=== External Links in New Window / New Tab ===
Contributors: WebFactory
Tags: links, external links, target blank, new window, new tab
Requires at least: 4.0
Requires PHP: 5.2
Tested up to: 6.8
Stable tag: 1.44
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Open external links in a new window or new tab. SEO optimized and XHTML Strict compliant.
== Description ==
Opens external links in a new tab or a or new window. You can set URLs that should either be forced to open in a new window or ignored.
The plugin produces XHTML Strict compliant code and is search engine optimized (SEO).
This is done using JavaScript's `window.open()`-function. It adds only a few lines of vanilla JavaScript to the page, and does not require any external libraries like jQuery.
Most other plugins perform a hack by altering the `target` parameter (i.e. ``). That method is not XHTML Strict compliant.
This plugin handles the links client-side, which lets search engines follow the links properly. Also, if a browser does not support JavaScript, the plugin is simply inactive, and does not result in any errors.
If you need a more advanced plugin, with more options try our free WP External Links plugin.
**Credits**
Inspired by the [Zap_NewWindow](http://www.zappelfillip.de/2005-12-05/zap_newwindow/) plugin by [Tom Köhler](http://www.zappelfillip.de/ "His website is mostly in German").
The banner is a [photo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/monja/1367946568/in/photostream/) by [Monja Da Riva](http://www.monja.it/).
**Translations**
Danish by [Kristian Risager Larsen](https://kristianrisagerlarsen.dk)
Dutch by [Paul Staring](http://www.collectief-it.nl/)
Lithuanian by [Vincent G](http://Host1Free.com)
Other translations will be appreciated!
**Known bugs**
The plugin conflicts with other plugins that change the links' `onClick´ attribute.
**Original developer**
Kristian Risager Larsen - kezze.dk
== Installation ==
1. Copy the plugin to /wp-content/plugins/
1. Activate the plugin.
1. Eventually, change the settings in Settings->External Links.
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
= How to disable this plugin? =
Just use standard Plugin overview page in WordPress admin section and deactivate it or rename plugin folder /wp-content/plugins/open-external-links-in-a-new-window over FTP access.
= How can I report security bugs? =
You can report security bugs through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. The Patchstack team help validate, triage and handle any security vulnerabilities. [Report a security vulnerability.](https://patchstack.com/database/vdp/open-external-links-in-a-new-window)
== Screenshots ==
1. External links settings
== Changelog ==
= 1.44 =
* 2022-11-22
* minor security fixes
= 1.43 =
* 2022-05-06
* security fix reported by Automattic
= 1.42 =
* 2021-01-30
* added flyout menu
= 1.41 =
* 2020-10-21
* minor update
= 1.4 =
* 2019-08-26
* WebFactory took over development
* minor fixes
* 40,000 installs; 178,750 downloads
= 1.3.3 =
Verified compatibility with WordPress 5.0
= 1.3.2 =
Updated: Danish translation
= 1.3.1 =
Verified compatibility with WordPress 4.0
Added: Plugin logo for WordPress 4.0
Added: Dutch translation.
= 1.3 =
Added: Possibility to force and ignore user-defined strings in URLs. This feature has been requested.
Added: Lithuanian and Danish translation.
= 1.2 =
Added: Translation-ready.
= 1.1.1 =
Fixed: Deprecation warning (Thanks to [boo1865](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-open-external-links-in-a-new-window-doesnt-work?replies=2#post-2152292))
= 1.1.0 =
Changed: Better practice for opening links. The plugin now uses the onClick-attribute instead of writing JavaScript directly into the href-attribute. This enables users to right-click the link and open in a new window/tab, save the target etc.
= 1.0.1 =
Fixed: Removes target attribute from links instead of setting the attribute to null. (Thanks to [crashnet](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-open-external-links-in-a-new-window-target-attribute-left-empty?replies=2#post-1813522))
= 1.0 =
Fixed: Credits to Tom Köhler (Charset).
Fixed: Links.
= 0.9 =
Initial release.
== Upgrade Notice ==
= 1.3.1 =
Wordpress 4.0-compatibility, and Dutch translation.
= 1.3 =
In Settings->External links, you can now specify URL's that should be either forced to open in a new window, or ignored.
= 1.2 =
Added: Translation-ready.
= 1.1.1 =
Fixed: Deprecation warning.
= 1.1.0 =
Better practice for opening links. Please upgrade.
= 1.0.1 =
Minor bugfix.
= 1.0 =
Ready for production.
= 0.9 =
Initial release