target="_blank" tag causes unwanted window to open in HTML email

[mconnerly]

I am sending an email in HTML which includes 4 links to articles within the email. The first two links work properly, but the last two open in a new window, which I don't want. I have been told that this is caused by a target="_blank" in my anchor tag. The target="_blank" is not in the code when I send the email, but appears when it is opened by the recipient.

Following is the sample code:

In this Email Alert:</p><p>(You now have the option of going directly
to those articles of interest to you, rather than scrolling through the entire
message. Simply click on the following links to be directed to specific
articles. At the end of each article, click on &quot;Return to Top&quot; to
return to the beginning of the Email Alert.)</p><p><br /><a href="#MVP">*
ROOFING INDUSTRY ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARDS</a></p><br
/><p><a href="#CARE">* CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ROOFING EXCELLENCE (CARE)
SEEKS WESTERN REGION ROOFING INDUSTRY TRAINING MANAGER</a></p><br /><p><a target="_blank" href="#scif">* RCAC WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PROGRAM</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="#SPONSOR">* RCAC RECOGNIZES OUR SPONSORS: ARCBAC, URCA, GALLAGHER
CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES</a></p><p>========================================================================</p><p><a target="_blank" name="MVP"></a>ROOFING INDUSTRY ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
AWARDS<br /><br /><font size="2">Sponsored by the Roofing Industry for
Progress, the Most Valuable<br />Player (MVP) Awards Program recognizes and
honors outstanding roofing workers from various regions of the United
States.<br /><br />As a roofing contractor, your employees will enjoy positive
morale<br />and recognition just for being nominated. Should your employee
win,<br />your business also stands to gain an outstanding marketing
opportunity.<br /><br />MVP nominees will be evaluated based on significant
contributions<br />in one or more of the following categories: outstanding
on-the-job<br />performance, attracting new workers and helping retain existing
ones, contributions to a team effort, community service and volunteerism, and
other noteworthy contributions and activities. <br />Applications should
include testimonial letters from customers, <br />supervisors, and fellow
employees, as well as a detailed explanation of the exemplary traits which the
employee has exhibited.<br /><br />Winners will receive a trip to NRCA's 120th
Annual Convention in Las Vegas, March 6-8, 2007, including two complimentary
roundtrip<br />tickets, two night's hotel accommodations, one complimentary<br
/>conference registration, two tickets to the NRCA Luncheon, and a $100
American Express gift certificate. Winners will be formally honored during the
NRCA Luncheon on March 7, and will be recognized in <em>Professional
Roofing</em> magazine, NRCA's <em>For Members Only </em>newsletter, and on
</font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalroofingfoundation.net/"><font
size="2">www.nationalroofingfoundation.net</font></a><font size="2">. RCAC
member employees who win will also be recognized on the RCAC website, as
well<br />as in the <em>California Roofer</em> newsletter.<br /><br />The
contest is open to any roofing worker holding a position no higher than
foreman, and the number of nominations may be no more than three per company
branch. The deadline for entry submissions is November 30, 2006.</font><br
/><br /><font size="2">Visit </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nrca.net/rp/about/awards/mvp/default.aspx"
target="_blank"><font
size="2">http://www.nrca.net/rp/about/awards/mvp/default.aspx for</font></a><br
/><font size="2">for an entry form, or contact the RCAC office at (916)
456-4790.</font><br /><br /><a href="#top" name="Return to Top">Return to
Top</a>
</p><p>---------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><a target="_blank" name="CARE"></a>CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ROOFING EXCELLENCE (CARE) SEEKS
WESTERN REGION ROOFING INDUSTRY TRAINING MANAGER<br /><br /><font size="2">The
Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE), a<br />division of GAF
Materials Corp., is seeking an individual with at<br />least four years of
roofing industry experience, a bachelor's degree<br />or equivalent, a
background in training or public speaking, sales and<br />technical experience,
and a commitment to the roofing industry to fill<br />the role of Western Region
Roofing Industry Training Manager.<br /><br />To apply, email a resume to
</font><a target="_blank" href="mailto:CARE@GAF.com"><font
size="2">CARE@GAF.com</font></a><font size="2">, or by FAX to<br
/>508-660-2471.</font></p><p><a href="#top" name="Return to Top">Return to
Top</a> <br /><br
/>------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><a target="_blank" name="scif"></a>RCAC WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PROGRAM<br /><br /><font
size="2">

[grumpyoldtechs]

if its in an email you wont need to use target="_blank" every email program i know opens it in a new window anyway.

also target="_blank" is highly frowned upon.

i know emails are different and your supposed to use the oldest nastiest code you can find for them just don't let it extend to your websites

[mconnerly]

Thank you for the reply. I don't want the target="_blank" to appear in my code, and I am not putting it in the code; it is somehow being inserted. How do I prevent this from appearing in my code?

[yitzle]

The code you shared has a the _blank in it...

[grumpyoldtechs]

/p><p><a target="_blank" name="MVP"></a>ROOFING INDUSTRY ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER


you also have a link here with no click able area in it and it goes no ware