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Link behavior- new tab versus opening in existing tab

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 26 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

mk869
mk869
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I have looked at dozens of support Q and A's and have not been able to figure out how to get links to work how I think they should.

If I click on a link in a tab that opens another site I want that to open a new tab. If I click on a link that goes to a a page on the current website I want it to be in the same tab. If I click on a link in an external program then I want that to be a new tab.

I have played around with about:config settings for browser.link (there are 6) using info found here and elsewhere and no combination I have tried does what I think should happen every time. Some websites do act correctly but others pretty soon have many open tabs when all I was doing was trying to navigate the site.

I even tried the "Open link with new tab" plugin and it doesn't do what it says it can do (I have checked "Open a link to a different site on a tab").

Anyone know how to get Firefox to do what I think is the obvious way to handle it?

I have looked at dozens of support Q and A's and have not been able to figure out how to get links to work how I think they should. If I click on a link in a tab that opens another site I want that to open a new tab. If I click on a link that goes to a a page on the current website I want it to be in the same tab. If I click on a link in an external program then I want that to be a new tab. I have played around with about:config settings for browser.link (there are 6) using info found here and elsewhere and no combination I have tried does what I think should happen every time. Some websites do act correctly but others pretty soon have many open tabs when all I was doing was trying to navigate the site. I even tried the "Open link with new tab" plugin and it doesn't do what it says it can do (I have checked "Open a link to a different site on a tab"). Anyone know how to get Firefox to do what I think is the obvious way to handle it?

All Replies (2)

Terry
Terry
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Regardless of preferences, websites can direct that links open in the current tab or a new tab. There is a detailed answer below.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1365765#answer-1477990

Unless I am familiar with the website, I generally use the right-click menu which has "Open Link in New Tab". I have an extension which adds "Open Link in Current Tab".

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Links you open on a website that do not specify a target window will open in the same tab. You would have to hold the Ctrl key or middle-click with the mouse wheel to force opening in a new tab. Links that specify a target window can be diverted to a new tab via "Settings -> General -> Tabs".

You can modify prefs on the about:config page for finer control and set the action for external links. Normal Links:

  • browser.link.open_newwindow
    1:current tab; 2:new window; 3:new tab;

JavaScript Links and external links:

  • browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction
    0:divert always; 1:divert never; 2:divert no features
  • browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external (see browser.link.open_newwindow)