February 28, 2004

3:05 PM

Is there a way (currently or hypothetically) to customize my account to open exterior links in a new tab, if I'm using that kind of browser? Just curious.
posted by DenOfSizer to feature requests at 3:05 PM (6 comments total)

On your profile page, hit Customize.
posted by mischief at 3:34 PM on February 28, 2004

You can't program web links to open in tabs, only in the same window or a new window. There was talk at one time on the mozilla lists to enable it, but it would require new targets for links that aren't in the HTML spec, and in xhtml 1 strict and beyond, link targets are completely gone.

I myself surf metafilter and other link filled blogs with one finger on the middle mouse button/shift/control/command key (whatever your browser requires to open said link in a new tab).
posted by mathowie at 4:06 PM on February 28, 2004

If you're using Safari for OS X, the Saft plugin will allow pop-ups or exterior links which call a new window to open in tabs instead.
posted by Mo Nickels at 4:11 PM on February 28, 2004

If you're using Mozilla or Firefox, Tab Browser Extensions can be made to open requests for new windows in tabs. FWIW, I believe this (one window mode) is one of the most requested features for the Mozilla/Firefox core code.
posted by turbodog at 5:33 PM on February 28, 2004

Also keep in mind that, in Mozilla/Firefox, middle-clicking on the tab itself will close it. So (as Matt said) you really don't have to do use anything but your scroll wheel to browse a site.
posted by Danelope at 5:58 PM on February 28, 2004

The sweet thing is to get a nice customizable mouse, and set one of the extra buttons to open a link in a new tab. I use firefox that way, and it rules.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:40 AM on February 29, 2004