Keyboard control very difficult

[spot1701]

Trying to input data using the keyboard, rather than the mouse is very difficult due to erratic focus.
NT: 4.32 / Clarion: 6.3.9059 / IE 8 (compat mode) / Firefox 3

Example 43:
After logging in as "super", go to Browse Mailboxes and insert.
Enter something in "Name:" and press tab.
The password field is skipped

Click on the "Auto Response" tab. Press tab until you get to the "Message:' field. Notice that a space has been entered, and you will start typing from the second character.

Example 21:
Go to Browse Invoices and insert.
Press the lookup for "Customer" and select and entry.
When you return to "Update Invoice" focus has not been returned to the next field "Date".

Press the date lookup. Pick a date. Again focus is lost. Pressing tab will generally return you to the date field, rather than the next field.

Tab down to the "Terms:" radio options. Press the arrow key to change values. As soon as you do this focus is lost.


These are a couple of examples of tabbing problems. Whilst I understand we can't hope to duplicate a windows program, I would expect some consistency.
Is there anyway to manually specify the tab focus, to emulate the html "tabindex" attribute?

TIA
Bryan

[Bruce]

Hi Bryan,

First thing to try is turning off auto-validation for the form.
I think the focus jumping around has a lot to do with the async JavaScript.
(It worked in Example 43)
Obviously it's still an issue on those fields where you actually do want some dynamic validation as the field is entered.

I'm gonna see if I can change the javascript to overcome this problem - but it's likely to be quite a complex issue.

>> Click on the "Auto Response" tab. Press tab until you get to the "Message:' field. Notice that a space has been entered, and you will start typing from the second character.

This is a work-around to a FF bug. If there's nothing in the text box then it gets a little creative with the content. (I think you reported this earlier - the <div> text would appear.)

I've improved the Example 21 example (returning from lookup) for the next build.

I'll look into the other issues as well.

Cheers
Bruce

[Alberto]

Hi,
I have the same problems, had post them here too.
They do not go away by turning off auto-validation for the form.
Its very confusing for the user.
Please try to do your best.

Thanks
Alberto

[spot1701]

Thanks.

Any word on the manual tabbing? i.e. for situations when you purposely don't want the tab to just jump to the next field?

Bryan

[Bruce]

Hi Bryan,

ah yes - sorry missed that one - it's already in for Buttons, I'll extend it to the other form field types as well.

Alberto,
There are several things that can make a form field "dynamic". Auto Validation makes them _all_ dynamic. The focus is lost when tabbing off dynamic fields. So turning off auto-validation does not cure the problem, but it can reduce it. I'll look at writing JavaScript to overcome the issue, but I suspect it is definitely in the "non trivial" camp.

Cheers
Bruce

[Alberto]

Bruce,
I understand but its very hard for me explain that bejaviour to users when they do not see this in other websytes with the same explorer.

Thanks again,
Alberto

[kevin plummer]

Hi Bruce,

I have an issue with an EIP browse embedded in a form tabbing from one EIP to the next.

Most EIP fileds have SS validation and refresh. Sometimes I can change each field and tab through no problems and other times it jumps out of the browse to the 2nd last field on the form. I can't work out why sometimes it works and other times it does not.

Was there anything updated to help fix this for 4.32 or 4.33?

Cheers,

Kevin

[Bruce]

Hi Kevin,

All EIP fields are dynamic - it's the nature of EIP.

Depending on whether the EIP fields refresh stuff or not, may affect the tabbing. And of course the speed of the site (ie distance from browser to server) may have an impact as well.

There's no update on this in 4.32 or 4.33.

Cheers
Bruce

[kevin plummer]

Hi Bruce,

Is this something which is fixable in future releases?

Cheers,

Kev

[Bruce]

Hi Kev,

yes it's probably I'll be able to change it in Ver 5. Changing it in Ver 4 now is difficult.

Cheers
Bruce

[Bruce]

Tip: This problem affects IE far more than just about any other browser. So if your clients are really struggling you might _suggest_ using a better browser - FireFox would be my recommendation, but Safari and Chrome also seem to be better. However please note that Chrome is a tad buggy at the moment so I wouldn't recommend it yet.

Cheers
Bruce

[kevin plummer]

Hi Bruce,

I'm actually seeing the problem in FireFox.

Any anticipated alpha\beta release date on Version 5 yet. Sounds like some pretty cool stuff in the pipeline.

Cheers,

Kevin

[Bruce]

Hi Kevin,

probably July/August. But not all the features will be in the first build.

cheers
Bruce