Showing SharePoint List Links in a New Window
One of the user experience challenges with SharePoint, like any other web application, is to balance showing redirected content in the same browser session or popping up a new window. Users are sometimes confused when sent to a non-SharePoint URL and inadvertently close the browser session (this is one of the more popular feedback comments). The flip side to that argument is the sense of “disconnecting” users from their navigation with new sessions (forget about all the session information that is lost!). So, what's the answer?...
I'm not sure there are clear rules (and I don't pretend to be a UI expert). What I recommend specifically for SharePoint content is that list items stay in the same browser session unless they redirect to external (to SharePoint) content. It is appropriate in some instances to launch a new browser session to show your corporate website or your medical insurance provider website or any other static content. I don't like to pop up a new browser session with another protal instance because navigation becomes confusing. That said, you may ask “how do I make links force a new browser session?”... SharePoint does not do this natively...
- Open page in FrontPage 2003.
- In Design View right-click the List View Web Part and select Convert to XSLT Data View from the context menu.
- Right-click the link you want to change in the Web Part and choose Hyperlink Properties.
- Click the Target Frame button and choose New Window.
- Ok out and save the page.