Firefox: select pull-down menus & check boxes w/tab key?

[droche]

Hi, all -
Like the title says, is it possible to use the tab key to select pull down menus and check boxes? For example, on my Windows machine, in Firefox, when logging onto gmail, I can type my username, hit 'tab', type my password, hit 'tab' again, which will select the check box that keeps me logged in. From there, I just hit 'space', which selects the box. This doesn't seem to work on the mac version of firefox. I have to select the checkbox with the mouse.

Another example - When filling out my address on an online order, I can tab between all the entry boxes, but can't use the tab key to select the pull-down menu to choose a state. On the windows version, I can tab to the menu, then type the first letter or two of the state, and it'll select the state. On the mac, I have to select the menu with the mouse and scroll down to the state.

Is there some value I need to change in the about:config settings?

Thanks in advance.

[Las_Vegas]

If you have "Turn full keyboard access" checked in the Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard Shortcuts preferences, you can tab through links and fields in an html document. Pressing space will expand menus and click buttons or links.

[droche]

Thanks for the reply, but that doesn't seem to do any good... I still can't move around in web pages with the tab key. Is there some hidden Firefox preference I need to switch?

[frankko]

In about:config, change accessibility.tabfocus to 7.

[CAlvarez]

Wow, I wished for that feature for a long time, thanks.

Wonder if it works in Camino, which I'm using most of the time now.

[frankko]

about:config doesn't work in Camino, but if you create a user.js file in your Camino profile directory with the line:

user_pref("accessibility.tabfocus", 7);

in it, then (re)launch Camino, that should do the trick.

That will also work in Firefox/Mozilla, but obviously, put the user.js file into their respective profile directories, not Camino's.

[droche]

Yes!!!! thank you so much. That's really been getting on my nerves.

For my own curiosity, how does that feature work? what does the number mean?

[CAlvarez]

You seem to know a lot about the options in the Gecko browsers. Since switching to Camino, I've been trying to find more info on options available in the user.js file, but very few are documented. Are there any rules on using options from Firefox, or some documentation I've missed that you can point out?

[ShavenYak]

Slightly off topic... does 'full keyboard access' work in Safari for keyboarding through Web forms with pull-down lists? That's one thing that drives me nuts... I'll have to check and see whether I have full keyboard access turned on on my iBook.

Of course, Web developers who think a pull-down list with 50+ choices is a better way to enter a state than a two-letter text box drive me nuts, too... :mad:

[Las_Vegas]

Yes. Shaven. I use it all the time.

[JadeNB]

You seem to know a lot about the options in the Gecko browsers. Since switching to Camino, I've been trying to find more info on options available in the user.js file, but very few are documented. Are there any rules on using options from Firefox, or some documentation I've missed that you can point out?

It seems that most (if not all) of the about:config options can be implemented through user.js in the way that frankko mentioned. The Camino support site gives information on setting some common preferences (http://www.caminobrowser.org/support/sup_hiddenprefs.html). There is also a mozillaZine article on about:config entries (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_FAQs_:_About:config_Entries).

[kevnin]

I'm afraid I don't really understand. What/where is this whole about:config ?
I don't have spotlight to search for it...

[Makoto]

If you're using Firefox or Mozilla (/SeaMonkey), you can enter 'about:config' in the URL address bar to access a 'simple' (read: text only) setup section where you can manually change several browser settings you might not normally be able to access. It's probably a good idea not to mess with it if you're not sure what everything does, or don't want to run the risk of messing up your Mozilla/FF setup.

[kevnin]

ah thank you i get it now. and now i get to have (real) full keyboard access...

[stergthai]

I did a search on this problem and found this site. This same issue really annoys me, too. I tried to go into about:config, however, I do not see accessibility.tabfocus.

I do see accessibility.tabfocus_applies_to_xul. But the value is boolean (True or false). I am using Mz/FF 2.0.0.11.

Can you suggest something else? Maybe the preference changed? As you can see I am not a programmer, but I'd appreciate the help.

[stergthai]

answered question

http://www.slashdotdash.net/articles/2007/09/05/firefox-on-mac-os-x-tab-problem