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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0001885NetSurfRISC OS-specificpublic2018-04-21 09:59
ReporterJim Nagel 
Assigned To 
SeverityfeatureReproducibilityalways 
StatusclosedResolutionwon't fix 
PlatformOSRISC OS OS Version5.19
Product Version3.1 
Target VersionFixed in Version 
Summary0001885: backspace key to go back
DescriptionIf it's not a big job, would it be possible, please, for the Backspace key on the keyboard to do the same thing as clicking the "go back one page" icon on the buttonbar.

(One gets used to this key from using the likes of Firefox or Chrome on XP or Linux.) Thanks.

(Using NS 0001009 on three machines: RiscOS 4.39, 5.18, 5.19)
Additional InformationImported from sourceforge bug http://sourceforge.net/support/tracker.php?aid=3611734 on Tue Dec 10 17:34:13 2013

TagsNo tags attached.
Fixed in CI build #
Reported in CI build #1009
URL of problem page
Attached Files

-Relationships
+Relationships

-Notes
Daniel Silverstone

~0001588

Daniel Silverstone (administrator)

Modern browsers no longer seem to support backspace.
Jim Nagel

~0001608

Jim Nagel (reporter)

Daniel Silverstone wrote:
> Modern browsers no longer seem to support backspace.

Dunno which "modern browsers" (plural) you refer to, but latest Firefox definitely does map Backspace on keyboard to the Back button on browser toolbar. Still think it would be a handy thing for Netsurf users.
Dave Higton

~0001620

Dave Higton (developer)

The latest Firefox version for Linux does NOT map the backspace key to the Back button. I've just tried it.
Jim Nagel

~0001622

Jim Nagel (reporter)

I'm using Firefox 52.4.0 on Windows (via the ESR channel, which gives me updates automatically). And Backspace IS mapped to the Back button on toolbar.

Did the Linux version ever have the Backspace mapping? If so, I wonder when was it dropped and why.

Having the keyboard shortcut is certainly handy. What about other current browsers?
Dave Higton

~0001677

Dave Higton (developer)

I asked a couple of people at yesterday's RONWUG meeting what they thought about the feature. One said that the browser he uses on Windows has it, and he hates it, because it's too easy to think you're editing a URL but end up going back one or more pages.

So at best it's a controversial feature.

If it were my choice, I wouldn't add it.
Jim Nagel

~0001678

Jim Nagel (reporter)

Well, of course, as usual, the action of any key on the keyboard is applied to whatever has input focus, obviously. If you click in the URL field, the Backspace key affects that field. If you have clicked in the body of the Netsurf web page, Backspace there would "go back" to previous web page.

Begs the question: When a web page opens in Netsurf, the caret (input focus) is in the URL field. When a web page opens in some other browser, where is the input focus? Will have to revisit a few browsers to check whether answer is constant.
Michael Drake

~0001757

Michael Drake (administrator)

I seem to remember this was implemented briefly years ago. It caused lots of problems, when people had filled in forms / forum posts, and hit backspace, not realizing focus had moved from a text input, causing them to go back and lose all their work on the form.

So I wouldn't implement this until we have form history.
Daniel Silverstone

~0001758

Daniel Silverstone (administrator)

Other browsers have dropped this behaviour as confusing and/or unwanted.

Firefox made it optional but disabled it by default in 2006

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.backspace_action
+Notes

-Issue History
Date Modified Username Field Change
2013-12-10 17:41 Vincent Sanders New Issue
2013-12-10 17:41 Vincent Sanders Status new => assigned
2013-12-10 17:41 Vincent Sanders Assigned To => Sourceforge Import placeholder
2013-12-10 17:41 Vincent Sanders Description Updated View Revisions
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Reported in CI build # => 1009
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Assigned To Sourceforge Import placeholder =>
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Reproducibility have not tried => always
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Status assigned => confirmed
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Resolution no change required => open
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Category General => RISC OS-specific
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders OS => RISC OS
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders OS Version => 5.19
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Product Version => 3.1
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Description Updated View Revisions
2013-12-17 14:15 Vincent Sanders Additional Information Updated View Revisions
2017-09-09 13:31 Daniel Silverstone Status confirmed => closed
2017-09-09 13:31 Daniel Silverstone Resolution open => won't fix
2017-09-09 13:31 Daniel Silverstone Note Added: 0001588
2017-09-29 10:15 Jim Nagel Status closed => feedback
2017-09-29 10:15 Jim Nagel Resolution won't fix => reopened
2017-09-29 10:15 Jim Nagel Note Added: 0001608
2017-10-03 12:15 Dave Higton Note Added: 0001620
2017-10-03 13:16 Jim Nagel Note Added: 0001622
2017-10-03 13:16 Jim Nagel Status feedback => new
2017-10-19 22:49 Dave Higton Note Added: 0001677
2017-10-19 23:56 Jim Nagel Note Added: 0001678
2018-04-21 09:56 Michael Drake Note Added: 0001757
2018-04-21 09:59 Daniel Silverstone Status new => closed
2018-04-21 09:59 Daniel Silverstone Resolution reopened => won't fix
2018-04-21 09:59 Daniel Silverstone Note Added: 0001758
+Issue History