66875 - 3-pane focus switching prevents accessibility in message pane

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(SeaMonkey :: MailNews: Message Display, defect)

Description

[Blake Ross]

Tab/Shift-tab in the 3-pane mail window currently cycles focus between the 
three panes.  This makes tabbing through the elements of a mail message in the 
message pane impossible.  Perhaps [shift+]ctrl+tab should cycle pane focus, 
just as ctrl+tab will eventually cycle between the url bar, the content area, 
and the sidebar in the browser?

Comment 1

[Matthew T (active 1999-2002)]

Eee, I was wondering when this would come up.

I think the convenience of (Shift+)Tab (as compared to (Shift+)Ctrl+Tab) to 
switch between panes is too great to let go. So, I suggest that
links/controls/whatever should be added to the {folder pane, thread pane, 
message pane} cycle, rather than replacing it.

So Tab would go: folder pane --> thread pane --> message pane --> first 
link/control in message --> second link/control in message --> ... --> last 
link/control in message --> sidebar --> folder pane --> thread pane --> ....

Comment 2

[jglick]

Agree with mpt.

Comment 3

[Mike Cowperthwaite]

[Shift]Control-Tab now behaves as described by reporter.  [Shift]Tab behaves as 
one would expect, moving amongst all the controls.

I am very glad <mpt>'s idea did not get implemented.