235766 - better hotkey for search bar

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: Search, defect)

Description

[Jeremy M. Dolan]

The hotkey for the search bar is currently ctrl-k on windows, ctrl-j on linux,
and ctrl-k on mac. Aside from not being standardized and causing documentation
problems, this is an awkward key combination to hit.

Alt-s does not seem bound to anything presently. I propose this be added as an
alternate hotkey for search bar focusing, much like alt-d for the location bar.
Alt-s is easy to type (two keys apart, on qwerty boards), easy to remember (s is
for search), and easy to learn (being alt-d's neighbor).

[As I'm trying to make the transition from custom keywords to FF's search bar, I
am finding the usability very poor. Trying to file bugs to improve this situation]

Comment 1

[Jesse Ruderman]

Many sites use S as an accesskey to focus a search textbox.  http://www.msn.com/
is an example.  Very few sites use D as an accesskey precisely because Alt+D
focuses IE's address bar.

IE uses Ctrl+E to open the Search sidebar.  IMO, Firefox should use the same
shortcut to focus the search bar (or if the search bar is disabled, go to the
front page of a search engine).  Ben is already planning to make Ctrl+E not open
the download manager (bug 233440).

Do you know why J and K are different on Linux?

Comment 2

[Jeremy M. Dolan]

J and K are different because ^K on UNIX is traditionally "kill to end of line".

Personally, I would be all for a pref that turns off all the silly traditional
UNIX line editing keybindings and turns on sensible key bindings more
appropriate to a web browser. I find the key binding conflicts in linux Firefox
one of its major usability issues. ^W closes the current tab, unless the url
bar, or a form element is selected. So ^W^W^W to close three tabs could very
well close one tab, and delete two words in the next. It's rather infuriating.

As for it conflicting with in page access keys, fie I say. That issue is already
beyond a mess and needs a seperate solution like using "shift-control" or some
such combination.

Comment 3

[Daniel Santos]

ALT-any_alpha_key can be used on for accesskey (e.g., <input type="text"
name="blah" accesskey="b">) so ALT-key should probably not be explored as
already notated

Comment 4

[:Gavin Sharp [email: [e-mail]]]

Ctrl+E was added for Windows, and Ctrl+K is now cross-platform. Alt+D + tab
works as well.

I very much doubt this is going to be changed.

Comment 5

[:Gavin Sharp [email: [e-mail]]]

WONTFIX per comment 4.