1119821 - wanted: unified location for Go/Stop/Reload, Back/Forward, TabClose

Status: VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 1098416

(Firefox :: Toolbars and Customization, defect)

Description

[u123541]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:37.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/37.0
Build ID: 20150108030220

Steps to reproduce:

Ever since the refresh/stop button was moved and pinned to the right end of the URL field, I have tried and tried to get used to that location... BUT...  it is ergonomically incoherent.


Actual results:

[Back]/[Forward]/{Refresh,Stop} used to be grouped in a SMALL area of the screen; usually upper-left. Since the relocation of the Refresh/Stop button, I waste time SEARCHING for it, because:
* URL field varies in length depending on what feature icons appear at its right
* for some reason, 2 of my 11 FF windows have the URL bar above the Bookmarks while the other 9 are Bookmarks over URL
* I use left-to-right languages, so having to hunt on the right side for Refresh is counter-intuitive -- it's current location is better suited for right-to-left languages

Aside: How many people use the dropdown (next to Refresh/Stop)? I NEVER use it; typing in a URL brings it up automatically; but it too might be in the wrong place.




Expected results:

This button should never have had its location hard-coded.

Comment 1

[:Gijs (he/him)]

We're considering what to do in bug 1098416.

Comment 2

[u123541]

Attachment: FFbuttonjs.jpg

Sorry; but I don't feel my bug 1119821(ergonomics) is a duplicate of 1098416 or 1040804 which appears to be only about image/visual style.

Here's what I'm talking about...   I feel there needs to be a "container" which becomes as natural to target as a close button.

* (New) Tab Close [1]
* Back/Forward:  uniform across most browsers
* Go/Stop/Reload:  absolute screen location varies based on:
  - FF window size/location
  - length of URL bar (varies based on Customization)
  - order/visibility of other toolbars 

[1] Finding this button requires that the current tab's "tab" is visible (not scrolled off screen), visually located, aimed and clicked.

The underlying issue here is the non-uniform location of the above specified buttons, the need to locate them visually, or by additional scrolling, aim the mouse (lots of unnecessary "mouse miles"), and click.

These are, IMO the most used buttons and thus should be quickly accessible subliminally -- just go...  not "seek and ye shall find"...

HTH

Comment 3

[u123541]

Changed title to better reflect intent.

Comment 4

[:Gijs (he/him)]

(In reply to Pierre Fortin from comment #2)
> Created attachment 8549761 [details]
> FFbuttonjs.jpg
> 
> Sorry; but I don't feel my bug 1119821(ergonomics) is a duplicate of 1098416
> or 1040804 which appears to be only about image/visual style.

It really isn't about "image/visual style"; it's about the fact that people have been using it less, very much a functional thing. For your further arguments, I really recommend you post them in bug 1098416, not here.

It just doesn't help us fix the issue if we have multiple bugs about the same issue ("where on the toolbar do we make stop/reload available, and is that good UI/UX?")


About the tab close button, that is a separate thing. We used to have the possibility of a fixed-place close button, but this was removed. I suggest you write to https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/firefox-dev about this, if you feel strongly. Please don't put it together with the stop/reload issues, as there were already several discussions about those buttons, and bug 1098416 is the result of those discussions - no use going over it again. :-)

Comment 5

[Ben]

Locating the right side of the Location Bar is not difficult, but if you want a Reload button you can click without doing so you can right-click a blank part of the webpage and click the large Reload button on the context menu.  See also my comment here: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1098416#c12

Not being able to easily get to a tab label that's gone off screen is an issue, and I've filed Bug 1132543 to try and get that addressed.  As a workaround you can use [Ctrl]+[Tab] to move to the next tab, which will make its tab label visible, then switch back.

Comment 6

[u123541]

The Stop/Reload button position is an issue that seems to be difficult to understand...  it's not solely its position -- it's how the user interface affects the workflow.  Right-clicking + Reload, besides requiring more actions, is an alternative way that may not work on many sites. i.e., Try finding a right-click location on google maps that shows the reload button...

Ctrl+R (reload) is simpler; but it's not what comes to mind for some users, or in certain flows.  Is there a shortcut for Stop?

The point that seems to get missed is that the users are the sole arbiters as to what improves/detracts their workflow.  Flexibility existed and we miss it.

Thanks for filing bug 1132543.

Comment 7

[Ben]

The shortcut for Stop is [Esc].  And an alternative shortcut for Reload is [F5].  The full list is available via Menu > Help.

The left of the Location Bar includes varying information on page and plugin integrity, and I very much doubt it's going to become the default location for Reload.  You'd be better off pushing for a return to Stop/Reload customisation so you can get your own copy how you want it.