Closed Bug 411902 Opened 17 years ago Closed 17 years ago

BACKSPACE should navigate back to previous page like in Windows

Categories

(Firefox :: Keyboard Navigation, defect)

Product:
Firefox
Component:
Keyboard Navigation
Platform:
x86
Linux
Type:
defect
Priority:
Not set
Severity:
normal

Tracking

()

Status:
RESOLVED WONTFIX

People

(Reporter: MarcoZ, Unassigned)

References

(
URL
)

Details

(Keywords: access)

BACKSPACE should activate the "Back" function same as Alt+LeftArrow does. Firefox does this on Windows. Moreover, in Nautilus, BACKSPACE also brings you to the parent folder. STR: 1. Go to any page. 2. Activate a link. 3. Press BACKSPACE. Result: Nothing happens. Expected: You should be taken back to previous page. 4. Open Places/Desktop on your Gnome top panel. 5. Press BACKSPACE. Expected and result: You're being taken to your Home folder.
This was a matter of great debate in bug 358764, and the final solution was to do nothing. I don't think we want to revisit that.
(In reply to comment #1) > This was a matter of great debate in bug 358764, and the final solution was to > do nothing. I don't think we want to revisit that. This was brought to my attention by a blind user who had made the move from Windows to Linux, and found that this keystroke she had been using on Windows for years suddenly stopped working for her, and that she needs to press Alt+LeftArrow now, which is much less convenient to press. Just wanted to inform you where this comes from, certainly don't want to open a can of worms here again if it has been decided not to do anything about it. We just need to be conscious about that this is going to be a matter of irritation for people who migrate from Windows, and who are used to using BACKSPACE to navigate back.
Marco, this has been debated back and forth. We've had about 20 bugs on it. Believe it or not it is one of the biggest controversies I had to deal with in the last 7 years. People decided that on Linux it is normal to page up instead. Even though I personally might like it to go back, believe me you don't want to open this can of worms up again.
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 17 years ago
Resolution: --- → WONTFIX
In Firefox for Linux, this is a setable preference: In the Location bar, type about:config, and press Enter. In the resulting page, search for the preference browser.backspace_action. Double-click it, and set the value to 0. Ref: http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Shortcuts
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