I am using IE8 on Windows 7. Referred to several threads and understand that in IE8 when I am using window.open to popup a new window, the JavaScript window.open is returning null value.

If I run IE as administrator or disable the protected mode, I see the window.open returns the expected object.

I am looking out for a solution apart from the options mentioned above. For such a small feature (opening a popup) I cannot ask customer to run IE as administrator or disable the protected mode.

If there is any work around, please let me know. It will be a great help.

Primarily, I want to make sure that only one window is opened when user clicks multiple times on the link and give the focus to the window which is already open. To achieve this I need to get the object from window.open so that I can check if the window is already open and give the focus to the already opened window. Otherwise open a new window.

I am using IE8 on Windows 7. Referred to several threads and understand that in IE8 when I am using window.open to popup a new window, the JavaScript window.open is returning null value.

If I run IE as administrator or disable the protected mode, I see the window.open returns the expected object.

I am looking out for a solution apart from the options mentioned above. For such a small feature (opening a popup) I cannot ask customer to run IE as administrator or disable the protected mode.

If there is any work around, please let me know. It will be a great help.

Primarily, I want to make sure that only one window is opened when user clicks multiple times on the link and give the focus to the window which is already open. To achieve this I need to get the object from window.open so that I can check if the window is already open and give the focus to the already opened window. Otherwise open a new window.

• javascript

• Does this help ? – The Alpha Commented Jul 5, 2012 at 7:38
• stackoverflow./q/1827616/1341062 – Jeyan Commented Oct 28, 2013 at 5:20

2 Answers 2

For IE10, window.open returns a NULL reference object if Enable Protected Mode is checked under Internet Options->Security->Security Level for this zone and the ZONE is different i.e. in my case local file opening a popup from Intranet.

window.open returns a reference object even if Enable Protected Mode is checked when yoursite. opens someothersite. in popup window i.e. Internet->Internet

You can use window.showModalDialog as a alternative or replacement for window.open method.

It is more secure then window.open. It will not allow user clicking the Parent page.

Example Usage:

var myFeatures = "dialogWidth:1060px;dialogHeight:550px;resizable:yes";

window.showModalDialog(url,window,myFeatures);
       //Here window is an object, no need to assign or declare.

If you want more detail explanation see Here. //Fifth Question.