2033319 - Split tab functionality has no keyboard shortcuts

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Firefox :: Tabbed Browser: Split View, enhancement)

Description

[Tom Morris]

Steps to reproduce:

Used the split tab functionality in the current stable desktop version of Firefox.

Actual results:

There was no way to invoke the functionality (splitting a view across two tabs, unsplitting tabs, and selecting the tabs) using a keyboard shortcut, or assign a keyboard shortcut in about:keyboard.

Expected results:

There ought to be a way to invoke the split view functionality (including opening a new split tab, unsplitting the view back into two tabs, and perhaps selecting which tab to split with) using keyboard shortcuts. That keyboard shortcut ought to be settable in about:keyboard, listed in the relevant support article, and appear in the 'File' menu with the appropriate shortcut (as other tab options currently are).

As a point of comparison, Chrome's documentation states you can start split view on the current active tab in Chrome using Shift+Alt+N (on Windows/Linux), Cmd+Option+N (on macOS), or Ctrl+Alt+N (on Chromebook).

Comment 1

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco]]

The Bugbug bot thinks this bug should belong to the 'Firefox::Tabbed Browser: Split View' component, and is moving the bug to that component. Please correct in case you think the bot is wrong.

Comment 2

[LeoniePhiline]

Additionally, Ctrl+Alt+LMB-Click or Alt+MMB-Click should open the clicked link Split View instead of in a new tab.

If Split View is inactive, it should activate Split View, opening the clicked link in a new pane.

If Split View is active, it should open the clicked link in the other/inactive pane, replacing the previously loaded page.

Comment 3

[LeoniePhiline]

Rethinking Ctrl+Tab for split views:

Usually, you can Ctrl+Click a link, then Ctrl+Tab to switch to the newly opened tab right away.

However, if you Ctrl+Click a link in the left pane of a Split View, followed by Ctrl+Tab, then you end up in the right split pane, instead of in the newly opened tab.

I wonder if Alt+Left/Right (arrow keys) should be used to switch between Split View panes, to keep Ctrl+Tab for switching between actual browser tabs, not panes.

Comment 4

[Tom S. (please needinfo tschuster)]

Attachment: Bug 2033319 - Support for assigning a custom "Add Split View" shortcut. r?Jamie,kcochrane

Comment 5

[Tom S. (please needinfo tschuster)]

Attachment: Bug 2033319 - Support for assigning a custom "Separate Split View" shortcut. r?Jamie!,kcochrane!

Comment 6

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://github.com/mozilla-firefox/firefox/commit/032ee9840b69
https://hg.mozilla.org/integration/autoland/rev/8b01b45beb56
Support for assigning a custom "Add Split View" shortcut. r=Jamie,kcochrane,fluent-reviewers,bolsson
https://github.com/mozilla-firefox/firefox/commit/b6f154d0d8be
https://hg.mozilla.org/integration/autoland/rev/6518e7c1c723
Support for assigning a custom "Separate Split View" shortcut. r=Jamie,kcochrane,fluent-reviewers,bolsson

Comment 7

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://github.com/mozilla-firefox/firefox/commit/cde249ed5517
https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/0a50c95268c1
Support for assigning a custom "Add Split View" shortcut. r=Jamie,kcochrane,fluent-reviewers,bolsson
https://github.com/mozilla-firefox/firefox/commit/5a80c25c868b
https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/e987b922de15
Support for assigning a custom "Separate Split View" shortcut. r=Jamie,kcochrane,fluent-reviewers,bolsson

Comment 8

[agoloman]

https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/0a50c95268c1
https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/e987b922de15