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**MattCoops** · 01-12-2007, 04:31 PM

trying to keep xhtml 1.0 strict VALID

get errors for <img src="image.gif" border="0">

and <a href="site.com" target="_blank">

what can I use in place of these

want to keep color link visited borders away from linked images
and open some links in another window

how can I while maintaining validated code?

**MattCoops** · 01-12-2007, 04:51 PM

oops, my doctype was xhtml strict

a fix to above problem is making it xhtml 1.0 TRANSITIONAL

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

**LadynRed** · 01-12-2007, 08:29 PM

border="0" is presentational, not allowed in XHTML Strict. Use CSS to turn off image borders:

img{border: none;}

the target attribute is also forbidden in XHTML Strict, it is deprecated and shouldn't be used, opening new windows is generally frowned upon. If you want to open new windows with XHTML Strict, you're going to have to use some javascript. Better not to do it at all. People get disoriented with you start opening windows in their faces and you take away their ability to use the Back button - which the do know how to use and prefer to do so.

**MattCoops** · 01-13-2007, 01:15 AM

thanks for the info

did a little reading on it myself at w3c site

they have LOADS of tidbits there

We only use a few "tools" that we offer customers that will open in other windows.
there not pop ups, there's no frowning upon

I think the only people who frown upon target attributes is google in their ad campaigns

**Tudor.b** · 01-13-2007, 02:09 AM

Read this article to see how you can get your links to open in a new page, even if the DTD is XHTML Strict.

**MattCoops** · 01-13-2007, 03:02 AM

nice tudor.b

just earned some good talkupation

**LadynRed** · 01-13-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

I think the only people who frown upon target attributes is google in their ad campaigns

Sorry, but you think wrong

There are TONS of usability studies that show that opening new windows is simply not a good practice. *I* don't like it when someone litters their site with links that constantly open new windows. WHY do you need a new window ?? I can use my back button and, as I said, studies show that people DO use their back button - a LOT. I've watched people myself, they use the back button, and I"ve watched as new window confuse people - and not unintelligent people either. I don't personally surf that way, but I'm not an 'ordinary' user either.

The method linked above (good link too !) uses javascript to open a new window. which is what I recommended. Usability manners says that if a link is going to open a new window, TELL THEM on the page that the link will open a new window, that way there are no surprises. I do use new windows on our company intranet because we have tons of documents that people open and refer to while they read the rest of the pages, but every link warns people there will be a new window.

**Tudor.b** · 04:44 PM

I'm pleased to hear that you liked my article. When I use that aproach, I usually add make the "taget _blank" links different from the others, so the user will know that the link will be opened in a new page. I sometimes use some small icons to achive this, just like the ones in Wikipedia.I didn't do it on it-base because I lacked the time, but I will, soon enough.

**vangogh** · 01-14-2007, 05:11 PM

Nice article Tudor. I like your site too.

I agree with LadynRed about opening links in new windows. I think the practice started because people were afraid to have someone leave their site, which amounts to not having much confidence in your own site.

Especially now with tabbed browsing and the ability to open any link we want in a new window it's not necessary to force it on people.

I know I do have a few links which open in a new window on my site, though only a few. I do (at least I think I do) let people know they open a new window

**McBone** · 01-14-2007, 06:00 PM

i think new windows are ok at times, eg: my wife's site has a myspace link on, which you have to sign into etc... which is pointless without new window as are forum links, once you start signing into things and filling forms out people tend not to go back, i dunno!?!?!

(dont shout at me

)

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