Content on popup pages vs. regular pages

[dartman]

When offering links on a page to on-site topics such as a Buyers Guide, Sizing Help or other "how to" or information type content - is it preferable to use a jscript popup window or a regular page? I'm thinking that something short like a "Size Help" blurb would do fine as a popup but is there a good rule of thumb to help choose between a popup vs. a full *.htm page?

Thanks.

[sands]

Popup windows are very convenient and as not too many folks disable JavaScript they would work for most of your visitors. In fact some sites reply totally on JS validation for example, and hardly ever seem to have any problems. But it is always a good practice to have some kind of alternative for those few who do disable JS. If it would be too much of trouble to have an alternative it is best to stick to popups but add a title to each such link with a brief explanation so as not to leave those who have disabled JS high and dry. You could also think of having popup layers instead of windows. These would be better to look at and can be easily customized to match the look of your site.

[drummin]

I'm thinking that something short like a "Size Help" blurb would do fine as a popup but is there a good rule of thumb to help choose between a popup vs. a full *.htm page?

I have to agree with Sands. But auto pop ups can be very annoying. Only add "Click here for an explanation" type links.

For small in-site pop ups, JS is the way to go. But if you're loading up a large amount of text as a "How To" page, you may not want your visitor to leave the page or there might be more content than a "popup" might provide. In this case I would use a (target="_blank") type of link opening the page on top of current page. I would also use this type if you were say, recommending an off-site page.

Just my two cents worth...
Drummin

[Faglork]

Javascript popups are an accessibility nightmare. If you use them, provide an accessible alternative. For example:


<a href="normal_html_page.html" oncklick="openwindow ...." title="Klick for an Explanation of ..." />

This way, if javascript is disabled or not available, visitors get the link to a HTML page. If JS is enabled, the "onclick" overrides the "href" and you get the popup.

Another way could be to use pure CSS popups.


hth,
faglork[/code]

[sands]

<a href="normal_html_page.html" oncklick="openwindow ...." title="Klick for an Explanation of ..." />

This way, if javascript is disabled or not available, visitors get the link to a HTML page. If JS is enabled, the "onclick" overrides the "href" and you get the popup.


You mean window.open()? In such a case there is no such override feature. The original page would load the normal_html_page.html and the JS would open another window, i.e. a popup.

[Dcrux]

A content-discussion question might be: When are pop-up windows usable? (http://www.benefit-from-it.com/index.php?fa=wdu101navLinks.popups)

And the answer is help, dictionary and form pages.

See, making this a thread which fits the forum topic wasn't very hard, now was it?

[bj]

If what you're explaining only takes a sentence or two, you'd be better served by css tooltip type display, using, as faglork suggested, css popups, or possibly some other css method, such as the use of the title attribute. Of course, these things would be easier if IE supported hover on more than just links. Anything that uses css AND hover that you want to work in IE6 and lower will require some sort of scripting called through conditional comments, whether it be csshover.htc (which can be problematical in XP sp4, which is amazing, since .htc is a proprietary MS extension!) or one of the javascript hover support scripts.

[dartman]

Thanks for the advice. We will look into the suggestions, particularly the workaround for viewers that may have JS disabled.

We do not use any auto-popups. The popups we use are clickon links to popup a small box of additional information rather then taking the viewer to another page.

Thank you all for sharing your comments.

[danners02]

I would avoid pop-ups where possible although if you have to use them I would recommend the following code:
<a href="javascript:window.open('http://www.domain.com/popup.htm','','width=200,height=350');void 0;>Click here</a>

Would recommend using DHTML pop-ups or show/hide divs - this way the content of those divs will be on the same page (within the code)

[gabrielharrison]

You mean window.open()? In such a case there is no such override feature. The original page would load the normal_html_page.html and the JS would open another window, i.e. a popup.

To solve this problem use a js return value of false to stop the non-js page from loading.


<a href="normal_html_page.html" onclick="return openwindow(...)" title="Click for an Explanation of ..." />


function openwindow() {
window.open(....);
...
...
return false; //Stop href address being loaded
}

If JS is disabled the function never gets run so the href address gets loaded.

Gabriel[/code]

[Faglork]

Thanks gabrielharrison,

I should have been more specific. It is exactly as you say.

Apart from that, popups always assume that you have a rather large screen. On small screens there will be an usability issue as well, so in general I would not use them. Just too much fussing to get them right, too much cons, very few pros.

faglork

[sands]

If JS is disabled the function never gets run so the href address gets loaded

Tops!

[kgun]

Automatic pop up windows (or hower ads), a reason I do not link to a site. The same for sites with
- screen saver downloads
- bad redirects
- suspect messages that your computer is in danger etc.

[skrause022]

Yes those freaking pop ups are annoying but what about those sneaky ones that pop up under the webpage?!?!?! The damn techies never fail!!! Here is a program to help u fix the problem onece and for all....well at least 6 to 8 months..It has latest firewalls and bug fixes...

http://hop.clickbank.net/?skrause022/onpoint

[Faglork]

Yes those freaking pop ups are annoying but what about those sneaky ones that pop up under the webpage?!?!?!

"sneaky" indeed. Best way to drive visitors off the page. Simply a nuisance.

faglork

[picklemind]

popup, popunder are both annoying but my vote for most annoying are the hideous ROLLOVERpopup ads. ug. (NEVER RETURN to the site ....)

[dartman]

We use a ¼ page JS popup primarily for a size guide (labeled "Felt Size Help). On our main page we changed it to target-blank but left it alone on our buy pages - no need to take the buyer away from the buy page. We use tooltips on just about every link thruout our site.

We detest "auto" popups, popunders, popsideways and any other way one can get popped without asking.