Tab Groups Issue - anyone else?

[BasilFawlty]

Recently I started having an issue in which links that I click on on some web pages would not open in a new Tab like normal. After trying all the regular stuff - clearing history and cookies, quitting Safari and reopening, etc., I was still having the issue. I ended up calling Apple Support but they could not solve it either. However, I did some experimenting and discovered that the issue only seems to happen if/ when I have the page as part of a "Tab Group" (new feature in Safari 15). If I have the web site open as a regular tab and not part of a group, everything works fine, but if the page is part of a Tab Group, when I click a link, I get a new tab, but it defaults to my start page. Here's a short video demonstrating the issue. I'm wondering if anyone else is having this issue? If so, it's an obvious bug.

 

[BasilFawlty]

Anyone?

 

[svenmany]

Could you "Show Page Source" of the page that you show in the video, the one containing the links. Then copy a snippet from the source that contains one misbehaving link. If you post that here, I might have some idea or be able to reproduce the issue.

Since you've had this issue on multiple websites, there is probably nothing unusual about the links. But, it's good to know the exact format used when trying to reproduce the bug.

And, just to be sure, can you confirm you're not holding any modifier key down (like the command key) when you click.

 

[BasilFawlty]

Could you "Show Page Source" of the page that you show in the video, the one containing the links. Then copy a snippet from the source that contains one misbehaving link. If you post that here, I might have some idea or be able to reproduce the issue.

Since you've had this issue on multiple websites, there is probably nothing unusual about the links. But, it's good to know the exact format used when trying to reproduce the bug.

And, just to be sure, can you confirm you're not holding any modifier key down (like the command key) when you click.

This is the code from a table with one of the links that don't work. (and no, I wasn’t holding any modifier key)

 <table style="width: 100%; border-top: solid 1px #CCCCCC;">
        <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%">
                02/11/20
                Meeting Cancelled
            </td>
            <td valign="top" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: arial;">
              
                  <A href="document_center/Planning and Zoning Agenda/2020/Agenda 2-11-2020.pdf" target="_blank">Agenda</A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                  
                
                  
                
                  
                

                <div style="text-align:right;white-space:nowrap">
                    
                    
                    
                    <a name="agendas_minutes_rz751"></a>
                    <script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
                    RZ.module = 'agendas_minutes'; RZ.linkname = '';
                    RZ.template = '*none*'; RZ.recordid = '751';
                    RZ.nexturl = "editforms/agenda_minutes_detail-editform.jsp";
                    RZ.popupwidth = ''; RZ.popupheight = ''; RZ.popupscroll = '';
                    RZ.img = '<img src="images/edit/edit_small.jpg" alt="Edit Item" border="0" />';
                    RZ.set = '';
                    RZ.options = '@@nolink@@';
                    if (typeof RZaction != 'undefined') RZaction('edititem');
                    </script>
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    <script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
                    RZ.module = 'agendas_minutes';
                    RZ.recordid = '751';
                    RZ.name = 'RZdelete' + RZ.recordid;
                    RZ.img = '<img src="images/edit/delete_small.jpg" alt="Delete Item" border="0" />';
                    RZ.options = '';
                    if (typeof RZaction != 'undefined') RZaction('delete');
                    </script>
                    
                </div>
            </td>
        </tr>
    </table>

 

[koelsh]

I was having this issue yesterday. What seemed to cause it was I had the same tab group open in two different Safari windows at the same time. Closed one of them and it started working as expected right away.

Have also had issues with tabs syncing/not closing in a particular group. Ended up having to delete all groups then quitting safari for several minutes to wait for some background service to sync/catchup.

 

[BasilFawlty]

I was having this issue yesterday. What seemed to cause it was I had the same tab group open in two different Safari windows at the same time. Closed one of them and it started working as expected right away.

Have also had issues with tabs syncing/not closing in a particular group. Ended up having to delete all groups then quitting safari for several minutes to wait for some background service to sync/catchup.

By George, I think you've got it! I just did an experiment similar to what you did. I intentionally had the same tab group open in two windows and the problem occurred. I link to my admin log in on my own web site would not work, I closed the swoons Safari window and bingo - the link started working!

Not sure if this is a bug or a feature, but I think you've solved the mystery! Thank you!

 

[koelsh]

By George, I think you've got it! I just did an experiment similar to what you did. I intentionally had the same tab group open in two windows and the problem occurred. I link to my admin log in on my own web site would not work, I closed the swoons Safari window and bingo - the link started working!

Not sure if this is a bug or a feature, but I think you've solved the mystery! Thank you!

Great to hear! I think it's a bug with Safari 15.0 or how it works on Big Sur. Upgraded to Monterey last night with Safari 15.1 and so far can't replicate the bug.

What was also happening to me in Big Sur is extra "untitled" windows would be listed under the window menu as I was switching between tab groups. Quitting Safari was the only thing that would clear those.

 

[BasilFawlty]

Great to hear! I think it's a bug with Safari 15.0 or how it works on Big Sur. Upgraded to Monterey last night with Safari 15.1 and so far can't replicate the bug.

I haven't upgraded to Monterey yet, but probably will soon. I do hope it clears that issue. Thanks for the helpful sleuthing!

 

[svenmany]

YAY - I'm off the hook trying to duplicate it! Glad it worked out.

 

[BasilFawlty]

YAY - I'm off the hook trying to duplicate it! Glad it worked out.

Thanks for offering to help anyway!

 

[kat.hayes]

Just happened to me earlier

 

[svenmany]

I can confirm it happens to me if I have the same tab group open in two windows.

 

[BasilFawlty]

Just happened to me earlier

I can confirm it happens to me if I have the same tab group open in two windows.

Think it’s a Big Sur bug. @koelsh said they upgraded to Monterey and problem went away.

 

[svenmany]

Think it’s a Big Sur bug. @koelsh said they upgraded to Monterey and problem went away.

I'm running Monterey 12.0.1 and can reproduce the bug.

 

[svenmany]

I think this could a race condition, where the two windows' attempts to manipulate the single tab group conflict. If that's the case, it's possible that other factors on the running computer could determine whether you experience the bug or not.

 

[BasilFawlty]

I'm running Monterey 12.0.1 and can reproduce the bug.

Darn! Well, as long as I know the conditions that cause it I’ll just try to avoid the condition.