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Last Browser Window

Most windows applications launch URL's in one of three ways: 1) create a new browser window using the default browser, 2) replace the last created browser window or 3) replace the last active browser window.  For some web applications this can be disastrous.  As a partial work around for some windows applications (Win NT 4.0's Explorer) you can have your web application launch another browser window.  Yes this is not the best solution, but I haven't found another one.  Also, you can add the tag <body onUnload='javascript myFunction()'> to run a function you create when the browser is closing down, however you will not be able to stop the browser from closing.  It would be great if IE & NS come up with a fix to this problem!  (The source for all my window object examples is at Window Object)

(Note:  I've tried naming the browser window and this does not work.)

Test the Solution:

  • Click Here - To launch a new browser window with a parent and 2 frames.  Play like this is your web application.  Notice that after the web application is loaded, another web browser window is created.
  • Next, click on a URL (web link) in one of the following applications:  (To test, you may want to create a link to your favorite web site.  In the files I have in the download file you will find some simple html files (ex_windowlast_URL1.htm, etc...) you can click on in the Explorer for testing.)

    Applications (potential problems in red).
    • Win NT 4.0 Explorer - replaces the last created browser window. 
    • Outlook 97 or 2000 - replaces the last active browser window.
    • Win 95 Explorer - replaces the last active browser window.
    • Win 98 Explorer - create a new browser window.
    • Windows NT 2000's Explorer - create a new browser window.
    • Microsoft Word 97- create a new browser window.
    • Microsoft Word 2000 - create a new browser window.
    • PowerPoint 2000 - create a new browser window.
    • Play with others!
  • You will notice that the new browser window will be replaced with the new URL.  Normally, your web application would be!