4.6 New insert link, default to _blank "open in new window"

Or is the only way to add one of the older plugins which do this? like
https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/open-external-links-in-a-new-window/
will those even work with the upgraded editor in wordpress 4.6?

Have you tried it?

Yes, thanks, but firstly its an additional plugin and I try to minimize their number. Secondly, it forces all external links to become _blank links regardless of the HTML set in the post itself. i.e. it ignores whatever setting the wordpress editor shows for the links. could lead to confusions if, lets say, one particular link is wished to be non _blank. Its a bit of a patched solution…

Well anything other than a plugin will be a change to the WP core and will go away each time you do an update.

You could request that WP make this a setable option.

Excellent, where do I do that?

Please don’t directly modify core ??

You will have to either use a plugin, or make do with the current implementation (there’s a reason it’s considered an “advanced” feature hidden behind the cogwheel), you can find some information on this at https://make.www.ads-software.com/core/2016/03/28/the-editor-in-wordpress-4-5/#comment-29566 ??

to request a core change go here https://core.trac.www.ads-software.com

as marius said, changing the core on your one is a bad idea.

What, me, modify the core? good one. More likely IT will moodify me first. No, I meant, where do I request a core change. Ah, you posted where. Thanks..! will do. All I want is for the default option for _blank to be controllable. As it is, this upgrade is costing our editors dozens of clicks extra for every post…