While some websites like Google Search set the focus on their text fields automatically it is avoided on other websites either because the webmaster does not know that such a feature exists or because of reasons kept secret. Search engines should auto-focus on the main text field, period. While not all users tend to agree on this stance it surely becomes helpful if you perform dozens of searches in a browsing session.
While there is no known way of automatically jumping to the first text field on a page if the option is not enabled at the website itself there is a way to make the procedure less complicated and mouse-less. Pressing tab will flip through the elements on a website. By default all elements – this includes links and forms – will be focused when pressing the tab key. There is however the possibility to alter that setting in the web browser’s options to only focus on text fields on the active website.
The setting can be changed in the about:config parameters of Firefox. To open these settings enter about:config in the Firefox address bar and hit enter. If this is the first time that you access the options you need to press the I’ll be careful button before to continue.
Filter for the setting accessibility.tabfocus.
Double-click the entry to change the parameter to one of the following:
- 7 – Default value. Jumps to any form and link element on the page.
- 1 – Will only jump to text fields.
- 2 – Will only jump to form elements other than text fields.
- 3 – Will jump to all form fields.
- 4 – Will only jump to links.
Changing the setting from 7 to 1 will have the desired effect. Pressing tab on any website will now focus the first text field on the website.
Update: There is a Greasemonkey script that can enable the behavior on specific websites automatically.
Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter.Related Articles:
Automatically Jump To First Text FieldDisable Text Field Auto Focus
TitleQ, Jump Straight To Headlines In Firefox
Cycle Input Focus, Activate Forms In Firefox With A Shortcut
Focus Keyboard, Activate UrlBar, Forms On KeyPress In Firefox
And again Martin a ferry nifty find. I realy looking forward to start using this. This wil save me a lot off surcing time.
I hate that google does this. You dont happen to know a setting to disable it, globally?
Undead I post a solution tomorrow.
Found out about this today, this is excellent, thank you!
For a few years now, I have been working in an issue tracking environment where you have a lot of text on one page. I had to scroll up to get to the search box to enter text (alternatively, tap Home and click in the search box). This reaaaally speeds up things!