[External Tools] Automatically open new tab for links/external tools set to 'Load in a new tab'

[tokheimc]

Previously under the title "Link to External URL"

When linking to an external url that Canvas will not (or cannot) embed, link should automatically open in a new tab or window.  Currently, Canvas opens another page saying you have to open it in a new tab, then you have to click that link to do that.  Why not just go directly to that page in a new tab?  Links in other locations already do this.

If Canvas is worried a user would be confused by being outside of Canvas suddenly, perhaps they could flash a redirect page saying they are leaving the course and to close this tab to return, or something along those lines.  

Comments from Instructure

New behavior governing external tool links was released to production in November 2019. For more information, please read through the Canvas Deploy Notes (2019-11-20)

[dspiel]

@j_vanbelle 

Completely agree.

[TimothyMaw]

Yes, this is something that drives me insane.

[Carter41]

Just checking to confirm that you still need to click twice for an external link in the course navigation to open it in a new tab? I want our students to be able to stream the school radio station in a new tab but when they click on the link in the course navigation they see this instead of the new tab opening.