open link in a new tab

  • Unknown's avatar
    carmelitequotes · Member ·

    You guys, the number of steps it takes to open a link in a new tab is getting out of hand. At one point it took only 2 to 3 steps to add a link and set it to open in a new tab. Today it required 7 or 8 steps – frankly, I lost count – to add a link and set it to open in a new tab.

    What is going on?

    WP.com: Yes
    Jetpack: No
    Correct account: Yes

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • aleone89 · Staff ·

    Hey there,

    Thanks for reaching out!

    Hmm, this does sounds interesting – what post/page are you working on, and where are you looking to add the link?

    I’m wondering if we can replicate these steps your taking and/or streamline the processes being handled there.

    Looking forward to hearing from you!

  • Unknown's avatar
    astragali · Member ·

    Originally, the process was

    1. Click “Insert Link”
    2. Paste URL into text box.
    3. Click the “Open link in new tab” checkbox.
    4. Press Enter.

    Now, if you want a link to open in a new tab, you have to

    1. Click “Insert Link”
    2. Paste URL into text box.
    3. Press Enter.
    4. Click on the link you just created.
    5. Click the Edit button.
    6. Click on Advanced Settings, which has NOW appeared.
    7. Click the “Open link in new tab” checkbox.

    This seems like change for change’s sake, and is time-wasting, especially as ALL the links I use (and there are many hundred, overall, because I still have nearly 300 posts to write) are ones I want opening in a new tab.

    Please revert to the previous behaviour!

  • Unknown's avatar
    helper-heroponriki · Member ·

    Hi there!

    That’s one way to add a link, but there is another way that’s much simpler.

    WP
    WordPress Editor » Add Links to Text
    in WordPress.com Support
    3 min read
    A link is a word or a group of words you can click on to go to another page. You can also add links to images, buttons, and menus. This guide will show you how to create text links on your site. Create a Text Link There are several ways to add links (also known as hyperlinks) to words in pages, posts, and anywhere else that you normally edit text. Method One: The Link Button
    1. Copy the URL you want to link to your computer’s clipboard.
    2. In the editor, highlight the text you want to add a link.
    3. Paste the URL directly onto the highlighted text. You can do this by right-clicking and choosing Paste or by using the keyboard shortcut.
    4. This will automatically create a link. The highlighted text will now appear underlined to let you know it is linked.

    Then, you should see this window pop up after pasting the link.

    Click the pencil icon, then expand the Advanced area to set the tab to open in a new window. This should be fewer steps than what you’re using now. Give it a try!

    Let us know if you have any questions or need help with anything else.

  • Unknown's avatar
    astragali · Member ·

    OK, that’s definitely a help for external links, thank you.

    If you have a simplified method for linking to posts on one’s own blog, please, that would be great, as it’s going to be a pain to have to bring up the post you want to link to in another window, if your technique is to be used, rather than using the search box (which will still require the 7-step method).

  • staff-arihere · Staff ·

    You’re right that the steps to link to internal pages of your site will return you to the slightly longer process – as setting the link from the search results will close the link editor at first, so you’ll need to reopen.

    While I don’t have a solution for that at the moment, I can share it is more common feedback (that the extra steps required here feel unnecessary and time consuming), and the developers working on the Editor interface here at WordPress.com and in the open-source community are working on improving the experience of setting up links. I expect we’ll see improvement on that which streamlines the experience and reduces the steps you have to take in upcoming updates of the software.

    Hope this helps!

  • Unknown's avatar
    astragali · Member ·

    Thanks, cuemarie!

    I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a “friendlier” solution :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    carmelitequotes · Member ·

    To everyone in this thread, thanks for your replies.
    @astragali explained the situation perfectly, a process that I was too impatient to even explain.
    @staff-heroponriki described the process that I eventually figured out was going to save clicks.
    My frustration, as staff-arihere deduced, is that the process just. takes. too. many. clicks. The effective use of links has helped to drive my niche blog to the top of Google search results for my particular subject matter. I’m looking for the most expedient way to add those links.
    Thanks again!

  • The topic ‘open link in a new tab’ is closed to new replies.