Backspace shortcut should be disabled by default

greybeard

Personally I have always used the Backspasce Key for Navigation (for the past 28 years, possibly more as I can't recall how Lynx worked).
Just because google has decided to remove this as a default behaviour does not make it the right way to go especially as all my other browsers use this same Backspace as Navigation as Default behaviour.

If this is to be the way going forward, it should remain a Vivaldi option, like it is now, for those that use a workflow that includes Backspace Navigation.

Pesala

@greybeard The feature request is to remove the default shortcut. Anyone could easily add it back again, but I don't see any benefit in removing this default — it will only annoy users like yourself who use it regularly or those migrating from Firefox, where it is also the default shortcut for History Back.

greybeard

@Pesala said in Backspace shortcut should be disabled by default:

I don't see any benefit in removing this default

Agreed but with the size of the g's market share more people will get used to it and e someday all browsers may mimic chrome.
As long as there remains an option to override the default, whatever it is, I will be happy.

jumpsq

@Pesala said in Backspace shortcut should be disabled by default:

Anyone could easily add it back again,

Are you sure about this? I tried it, and at least in the GUI I was not able to add "Backspace" as a key. I did not have a look at them, but I suppose the config files are rather straight forward?!

Pesala

@jumpsq said in Backspace shortcut should be disabled by default:

I tried it, and at least in the GUI I was not able to add "Backspace" as a key.

A good point. Backspace is used by the Settings dialogue to delete commands.

I have reported this as a bug.

(VB-62030) Unable to Assign Backspace as a Command Shortcut

rhussong

@potmeklecbohdan - I agree. Other replies have made reasonable arguments for not removing it by default, but not treating backspace as a single-key shortcut makes no sense, as it is obviously a single key.

A Former User

@rhussong said:

no sense

It makes sense, though less than Esc, F* & this king of keys.

luetage

@rhussong While backspace is not a modifier key, I don’t think the argument is logical. Following your logic function keys shouldn’t work either. The point is only character keys are being influenced by the one key shortcut setting and I think that makes some sense.

ThePythonicCow

I'm just coming over to Vivaldi from using Firefox as my main browser for many years.

I accidentally had my cursor outside an editable field and hit backspace.

I was rather surprised to find myself on the Login page for this forum (the previous page in this tab of my browser.)

I approve of not having backspace ever mean to go back a page, at least not as the default.

It's not what immigrant Firefox users will expect, and apparently (from the comments above) it's not what immigrant Chrome users will expect (so I'd wager the same for immigrant Edge users).

That probably covers 99+% of newly minted Vivaldi immigrants <grin>. Backspace ever meaning back-page is the wrong default for them.

ThePythonicCow

Suggestion for handling the different expectations for this setting:

Add an option to control this behavior (whether or not backspace can mean back-page).
When installing a fresh new installation, set the default for this option to not have backspace do back-page. This way, new immigrants from Firefox, Chrome and Edge get what they expect.
When upgrading an earlier installation of a version of Vivaldi that (a) did not have this setting, and (b) did have the behavior that backspace can do back-page, then set this option to enable backspace as back-page. This way, Vivaldi users already used to that behavior continue to get it.
When upgrading an earlier installation of a version of Vivaldi [If any such versions might ever exist] that (a) doesn't seem to have this setting, but (b) when the version of Vivaldi being upgraded from did not have the backspace might mean back-page feature, then set this option to disable that feature. This way, these users too (if such users exist) continue to get what they have become accustomed to.
And, of course, when upgrading an earlier installation that already had this option, honor and carry forth whatever its setting is.

Pesala

@ThePythonicCow said in Backspace shortcut should be disabled by default:

Add an option to control this behavior

There is already an option to control this behaviour — delete the Backspace command for History Back.
Backspace is the default for History Back in Firefox

I have yet to see any reasonable case for changing the default behaviour, which anyone can easily change if they do not like it.

ThePythonicCow

@Pesala << Backspace is the default for History Back in Firefox >>

Not on my Firefox.

So I went searching on the Web to figure out why you and I had different understanding here.

It seems that on Windows, backspace can go back in history, but not on Linux.

From https://itsfoss.com/enable-backspace-firefox-ubuntu-linux/

How to Enable Backspace in Firefox: To Go Back to Previous Web Page With Backspace Key

Last updated June 16, 2020 By Abhishek Prakash 28 Comments

Remember the last time you used backspace key to go back to previous web page while browsing in Mozilla Firefox? It was probably when you were in Windows.

Firefox is the default web browser in many a Linux distributions including Ubuntu. And in here, the backspace key to go back to previous web page doesn’t work, by default.

Your comment thus leads to a key detail, that immigrants from Firefox on Windows would expect Backspace (outside an editable field) to go back in history.

What I thought was a compelling case for changing the default for new installations becomes weaker.

Notice however my proposal was NOT to change the default for existing Vivaldi installations. I realize however that I am talking mostly to the crowd most likely to be doing fresh installs of Vivaldi for development purposes, so that too weakens my case, for my present audience here at least.

I will change my freshly installed Vivaldi backspace to not go back in History, and leave this thread to resume its quiet slumber <grin>.

Aperrizio

Hi:

I think this would be good. When we are writing, we use "Backspace" to delete text. If we are not in a text box, we go back, and everything could be lost.

By default, Backspace is set as a going back key, and I always turn it off... after I remember it's on. Every time I install Vivaldi (after a clean OS install), I experience this issue at least once.

iAN CooG

remove it yourself from your settings if you don't want it, you only have to go in settings/keyboard/page/history back, and remove it from the keyboard assignment
It's a default in every browser since old times and won't change any time soon.

Aperrizio

I do it, but every time I install Vivaldi, it's there again, and I remember it when it's late. I use WordPress and it saves almost everything, but it could be worse. That's the reason other browsers did.

Edit: https://techdows.com/2021/01/mozilla-to-disable-backspace-key-in-firefox-to-stop-data-loss.html

Pesala

@aperrizio I also have no use for this command, but changing defaults is best avoided. Users get upset when an upgrade changes the behaviour, as you did.

If you upgrade, your settings are meant to be preserved. If yours are not, maybe you are doing something different to most of us.

Aperrizio

No, the settings are ok. It's not I upgrade Vivaldi and the problem is there again; it's when I reinsall an OS and install again Vivaldi. I forget the option is on and it takes me out of WordPress editor.

It's not a huge deal for me because WordPress saves almost every change, but I think in other scenarios when the loss could be bigger. That's the reason Chrome, Edge and Firefox changed it, and I suggested.

saudiqbal

It is a very bad idea to set the backspace button to use as history back button. So many times I have lost typed form data when I try to erase some text. Good thing Chrome got rid of it. Its time for Vivaldi to do it.

luetage

@saudiqbal You can change the shortcut or simply delete the binding. It’s already possible.

Pesala

@saudiqbal I understand that you want to change the default, but there has to have a very good reason because it tends to annoy existing users more.

Vote for the existing request: Backspace Shortcut Should be Disabled by Default.