OS 10.5 - When tabbing through forms, Macs always skip over pull-down menus... why?

sirbOOm · sirbOOm #1 (**permalink**)

12-05-2008, 09:38 PM

Why is it that when I am tabbing through a form (say at Amazon.com) and a pull-down field comes along (say to select your state), every single OS X computer I use literally skips over the pull-down field. No Windows computer does that. Either does Linux.

Is there some sort of update to OS X that will fix this annoying issue? You can tab to a pull-down field and then use the arrow keys to select the option you want in Windows, I think this is something OS X should surely have. This is a common sense feature. HELP!

cwa107 · cwa107 #2 (**permalink**)

12-05-2008, 09:43 PM

There's a setting that I think might apply here.

System Preferences => Keyboard & Mouse => Keyboard Shortcuts tab => Check the radio button marked "Full keyboard access: In Windows and dialogs, press Tab to move the keyboard focus between: All Controls"

sirbOOm · sirbOOm #3 (**permalink**)

12-06-2008, 10:34 AM

This, my friend, worked like a charm! Thank you!!!

So, tell me, why in the world would, by default, OS X have this turned off?

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

12-06-2008, 11:34 AM

There's one I didn't know. Am getting a lot of my issues with Safari fixed. Between this and Glims I may actually be able to leave Opera behind one of these days.

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #5 (**permalink**)

12-06-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbOOm

So, tell me, why in the world would, by default, OS X have this turned off?

Because some of it's operational features predate that feature being in windows

technologist · technologist #6 (**permalink**)

12-07-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbOOm

So, tell me, why in the world would, by default, OS X have this turned off?

The idea is that you want to do all of the text-entry parts at once, without taking your hands off the keyboard, and then switch over to the mouse to do things like menus and checkbox lists that are tedious to arrow or tab through because of all the individual options.

For example, in the Print dialog, if you just want to print ten copies of a document, on a Mac its:
command-P
tab
1
0
return

On a PC, it's something like
ctrl-P
tab
tab
tab
tab
tab
tab
tab
tab
tab
1
0
enter

Really.

sirbOOm · sirbOOm #7 (**permalink**)

01-10-2009, 02:06 PM

Thanks for the help on this folks! I don't want to take my hands off the keyboard because, frankly, I can't stand track pads and tabbing is simply faster.

cwa107 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,916 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	12-05-2008, 09:43 PM There's a setting that I think might apply here. System Preferences => Keyboard & Mouse => Keyboard Shortcuts tab => Check the radio button marked "Full keyboard access: In Windows and dialogs, press Tab to move the keyboard focus between: All Controls" Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,794 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	12-06-2008, 11:34 AM There's one I didn't know. Am getting a lot of my issues with Safari fixed. Between this and Glims I may actually be able to leave Opera behind one of these days. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

OS 10.5 - When tabbing through forms, Macs always skip over pull-down menus... why?

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sirbOOm #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 01, 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 22 Mac Specs: MBP: 2.5 GHz Penryn; GeForce 8600M GT 512MB; 2GB RAM; 250GB 5400 RPM; Glossy; OS X 10.5.5; WinXP SP3	12-05-2008, 09:38 PM Why is it that when I am tabbing through a form (say at Amazon.com) and a pull-down field comes along (say to select your state), every single OS X computer I use literally skips over the pull-down field. No Windows computer does that. Either does Linux. Is there some sort of update to OS X that will fix this annoying issue? You can tab to a pull-down field and then use the arrow keys to select the option you want in Windows, I think this is something OS X should surely have. This is a common sense feature. HELP!
	QUOTE Thanks

sirbOOm #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 01, 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 22 Mac Specs: MBP: 2.5 GHz Penryn; GeForce 8600M GT 512MB; 2GB RAM; 250GB 5400 RPM; Glossy; OS X 10.5.5; WinXP SP3	01-10-2009, 02:06 PM Thanks for the help on this folks! I don't want to take my hands off the keyboard because, frankly, I can't stand track pads and tabbing is simply faster.
	QUOTE Thanks

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