Bugzilla

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #1666847 +++

**Proposal (for exploration of feasibility):**

Implement the following keyboard shortcuts for easy and efficient cross-localization keyboard access to the three main addressing fields in the composition window:

Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+T --> To
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+C --> Cc
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+B --> Bcc

**Motivation:**

- Several users have asked for easier ways of disclosing CC and BCC fields, and also the idea of having dedicated keyboard shortcuts for To, CC and BCC has repeatedly come up.
- To, CC, and BCC are extremely important address fields, likely to be used dozens of times every day by a large number of users, especially in enterprise contexts.
- Moreover, in the process of composing an email, users might want to go back to the addressing fields to edit/add/remove recipients.
- Such everyday high-frequency actions should be as efficiently accessible as possible.

- It speaks volumes that even gmail as a webmailer has deemed it necessary to have dedicated keyboard shortcuts just for disclosing and focusing the three main types of addressing fields.
- Using the same keyboard shortcuts like gmail will ease the transition for users of gmail webmail into Thunderbird. No need to reinvent the wheel.
- Also, as real keyboard shortcuts (as opposed to access keys) these will be non-localized in Thunderbird, which is an advantage for users, support and developer maintenance alike.

**Implementation**

- Technical implementation should be a non-brainer, as these shortcuts should work from anywhere in the compose window, so probably just <keys>.
- Making the key combinations available as unique keyboard shortcuts is less trivial, also with a view on future uses. I think it's worth trying, and even reshuffling a bit to make these premium shortcuts work.

** Exploring feasibility: Current and future shortcut conflicts and ways out**

- Ctrl+Shift+T is currently available in composition context. However, in the distant future when composition might live in a tab, it will conflict with Ctrl+Shift+T for "Undo close tab".  "Undo close tab" is magnitudes less frequent and important for TB than efficient acccess to To-field. We could try to think of something now, or postpone that issue to when it really arises.
- Ctrl+Shift+C is currently available in composition context. However, in the distant future when composition might live in a tab, it will conflict with Ctrl+Shift+C for "Calendar tab". Calendar is very important, probably more important than efficient access to CC field.
Unfortunately that would also rob us of an intuitive shortcut for "Copy formatting", a long-requested feature for the compose editor. We could try to think of something now, or postpone that issue to when it really arises.
- Ctrl+Shift+B is currently used for "Address Book" both in composition and 3-pane contexts. That's important, but I suspect far less frequently used than efficient access to Bcc field. We could try to find another shortcut for "Address Book", but the most intuitive alternatives like Ctrl+Shift+A are also taken in both contexts. Shuffling shortcuts is an art.

**Another way out: The shortcut panel approach**

Trying to think out of the box, Alex' plans for a location toolbar in Thunderbird springs to mind. If we had a single entry point access/shortcut key for focusing that (or some sort of master shortcut panel in the middle of the screen), things like Calendar and Address book could subsequently be covered with single letter (on-screen) shortcuts from that toolbar/pane context, which could free up their current shortcuts. Reversely, we could also try the same for the shortcuts proposed here, to have a central access panel on one shortcut, and then one-letter shortcuts to pick one from the panel context.

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #1666847 +++

**Proposal (for exploration of feasibility):**

Implement the following keyboard shortcuts for easy and efficient cross-localization keyboard access to the three main addressing fields in the composition window:

Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+T --> To
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+C --> Cc
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+B --> Bcc

**Motivation:**

- Several users have asked for easier ways of disclosing CC and BCC fields, and also the idea of having dedicated keyboard shortcuts for To, CC and BCC has repeatedly come up.
- To, CC, and BCC are extremely important address fields, likely to be used dozens of times every day by a large number of users, especially in enterprise contexts.
- Moreover, in the process of composing an email, users might want to go back to the addressing fields to edit/add/remove recipients.
- Such everyday high-frequency actions should be as efficiently accessible as possible.

- It speaks volumes that even gmail as a webmailer has deemed it necessary to have dedicated keyboard shortcuts just for disclosing and focusing the three main types of addressing fields.
- Using the same keyboard shortcuts like gmail will ease the transition for users of gmail webmail into Thunderbird. No need to reinvent the wheel.
- Also, as real keyboard shortcuts (as opposed to access keys) these will be non-localized in Thunderbird, which is an advantage for users, support and developer maintenance alike.

**Implementation**

- Technical implementation should be a non-brainer, as these shortcuts should work from anywhere in the compose window, so probably just <keys>.
- Making the key combinations available as unique keyboard shortcuts is less trivial, also with a view on future uses. I think it's worth trying, and even reshuffling a bit to make these premium shortcuts work.

**Exploring feasibility: Current and future shortcut conflicts and ways out**

- Ctrl+Shift+T is currently available in composition context. However, in the distant future when composition might live in a tab, it will conflict with Ctrl+Shift+T for "Undo close tab".  "Undo close tab" is magnitudes less frequent and important for TB than efficient acccess to To-field. We could try to think of something now, or postpone that issue to when it really arises.
- Ctrl+Shift+C is currently available in composition context. However, in the distant future when composition might live in a tab, it will conflict with Ctrl+Shift+C for "Calendar tab". Calendar is very important, probably more important than efficient access to CC field.
Unfortunately that would also rob us of an intuitive shortcut for "Copy formatting", a long-requested feature for the compose editor. We could try to think of something now, or postpone that issue to when it really arises.
- Ctrl+Shift+B is currently used for "Address Book" both in composition and 3-pane contexts. That's important, but I suspect far less frequently used than efficient access to Bcc field. We could try to find another shortcut for "Address Book", but the most intuitive alternatives like Ctrl+Shift+A are also taken in both contexts. Shuffling shortcuts is an art.

**Another way out: The shortcut panel approach**

Trying to think out of the box, Alex' plans for a location toolbar in Thunderbird springs to mind. If we had a single entry point access/shortcut key for focusing that (or some sort of master shortcut panel in the middle of the screen), things like Calendar and Address book could subsequently be covered with single letter (on-screen) shortcuts from that toolbar/pane context, which could free up their current shortcuts. Reversely, we could also try the same for the shortcuts proposed here, to have a central access panel on one shortcut, and then one-letter shortcuts to pick one from the panel context.