Leaving site displays message...

message from ~Flash~ on 21 Jul 2004

I saw a script like this when my little cousin was showing me something on
Disney... he clicked a link that wasn't Disney's and it displayed a message
(the same message you get when someone disabled the right click button) It said
"you are now leaving Disney. Are you sure you want to continue?" and had a yes
and no button clicked no would keep you at the same page clicking yes would
send you to the link... any idea on how this was done? (it may have not been
Disney I don't recall which site I just used it as an example)

Thanxz in advance,
Flash

trx replied to ~Flash~ on 21 Jul 2004

This kind of popup alert can be really annoying, and with current security
concerns many users quite correctly worry when they are required to click
on some sort of unsolicited, non-system popup, especially when all they are
trying to do is leave a site. What useful purpose does this serve? Does
this purpose outweigh the bother you are going to cause users? How would
you feel if you were confronted with such a box on an unfamiliar site? If
you don't have good, user-oriented answers to these questions, don't do it.

~Flash~ replied to trx on 21 Jul 2004

Thanks Murray and Gary can't believe it was that easy.
trx... I never argue with a client :)

Flash

Mad Dog replied to trx on 21 Jul 2004

The one really good time to do this is when clicking will take them from a
secure server to an "unknown" site. If I'm on my bank's site and a click
will send me someplace else, it's nice to be informed that the new site may
not be secure....just for safety. If I'm in a secure ordering area on a site
and for some reason the link will take me to an unsecure area, it can also
be good to know -- in case I'm asked for information at least I'm aware and
can make an informed decision about whether to give it to them.

MD

trx wrote:

trx replied to Mad Dog on 21 Jul 2004

Very true, but this is a browser function based on it's verification of a
site's security and certification. I don't trust anything a site tells me
about security unless my browser (and I don't mean IE) verifies it. In
fact, I would be very suspicious if a site used JavaScript alerts or popups
that emulated this browser function.

James Shook replied to Mad Dog on 22 Jul 2004

Don't browsers do this automatically?

Gary White replied to James Shook on 22 Jul 2004

Depends on the security settings.

Gary

James Shook replied to Gary White on 22 Jul 2004

So if I have my security settings such that the browser will always warn
me about leaving a secure site and the OP implements one as well, I'll
have to dismiss two dialogs?

Is there any way to check the browser's sec... oops, never mind. Don't
even think about it.

Gary White replied to James Shook on 22 Jul 2004

Yep.

Click Tools->Internet Options-> somewhere buried in the preferences. ;-)

Gary

~Flash~ replied to Gary White on 22 Jul 2004

Yeah you have to look pritty good it's buried good.

And the client wanted me to add the script... it's not my problem if people
don't like seeing a message when leaving the site... maybe it's better that you
you guys forget not everyone knows this much about computers, some people don't
even know how to work a mouse :| (yeah I've seen a few... scarry eh?)

Flash

Murray *TMM* replied to ~Flash~ on 22 Jul 2004

But it really is. You built the site. If they complain to the client, then
the client calls you and asks why you didn't persuade them not to do this.
Get it?

Michael Fesser replied to ~Flash~ on 23 Jul 2004

.oO(~Flash~)

Who is building the site - you or your client? If he knows it better,
then why did he hire you at all? You are responsible for telling him if
some of his ideas don't really make sense.

<analogy quality="limp">
If your client wants some architects to design and build his new pent-
house, do you believe they would do things that would heavily impair the
statics of the house? Nope. But you are about to do a thing that impairs
the site's usability.
</analogy>

You should at least press some more money out of your client for doing
this ...

Micha

James Shook replied to Gary White on 22 Jul 2004

I meant could a script do this, and then realized what a very bad idea
this could be. So I bet you can in IE6 :-)

Gary White replied to James Shook on 22 Jul 2004

I knew what you meant, James. I was just messin' witja. ;-)

As far as doing it with a script? What would be the point of having
security settings if a web page could override them? I think even MS
understands that :-)

Gary

Gary White replied to ~Flash~ on 21 Jul 2004

<a href="page.html" onclick="return confirm('Are you sure?');">Link</a>

Gary

Murray *TMM* replied to ~Flash~ on 21 Jul 2004

Gary White replied to Murray *TMM* on 21 Jul 2004

But that will fire even if they go to another page in YOUR site.

Gary

Murray *TMM* replied to Gary White on 22 Jul 2004

Which is what it should do on any site that uses this.... 8)

Gary White replied to Murray *TMM* on 22 Jul 2004

True. But the OP specifically asked about showing a message for off-site
links. The one I posted will do that. I'm pretty ambivalent about
whether or not it's a good idea.

Gary

Murray *TMM* replied to Gary White on 22 Jul 2004

Your solution is clearly a much better one.

Gary White replied to Murray *TMM* on 22 Jul 2004

Thanks.

Gary

Michael Fesser replied to Murray *TMM* on 22 Jul 2004

.oO(Murray *TMM*)

"Are you still there?"

SCNR
Micha

Archived message: Leaving site displays message... (Macromedia Dreamweaver)