232374 - Request for parameters from javascript methods in href of an anchor to be reconstructed into a link.

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(SeaMonkey :: General, defect)

Description

[Marcel Kunath]

User-Agent:       
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

I have known about this "bug" for a few years. Today I am sick of it and finally
report it. I do not know a single browser in existance that does NOT implement
this bug.



Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Visit: 
http://www.netgear.com.au/products/prod_details.asp?prodID=177
2. The goal of the visit is to directly access the URL of the datasheet of this
product. 
3. How do you do it?
4. Any sane person would right-click the datasheet link and select "copy link
location".
5. If you do so you do not actually copy the link location but copy the
javascript function to start a pop-up that accesses this datasheet for you.

The wrong copy link contains: javascript:demoOpen('/shared/pdf_docs/fsm726.pdf');

This is so frustrating.

Actual Results:  
The wrong copy link contains: javascript:demoOpen('/shared/pdf_docs/fsm726.pdf');

and this is wrong!!!



Expected Results:  
We have been using browsers and javascript for how many years?

Why can't "copy link location":

1. detect a javascript function is used
2. reverse inherit the functionality of this code
3. reconstruct the actual URL of this datasheet
4. store the actual location of the datasheet in memory for the user?

If the browser did this correctly the correct copy would contain:
http://www.netgear.com.au/shared/pdf_docs/fsm726.pdf

Comment 1

[nemo]

This is a request for unreliable behaviour.
Forcing the browser to sniff whether demoOpen()'s parameters could be construed
to be a URL, or not.

Comment 2

[nemo]

I think a better thing would be for webmasters to use a valid link as their href
target, and use onClick for their fancy javascript alternate.

Comment 3

[nemo]

I strongly suspect that if Mozilla ever does something like this, it would be
best as a mozdev project plugin.