446499 - Middle mouse button acts inconsistently

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Eric]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.1) Gecko/2008070208 Firefox/3.0.1
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.1) Gecko/2008070208 Firefox/3.0.1

Middle mouse button sometimes opens a new link in a tab without switching to that tab(the behavior I have set), other times it will switch to the new tab without any intervention. 

I have tried this in safe mode and can verify that it happens there as well. 

I don't have any specific examples because this happens intermittently but I have noticed it happening on fark.com the most.

Reproducible: Sometimes

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Have behavior set to NOT switch to new tab/window when it opens
2. Use middle mouse button to open a link in a new tab
3. Try until it eventually switches to one of the new tabs.
Actual Results:  
The browser switches to a new tab regardless of my preferences.

Expected Results:  
It shouldn't since my prefs are set to stay on the current tab.

Build identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.1) Gecko/2008070208 Firefox/3.0.1

Comment 1

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

Confused on what you mean. Are you setting the preferences so that "Links that open in New windows should either 'Open in  New Window' or 'Open in New tab'". Or, do you mean when you middle click on a link, regardless of what the options are. Please be more specific.

Comment 2

[Eric]

(In reply to comment #1)
> Confused on what you mean. Are you setting the preferences so that "Links that
> open in New windows should either 'Open in  New Window' or 'Open in New tab'".
> Or, do you mean when you middle click on a link, regardless of what the options
> are. Please be more specific.
> 

To clarify, I have "New pages should be opened in: a new tab" 
and 
"when I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately" is checked OFF. 

And when I middle-click, it will intermittently switch regardless of the setting. 

I hope that clears it up.

Comment 3

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

Thank you, that is what I wanted to know. 
Can you please try this in Safe Mode (http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode) and let us know what extensions you have installed 9including themes).

I have not been able to reproduce this in Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.9.1a1pre) Gecko/2008072203 Minefield/3.1a1pre. How many times does it typically take to of clicking, to switch? Does it happen every time, once every 10, 15, 100, etc. Thank you.

Comment 4

[Eric]

As I mentioned in the original post, I have already duplicated this in Safe Mode but to satisfy you, I just did it again and got the same results.

Here's my extensions:
Application: Firefox 3.0.1 (2008070208)
Operating System: WINNT (x86-msvc)

- 404 : File is Not Found ? Now it will be! 1.2.1
- Adblock Filterset.G Updater 0.3.1.3
- Adblock Plus 0.7.5.5
- BlockSite 0.7.1
- BugMeNot 2.0
- ColorfulTabs 3.2
- Extension List Dumper 1.14.1
- Flashblock 1.5.6
- Google Calendar Quick Add 1.6.5
- Google Toolbar for Firefox 3.1.20080605W
- IE Tab 1.5.20080618
- Java Console 6.0.03
- Java Console 6.0.04
- JavaScript Options 1.2.6
- MeasureIt 0.3.8
- Nightly Tester Tools 2.0.2
- OpenBook 2.0.0.0
- People Search and Public Record Toolbar 1.0
- RetailMeNot 2.2
- ScribeFire 3.0pre2
- SwitchProxy Tool 1.4.1
- United States English Dictionary 3.0.3
- XPather 1.4.1

If I go to www.fark.com and click on the article links(I haven't checked with the forum links), it will generally do it within 5 clicks. I do it in rapid succession at times so it could be some form of race condition I suppose; I don't know enough about the internals of Firefox to say for certain.

Comment 5

[Eric]

Oh, and I've got the "Microfox" theme 1.8.34 installed. 

Comment 6

[Eric]

I may have some more insight to my problem.

I have noticed that it seems like every site that causes this problem is trying to set a cookie. I have FF set to ask me what to do with each cookie so it might just be that the cookie dialog has to start playing nice with my settings. 

Comment 7

[Eric]

I have now confirmed that the cookie dialog is the cause. Is there a reason that the dialog has to grab focus instead of simply leaving it to be addressed when one clicks on the tab for which it is being requested?

Comment 8

[Aaron Digulla]

I'm seeing a similar behavior for some time. With Firefox 3.0, the middle mouse button always opens a file in a new tab. With 3.5.x and 3.6, it works flacky. Often, in Google, I get a new tab for the first link I click and then on the second link, the new page loads in the current tab.

Comment 9

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

Reporter, please retest with Firefox 3.6.12 or later in a fresh profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). Also update your plugins (flash, adobe reader, java, quicktime, silverlight, etc.) Go to the developer's website and download the latest version from there. If you no longer see this issue, please close this bug as RESOLVED, WORKSFORME. If you do see the bug, please post a comment.

Comment 10

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

No reply, INCOMPLETE. Please retest with Firefox 3.6.12 or later and a new profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). If you continue to see this issue with the newest firefox and a new profile, then please comment on this bug.

Comment 11

[Aaron Digulla]

Seems to be fixed in FF 4.0b7 at least.