Last time, our quick Gmail tip was about composing messages in a new window with a handy quick keyboard/mouse shortcut, the Shift-Click. While we’re at it, why don’t we expound more on the Shift-Click topic. As hinted by our reader Al Calrton in a comment, you can actually reply to or forward a message in a new window the same way.

It’s just a matter of Shift-Clicking the reply or Forward link.

So for instance, I have an open message and I want to reply on another window (perhaps, so I can use the main window to search for other messages, or as a quick reference). I just shift-click on the reply link:

and voila! A new window opens.

And I can also shift-click on the Forward link at the bottom of the message:

and a new window opens, with the message formatted for forwarding.

Even better–if you click either Reply, Reply to All or Forward links at the bottom of each email, Gmail opens a new window for you.

Sure, tabs are cool. And quick-replies are cool too. But sometimes, new windows can help be helpful, like when you want to focus on the task at hand, or when you want to be able to move it around so you can refer to information on another window.

Thanks for the tip, Al!