Wikipedia talk:Recent changes patrol/Archives/2019/June

Suggested improvement: Clicking 'diff' automatically opens contents in a new window
It would save an immense amount of clicking (or fumbling with a mobile screen) if clicking/tapping 'Diff' at Special:RecentChanges automatically opened the contents in a new tab or window, rather than requiring the user to command this.

This is how the WP:NPP feed page operates, and would be a very welcome enhancement. I cannot think of a single situation where I've wanted to check a diff for vandalism and leave the Recent changes feed at the same time, but this happens all the time with a mobile. Quite often, the time it takes to right mouse click and select 'open in a new tab' on my laptop means the live feed has updated, so I end up selecting the wrong row. I imagine this would be a simple fix to implement, but a most welcome one. Regards, Nick Moyes (talk) 08:17, 19 October 2018 (UTC)
 * , should probably be added to MediaWiki core software, but until that happens, use User:SD0001/RC-links-new-tab.js. I think it would be ideal to have all links on the changes list (diff, hist, article, creator talk, contribs) open in a new tab? If not, tell me. SD0001 (talk) 20:54, 21 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Thank you so much for doing this. I will give your script a try out very soon. I completely agree with you that it makes sense to have all the links opening as a new tab, not just the diff. I guess I said that simply because that's the one I use, and not the others, but you're right. Many thanks again. Nick Moyes (talk) 21:32, 21 June 2019 (UTC)
 * I've just given it a try-out and it works fine. However, is there any way that a new tab can be opened, but remains inactive in the background, i.e. with the Recent Changes page staying as the active window? I can't speak for others, but I tend to work down the Recent Changes list (perhaps searching on one keyword like 'typo' or 'fixed it') and opening lots of new tabs until I get to the end pf the page. Only then to I leave the RC page and go and check out each newly opened tab in turn. I think this would be a better way of operating if it can be done. Again, many thanks. Nick Moyes (talk) 13:41, 22 June 2019 (UTC)
 * , This isn't technically possible as browsers do not allow such behaviour. Only ways to open a link in a new tab but keep focus on the current tab is by holding down and clicking, or middle-clicking using a mouse. Even simulating such clicks using javascript code tends to make the new tab active. It looks like the decision of which tab to give focus is made by the browser and can't be tweaked.
 * For your workflow, I think using a mouse and middle-clicking would be the most convenient. SD0001 (talk) 14:41, 22 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Bloomin' heck! I wasn't even aware of that keystroke combination, after god knows how many years of working with IT. Thanks - that's a perfect solution to my needs. As my wife says about me: "the simplest things are often the best - that why I married you!" Cheers, Nick Moyes (talk) 14:59, 22 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Bloomin' heck! I wasn't even aware of that keystroke combination, after god knows how many years of working with IT. Thanks - that's a perfect solution to my needs. As my wife says about me: "the simplest things are often the best - that why I married you!" Cheers, Nick Moyes (talk) 14:59, 22 June 2019 (UTC)