Changing input method on webpages requires pressing twice the hotkey

[Yen-Yung Chang]

I'm finding a weird behaviour of changing input method "only on webpages." I need to hit hotkey (Ctrl+Space) twice to trigger the change if my courser is in text boxes "on the page." If the courser is in URL bar or search bar or anywhere firebox window itself, this phenomenon doesn't exist. I am using gcin 2.8.9 and is switching between English and traditional Chinese. Thanks!

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: firefox 69.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1
Uname: Linux 5.2.5-050205-generic x86_64
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.7
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: yenyung_chang 1727 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20190828152820
Channel: Unavailable
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Sep 12 11:53:04 2019
Extensions: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
IncompatibleExtensions: Unavailable (corrupt or non-existant compatibility.ini or extensions.sqlite)
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-03-26 (170 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20190210)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.0.1 dev wlp2s0 proto dhcp metric 600
 169.254.0.0/16 dev wlp2s0 scope link metric 1000
 192.168.0.0/24 dev wlp2s0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.0.108 metric 600
Locales: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
PrefErrors: Unexpected character ',' before close parenthesis @ /usr/lib/firefox/omni.ja:greprefs.js:997
PrefSources: prefs.js
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
Profiles: Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=69.0/20190828152820 (In use)
RunningIncompatibleAddons: False
SourcePackage: firefox
Themes: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/05/2019
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.7.0
dmi.board.name: 0KTW76
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.7.0:bd08/05/2019:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139380:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0KTW76:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: XPS
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9380
dmi.product.sku: 08AF
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Thank you for the report, and sorry for the lack of timely feedback.
I just tested this in a fully up-to-date 18.04 virtual machine, and I cannot observe the issue you're describing. The Ctrl+Space shortcut switches between input methods regardless of whether the address bar is focused or a text field in a web page.

Note that I have firefox 69.0.1+build1-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 and gcin 2.8.5+dfsg1-4build4.

You mention you're using gcin 2.8.9, where does it come from? If you downgrade to 2.8.5 from the archive, does it fix the problem?

[Yen-Yung Chang (gix-d)]

I've downgraded to 2.8.5+dfsg1-4build4, and it doesn't solve the problem nor change the syndrome. My gcin 2.8.9 came from simply "sudo apt install gcin" from unknow/whatever default repository. Sorry this is probably not the most helpful information, and thanks for the help!

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Thanks. Do you know of other gcin/firefox users who experience the same problem, or does it seems confined to your setup?

[Yen-Yung Chang (gix-d)]

I have asked one of my friend for help and am waiting for him to respond. In the meantime, I found I can use other gcin hotkeys normally, e.g. changing half/full width, switching through different languages,...etc, without the need of clicking twice but only not the ctrl+space for switching between En and other gcin languages (in my case, Mandarin). I suppose this is a useful clue that points to gcin as the problem?

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Not necessarily. It could be that another system component (or even firefox itself) is intercepting the first Ctrl+Space keypress.

Does this work ok in other browsers, such as chromium or epiphany?

[Yen-Yung Chang (gix-d)]

Crtl+Space behaves normally on Chrome.

Also I've finally found a friend willing to test it for me. He runs 16.04LTS/gcin2.8.4/firefox69.01, and there's no issue at all. Not sure how much this helps though as mine was also working before. Sorry I can't find other Ubuntu/firefox user friends who speak the language and use gcin. Thank.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Thanks for the feedback.

There were many changes between 16.04 that your friend is using and 18.04 that you're using, so it would be useful to compare with someone on 18.04, if you can.

The fact that this works with Chrome suggests something firefox-specific indeed. Can you try running firefox with a clean profile ("firefox -P") and see whether the issue persists?

[Yen-Yung Chang (gix-d)]

Hi,

The issue persists.