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multi line text box shrinks until all lines overlap

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

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On some sites (not all) multi line text boxes seem normal at first, but when I click into them to edit the content, they start to shrink vertically and the line spacing is reduced pixel by pixel until all lines overlap in a single line after a second or two.

I guess it's some scripting or css feature these sites use. It only happens on the linux version, works fine with Firefox on Windows. I don't exactly know when this started but it must have been a very recent change.

On some sites (not all) multi line text boxes seem normal at first, but when I click into them to edit the content, they start to shrink vertically and the line spacing is reduced pixel by pixel until all lines overlap in a single line after a second or two. I guess it's some scripting or css feature these sites use. It only happens on the linux version, works fine with Firefox on Windows. I don't exactly know when this started but it must have been a very recent change.

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window

You can remove all data stored in Firefox from a specific domain via "Forget About This Site" in the right-click context menu of an history entry ("History -> Show All History" or "View -> Sidebar -> History").

Using "Forget About This Site" will remove all data stored in Firefox from this domain like history and cookies and passwords and exceptions and cache, so be cautious. If you have a password or other data from that domain that you do not want to lose then make sure to backup this data or make a note.

You can't recover from this 'forget' unless you have a backup of involved files.

If you revisit a 'forgotten' website then data from that website will be saved once again.

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All Replies (7)

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Added screen shot. (Wordpress.com admin editing image caption.) Same thing happens with two different forums based on myBB.de

Modified by Zillatron

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With such text areas there is usually some JavaScript active that tries to keep the size of this field as such that all the content fits (i.e. it auto-resizes). In your case it sounds that this isn't working properly. This could be a font issue where a larger font is used then expected or you are blocking JavaScript that is responsible.

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

Firefox shows the shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Content Blocking is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more details and possibly disable the protection

You can check the Web Console about what content is blocked

You can also check the Web Console for related messages.

  • "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Web Developer
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Nope. None of the above. There was no shield icon. I have Adblock plus and turned off blocking for the site. No change after reload. All (few) extensions are up to date. ABP is the only one supposed to do manipulation of pages. No output in the web console.

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Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window

You can remove all data stored in Firefox from a specific domain via "Forget About This Site" in the right-click context menu of an history entry ("History -> Show All History" or "View -> Sidebar -> History").

Using "Forget About This Site" will remove all data stored in Firefox from this domain like history and cookies and passwords and exceptions and cache, so be cautious. If you have a password or other data from that domain that you do not want to lose then make sure to backup this data or make a note.

You can't recover from this 'forget' unless you have a backup of involved files.

If you revisit a 'forgotten' website then data from that website will be saved once again.

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You are currently using Firefox from the Ubuntu repositories. You can test if this also happens with the official release or try a new profile.

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Thanks! Works in Safe Mode.

Found the culprit: "Grammar and Spell Checker - LanguageTool"

Nice tool, but I can do without. Disabling it on the affected sites is enough.

Modified by Zillatron

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You're welcome and thanks for reporting what extension caused it.

Modified by cor-el