non-auto pop-ups

[gulliver]

Here's a post looking for some practical clarity.

As a marketer I need to advise clients appropriately.

In liasing with their developers/staff, I often encounter 'existing practices' which are 'perhaps not optimal'. An easily accepted simple example? ...some enthusiastically use frames/tables. (Sadly, this includes webdevelopers delivering substandard service - either knowingly or through simple lack of awareness).

My 'problem' is that as a sole practitioner, I have to cover a lot of ground - too much to have all-areas expert knowledge. There's much I don't understand and, in efforts to develop a working awareness, I spend a lot of time here - frequently getting lost in tech stuff way beyond my competence and interest.

Here's my specific query...

It concerns non-auto pop-ups and their effectiveness - from a 'do the browsers deliver them?' viewpoint.

This is NOT an 'express your views on whether (like frames. tables, et al) they should they be used' issue. [I use them to open small windows containing additional info without leaving the main page - examples - a photo and/or an explanation.]

After a lot of reading, my preferred code is this:

For the html...

<a href="url" target="newWin" onClick="OpenMiniWindow(this.href); return false">link</a>

And in-head or linked javascript...

// Open MiniWindow

function OpenMiniWindow (c) {
     window.open(c,
                             'miniwindow',
'toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=yes,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=450,height=400,left=0,top=0');
}

[The size, position, features etc can obviously be changed]

I've found this to work in most instances... offering a fallback of opening a new full-size window for those with no javascript or choosing to right-click.

My specific request for info is:

1 How are they affected by built-in/after market blockers?
2 Do they cause validation problems?
3 What else am I missing?

Advice appreciated. Please and thanks.

[keyplyr]

I employ user-side pop-ups for much the same reason as you describe and have not had any problems. My JS code is a bit more cross-browser supportive (and larger), but the link code is similiar.

1 How are they affected by built-in/after market blockers?
> I've seen no affect. Only a couple of the blockers will stop a child window, and they all seem to have a way to allow them. So as long as the user knows this, I see no problem. I post a statemenI like "click for pop-up description".

2 Do they cause validation problems?
> Not if your code is correct.

3 What else am I missing?
> Nothing, unless I am too :)

[gulliver]

Thanks. Appreciated.