[ARCHIVED] Making a hyperlink open in a new tab/window

[kbeimfohr]

There are many times I would like to create a hyperlink that will take students to an external website.  I would like to be able to have the new webpage open in a new window or tab.  Is there a way to do that in the Rich Content Editor?

[Robbie_Grant · Accepted solution]

kbeimfohr​,

I am going to link to the original for credit, but yes, this can be done:

Open links in new tab

From stefaniesanders​,

to "force" a hyperlink to open in a new window or tab, the HTML of the page needs to be edited to insert a "new page" attribute. When editing the content page, click on the HTML Editor link at the upper right to switch to the HTML view for the page, then insert the target="_blank"attribute immediately after the quotation marks that end the URL. The code for a link to a picture of Toompea Castle on Wikimedia Commons looks like this:

<p><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Toompea_loss_2014.jpg" target="_blank">Toompea Castle, Talinn, Estonia</a></p>

Robbie

[kbeimfohr]

Thanks Robbie.  This is not a huge problem for me, but I know most of the teachers I work with will not take the time to look at the code.  HTML scares them.  I guess I need to put a feature request in for this one.  It would be nice to have a checkbox that allowed you to "open in new window".

[Stef_retired]

kbeimfohr​, as the original author of the posted solution (thanks,  @Robbie_Grant ​!), I am embarrassed to admit that until this very moment, when I searched for an existing feature idea link to give you, I didn't know about this other--easier!--solution, described in this archived feature idea:

I tested it in a sandbox course--first creating the hyperlink, then clicking Ctrl-K to open a dialog window--and it works! And, using this approach eliminates the need to navigate to the HTML view to edit the code.

So cool. I learn something new about Canvas every day. I've updated the discussion to which Robbie linked to reflect this other solution.

[AlysonLie]

Hi,

Either I'm doing something wrong or clicking ctrl-K doesn't work. It opens a dialog box with out any way to set it to open in a new page. 

Help!

[Chris_Hofer]

@AlysonLie ...

Stefanie has retired from the Canvas Community, so you won't be hearing from her.  The RCE (Rich Content Editor) has changed interfaces since the original question above was posted in 2015.  So, what you see today is a bit different than what there used to be for options when creating a link several years ago.

What kind of content are you trying to link to?  Are you linking to a website outside of Canvas such as a news outlet or a Google site?  Or, are you trying to link to content within your course?  External content should automatically open up in a new tab/window.  If you link to course content, it should remain in the same tab/window.

Please let us know some more details so Community members can assist you...thanks!

[AlysonLie]

Hi Chris, 

Thanks for your response. 

I am using course links almost exclusively. 

I'm happy to see that external links automatically open in a new page. 

I know that one can always "right click" on a link and direct it to open to a new page. I just happen to appreciate having that as a default. 

Now, if only we could get Canvas to use even a barebones spell chekker (sp) I'd be happy. 

Best,
Alyson

[Chris_Hofer]

@AlysonLie ...

Now, if only we could get Canvas to use even a barebones spell chekker (sp) I'd be happy. 

---

Canvas does not have their own built-in spell checker.  Rather, they use the spell checker that is available within the web browser.  For example, I am on a Windows 11 laptop using the Microsoft Edge browser.  It's pretty good!  In fact, I just noticed that your word "chekker" above is not spelled correctly, and Edge has underlined it red for me to correct.

[AlysonLie]

Hi, 

My Chrome browser doesn't work within the Canvas system. 

I have to copy my text and open a Word or googledocs document to check for errors, correct and then copy and paste again. 

Where is all the I of AI here in these systems? 

I'm intelligent, but my spellling is attroccious and I've become too dependent on systems to correct my errors. 

Now... back to creating my course -- errors and all. 

A. 

[Chris_Hofer]

@AlysonLie ...

That's kind of strange that Chrome isn't working.  Are you using an up-to-date version of Chrome?  Here are a couple links for you:

• How to Update Chrome to the Latest Version - Google Chrome
• Turn Chrome spell check on and off - Google Chrome Help

Also, instead of Chrome, have you tried a different browser such as Mozilla Firefox?

[melder]

Links going to myPLTW, for example, are NOT going to a new tab.  This use to be a default for links in Canvas.  What happened to that????

[Chris_Hofer]

@melder ...

I've not used myPLTW before, so I cannot speak to linking to that content.  However, in my own sandbox course, I just tested making a link to the Google search engine website, and the link opened up in a new tab within my browser...as expected.

Maybe a call to Canvas support would be best in your situation?

How do I get help with Canvas as an instructor?

Keep us posted here in the Community...thanks!

[MichelleCraig1]

I am finding it looks at too high level of domains - linking from a course that is in xxx.edu.au - any link that goes to an organisation that ends in edu.au it is opening in the same window - but it could be a completely different organisation that also has an edu.au top level domain name. If the link ends in anything else it is opening in a new window. I am searching to see if this is a setting or if it is a Canvas default.

[admin19]

I had a student loose part of an assignment because the link opened in the same window. I used this to change all my links to open in new windows. It worked like a charm. THANK YOU!!!!

[YGR]

I know this is an old post but by far the most helpful I have found.  Thank you so much for the example provided and the descriptive clarity.  I have never ever looked at HTML code and found this to be incredibly easy.  Is there some way to easily search within the Canvas HTML for markers so that I don't go blind looking for it?  Not a deal breaker since I have new glasses but there's got to be an easier way to find this stuff. 

[Chris_Hofer]

@YGR ...

By default, links to external websites should open up in a new tab/window, so there shouldn't be lots of need to look at the HTML side as Robbie had outlined previously.  Am I understanding your question correctly?

[melder]

No longer doing that by default!

[ElizabethC2]

Where is in the settings can "open in new tab" is set to default? Last year all links automatically open in a new tab by default (including "internal Canvas links"). This year the link diverts the student user away from Canvas completely. Assignment are not opening in a new tab and when the user needs to return to Canvas, they need to reopen through Classlink. Is this set at the admin level or instructor level?