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javascriptwindowfirefox4

Firefox 4: Dynamically opened window opens new tabs in old window (i.e. window.opener)


This seems to be a strange change of functionality since Firefox 4. After opening a window with window.open(), when clicking links in the opened window with the middle mouse button (or right-clicking and selecting 'open in new tab') results in the link being opened in a new tab in the old window.

In Firefox 3, the tab would have opened in the new window.

Example code, index.html:

<html>
    <head>
        <script type="text/javascript">
            function foo() {
                var w = window.open('page2.html', 'foobar', 'target=_blank');
            }
        </script>
    </head>
    <body>
        <a href="#" onclick="foo()">bar</a>
    </body>
</html>

page2.html:

<html>
    <head />
    <body>
        <a href="www.google.com">google</a>
    </body>
</html>

After opening page2 from index.html and middle-clicking the google link, a new tab appears in the window that contains index.html.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

EDIT: Chrome does the same thing.


Solution

  • The mozilla team says this behaviour is by design and will not be fixed. See above links for discussion.