[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #43533: UI issue: URL disappears if you decide to customize the link

[WordPress Trac]

#43533: UI issue: URL disappears if you decide to customize the link
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 Reporter:  cosmocanuck  |      Owner:
     Type:  enhancement  |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal       |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  General      |    Version:  4.9.4
 Severity:  normal       |   Keywords:
  Focuses:  ui           |
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 This has been a "gotcha" for me forever, I finally have a moment to report
 it.

 Maybe it's just me, but when I try to add a link to some text, I often
 reach a frustrating little scenario where the URL I've typed or pasted in
 disappears. Specifically, when I hit the "gear" to find the "Open in new
 tab" checkbox.  Here's the steps:

 1. I highlight some text to make into a link.
 2. I click the Add/Edit Link menu button. A box appears with a text field,
 an "Apply" button and a "Link options" button.
 3. I enter the URL in the field.
 4. Now I remember I want to ensure that this link opens in a new window.
 So I click the little "gear" icon to the right of the box.
 5. I invariably don't notice that the URL is gone now and needs to be re-
 entered. I just click the "Open link in new tab" checkbox. Then I hit "Add
 link".
 6. In frustration, I see that the text is still plain text. No link was
 added.
 7. I remember what I should have done and go back in a second time.

 So, if I'm intending to open a link in a new window/tab, I need to ignore
 the URL field, which is screaming at me, UI-wise, to put something in
 it... and only add the URL on the secondary screen after clicking the
 gear.  Otherwise, I'll always be entering the URL twice.

 Not too intuitive, yes?

 This is usually the only reason i dive into that more detailed window, and
 this happens to me all the time.

 Is there any way that a URL entered into that field in the first popup
 window, can be retained in the URL field of the more detailed window seen
 after clicking the gear?

 Or, heck, just add the "Open in new window" checkbox to the initial window
 as well, under the URL field?

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/43533>
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