need method to auto launch multiple links in multiple tabs

[amarkmac]

I'm looking for a way to have a single code file cause a browser to simultaneously launch multiple links in new tabs, in the most browser-independent manner possible.

Without going into gorey detail, I have created a program (exe) that dynamically generates multiple links (e.g. to reference material). I now need to be able to launch the default browser and open each link in a new tab. If the browser doesn't support tabs, then I need to open each link in a new window. I know I can do this with scripting, but I'm not sure of the most robust method. At a minimum, it should support all the most popular browsers, and be platform-independent as well. (I know, I'm not asking for too much Seeking advice and methodology.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

 

[Vragabond]

You're in the wrong forum. HTML and CSS are not scripting languages and have no way of manipulating the browser. You will need to look into a client-side scripting language, like javascript or vbscript.

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[amarkmac]

Thanks Vragabond. I was actually hoping there might be a way to accomplish this with HTML for universality. I'll post this some script forums, as well.

 

[trollacious]

Not everyone is using on of the browsers that have multiple tabs, so the answer is that you can't.

Lee

 

[amarkmac]

Yes, that's why my description suggested that the ideal solution would have to be able to "detect" tab support and respond accordingly by opening the link in a new window instead of a tab. I know I'm probably seeking a solution that doesn't exist, but you don't know til you ask. Thanks for the reply, Trollacious

 

[trollacious]

Sorry about missing what you'd written. I should have been completely awake before responding.

Lee

 

[vacunita]

You do realize that doing that cannot only be extremely annoying, but most pop up blockers will just block every link that tries to pop up unannounced.

I think maybe you should rethink your strategy as I for one would not return to a site that out of nowhere opens 15 windows or tabs to different things. Probably just print out links to the references instead of opening them. Then you can let the user decide whether they want to open your links or not.

Anyway This more of a Javascript issue since its the only widely supported scripting language around.

Javascript forum is here: forum216



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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[amarkmac]

Thanks for the feedback vacunita. I totally appreciate what you're saying. My users will be folks who will be wanting tohave the tabs open (they've previously indicated which links they want access to--I'm just trying to give them a more convenient way to open them when they want them. They won't be like pop-ups.) The problem is I don't know what browsers they will be using, or if they will be javascript-enabled. But, from the feedback so far, javascript seems like the way I need to go.

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[vacunita]

O.K you seem to have a determined pool of users and the opening of links is a requirement. Those 2 facts shed a new light onto the deal.

By statistics alone I'd say most of your users will be using IE.

There aren't many alternatives, to do what you want because basically only VBscript, or JS can trigger links at once.

With VBscript you would be limited to IE.

Pop up blockers can't really tell the difference between actual requested links and annoying pop ups if they are triggered by JS so you'll have to take that into consideration when deploying, as its likely that the windows will get blocked.

Basically it will come down to a function in JS that has a window.open for each link yo wish to navigate to.
But the folks there can be more specific.




----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.