Forum Discussion
How about Base Sets for keyboard shortcuts that are further customizable?
HotCakeX well, of course, let me elaborate with some examples (on Windows 10):
- Ctrl + K: Currently mapped to "Search", a reminiscent of Chromium defaults I suppose, while it is "Duplicate Tab" on Old Edge. No shortcut is currently assigned to "Duplicate Tab".
- Ctrl + I: Does nothing. Opens Favorites in Old Edge.
- Ctrl + G: Opens search. Does nothing in Old Edge.
- Ctrl + J: Opens the list of downloads in both. Isn't there a possibility that some wants to have another shortcut for it, perhaps more memorable?
- Ctrl + Shift + P: Opens native (OS) print-dialogue, instead of the Chromium one. Creates a new InPrivate window on Old Edge and Firefox.
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Creates an InPrivate window. Does nothing in Old Edge.
While a browser is not a game, it surely is a productivity software. Productivity software are adopted by users, if they fit into their workflow and provide more benefit than hassle.
Having to re-learn stuff is detrimental, and will be an inconvenience for any user (I'm looking at the InPrivate window example), let alone a power-user. This suggestion is to eliminate that frustration and replace it with a "warm welcome", echoing myself.
Ctrl + P is a universal key in literally every program, not just browser, no problem with it.
there is no need to learn anything and no need to add other browsers' stuff to the Microsoft Edge and fill it with useless stuff, specially when other browser vendors are not willing to do the same favor for Microsoft.
a power user can use a mix of voice commands and a good mouse + mouse pad to get things done.
honestly, in all of those examples, using keyboard shortcuts are only half of the work, the other half must be done with the mouse. browsers are meant to be a way to browse websites, websites are the target and last time i checked, all of them need mouse interaction that requires nothing to learn beforehand.
HotCakeX I see you are a mouse-user. I can empathize with that. There are users out there that prefer to use a mouse less and less. Could you perhaps also try to empathize with them? In exchange, for the very least?
Reducing arm movement is markedly more time-efficient, more ergonomic, and is something very common among avid typists/programmers. It may not worth the time for some others, but then some of us go through all the trouble of climbing the steep learning curve of, say, Vim or Emacs. And it really helps. I first learned to touch-type and use Vim because my wrists started to hurt, indicating a carpal tunnel syndrome.
Now, this is my honest suggestion, and also a kind request. Please also be kind, and not dismiss it with harsh words, just for not being your personal primary concern.
I honestly, sincerely, absolutely do suffer in not being able to duplicate my currently active tab via my keyboard. The best I can do with the keyboard is: CTRL + L -> CTRL + C -> CTRL + T -> CTRL + P -> Enter. That doesn't fit the bill, either, because it doesn't copy the tab's history, just opens the same page on a new tab. Duplication allows you to go back in the duplicated tab, which is something I commonly use the duplication for in the first place.
Again HotCakeX, For the sake of not leaving a misjudgment uncorrected, what I personally am asking for is actually to be able to have the Old Edge shortcuts on the New Edge, not a favor for other browser vendors. As the New Edge currently is, it is inheriting the keyboard shortcuts of Chrome/Chromium, putting an Old Edge user like me in contempt. I was merely being kind and innovative by converting and offering this suggestion not just for my personal selfish needs, but something good for all.
I unfortunately have felt an air of hostility in this place... Sad, especially when I was trying to improve something I cared for.
- You are talking as if I am the designer of all of the websites in the world.
there is a fact and it is that all websites rely on mouse for user interactions.
Browsers are merely a mean to access the websites on the Internet, they act as a portal. so browsers are not important, the websites are. everything happens in the websites, not the browser.
ergonomic or not, browser shortcuts don't help much. there are few of them that are universal like Home key acts as a go to top button, or CTRL + P is the print button, CTRL + N is new tab button, CTRL + F is the search button. these shortcuts ARE already implemented in the Edge browser and they are universal. so there is no need for change in that area.
almost 90% of user interactions are within the websites they are using, approximately only 10% of the interactions happen with the browser. and only a portion of that small percentage is related to browser shortcuts.
like a user spends 30 mins in a forum or Facebook, then he decides to download something from there or open a new tab, it just happens in a second. now the user has already using the mouse for website interaction, so it's easier to use the same item already in hand to open a new tab instead of letting the mouse go and press the keyboard shortcut and again take the mouse.
again those shortcuts are already implemented and are universal among popular browsers.HotCakeX I am having trouble with not having a shortcut key-combination for duplicating my active tab on this New Edge, to the extent that I have gone through the trouble of creating this discussion with thorough examples, motivation, its potential benefits and everything. The experience in this particular aspect is lacking, compared to what was available in the Old Edge.
Wondering my use case? Nowadays, I'm looking up a lot of English words from Bing.com. I want to keep an open tab for the words I've looked up for a review afterwards. A new tab, and e.g. "astute mean" brings me to the definition of that word. "Do it again" you might say, but you would be totally missing the point. I want to do it with less keystrokes and perhaps also the way I'm used to for god's sake... CTRL + K for a duplicate of my tab, where the Bing.com's dictionary mode is already active. On that mode, with just one TAB key, I get immediately to the dictionary's input box. Type my next word, "rudimentary" and ENTER, and so on...
A lot of pages with a search box, allow you to access that search box as the first thing as you press the TAB key. Wikipedia is one another example.
Hell, I just realized that the New Edge is also missing one thing that I have been using CONSTANTLY. CTRL + SHIFT + N to detach the current tab from the window, into a new window. Extremely useful, if you want to have two pages in your view. CTRL + SHIFT + N to detach, WINDOWS + LEFT to snap it to left, ENTER to select the left-behind window which will get snapped to right.
I can understand that a prejudiced mouse-frequenter can have a hard time understanding the utility of the particular benefit of keyboard-only navigability. However, everybody should be able to relate with being to do things the way you're accustomed to.