
• ...

The vast majority of my embedded links fall under (A), so I suggest that should be the default instead of (B).

(Personally I typically shift-click just to be sure, but not everybody knows that trick to force a new window for the link.)

Are there good arguments to keep the curret default?

[RavensFan]

I agree it should be changed.  I think it used to default to "new window", but changed some months ago with one of the forum updates.

[LiliMcDonald]

It is a UX best practice to have the option to open in page, because the user will still have option to right click hyperlink > open in new tab, or ctrl+click, or whatever option they have setup to open in new tab (for me it's mouse 3, and I almost always prefer to open in a new tab).

Whereas if the default is always open in new tab, the user only has this option and may find it annoying as well that they're being forced to a new tab. The "open in new tab" option is best for a hyperlink in the middle of a page such as a form.

Thanks,

[altenbach]

OK, I am fine with that. Personally, I almost always press shift-click to make sure they don't re-use the current window. Having to press the back button takes so much longer, especially if it has to re-render a complicated page.

Since there are only two options, maybe lithium could make the choice a radiobutton (B) instead of a ring (A). If is much faster to click a radiobutton selection than to "click...hold...move down to the correct entry...release". It is also immediately obvious what the choices are. (With a ring we don't even know what the other choices are until we click it :()

[LiliMcDonald]

I think that's a good option. The Lithium platform actually uses the TinyMCE editor, so this may be possible. Let me do some investigating and I'll report back.