Links In Smartsheet Form Not Opening In New Tab

Benjamin O'Leary

I have a bunch of links embedded in my form. When a user clicks on one of them, it opens in the same tab, negating any progress they made on the form. I looked up some solutions (putting '?&target=_blank' at the end of each link), and everything worked fine.

However, after saving and refreshing the sheet/form, the links started to open on the same tab again, even with the '?&target=_blank' remaining at the end of the links. I'm not sure why the links are reverting back to opening on the same tab.

Has anybody else experienced this before?

Debbie Sawyer

This is strange.

Do you think it might be browser specific? I have just popped a URL into the Description of a Header field in a form. No extra code on the end.

When I use the form and click on the URL it opens in a new tab automatically.

I can also right click on the URL and select Open in New Tab too.

I am using Chrome as my browser. Have you tested in a different browser at all?

Kind regards

Debbie

Benjamin O'Leary

@Debbie Sawyer I tried in both Chrome and Edge. I had the same issue in both browsers. I did notice that when I open up the Smartsheet, the 'Save' icon is un-greyed, as if I made a change to the sheet and didn't save it. The same thing occurs when I try to open the form; it asks me to save the form before it can open:

Debbie Sawyer

@Benjamin O'Leary

hmmm yes, to have to save before opening the form is normal behaviour when opening it through the design screen (even if you don't make any changes). I wouldn't worry about that too much.

If you send me your email address I can share you to a dummy form and we can see how my form works from your Smartsheet?

My email address is debbie.sawyer@smarterbusinessprocesses.com

I assume you have tried the middle mouse click, and the right click (Open in new tab option) and the windows + click methods too?

I do think this is a local IT issue rather than a Smartsheet issue...But I am happy to be overruled by someone else on this community!

Reach out if you want to test this out with me?

Kind regards

Debbie

Benjamin O'Leary

Sure, my email is benjamin.oleary@contractors.roche.com

Benjamin O'Leary

Do I need to use the '?&target=_blank' in HTML? Because I don't know how to edit the HTML of the Smartsheet form.

Genevieve P.

Hi all,

Hopping in here to let you know there's been an update to the way hyperlinks work in forms!

It won't happen automatically for your current links, you'll need to re-add them for the links to open in a new tab. Here's more information:

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/117213/new-form-hyperlinks-now-open-in-a-new-browser-tab

Cheers,

Genevieve