1842060 - With keyboard navigation, tab does not immediately move to message list when multiple folder modes are active

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Thunderbird :: Mail Window Front End, enhancement, P3)

Description

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

To duplicate:

1. Activate more than one folder mode (in Folder pane options ... > Folder modes).
2. Select a specific mail folder inside an account by using Tab and arrow keys.
3. Once a folder is selected with the arrow key, use Tab to navigate to the contents of the folder.

What currently happens:

1. Tab moves to Folder mode options menu of its parent folder
2. Additional use of Tab moves to the Folder mode options menu for other active Folder modes
3. When all Folder modes have been tabbed through, the focus moves to the message list for the selected folder

Expected behavior:

1. Tab should move to the contents of the selected folder

Comment 1

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

@aleca

We discussed setting folder-pane-mode-context-button items to a tabindex of -1. Doing so would remove the ability to access those buttons via keyboard. This overlooks keyboard users who are visual users as well. They might want to reorder the folder modes by keyboard.

As an alternative, we can keep Tab functionality as is. If a user focuses on a folder, if they press Enter, we can jump the keyboard focus to the message list. This could go to whatever message would receive the focus following the current Tab flow. Or it could go to the "Quick Filter" button.

In 102, Tab on a folder jumps to a message in the folder. But it's unclear with keyboard how to get to the folder column headings for that folder by keyboard.

Comment 2

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

Attachment: Bug 1842060 - Prevent tab focus on folder mode options buttons to more quickly reach the message pane from a folder. r=aleca

• Makes folder pane mode buttons not focusable by keyboard.
• Allows Tab to be used to jump from a folder to the message list.

Comment 3

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

I spoke with Alex. We plan to keep this approach as is and revisit other types of ordering options in the future.

Comment 4

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://hg.mozilla.org/comm-central/rev/e27ef62c6e18
Prevent tab focus on folder mode options buttons to more quickly reach the message pane from a folder. r=aleca

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Comment on attachment 9343110 [details]
Bug 1842060 - Prevent tab focus on folder mode options buttons to more quickly reach the message pane from a folder. r=aleca

[Triage Comment]
Approved for beta

Comment 6

[Daniel Darnell [:dandarnell]]

Thunderbird 116.0b4:
https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/comm-beta/rev/99ce6ad2aa8f

Comment 7

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

Wayne, does this need uplift to 115 or is this already in 115?

Comment 8

[Alessandro Castellani [:aleca]]

This needs uplift request for 115.
If you look at the previous messages there's not 115 release link link in comment 6 for 116, and the tracking flag is still a question mark.

Comment 9

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

Comment on attachment 9343110 [details]
Bug 1842060 - Prevent tab focus on folder mode options buttons to more quickly reach the message pane from a folder. r=aleca

[Approval Request Comment]
Regression caused by (bug #): N/A
User impact if declined: Keyboard navigation can be confusing for users to get from a folder to the list of messages in a folder.
Testing completed (on c-c, etc.): Testing completed included try run and on c-c. It's been in beta for a while.
Risk to taking this patch (and alternatives if risky): Very low.

Comment 10

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Comment on attachment 9343110 [details]
Bug 1842060 - Prevent tab focus on folder mode options buttons to more quickly reach the message pane from a folder. r=aleca

[Triage Comment]
Approved for esr115

Comment 11

[Rob Lemley [:rjl]]

Thunderbird 115.1.1:
https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/comm-esr115/rev/f60efda613ed