diff --git a/README.org b/README.org
index d24d4e7..bff5875 100644
--- a/README.org
+++ b/README.org
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ Python scripts to generate a mobile-friendly static site for tracking tcg cards
   - =maxmastered=: maximum number of most recently mastered decks to show on the index page
   - =firstmasteries=: a list of decks you mastered first
   - =misclink=: under ="link"=, a link to any page you choose, and under ~"text"~, text to display as the link
+  - =newtab=: whether links to external sites should open in new tabs
   - =donations= : lists of donated decks and individual scrapbook cards
   - =masscollect=: list (python dict) of series/themes being mass collected, each containing at least one of ="series"= specifying a list of series from the online decklist, ="decks"= specifying a list of decks, or ="singles"= specifying a list of individual cards
   - =anniversary= : list of current anniversary decks
diff --git a/colors.py b/colors.py
index bba8cbb..f813a39 100644
--- a/colors.py
+++ b/colors.py
@@ -772,7 +772,43 @@ def headerwrite(thefile,pagename):
         if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
             header.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
         header.write("/log\">log</a>")
-    header.write("</li>\n        <li><a href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\" target=\"_blank\">trade post @ dw</a></li>\n      <li>          <details>\n            <summary>service links</summary>\n            <ul>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21activity+rewards\" target=\"_blank\">activity rewards</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aart+shop\" target=\"_blank\">art shop</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aart+studio\" target=\"_blank\">art studio</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+a+deck\" target=\"_blank\">deck donations</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+a+special+deck\" target=\"_blank\">special deck donations</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+graphics\" target=\"_blank\">graphics donations</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21levels\" target=\"_blank\">levels</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21masteries\" target=\"_blank\">masteries</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aportfolios\" target=\"_blank\">portfolios</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/recycledart.php\" target=\"_blank\">recycled art</a></li>\n              <li><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Asignatures\" target=\"_blank\">signatures</a></li>\n            </ul>\n          </details>\n        </li>\n      </ul>\n    </nav>\n    <main>\n")
+    header.write("</li>\n        <li><a href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">trade post @ dw</a></li>\n      <li>          <details>\n            <summary>service links</summary>\n            <ul>\n              <li id=\"activityrewards\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21activity+rewards\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">activity rewards</a></li>\n              <li id=\"artshop\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aart+shop\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">art shop</a></li>\n              <li id=\"artstudio\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aart+studio\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">art studio</a></li>\n              <li id=\"donation\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+a+deck\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">deck donations</a></li>\n              <li id=\"specialdonation\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+a+special+deck\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">special deck donations</a></li>\n              <li id=\"graphicdonation\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Adonate+graphics\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">graphics donations</a></li>\n              <li id=\"redeemlevel\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21levels\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">levels</a></li>\n              <li id=\"redeemmastery\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%21masteries\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">masteries</a></li>\n              <li id=\"redeemportfolio\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Aportfolios\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">portfolios</a></li>\n              <li id=\"recycledart\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/recycledart.php\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">recycled art</a></li>\n              <li id=\"getsigs\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.dreamwidth.org/tag/%2Asignatures\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        header.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    header.write(">signatures</a></li>\n            </ul>\n          </details>\n        </li>\n      </ul>\n    </nav>\n    <main>\n")
     if variables.hiatus:
         header.write("<div id=\"hiatus\">\n<h1>hiatus</h1>\n<p>")
         if type(variables.hiatus) == str:
@@ -1021,7 +1057,10 @@ def portfoliogen(theportfolio,thetype,portnumber):
                         portstring += "□"
                     break
             portstring += " " + specialdeck
-        portstring += "</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"" + theportfolio["url"] + "\" target=\"_blank\">palette portfolio "
+        portstring += "</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"" + theportfolio["url"] + "\""
+        if variables.newtab:
+            portstring += " target=\"_blank\""
+        portstring += ">palette portfolio "
         if portnumber < 10:
             portstring += "0" + str(portnumber)
         else:
@@ -1094,7 +1133,10 @@ def portfoliogen(theportfolio,thetype,portnumber):
                 else:
                     portstring += "□"
                 break
-        portstring += " " + thedecks[7] + "</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"" + theportfolio["url"] + "\" target=\"_blank\">monochrome portfolio "
+        portstring += " " + thedecks[7] + "</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"" + theportfolio["url"] + "\""
+        if variables.newtab:
+            portstring += " target=\"_blank\""
+        portstring += ">monochrome portfolio "
         if portnumber < 10:
             portstring += "0" + str(portnumber)
         else:
@@ -1230,7 +1272,10 @@ def printdeck(deck,fold=True):
             deckstring += "  </tr>\n"
         test += 1
     if deck["mastered"]:
-        deckstring += "  <tr>\n    <td colspan=\"5\" align=\"center\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\""
+        deckstring += "  <tr>\n    <td colspan=\"5\" align=\"center\"><a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\""
+        if variables.newtab:
+            deckstring += " target=\"_blank\""
+        deckstring += "><img src=\""
         if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
             deckstring += "/" + variables.subfolder
         deckstring += "/decks/" + deck["name"] + "/master.gif\" title=\"mastered " + deck["name"]
@@ -1283,7 +1328,10 @@ def indexgen():
             content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
         content.write("/decks/sigs/" + variables.name.lower() + ".gif\" loading=\"lazy\">")
     if variables.banner:
-        content.write("<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\"><img src=\"")
+        content.write("<a href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\"")
+        if variables.newtab:
+            content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+        content.write("><img src=\"")
         if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
             content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
         content.write("/assets/banner.png\" loading=\"lazy\"></a>")
@@ -1411,11 +1459,17 @@ def indexgen():
         if tradepend > 1:
             content.write("s")
         content.write(" held for trades</li>\n")
-    content.write("<li>started <code>" + firstdate.strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code></li>\n<li>last updated <code>" + datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://git.praze.net/tre/tcg\" target=\"_blank\">code</a> ")
+    content.write("<li>started <code>" + firstdate.strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code></li>\n<li>last updated <code>" + datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://git.praze.net/tre/tcg\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    content.write(">code</a> ")
     if variables.name == "Mez":
         content.write("under construction")
     else:
-        content.write("by <a href=\https://tcg.praze.net\" target=\"_blank\">mez</a>")
+        content.write("by <a href=\https://tcg.praze.net\"")
+        if variables.newtab:
+            content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+        content.write(">mez</a>")
     content.write("</li>\n")
     try:
         if len(variables.misclink["text"]) > 0:
@@ -1519,7 +1573,10 @@ def indexgen():
         masteredcount = 0
         for deck in mastereddecks:
             if masteredcount < variables.maxmastered:
-                content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"")
+                content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write("><img src=\"")
                 if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
                     content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
                 content.write("/decks/" + deck["name"] + "/master.gif\" title=\"mastered " + deck["name"])
@@ -1553,7 +1610,10 @@ def indexgen():
             else:
                 memberlink = False
             if memberlink:
-                content.write("<a href=\"" + memberlink + "\" target=\"_blank\">")
+                content.write("<a href=\"" + memberlink + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write(">")
             content.write(printcard(card))
             if memberlink:
                 content.write("</a>")
@@ -1568,7 +1628,10 @@ def indexgen():
         content.write("<h2>coupons</h2>\n<p>")
         for coupon in coupons:
             if coupons[coupon]["count"] > 0:
-                content.write("<a href=\"" + coupons[coupon]["inurl"] + "\" target=\"_blank\">")
+                content.write("<a href=\"" + coupons[coupon]["inurl"] + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write(">")
             content.write("<img src=\"")
             if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
                 content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
@@ -1610,9 +1673,15 @@ def indexgen():
         for donation in donations:
             content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=")
             if donation["type"] == "single":
-                content.write(donation["name"][:-2] + "\" target=\"_blank\">" + printcard(donation["name"]))
+                content.write(donation["name"][:-2] + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write(">" + printcard(donation["name"]))
             else:
-                content.write(donation["name"] + "\" target=\"_blank\">")
+                content.write(donation["name"] + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write(">")
                 if donation["type"] == "deck":
                     content.write("<img src=\"")
                     if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
@@ -2342,7 +2411,10 @@ def massseriesgen(series,massindex):
     for deck in decklist:
         if deck["mastered"]:
             if series in deck["mass"] or series in deck["massmaster"]:
-                content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"")
+                content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\"")
+                if variables.newtab:
+                    content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                content.write("><img src=\"")
                 if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
                     content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
                 content.write("/decks/" + deck["name"] + "/master.gif\" title=\"mastered " + deck["name"])
@@ -2354,7 +2426,10 @@ def massseriesgen(series,massindex):
                 content.write("\"></a>")
             elif series == "colors universe":
                 if deck["colour"] == "limited":
-                    content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"")
+                    content.write("<a href=\"https://colors-tcg.eu/viewcards.php?deck=" + deck["name"] + "\"")
+                    if variables.newtab:
+                        content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+                    content.write("><img src=\"")
                     if len(variables.subfolder) > 0:
                         content.write("/" + variables.subfolder)
                     content.write("/decks/" + deck["name"] + "/master.gif\" title=\"mastered " + deck["name"])
@@ -2447,7 +2522,10 @@ def tradegen(colour=False):
     content.write("<h1>available for trade</h1>\n" + filterwrite("trade",colour,True,True) + "<p class=\"tradeterms\">")
     if len(variables.tradestatement) > 0:
         content.write(variables.tradestatement + " ")
-    content.write("Trade cards <a href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></p>\n<p><textarea readonly>")
+    content.write("Trade cards <a href=\"" + variables.tradepost + "\"")
+    if variables.newtab:
+        content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+    content.write(">here</a></p>\n<p><textarea readonly>")
     precomma = False
     for card in alltradelist:
         if colour:
@@ -2689,7 +2767,10 @@ def loggen(month=False):
         else:
             admit = True
         if admit == True:
-            content.write("<p><code>" + event["date"].strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code> <a href=\"" + event["url"] + "\" target=\"_blank\">[" + event["name"] + "]</a>: ")
+            content.write("<p><code>" + event["date"].strftime("%Y-%m-%d") + "</code> <a href=\"" + event["url"] + "\"")
+            if variables.newtab:
+                content.write(" target=\"_blank\"")
+            content.write(">[" + event["name"] + "]</a>: ")
             try:
                 if event["received"]:
                     content.write("Received ")
diff --git a/variables-template.py b/variables-template.py
index d649751..16154eb 100644
--- a/variables-template.py
+++ b/variables-template.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ tradestatement = ""
 maxmastered = 20
 firstmasteries = ["deckname","nameofdeck"]
 misclink = {"link":"","text":""}
+newtab = True
 donations = {"decks":[],"scrapbook":[]}
 masscollect = {"series":{"series":["a series","another series"],"decks":["firstdeck","seconddeck"],"singles":["card01","card02"]}}
 anniversary = ["deckname"]