Internet Explorer question

When i’m on the net, there are times when i want to open a new web-page in a new window, so the original window remains open and accessible. I do this, for example, when on SDMB, so i can open multiple threads while still keeping the overall board page open.

To open the new window, i put my cursor on the link, right click, and then choose “Open Link in New Window” from the drop-down context menu. The problem that i have is that i would like these new windows to open in maximized (i.e. full page) mode, but they only open in smaller form and i have to click the maximize button each time. I’m sure there’s some easy solution to this problem - i just don’t know what it is.

It’s not perfect and it won’t last long, but here’s what you do:[ul][li]Close all IE windows but one.[]Restore that window (not minimized, not maximized, in between.[]Use your mouse to drag the edges of that window as large as you can. It will nearly fill the screen but not actually be maximized.[*]Close that window.[/ul][/li]You’ve just reset the default size for new IE windows. But the next popup ad you enounter will probably screw it up, so you’ll get plenty of practice at this technique if you’re really anal about it. :slight_smile:

Thanks, KneadToKnow, that seems to work well enough for me!

Instead of right-clicking on a link and choosing “open in a new window” you can just hold down the shift key when you click on a link. That will cause the new page to open in a new window.

Also, I find it easier to double click on the title bar of the browser window to maximize it (a bigger targer than the little button).

That was supposed to be “a bigger target”, not targer. Sorry.

You might also consider a software program designed to automatically maximize windows opened separately in IE. There are several out there on the net, but I’ve only found one freeware version. Check out http://www.jiisoft.com and scroll down to IE New Window Maximizer version 2.2. I’ve used it for about a year now, and it’s a godsend.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I find it a little odd that there isn’t just an option in IE that allows the user to determine the way that new windows will open. That’s microsoft for you - they give you everything except what you actually want.

RSA has the best answer for you, but there is another.

Once on the main page with all the forums, just hit Ctrl-N to open a new window. The new window will be identical to the present window, maximized and all. From there you can proceed to the thread of your choice while your main page stays open in the background.

// Warning: off topic

I know this was an Internet Explorer question but I can’t risk evangelizing somewhat. :slight_smile:

Using the Mozilla browser you can do Tabbed Browsing which allows you to open links in a set of tabs in the same window.

I find this excellent for “breadth first browsing” which is what I typically do now for SDMB, search results, news sites, and blogs.

For example, I scan the list of subjects on the SMDB GQ page and click (middle mouse button) to open the interesting threads in a background tab for later reading.

When I have opened all I want I can then step through the tabs reading each thread and then closing the tab.

It may sound complicated but it very rapidly became second nature to me and now it is my favorite Mozilla feature. On the rare occasions that I now use Internet Explorer I find myself middle-clicking links and catching myself when they don’t open new tabs.

I find the multiple tabs to be much easier to deal with than multiple new windows. It has changed how I browse the web and made me more efficient.

Oh, concerning popup windows: Mozilla will allow you to stop all unrequested popup windows. That’s my second favorite Mozilla feature. I have not seen an annoying popup ad in months.

By the way, the Opera Browser has these features also, but I have not tried it personally so I can’t comment.

Take care!

Fergus

The Opera browser rules!!! Really recommended for people with slower computers with small amounts of memory.

Mozilla/Netscape stole the whole “tabbed browsing” thing from Opera, which has had it for many years.

if you have a 3 button mouse, set the middle button to maximize the active window… this way you can browse as normal and just click the middle button to maximize the window… very simple to use.