Idea
#4232: Make tab switching consistent
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342
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Written by forteller the 11 Mar 08 at 14:44.
Category: Accessibility.
Related to:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
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Description
One irritating thing about Ubuntu (I guess Linux in general) is the small inconsistencies. Take the way you switch tabs. In some places (like Firefox), you use Ctrl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab to switch to the next/previous tab, which in my mind is quite logical. But then in other places (like Nautilu's properties dialog) you can't do that. Instead you have to use Ctrl+PgUp/PgDwn, which I think is quite confusing for new users. Also, in the aforementioned properties dialog this is very impractical because if you get to the tab "Open With" or "Notes", the Ctrl+PgUp/PgDwn key combo stops working! In yet other places (like gEdit) none of the above key combos work! There you have to use Alt+1/2/3/etc.!
That means that there are at least three different ways of changing tabs in the default applications of Ubuntu! In my view that is not acceptable! I don't mind there being different ways to switch tabs, as long as they all work in all apps. This is the case in Firefox, where you can use any of the key combos mentioned above to switch tabs. I would like at least the most known of these key combos (Ctrl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab) to work across all apps in Ubuntu. Please! :)
[PS: I'm not sure if this should be in Accessibility or Look and Feel. If it's placed in the wrong category, I hope an admin will move it for me. Thanks!]
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Comments
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reya276 wrote on the 11 Mar 08 at 21:21
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I think the issue here is that when developing applications for Linux/any distro their should be a standard for designing/building applications and right now there is none, it is a free for all which is why you have so many inconsistencies. I now people are creative by default but for a desktop/applications there has to be a standard way of doing things.
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forteller wrote on the 11 Mar 08 at 22:33
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True, reya! Maybe the largest Linux guys out there (Canonical, Novell, Red Hat, etc.) should get together and decide upon some guidelines for Linux developers to use to make Linux apps more consistent.
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travis wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 04:42
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Also:
* middle-clicking should close tab
* tabs should be able to be rearranged by dragging
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asham wrote on the 28 Mar 08 at 23:00
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I agree 100%. A huge +1. :)
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3wings wrote on the 23 Apr 08 at 22:37
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How about if you have Firefox open with several tabs, along with gedit with several tabs, and then a few other windows open, as well?
How do you switch between tabs vs. applications?
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Mike Graham wrote on the 22 May 08 at 14:49
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Voted yes.
To be more general, it is desired that tab-based interfaces be consistent not only in switching, but in rearranging and closing.
I would remark:
- I like Ctrl-PageUp/PageDown, since it seems to be more internally consistent than Ctrl-Tab/Ctrl-Shift-Tab and because it is easier to use with one hand (indeed, the right hand, which is dominant for most people.)
- Ctrl-W works to close tabs everywhere I can think of. Ctrl-F4 also works to close tabs in Firefox. I sort of like how this command is similar to Meta-F4, but in the same token, Ctrl=W mimics Ctrl-Q pretty well.
- Jump-to-a-specific-tab works by Ctrl-Meta-(number) in Firefox, Ctrl-(number) in gedit, and I am not aware of this functionality in Pidgin. I personally do not really use this feature, but I imagine some people might rely on it a lot.
I agree with Travis:
- Middle mouse click should close tabs everywhere.
- Tabs should be rearranged by dragging.
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KIAaze wrote on the 9 Aug 08 at 11:32
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And in Konsole: Shift+right/left
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vitorgatti wrote on the 23 Aug 08 at 15:15
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Changing tabs in gedit is a piece of crap. Nobody can figures that Alt+1/2/3 changes the tab. I know this is not fault of Ubuntu developers, but they can of course implement things in the programs (like ctrl+tab and ctrl+shift+tab in gedit)!
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daniel.comsa wrote on the 26 Sep 08 at 09:18
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Alt+1/2/3 if very usefull. The difference between:
Ctr+(Shift+)Tab: cycle trough tabs
Alt+1/2/3: jump to a specific tab
Let's say I have 10 open tabs and I'm currently viewing 7th tab. If I want to go to 3rd tab I'll press Ctrl+Shift+Tab 4 times or Alt+3. Which one is the best?
Do note that Alt+1/2/3... is available also in Firefox, Terminal, gEdit and many other apps.
Though, I will vote for Ctr+Tab switching because I agree to the consistency.
Daniel.
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Endolith wrote on the 16 Nov 08 at 02:57
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Changing tabs in gedit is a piece of crap. Nobody can figures that Alt+1/2/3 changes the tab.
Whoa. I've been using Gedit for years and didn't know that.
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