Address Bar - Cursor Position & Escape
Posted: 30 Aug 2007 14:53
1) If you have the address bar focused and change tabs, either with the mouse or hotkey, the cursor always jumps to the beginning of the address.
Comparing Firefox and Opera it seems that they remember the item that last had focus per tab and return focus to that item when changing. But then they differ in how focus is returned. Firefox selects the contents with the cursor at the end of the selection, Opera just returns the cursor to where it was.
In my opinion either is a better action than placing the cursor at the beginning. I'd be happy if it even did what it does now but put the cursor at the end instead.
Also, in both browsers they keep the changes made, so when you return the address has your changes, while XYplorer always resets it to the address of the contents being displayed. It's not something that bothers me greatly, so I'll allow someone else to suggest which XYplorer does, but if this is changed the need for number 2 will be even greater.
2) This one drives me nuts! The Escape key has no action when in the address bar.
In Firefox, Windows Explorer, and Opera pressing Escape reverts the address back to before changes and selects it. However, they differ in where the cursor is placed after the selection. Opera places it at the beginning, the other two at the end.
I really think XYplorer should be the same as Firefox and Windows here. I've found it frustrating that the only way to return the path to what is shown after making changes is by switching tabs, and the majority of the time I prefer the cursor at the end of the path.
I'm not sure how other programs with tabbed interfaces and address bars handle the above cases, so everyone feel free to add your own findings. Maybe we'll figure out what the majority are doing.
It's a real shame that there doesn't seem to be a set of standard developing practices for creating tabbed user interfaces, but that's not exactly something for XYplorer to tackle.
Comparing Firefox and Opera it seems that they remember the item that last had focus per tab and return focus to that item when changing. But then they differ in how focus is returned. Firefox selects the contents with the cursor at the end of the selection, Opera just returns the cursor to where it was.
In my opinion either is a better action than placing the cursor at the beginning. I'd be happy if it even did what it does now but put the cursor at the end instead.
Also, in both browsers they keep the changes made, so when you return the address has your changes, while XYplorer always resets it to the address of the contents being displayed. It's not something that bothers me greatly, so I'll allow someone else to suggest which XYplorer does, but if this is changed the need for number 2 will be even greater.
2) This one drives me nuts! The Escape key has no action when in the address bar.
In Firefox, Windows Explorer, and Opera pressing Escape reverts the address back to before changes and selects it. However, they differ in where the cursor is placed after the selection. Opera places it at the beginning, the other two at the end.
I really think XYplorer should be the same as Firefox and Windows here. I've found it frustrating that the only way to return the path to what is shown after making changes is by switching tabs, and the majority of the time I prefer the cursor at the end of the path.
I'm not sure how other programs with tabbed interfaces and address bars handle the above cases, so everyone feel free to add your own findings. Maybe we'll figure out what the majority are doing.
It's a real shame that there doesn't seem to be a set of standard developing practices for creating tabbed user interfaces, but that's not exactly something for XYplorer to tackle.
