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Force tabs to open in background

  • 5 respostas
  • 2 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by chattphotos

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Some websites are overriding FF's command + left click of open tab in background. I read various tech/industry blogs and I like to load up the stories in one fell swoop rather than having to switch back and forth as I find stories to read.

I don't have any extensions that would do this according to this thread: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/819254?esab=b&as=aaq

Also, Prefs > Tabs > When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately (unchecked)

Any tips in about:config to change this behavior?

Some websites are overriding FF's command + left click of open tab in background. I read various tech/industry blogs and I like to load up the stories in one fell swoop rather than having to switch back and forth as I find stories to read. I don't have any extensions that would do this according to this thread: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/819254?esab=b&as=aaq Also, Prefs > Tabs > When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately (unchecked) Any tips in about:config to change this behavior?

All Replies (5)

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Can you give an example of a web site that does this? There might be a script command in the page that needs to be suppressed in some manner.

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Here's two examples-

On theChive- http://thechive.com/ Scroll to the bottom to Chiveworthy sites, cmd + click on any one of those and my issue is present.

On Sidereel- http://www.sidereel.com/calendar Trying to open any tv show on cmd + click doesn't actually open a new tab. Sidreel ignores the open in new background tab completely (grr)

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Both site are overriding normal link behavior with scripts. On both sites, right-click > Open in a New Tab (or the Mac equivalent) bypasses the scripts. But that's an extra step...


On theCHIVE, as best I can tell, this is related to their outbound link tracking script. When a link targets a new window (it has target="_blank" in the <a> tag), they intercept the normal click and use window.open() to launch the URL instead. This bypasses the Cmd/Ctrl key. But you can't just strip that attribute, because then the link is forced back into the same window (similar to the other site).

You can strip the script from the links using a bookmarklet -- a script that you save as a bookmark and click when you want to run it. Please note that this script is very specific to the partner links section in that site.

(1) Copy the following line of code (it's all one line):

javascript:void(jQuery("div#partners a").unbind());

(2) Right-click the Bookmarks Toolbar and choose New Bookmark

(3) Paste the code in as the Location

(4) Name the bookmark as you wish (for example, ChiveFix)

To remove the tracking, click the button and then Cmd/Ctrl+click normally.


This isn't a general solution because each site has its own strategy for layering scripts on links. There might be an add-on which addresses multiple annoyances, but I haven't searched around for one.

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If you have a mouse with a clickable scroll wheel then try to use that middle button instead of the left mouse button.

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I'm on a MacBook Pro, so I am trackpad savvy, no middle mouse wheel...

As far as the bookmark, I'll play around with it, see what happens.

I just wish there was that fine-level control to handle scripted tabs.