Glossary - pop-up or iframe (or neither)

how best to achieve a pop-up effect

[Dave McClure]

I want to present some technical description using correct technical terms. However, on the first instance of each new technical term in the page, I want a link to a glossary definition. I used to do this with a js popup, which looked fine until ms introduced the 'active content warning bar'. Also, my glossary link style is clearly distinguishable from other links, so can be safely ignored by people who don't need the definitions. I'm now considering using an iframe in a div instead, but it seems like a retrograde step, going back to frames of any kind. Also I prefer working in 4.01 strict and css. I definitely don't want to open new windows for these glossary definitions, and I only ever want one (or none) open at the same time. I'd welcome any suggestions, thanks.

[lavazza]

On mouseover "CSS popups" perhaps?

[meyerweb.com...]

Elsewhere... there are "Information balloon pop-ups"

[Dave McClure]

Lavazza -

Thanks for that. It's a smart idea.

[tedster]

There is one factor I'd suggest taking into account. CSS pop-ups show/hide place all the information that can ever display into one html document. Other solutions (iframes or javascript pop-ups) mean that each definition is in its own html document. This difference can have a very profound effect on the way a url's keyword relevance is scored by search engines.

Also note that the IE "active content warning bar" is more intrusive when you are running files locally without a local server. Javascript pop-ups served online from a click rather than a hover are not so problematic.

[Dave McClure]

Tedster - thanks for that. You're saying that as individual html pages, my 100 (approx) glossary definitions would all be out there 'working for me' with the search engines. That's a very good point, especially as many of them are very likely to be searched for by the desired target audience. And yes, I do use click rather than mouseover at present for glossary pop-up because I do want it to be a deliberate choice, not a surprise.

[tedster]

You're saying that as individual html pages, my 100 (approx) glossary definitions would all be out there 'working for me'

Yes, if you code them with search engine bots in mind, these small pages can be an asset. Give some thought to any search traffic that would come directly to that html page, but not displayed in a pop-up window. They'll need some navigation to get into the main pages.

The anchor tag that calls the pop-up script should also include a regular html link -- for user agents that do not run javascript. Then the actual javascript pop-up function call should end with ;return:false; so that the main page does not also load the definition for those who have javascript turned on.

[Dave McClure]

Thanks again. A little bit of work to do, but now with a better idea of where I'm taking it.