unity dash results not navigate-able with neo2 kbd layout

[nurio]

Unity dash search results can be navigated using the arrow-keys.

The german 'neo2' keyboard layout comes with an additional method to enter the arrow-keys using 'AltGr+{i,a,e,l}'. This allows to use the arrow-keys without having to leave the home row.

However, if one tries to use this method to navigate the unity dash results, the first highlighted entry will flicker and one is not able to change the currently selected entry.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Select 'German (Neo 2)' as _only_ keyboard layout in gnome (workaround for Bug #879838)
2. Verify that arrow-keys can be entered using 'AltGr+{i,a,e,l}' (e.g. navigating in gedit)
3. press windows-key to show dash, enter some word to search for
4. Try to navigate to the first search result pressing 'AltGr+a' twice
    -> expected behavior: first search entry is highlighted
    -> actual behavior: first entry gets selected, but focus is immediately switched back to the input field

additional infos:

ubuntu version: Ubuntu 11.10

unity:
  Installed: 4.28.0-0ubuntu2
  Candidate: 4.28.0-0ubuntu2
  Version table:
 *** 4.28.0-0ubuntu2 0
        500 http://ubuntu.inode.at/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     4.22.0-0ubuntu3 0
        500 http://ubuntu.inode.at/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages

xkb-data:
  Installed: 2.3-1ubuntu2
  Candidate: 2.3-1ubuntu2
  Version table:
 *** 2.3-1ubuntu2 0
        500 http://ubuntu.inode.at/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

thanks for the bug report. Please test with the live cd of Beta-1 of Ubuntu 12.04 and let us know if the issue is there or not.

[nurio (nurio)]

I can confirm that this bug still exists in the live cd of Beta-1 of Ubuntu 12.04. Furthermore, the HUD introduced in 12.04 shows the same behavior when trying to navigate the HUD search results with the neo arrow-keys.

If you try to reproduce the bug, please be aware that as a workaround for Bug #879838, the neo keyboard layout has to be the only selected layout in the keyboard preferences to work properly.

I think 'flickering' is not the right description of the actual behavior: It seems that on pressing 'AltGr+a' (neo down-arrow-key) the first entry is selected for a very short moment, but then the focus is immediately switched back to the search-input-field. If one holds down 'AltGr+a' (neo down-arrow-key), the results are iterated, but as soon as the key is released the focus gets switched back.

My guess is that the AltGr key is treated the same way as "normal" keys: If you search something in the dash, press the down button two times to select the first entry and then type any character (e.g. 'f'), the focus gets switched back to the input field and the newly typed character gets appended to the search string.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Lizard (lizard-live)]

Is there any chance you can revive this expired Bug? It still is not fixed in the current LTS 12.04 of Ubuntu and it is quite anoying, as it forces you to move your hands to the (standard) Arrow keys.

[Carlos (camedp)]

Hi there I also have the same problem. It only happens in Unity dash and it is pretty anoying ... Is it possible to reopen the bug ?

[Martin Mauch (martin-mauch)]

+1 on this. Still happening in 15.10.