Why is the popup function important?

[dedanna1029]

Everything except inter-forum links pop up in a new window or tab anyway, when displayed as normal or hyperlinked urls. The only use for the popup function that I can see, is for the inter-forum links, which do not open in a new tab or window, or just to make things look pretty (which I myself really don't care about anyway, and don't think they are very pretty; in fact, it makes them look big and bulky, comparatively speaking). How about making inter-forum links open in a new tab or window when displayed normally, and call it good?

[viking60]

Everything except inter-forum links pop up in a new window or tab anyway, when displayed as normal or hyperlinked urls. The only use for the popup function that I can see, is for the inter-forum links, which do not open in a new tab or window, or just to make things look pretty (which I myself really don't care about anyway, and don't think they are very pretty; in fact, it makes them look big and bulky, comparatively speaking). How about making inter-forum links open in a new tab or window when displayed normally, and call it good?

You are making sense here! The normal link does pop up a new window the only difference is that the popup window has a predefined size. So it is close to useless and you have my sympathy and understanding for not using it. Especially since it has a buggy behavior during preview.
I will leave it for a while longer though, since you are confirming that it looks darn good But if I cannot fix the buggy behavior this one is on the execution list

[dedanna1029]

When you put it on the execution list (and I confirmed it looks nothing of the sort lol), note I say "when", and not "if", you will need to figure out something for inter-forum links, which do not open in a new tab or window.

Also note I have not used the popup function but one time here, and that was just to try it out - was tempted to do a regular hyperlink on it afterwards.

Edit: The popup that the popup function brings is even useless to me - the only way to bookmark the thing is with the Ctrl+D combo, which makes one unable to categorize it or edit the bookmark in any way. One doesn't even get the browser menu or anything with it - just the page itself. I get the option to in Windows, but not in Linux, where I prefer to spend my time, as I'm sure most here do.

Thanks.

[dedanna1029]

DOWN WITH THE POPUP FUNCTION! and up with making inter-forum links pop up in a new tab!

This is an inter-forum link, so right-click it and tell it to open in a new tab or window!

[viking60]

DOWN WITH THE POPUP FUNCTION! and up with making inter-forum links pop up in a new tab!

This is an inter-forum link, so right-click it and tell it to open in a new tab or window!

As requested:

The superduper interforum Link

That's what you meant right

[dedanna1029]

No. I meant when we give forum links in posts, they don't pop up in a new tab or window when clicked on (when not using the popup function). All outside links do though.

That popup just gave me about:blank - that's the function I want to say good-bye to, is the popup function. It pops things up in chrome or iron or chromium with no ability to bookmark them (and no browser menu) other than Ctrl+D, which gives no ability to categorize the bookmarks into folders.

[dedanna1029]

Inter-forum link, right-click this and tell it to open in a new tab or window, or it won't, with explanation included here and there on it.

However, you do not need to right-click this one and tell it to open in a new tab or window, as it is a link outside the forum (linux.org) and will open in a new tab or window just by simply left-clicking it.

I have noticed this behavior in other forums as well that are on at least phpbb3.

I am beginning to suspect that the popup function is only there for forum links; ones within the same forum. The others, outside of the forum, have absolutely no need of the popup function, as they pop up in another tab or window anyway, and do so with much more functionality in all browsers; ability to bookmark, and use the menu in the browser is there that way. The problem with that being, that we can't differentiate that to the users, so they would use one or the other anyway; either a normal hyperlink or the popup function; I prefer simply hyperlinking (and the code for it is easier, too). The popup function to me is way too messy, the code isn't inherent or natural, and the button is huge, just for a link.

[rvause]

My colleagues hate me when I bring this up, but I have a strong belief that people, as web browser users are generally becoming more savvy and more comfortable handling their choice of web browser.

I figure the "open in new window" thing came from the days when we didn't have tabs, middle-clicking and various other shortcuts.

I think that the behavior of links when clicked should be left entirely up to the people using the site. For that reason all sites and web apps I work on allow the user to control the behavior of link clicking. If I really need to pop something up I would use a little bit of CSS/Javascript trickery. Facebox is an awesome example of this: https://github.com/defunkt/facebox.

There are two problems with the pop up link that viking60 posted above. A. It forces the browser to pop up the link in a small window with no controls. B. There is no URL there for a right-click, middle click Ctrl+Click to launch the link in the new tab/window.

[dedanna1029]

There are two problems with the pop up link that viking60 posted above. A. It forces the browser to pop up the link in a small window with no controls. B. There is no URL there for a right-click, middle click Ctrl+Click to launch the link in the new tab/window.

My point exactly.

But then, if we were to not have it, how would we make the inter-forum links pop up in a new tab or window, as they presently don't (yet everything else does)?

[viking60]

The forum links not opening in a new window could be regarded as a feature. Ending up with 10 tabs where you are logged in at the same forum can be a waste of memory. (And the <back> button is usually on the upper left corner of the browser. )
The popup criticism is good though. But removing the popup option will destroy all existing popup links and I don't feel like fixing them manually
Not using it seems to be the best option here.

[dedanna1029]

The forum links not opening in a new window could be regarded as a feature. Ending up with 10 tabs where you are logged in at the same forum can be a waste of memory. (And the <back> button is usually on the upper left corner of the browser. )

I was going to say that yes, but we don't need to lose the thread we're on, either. We may want to respond to what we're reading, doncha no... we shouldn't have to "Back" for that. It's a natural thing to just want to hit "Reply", without having to mutz about it.