Feature Proposal: Open External Links in New Window or Tab

Motivation

Navigation within a TWiki site is naturally page by page, which builds a "page visit breadcrumb". When you click on an external link you navigate away from TWiki. There is no easy way to go back to TWiki unless you hit the back button (possibly several times).

Description and Documentation

By default, external links defined simply by URL or by double-square bracket rule should open up a new window or browser tab.

Show trailing external link icon on external links.

• Example: Google.

New configure settings:

• {Links}{ExternalLinksInNewWindow} to open external links in new Window or tab, default is on.
• {Links}{ExternalLinksIcon} to show trailing external links icon, default is on. Possibly with option to show link type icon, such as pdf, doc, etc?

Examples

Impact

Implementation

Add attribute target="_blank" to external links of [[url][label]], [[url]], http:// and https:// URLs.

-- Contributors: PeterThoeny - 2012-12-06

Discussion

This feature is accepted by release meeting, JerusalemReleaseMeeting2012x12x07, with addition to show a configurable external link icon trailing external links. Proposal updated accordingly.

-- PeterThoeny - 2012-12-07

This is now done in SVN trunk. Test cases, unit tests and TWikiEditingShorthands are updated as well.

-- PeterThoeny - 2012-12-10