Macromedia - Dreamweaver TechNotes: Linking to the parent window from a child window

Home > Products > Dreamweaver > Support > TechNote Index

Linking to the parent window from a child window

This TechNote covers how to create a link in a child page, opened using the Open Browser Window behavior, that targets the parent window. This is useful in applications such as notification popups (e.g., "you have a private message" notifications). There can be a link on the notification window to open the message page in the main window.

It is assumed that you have created an Open Browser Window behavior in the parent page.

Using the Call JavaScript behavior
If you are not familiar with hand coding, you may use the Call JavaScript behavior, as described below:

1	Open the child page (the page that is opened using the Open Browser Window behavior).
2	Create a null link for the text or image on the child page that will link back to the parent window. For instructions on creating a null link, see Null links cause browser to jump to top of page (TechNote 14105).
3	Reselect the linked text or image.
4	Choose Window > Behaviors to open the Behaviors panel.
5	Click the Plus (+) button.
6	From the Behavior panel's Actions pop-up menu, select the Call JavaScript behavior.
7	In the JavaScript dialog, type the following code: window.opener.location='somepage.htm' where `somepage.htm` is the URL of the page that you want to link. Be sure to use single quotes.
8	Click OK to close the Call JavaScript dialog box.

Hand coding:
If you are comfortable with hand coding, then perform the following steps:

1	Open the child page (the page that is opened using the Open Browser Window behavior).
2	Create a null link for the text or image on the child page that will link back to the parent window. For instructions on creating a null link, see Null links cause browser to jump to top of page (TechNote 14105).
3	Create an onClick event for the link as follows, where `somepage.htm` is the URL of the page that you want to link. `<a href="javascript:;" onClick="window.opener.location='somepage.htm'">`

Additional information
For more information about null links and text links, see Null links cause browser to jump to top of page (TechNote 14105) and Applying JavaScript behaviors to text links (TechNote 15495).

ID:	18745
Product:	Dreamweaver
Versions:	All
OS:	All
Browser:	All
Server:	None
Database:	None
Former ID:

How useful was this document?

less		more
1	2	3	4	5

How can the document be improved? (300 characters or less - you will not receive a reply.)

Last updated:	July 31, 2003
Created:	July 31, 2003




			Company \| Site Map \| Privacy \| Contact Us \| Accessibility \| Report Piracy

			©1995-2003 Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use.