1923233 - Add an option to stop autoscroll when the middle mouse button is released

Status: NEW

(Core :: Layout: Scrolling and Overflow, enhancement, P3)

Description

[Botond Ballo [:botond]]

Originally requested in this Mozilla Connect thread.

Currently, there are two ways to activate and use autoscroll:

1. Click (press and quickly release) the middle mouse button. The autoscroll indicator appears, and the page is in an autoscroll state until the indicator is dismissed with another click (of any mouse button).
2. Press but not release the middle mouse button. The autoscroll indicator appears, and you can move the mouse while keeping the button pressed. In this case, releasing the button ends the autoscroll.

Based on the thread linked above, some users who only use method (2) would find it useful to have an option to disable method (1) (i.e. have the release of the middle mouse button always end autoscroll, even if the release happens quickly after the press), to avoid situations where method (1) is unintentionally activated (e.g. middle-clicking near a hyperlink when you meant to middle-click on the link).

Comment 1

[Axel]

I noticed this is a duplicate of #1270654, an issue I posted 10 years ago.

No-one took the opportunity to implement this simple fix in 10 years …

Meanwhile, I noticed that when holding down the middle mouse button on an actual hyperlink, Firefox follows the link instead of initializing scrolling mode. However, there should be a clear distinction between clicking and holding down the mouse button.

I propose there the middle mouse click algorithm should be rethought and revamped:

1. clicking anywhere: trigger click event
2. clicking on hyperlink: default action: follow the hyperlink
3. holding down the mouse button: don't trigger click event, enter scrolling mode, but do not enable auto-scrolling mode (i.e., stop scrolling when the mouse button is released)
4. holding down the mouse button on hyperlink: don't trigger click event, don't follow hyperlink, enter scrolling mode, but do not enable auto-scrolling mode (i.e., stop scrolling when the mouse button is released)