112477 - clicking on folder in folder pane doesn't immediate bring focus to thread pane

Status: VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 65667

(SeaMonkey :: MailNews: Message Display, defect)

Description

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

found using 2001.11.27.12-comm bits on linux [rh7.2]. in previous builds, when i
have clicked [with mouse] a folder in the folder pane of the mailnews 3pane
window, focus would immediately jump to the thread pane. now, i've noticed that
focus remains in the folder pane. [see bug 65667 and bug 70097 for earlier
discussions on this issue.]

recipe:
0. using an imap account [to nsmail-2.mcom.com]; mailnews 3pane window is of
course opened. let's say i'm currently looking at my Inbox folder, and the
thread pane is in focus.
1. with the mouse, click on another folder in the folder pane.

expected: focus should go to the thread pane [ie, focus ring appearing around
the thread pane].

result: focus remains in the folder pane --the selected folder is not only
highlighted, but it's in focus [in my wm, the color is dark blue to show focus].

2. hit Home key so that i can read the first message listed in the thread pane.

expected: Home key should display the first message in the message pane; focus
remains in thread pane.

result: because focus is in the folder pane and not the thread pane, i jump to
the account name in the folder pane --and Account Central is displayed. i need
to do an extra action: hit Tab to get to the thread pane, or click in the thread
pane.

Comment 1

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

this is a regression with respect to previous behavior. again, whether or not
the previous behavior is desired is discussed in bug 65667.

additional observation: using the up/down arrows [while the folder pane is in
focus] to select folders keeps focus in the folder pane --which, like this bug,
used to switch focus to the thread pane. debate on whether or not that's desired
is covered by bug 70097.

olgam et al., do you see this on mac or win32?

Comment 2

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

this also appears to be a problem on mac os x and winnt [2001.11.27-comm].

an interesting thing i noticed:

i had to create mail accounts for the profiles on mac and win32 [still using
imap/nsmail-2.mcom.com]. during the session in which i created the account, this
bug did *not* occur when i was clicking in the folder pane. after i had exited
[quit the app] and restarted mail, the bug *did* crop up.

Comment 3

[timeless]

fwiw unfortunately arrowing still swaps focus...

Comment 4

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

actually [per comment #1], the up/down arrows in the folder pane don't switch
focus to the thread pane.

Comment 5

[scottputterman]

This is interesting.  This "bug" is pretty much the behavior I think is correct
(with the exception that keys like 'n' don't bring you into the thread pane). 
I'm not sure this is an accessibility bug because this behavior makes it better
for keyboard users who try to traverse the folder pane.  

Comment 6

[Olga]

After reviewing and analyzing 3-pane Focus bugs, I guess, I understand our
intention. Bug 70097, comment #39 helped a lot. We expect different things
happen when we just open Mail or continue working with it (for instance, change
Folder).
1. Default focus: Inbox starts up with focus in the Thread pane. Another
scenario to keep focus in the Thread pane when just after changing Folder a user
clicks on Next button (bug 65667).
2. For intentionally selected Folder and working with this Folder
(expanding/collapsing - bug 107805, or using up/down arrows being in Folder pane
- bug 70097): No focus move to Thread pane, it should stay with the Folder. "any
folder that the user changes by mouse or keyboard should keep focus in the
folder pane"-from comment #39.

Comment 7

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

comment 5: scott, if this is now expected behavior, should this be marked a dup
of bug 65667 and bug 65667 marked wontfix or invalid?

Comment 8

[scottputterman]

Yeah it looks to be a dup.

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 65667 ***

Comment 9

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

v

Comment 10

[sairuh (rarely reading bugmail)]

filed bug 112771 to get single-letter shortcuts to switch focus...