Forum Moderators: phranque
IMO, straight links to secondary info pages is the safest strategy now. If a webmaster is the type that worries whether X percentage are visiting his site with javascript disabled, then I believe he'd better consider the fact that an even greater percentage will be armed with ad-blockers.
(BTW, godaddy just started offering a pop-up blocker. This issue has become one of enhanced customer service.)
Point two: in the rare occasions when this happens; as soon as a pop-up appears, my mouse goes onto autopilot and the little cross in the top right corner is click upon. Usually faster than the pop-up page has had a chance to load any part of it. Sometimes, even Alt-F4 is pressed. So you can never guarantee that the pop-up will be seen, for shipping policies/cutoff dates - this is not a good idea. The simple big text is often better.
If you're going to keep the info on-page, then I think that a right-hand column is ideal for mission-critical info since it's positioned by the scroll bar.
<a href="newpage.html" onClick="popup('newpage.html');return false;"></a>
That technique serves up a regular page to the javascript disabled (and the spiders!) but a pop-up page to the majority.
Some pop-up blockers only block "automatic" pop-ups, and allow pop-ups generated by user action. That's the way I'd like to see them all work, but in the mean time my technique serves pretty well.
Heh! I know you do, tedster. I've been expecting you in this thread. Have you tried your code against panicware?
Popups = me popping out.
Have you tried your code against panicware?
Well, I wish you hadn't asked that, rc. I just tried Panicware and I see that it blocks both the pop-up script AND the regular link from functioning. At least it's easy enough to toggle.
That is not a well thought-out app, in my book, but there we have it. Much better is Opera's pop-up blocker which still allows the regular link to work.
Irrespective of intent or content, pop-ups and unders are one hair more annoying than...
I should make it clear that these pop-ups I use are activated by clicking on a link - there's nothing automatic about them. I also despise anyone serving me a new window when I didn't ask for it.
The user input from these sites I developed with "opt-in" pop-up windows has been very positive, with a specific focus on ease of use. I'm sure hoping that the blocking craze doesn't get TOO big. So far, no problems for us - these clients are doing very well.
I knew you wouldn't like it, tedster. Opera, as much as many pros here like it, just isn't statistically significant when it comes to JohnQ. Unless you're the type to dismiss percentages of traffic as being too hard to reclaim (and I know you're not), with something like 2 million downloads, good app or bad, this one has to be on your radarscreen. And that's just panicware.
<a href='page.htm' target='target1'>link</a>
I know the window won't be as well controlled but I still think its best to pop a window for some cases (ie showing a larger detailed picture of a product)
Is using CSS and layers a viable alternative? Maybe making visible something that looks like a pop-up complete with the close box 'x'. Would have to watch overhead but there might be workarounds for this.
And there's always that dang cross-browser compatibility. Oh well, just a thought.
Jim
I'm wondering about Earthlink now -- they're advertising pop-up blocking on TV. Anyone know how it works?
Is using CSS and layers a viable alternative? Maybe making visible something that looks like a pop-up complete with the close box 'x'.
In some situations, yes. But I've got pages with 50 or 60 pop-up boxes that can be triggered by the user's click. Placing that much content in one HTML document would be prohibitive.
I'm an earthlink subscriber but haven't used their blocker. (Yes, they were advertising it quite heavily for a while --a service enhancement.) So, we have AOL, Earthlink, Godaddy, Panicware, and scores of other vendors distributing all flavors of blockers (ummm, shall I venture that cookies big are on the nuke-em list, too?).
Ahh, those are not annoying. I've never even considered that type of set-up as being a pop-up. After all, whenever anyone clicks a link, he or she is expecting it to transfer the focus to different content.
It's the attitude of some sites and companies with their "here, look at this right now cause I'm saying you have too, muwhahahahaha, click the x will ya? Fine, here's another and maybe even another just cause I can" attitude that will send me and my wallet sweeping across the web prairie to their competitors.
<a href="newpage.html" onClick="popup('newpage.html');return false;"></a>
May be altered to <a href="newpage.html" onClick="popup(!'newpage.html'!);return false;"></a>
Thus it gives you a JavaScript error (and this looks bad to users, but many people have the errors switched off and now do not understand why they can't view your refund policy - no policy=no purchase). Best option is to avoid pop-ups at all costs. They will cost you conversions.
I installed the Earthlink popup blocker as soon as it was available. Imperfect software, but works for me.
It defines anything that opens a new window to be a popup, so by default would block clicks on related threads here at Webmasterworld. I very much hope that a later version will be coded more intelligently, it is unwanted popups that I object to, not opening a second window.
BUT it allows two mechanisms to bypass that:
And, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, I have Cookie Pal to block unwanted cookies :)
Just to keep the voices in my head from screaming at me, I think I'm going to drop a note to Panicware, Earthlink and any others I find whose code is written too broadly (and too lazily, I might add.)
Netscape 7.01 [download.com.com]
This update adds Popup Window controls, allowing you to suppress pop-up ads when browsing.
I find them very useful for small informational bits of information and for small forms.
I don't want to remove the originating page from the screen, so the smaller window works wonderfully.
There are no automatic popups or unders.
I've also tested the most recent Norton blocker (2003). There's no javascript error generated by it and the regular link stays functional.
I think my approach will remain safe -- there are too many reasons for blockers not to nail that method.
Caroline Chaudhary
How does that noads.exe blocker work on user clicked pop-ups -- as opposed to automatically launched ones? I'm having trouble with the installation so I can't test it for myself.
