Solved [Resolved] Problems with basic keyboard browsing that works on Chrome/FF

Vincto

If I'm working without a mouse I'll open a tab and search for something on Google. I then should be able to tab through the results and open one with Enter.

This works fine on vanilla Chrome and on FF.

In Vivaldi it only lets you tab into the first result, then the rest are skipped and tab lands on a control menu in the results, so is unusable by keyboard.

Tested with no extensions. I've tried whitelisting google.com in case the ad blocker was interfering but no change.

The two keyboard options for Focus Cycling or Full Keyboard Access have no effect in either option (4 different tests).

Using TAB + Enter on the keyboard I can use Google Search on Chrome or FF, but what I think is a basic ARIA function isn't working. You don't even need specific ARIA roles to tab to a "a" hyperlink and enter. Even if your navigation is all over the place you should be able to tab between links.

I'm only a keyboard user, but I assume if I can't use Vivaldi for mouseless browsing, it won't work with a screen reader either? Being able to browse with just the keyboard is important to me.

Vincto

Settings->Webpages->Webpage Focus->Focus All Controls and Links

This was the setting I needed. Thanks! Everything works normally now.

I investigated spatial navigation and its really cool. It doesn't work well with my finger mobility as the cursors are bunched awkwardly for my hand. Its almost easier (for me) to place my palm on top of a mouse and try to move the cursor from there. But I can see it being really awesome for some people for sure.

With the above setting I can use tab like normal. I understand its a primitive way to use a computer, but those are the hands I've got.

luetage

@vincto While I agree tabbing through links should work, it’s still awkward to tab your way through a website and it’s not at all ergonomic. Have you tried spatial navigation in Vivaldi yet? You can enable it in settings and set keyboard shortcuts. That’s slightly better than tabbing and will allow you to get to the links. But if you want proper website navigation with keyboard, you should take a look at existing extensions on the web store.

Vincto

Thanks for your reply!

I understand tabbing is not ergonomic, but its been an accessibility standard since forever. I tried the vim-like extension, but all it really does if give you familiar vim shortcuts. It is unable to replace what Vivaldi breaks somewhere.

Also if it is impossible to tab between <a> markups I'm pretty sure that means screen readers won't work?

I'm confused because it feels like Vivaldi doesn't support the most basic accessibility used even before ARIA. Keyboard and screen reader is kindoff important for many people. I really don't want to use Chrome or FF, which support accessibility, but are pretty much useless as a modern browser.

I'm prepared to work for a solution if anyone smarter than me could drop a few clues.

luetage

@vincto You ignored spatial navigation, which is the inbuilt navigation provided by Vivaldi. It’s just as primitive and easy to use as tabbing.

Vincto

@luetage Ah! Investigating now. ty

Vincto

Settings->Webpages->Webpage Focus->Focus All Controls and Links

This was the setting I needed. Thanks! Everything works normally now.

I investigated spatial navigation and its really cool. It doesn't work well with my finger mobility as the cursors are bunched awkwardly for my hand. Its almost easier (for me) to place my palm on top of a mouse and try to move the cursor from there. But I can see it being really awesome for some people for sure.

With the above setting I can use tab like normal. I understand its a primitive way to use a computer, but those are the hands I've got.

Vincto

I can't see how to mark a thread as fixed or whatever you do here, sorry.

Ayespy

@vincto I took care of it. If you still have editing privileges on the opening post, you can edit the title of the thread to start with [Resolved]. Otherwise, you can ask a moderator, and the mod can add the "resolved" tag to the thread.