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From: Kirsty.Baker
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 2:18AM
Subject: set cursor in search box
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Hello

If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cu=
rsor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibil=
ity? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the =
main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it coul=
d be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly =
have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd =
be interested to hear views on this.

Many thanks

Kirsty Baker


[E29EFC26]
[BCDE383A]
Kirsty Baker | Digital Services Development and Accessibility Officer
Library Services
The Open University, Level 1, Betty Boothroyd Library, Walton Hall, Milton =
Keynes, MK7 6AA
+44 (0) 1908 858478 | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = .u=
k> | www.open.ac.uk<;http://www.open.ac.uk/>;
[DB15C58]



-- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exe=
mpt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038=
302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Cond=
uct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.

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From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 2:33AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

On 25/06/2019 09:18, Kirsty.Baker wrote:
> Hello
>
> If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.

Messing with focus is usually regarded as a no-no. I'd say it depends
heavily on how much content there is on the page prior to the search
box, as yanking the focus directly there will result in users
potentially missing all of it / not even being aware there was content
there.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke

From: Mallory
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 6:01AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi,

I only allow that kind of autofocus if the page basically does one dedicated thing. A search page where 99% of users want to search, a login page where 99% of users are going to log in, etc.

A page that allows users to do many things and search is just one of them, I don't allow: with speech recognition your commands are now first initially trapped in a dictation-oriented box; with screen magnification I usually have little idea of where I am, how far down the page I am, and now I have to explore backwards/up the page to catch lost content. Using autofocus to help with a Call To Action, I also recommend against.

On a page dedicated to logging in, however, for a service that does not also have forms for creating an account or whatnot, autofocussing can be an accessibility advantage to folks with poor motor control (depending on how they're navigating pages). On a login page with speech recognition, it can be less work for me to log in as I could start out dictating my username/email without needing to set focus on the input first. At a previous job, single-use pages which autofocussed on the first input was appreciated in testing with a head-mouse user who easily tired and tried to avoid unnecessary clicking (though I will not argue clicking an input on a page is unnecessary, but to her in this testing context it was).

Ideally it's a page that's very clear to you and most others whether it's really a one-use page, and ideally you can user-test this on people with various disabilities and methods of interaction. If you find it gets in the way of some folks then it's a good sign to reconsider autofocus there.

cheers,
_mallory

On Tue, Jun 25, 2019, at 10:18 AM, Kirsty.Baker wrote:
> Hello
>
> If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Kirsty Baker

From: jeffgutsell
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 10:40AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

I think most screen reader users can find a search field easily enough when
the page makes proper use of form labeling, headings and other landmarks.
I like a well-known site for financial information that does not use
auto-focus on its search control. I can get to that field with one
keystroke when I want to look up info on a mutual fund.

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 11:07AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
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On 25/06/2019 17:40, = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = wrote:
> I think most screen reader users can find a search field easily enough when
> the page makes proper use of form labeling, headings and other landmarks.
> I like a well-known site for financial information that does not use
> auto-focus on its search control. I can get to that field with one
> keystroke when I want to look up info on a mutual fund.

However, those special keystrokes come courtesy of the AT. Autofocusing
things such as search fields is generally something done to make it
quicker for all users (including non-AT keyboard users).

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

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From: Mark Magennis
Date: Wed, Jun 26 2019 2:49AM
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] set cursor in search box
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Hi Kirsty,

Placing focus on a field or at any other point on a page on page load is usually not a good idea, partly because as Patrick says, there's a chance of missing important context, but also because it goes against user expectations. Users expect focus to be at the start of the page when it loads. So you should leave it there.

However, there are rare exceptions where it does make sense to place focus at a specific point on the page. This is where you can guarantee that all users will want to go to that point when the page opens. An example is a search results page. When the search results page opens, it will be because the user has just submitted a search and they will want to read the results. You can guarantee this. So it makes sense to set focus to the main page heading which is usually the overall results statement like "Showing 20 of 13,682 matches for Elvis Presley".

Other exceptions occur within multi-step processes such as ticket booking where at each step the user always wants to go to the start of the step instructions or inputs. So it may be helpful to place them there.

This is just my opinion of course and having discussed this with some users (nothing like a representative or large enough sample to draw firm conclusions), I've found some who disagree and would rather it was always left at the top of the page.

So use with care and if possible test it on some users.

Mark Magennis
Skillsoft | mobile: +353 87 60 60 162
Accessibility Specialist