How-to: Fix OSX Firefox tab focus bug
This post was published 3 years 5 months 5 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.OSX Firefox users are probably aware of – what I think – is one of the most annoying browser bugs that could possibly plague internet users. The horrible tab focus bug. For those unaware of what I’m referring to, imagine or re-live the following experience:
- While browsing UNEASYsilence, you stumble upon an intriguing post worth commenting on.
- You scroll down to the comment form and begin entering your credentials.
- Enter name. Hit ‘Tab’ which moves the focus to ‘Email’.
- Enter email. Hit ‘Tab’ which moves the focus to ‘Website’.
- Enter site. Hit ‘Tab’ which moves the focus to ‘Comment textarea’.
- Enter comment. Hit ‘Tab’. Blam! @*%! Where did my cursor go?!
Depending on the site you’re viewing, your cursors new position could be anywhere. No joke. It could be focused on a random link at the top of the page, the search bar in the sidebar, the link in the post, etc. An annoying bug for users who naturally hit ‘Enter’ immediately after tabbing out of the comment textarea.
The fix? Open TextEdit and copy & paste the following:
// Fixes tabfocus in form buttons
user_pref(”accessibility.tabfocus”, 7);
Save the file as user.js in your Firefox profile folder Users/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/xxxxx.default. Restart Firefox and enjoy relaxed commenting on Firefox without the need to search for cursors that run away on their own accord.
Just for the record, that value is equivilent to “focus all textfields, form controls and links” when tabbing. It’s an additive pref, where adding various values to the mix changes the pref:
1 – Focus textfields
2 – Focus form controls
4 – Focus links
An easier fix would be to enter about:config in the address field, search for the user pref tabfocus in the top search bar on the page, then double click the correct preferance and change the value in the prompt input box to 7.