337252 - EnableHexNumpad Unicode input not handled

Status: NEW

(Core :: Widget: Win32, enhancement, P5)

Description

[Ilya Konstantinov]

Windows 2000 and higher supports an optional Unicode input method enabled by adding the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method\EnableHexNumpad = "1" (REG_SZ)

After setting this key (and possibly a reboot), the following method can be used to insert arbitrary Unicode code points:
1. Hold [Alt (not necessarily AltGr)]
2. [Keypad +]
3. Enter Unicode code point in hex. (numbers don't have to be keypad numbers)
4. Release [Alt]

This method works in regular Windows EDIT and RICHEDIT controls. However, it doesn't work in Mozilla. It is possible that Mozilla should not support it explicitly, but rather handle some Windows notification which means "Composition  is in progress - don't handle regular keys as-is".

Comment 1

[Uwe Schröder]

This works partially in FF 3.0 under Windows XP.

Character codes that only consist of digits 0..9 can always be entered, for example Alt [+] 2192 results in a right arrow "→".

It is also possible to enter the Euro symbol as Alt [+] 20AC.

However, trying to enter codes that contain the hex digits "B", "E", or "F" (such as U+215B) will trigger the "Bookmarks", "Edit", or "File" menu respectively, thus interrupting the hex input sequence.


The above is true for the English version of Firefox. Other languages will have the same problem with other characters, for example the German version does not allow hex digit "A" as this will trigger the "Ansicht" (View) menu.

Comment 2

[Robert A. Kelly III]

I'm really surprised that this bug has been unresolved for eight years. I can confirm it still affects Windows 7. It seems like it should be fairly easy to recognize that a compose sequence is in progress, beginning with Alt + [NumPad +], and ignore letter keystrokes that are part of the hex input.

Comment 3

[paul.raines]

So disappointed to run into this bug. Still there with latest Windows 10 and FF 78.0.2 Just tried to use it to enter degree symbol with code 'B0' but it brings up the bookmarks menu instead. Method works fine in Chrome and Edge.

A workaround is to set ui.key.menuAccessKey to 0 in about:config if you don't mind loosing all the menu access hotkeys