Open "Similar Historical Records" listed in an attached source in a new window rather than in the cu

LegacyUser

George Scott said: Often when you look at a source attached to a Family Tree record, there are other sources which might pertain to the individual listed as "Similar Historical Records" in the lower right-hand corner of the attached source. But when you click on one of these sources, it is opened in the current window, so you lose the Family Tree record you were working on. The problem could easily be solved by opening the new source in a new window.
The same idea could be applied in other Family Tree web pages. For instance, when you are in a Family Tree record and click on the Feedback link, you are taken to the Feedback feature in the current window, so you no longer have access to the FT record you were working on.
Likewise, if you are in the Source Attachment Tool, and you want to look at a person listed in the right-hand column before you attach the source to the person, you are taken to that person's FT record in the current window, so you no longer have access to the Source Attachment Tool in which you were working.
These would be simple changes to make which would considerably improve navigation in Family Tree.

LegacyUser

Gordon Collett said: Apparently, what to have links do when clicked is a major debate among those who decide best practices in regards to website design. Here is one article that summarized the issue:
https://medium.com/the-metric/links-s...

As I've browsed around looking at this issue before, there does seem to be an overall consensus to be as consistent across the web as possible, let web browsers do their job, and let end users control links in the manner they desire through making use of the browser controls they should be well familiar with.

In other words, the preference is for links to open in the same window if at all possible and for users of any website to open links in new tabs or windows if they want to by using the proper browser command. In all the browsers I am familiar with, this is done by using the right click button on your mouse or the equivalent keyboard or touch pad function. This works very nicely for the items you mention above.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: When you click on a link, whether that causes the link to open in place, open in a new tab, or open in a new window is, of course, controlled primarily by the software on the site. However, the best choice is also based on whether you're using a dinky little cell phone, a tablet, a desktop computer, or a desktop computer with three screens. It also depends on your personal workflow.

So the fact is, the developers cannot come up with a choice that meets all of those needs. That is why Gordon just explained that all browsers have the ability to open something in a new tab or a new window based on the choice of the person. I use Safari and if I ever hold down the Command key and click on a link, it (almost) always opens that page in a new window. If I hold down my Option and Command keys at the same time as clicking on a link, it will (almost) always open that page in a new window.

I have to say "almost" always, because frequently, the developers will put in code for links that intentionally BLOCK the normal browser capabilities allowing the user to select open in new tab or open in new window. It is infuriating when they do this and block my ability to do what I have done for years, just so they can put in some "superior" design :-( (which is rarely superior IMHO)

So the trick is to learn how to use the capabilities of your browsers for these situations as the developers will NEVER provide something that works in all cases to everyone's desire when it comes to the handling of tabs and windows. You better off learning to do it yourself and then identifying all the pages where they have blocked this more useful capability. That way you can have a new tab or window set up BEFORE you get into the dead-end-alley situation.