Bug 9098 – Keyboard shortcuts don't work in GMail until you click in the page

• Component: WebCore Misc.
• Status: NEW

[Alisdair McDiarmid]

On first loading a GMail page, the keyboard shortcuts (e.g. j, k) don't work. This can be solved by clicking in the page.

When a new page is loaded, for example by opening a message, the focus is lost again (sometimes... sorry, but I can't work out exactly when). Clicking in the page makes the shortcuts respond.

This bug exists both in 417.9.3 and the latest nightly build.

[Joost de Valk (AlthA)]

Adding GoogleBug keyword in one big change.

[Gregg Thomason]

(In reply to comment #0)
> On first loading a GMail page, the keyboard shortcuts (e.g. j, k) don't work.
> This can be solved by clicking in the page.
> 
> When a new page is loaded, for example by opening a message, the focus is lost
> again (sometimes... sorry, but I can't work out exactly when). Clicking in the
> page makes the shortcuts respond.
> 
> This bug exists both in 417.9.3 and the latest nightly build.
> 
This isn't affecting me for nightly revision 17397.

[Adam Hansen]

Works for me when using Safari 2.0.4 (419.3), Safari 3.0.2 (522.12), and WebKit r24182.

[Robert Blaut]

I can confirm this bug working with a new UI of Gmail: http://mail.google.com/mail/?&ui=2

The bug isn't visible with old UI: http://mail.google.com/mail/?&ui=1

I think the problem is an Evangelism bug.

[Alexey Proskuryakov]

I'm a bit confused. With shipping Mac Safari 3.0.4 and "new" GMail, I cannot get "j" or "k" work at all - what are they supposed to do?

Also, what evidence do we have to believe that this is an evangelism bug?

(In reply to comment #5)
> I'm a bit confused. With shipping Mac Safari 3.0.4 and "new" GMail, I cannot
> get "j" or "k" work at all - what are they supposed to do?

Keyboard shortcuts in Gmail are off by default. You can turn them on in Settings > General > Keyboard shortcuts. K and J move to the next or previous conversation.

[Robert Blaut]

(In reply to comment #5)
> I'm a bit confused. With shipping Mac Safari 3.0.4 and "new" GMail, I cannot
> get "j" or "k" work at all - what are they supposed to do?

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=6594

> Also, what evidence do we have to believe that this is an evangelism bug?

The site works with old UI, doesn't work with new UI. Try to change UA to Safari 2.0 and compare.

[Adam Roben (:aroben)]

(In reply to comment #4)
> I can confirm this bug working with a new UI of Gmail:
> http://mail.google.com/mail/?&ui=2
> 
> The bug isn't visible with old UI: http://mail.google.com/mail/?&ui=1

I can reproduce the bug with both versions of the GMail UI using Safari 3.0.4 on OS X 10.5.1:

1. Ensure keyboard shortcuts are enabled in your GMail preferences (Settings > General > Keyboard shortcuts)
2. Type http://mail.google.com/ in the URL field and press Enter
3. Type 'j'

The arrow pointing to the first message should move down to the second message, but doesn't.

My guess is that this is caused by when Safari/WebKit sends a focus event to the window/document compared to other browsers.

[Adam Roben (:aroben)]

<rdar://problem/5734947>

[David Jones]

There is an additional case where this bug presents in the Gmail interface.

Steps to reproduce (with keyboard shortcuts enabled):
1. Open a message in reading view (click the message in the inbox)
2. Ensure the page is focused and that keypresses are observed - n/p should move through the conversation.
3. Press '.' (period) to open the "More Actions" dropdown list.
4. Use arrow keys or first letter to highlight a label or action.
5. Press return to activate that action or label. The "More Actions" list closes.
6. The page has now lost focus - n/p will not move through the conversation, 'y' or 'e' will not archive.
7. Click the page to restore focus.
8. Keypresses are now observed again: n/p will cycle through the conversation, 'y' or 'e' will archive.