In Markdown, is it possible to open a PDF in new tab?

Site URL: https://manatee-squid-rmnx.squarespace.com

I have a markdown block on my page https://manatee-squid-rmnx.squarespace.com/data-sheet-selector-2 within my site. There are several drop-downs where the user can choose data sheets for different products. I want the pdf of the data sheet to open in a new tab so that the user doesn't have to go back and forth through the process for additional data sheets. Here is my code:

<h3 class="dropdown box">N-100 Fast Dry Series: <span style="color:grey; font-size:.8em;">Designed for smaller presses with fast turn-around times. Also for metering and dampening system rollers</span><span style="text-align:right; float: right;">+</span></h3>

<p>[PDS][1] &nbsp;&nbsp; [SDS][2]  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N-100 Economical, Fast Dry Blanket and Roller Wash</p>

[1]: /s/N-100pds-h465.pdf
[2]: /s/Nova-N-100-Rev3-SDS-p54d.pdf

<p>[PDS][3] &nbsp;&nbsp; [SDS][4] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N-103 Economical, Fast Dry Blanket and Roller Wash</p>

[3]: /s/N-103pds-5k5g.pdf
[4]: /s/Nova-N-103-Rev2-SDS-enk4.pdf

My questions:
1. Is using target="_blank" safe to use? I have read that it can be tampered with?
2. Where does that go within Markdown, or do I have to add it to CSS or any other custom code?

If there's anyone out there who can help, thank you so much!
 

Site-wide password?

Hi Creedon, password is Nova. Thank you so much for your help!

Quote

1. Is using target="_blank" safe to use? I have read that it can be tampered with?

I'm not sure what you mean by tampering. Tampering by an external entity that will fiddle with your target attribute?

If I recall correctly there is software that can prevent target _blank from working as normal. But that is something that the user can install/control so you can't get around that.

Quote

2. Where does that go within Markdown, or do I have to add it to CSS or any other custom code?

There are two ways you can do this. One is to use Javascript to alter the links in the page to add the target _blank. Two is to use HTML in the markdown.

<a href="/s/Nova-SP-99-Rev2-SDS.pdf" target="_blank">PDS</a>

Thank you again Creedon. That definitely works, but I would have to recode the entire markdown. If there is more simple Javascript to alter the entire page of PDS and SDS's to open in a new tab, that would be much easier. I have tried a few things like 

window.open(url, '_blank').focus();
<div onclick="openInNewTab;">SDS</div>

and...

<script>
$('a[href*="pdf"]').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault(); 
    var documentUrl = $(this).attr("href"); // get the url of the pdf
    window.open(documentUrl, '_blank');
  });
</script>

within the header code of the page. Can't find the exact code. If you have any suggestions, that would be great. If not, I will alter the markdown code as you suggested.

Thank you again!

Mia

Add the following to Page Settings > Advanced > Page Header Code Injection for the page.

<script>

  /*
  
    anchor tag pdfs target attribute _blank add
    
    Version     : 0.1d0
    
    SS Versions : 7.1, 7.0
    
    By          : Thomas Creedon < http://www.tomsWeb.consulting/ >
    
    no user serviceable parts below
    
    */
    
    window.addEventListener ( 'DOMContentLoaded', ( ) => {
    
      const elements = document.querySelectorAll ( '[href$=".pdf"]' );
      
      elements.forEach ( ( element ) => {
      
        element.setAttribute ( 'target', '_blank' );
        
        } );
        
      } );
      
    /* end anchor tag pdfs target attribute _blank add */
    
  </script>

Let us know how it goes.

You are amazing! It works like a charm. Thank you so much Creedon.

One last thing, Creedon. Do you have a third-party table generator that you would suggest? My tables will have as many as 30 rows and 10 columns, and I'd like to be able to put links to those same PDF's of the data sheets. Thanks in advance!

Quote

Do you have a third-party table generator that you would suggest?

I have no recommendation for a particular table generator. But a search for html table generator should yield a number of results. Here is one I looked at and it seemed OK at first glance. Tables Generator.

Thank you again!